Weekend Gardening: Tips For The Month Of May
May 17, 2014
The Escambia County Master Gardeners offer the following May lawn and garden tips:
- Continue planting summer annuals. Try one or two that you’ve never grown and/or one that is not available in stores as transplants.
- Plant heat-resistant summer flowering annuals such as begonias, impatiens, coleus, salvia, marigolds, torenia, verbena, ornamental peppers and gaillardia.
- Bulbs: Caladium, gladiolus.
- Vegetables: Continue planting warm weather seeds and transplants (Shade those transplants!). Use transplants for cherry tomatoes, eggplant and sweet potatoes. Plant seeds of lima beans, okra, southern peas: purple hull, crowder, etc.
- Prune and shape spring flowering shrubs and trees now. Later pruning may destroy next year’s blooms.
- Good cultural practices help maintain a healthy lawn and discourage insects and disease. Mow with a sharp blade. Centipedegrass should be cut to a height of 1½ to 2 inches. St. Augustinegrass normal growth habit cultivars should be cut to a height of 3 to 4 inches.
- Climbing roses are pruned after they finish blooming. Blooms form on one-year-old canes, so any older ones may be removed to make them more tidy. Cut each flowering stem back to the first five leaflet stem to encourage them to bloom again.Spray with horticultural oil or malathion for mites, scale and white flies, if insects are present, before it gets too hot (85 degrees).
- Yellow leaves on azaleas may mean they need iron. Apply iron sulphate or chelated iron.
- Feed citrus plants using special citrus fertilizer. Broadcast under the tree canopy and water in.
- Begin planting palms while the weather is warm and rainy.
- Make cuttings of azaleas, hollies, camellias, and other choice shrubs as new growth becomes half hardened.
- Take soft wood cuttings to root: alyssum, begonia, chrysanthemum, shrimp plant, dianthus, geranium, hibiscus, hydrangea, etc.
- Dig bulbs after foliage turns brown if they need to be divided or the space is needed for other plants. If the space isn’t needed, braid the foliage.
- Cut back the vines of Irish potatoes when they begin to die but leave the tubers in the ground for about two weeks longer to toughen the skin. Handle the potatoes carefully during digging, as skinned or bruised potatoes decay quickly when stored.
- Divide crowded and vigorously growing perennials.
- Promote continued flowering of bedding plants by removing faded blooms.
- Encourage coleus to branch and produce more colorful leaves by pinching off the flower stalks as they form.
- Prune poinsettias when new growth is 10-12 inches high (back to the last four leaves). Prune new growth at the base throughout the summer.
- Stop pruning after Labor Day.
- Keep roses watered, cut out weak spots, feed every six to eight weeks or at every new flush of growth, dust.
- For insect or disease problems in your garden, use the least toxic control possible.
Northview, Ernest Ward Hold Annual FFA Banquet
May 17, 2014
The Northview High School FFA held their 17th annual banquet Friday night.
The event includes a somber retirement ceremony for the chapter’s graduating senior officer…Courtney Solari slowly removed her signature blue FFA jackets and hung it up for the last time on a coat rack.
The night also included many awards for Northview and Ernest Ward Middle school FFA members and supporters.
Awards and honors presented included:
- FFA Creed: Mitchell Singleton
- Extemporaneous Speaking: Tiffani Cruce
- Prepared Public Speaking: Courtney Solari
- Parliamentary Procedure: Courtney Solari, Courtney Weekley, Hunter Kite, Haylee Weaver, Bethany Reynolds, Moriah McGahan, Mitchell Singleton, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Ciara Campbell, Caleb Harigel, and Matthew Smith.
- Safe Tractor Operations: Hunter Kite
- Agricultural Mechanics: Tiffani Cruce, Courtney Solari, Hunter Kite, and Tabitha Chavers.
- Livestock Evaluation and Selection: Courtney Weekley, Haylee Weaver, Grady Rigby, Mitchell Singleton, Tabitha Chavers, and Cheyenne Redditt.
- Horse Evaluation and Selection: Courtney Solari, Bethany Reynolds, Tamara Barrows, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Ciara Campbell, Caleb Harigel, and Jacob Johnson.
- Production and Showmanship: Haylee Weaver, Austin Cunningham, and Levi Soloman.
- GCA/NRA Livestock show: Tabitha Chavers and Matthew Smith.
- Forestry: Courtney Solari, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Tiffani Cruce, Ciara Campbell, Hunter Kite, Caleb Harigel, Tamara Barrows, Grady Rigby, Carson Bailey, Matthew Smith, Jacob Johnson, and Ricky Jones.
- Ryan Rimmer Outstanding District Officer Award: Courtney Solari will be a finalist
- FFA Alumni Essay Contest: Courtney Weekley and Mitchell Singleton wrote about what “FFA Means to Me”
- Job Interview CDE: Courtney Solari competed in the preliminary round
- 2013 State FFA Convention: Courtney Solari, Karissa Strickland, Jessica Baldwin Jeremy Stacey, Dillian Crutchfield, Haylee Weaver, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Courtney Weekley, Bethany Reynolds, and Lydia Weaver.
- Golden Members of the Chapter: Ben Preston, Brandon Korinchak, Ciara Campbell, and Laurie Purdy.
- Honorary Members Inducted: Mark Solari and Aimee Solari, Stephanie Solari, Sue Hopkins, and Escambia River Electric Cooperative
- Greenhand Degree: Tamara Barrows, Tabitha Chavers, Brandon Korinchak, Alyssa Lewis, Mitchell Singleton, Jessica Stacey, Christopher Stevens, and Brittanee Thomas.
- Chapter FFA Degree: Hannah Edmonson, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Moriah McGahan, Bethany Reynolds, Grady Rigby, Haylee Weaver, and Courtney Weekley.
- Blue/Gold Awards: Gene Hassebrock, Grady Rigby, Zachary Sims,
- Star Greenhand: Mitchell Singleton
- Outstanding Sophomore: Haylee Weaver
- Outstanding Junior: Tiffani Cruce
- Outstanding Senior: Courtney Solari
- FFA High Point Award: Courtney Solari
- 2014 Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award: Courtney Solari
- Gylnn Key Outstanding Student Award: Courtney Solari
- Jamie Hall Memorial Scholarship: Jessica Baldwin
- Northview FFA Alumni and Friends Scholarship: Courtney Solari and Jeremey Stacey
- Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship: Courtney Solari
- Outstanding Member Award: Courtney Weekley, Bethany Reynolds, Hunter Kite
- Retiring President: Courtney Solari
The new Northview FFA officers named for the 2014-2015 school year were: Haylee Weaver, president; Bethany Reynolds, vice president; Courtney Weekley, secretary; Moriah McGahan, treasurer; Tiffani Cruce, reporter; Tabitha Chavers, sentinel; Mitchell Singleton, public relations; Hunter Kite, parliamentarian; Kaitlyn Klinatland; historian; Cody Kite, chaplain; and Tamara Barrows, photographer.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: Northview FFA honorary members inducted Friday night were Kim Lambert, representing honorary member EREC, Stephanie Solari, Sue Hopkins, Aimee Solari and Mark Solari. Pictured inset: Outgoing and graduating FFA President Courtney Solari retires her blue jacket. Pictured below: FFA members and their awards. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
May 17, 2014
Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekend ending May 15.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Investigators Schafer and Hughes worked a case regarding a group, known as the Gulf Coast Jeep Club, damaging public lands and driving off designated roads in jeeps within the Blackwater State Forest and Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The investigators were able to identify several of the vehicles, drivers, and locations of the violations from surveillance videos obtained through several different sources. Six citations were issued to five individuals for operating a vehicle off of designated roads within the Blackwater State Forest and the Eglin Wildlife Management Area.
Officer Lewis was patrolling the Blackwater State Forest when he observed a large group of people on a sandbar. While approaching them, he observed one man pass something to a woman. Officer Lewis approached her and asked what she was holding. The woman stated that it was a joint. She further admitted that she had rolled several marijuana cigarettes for her canoe trip and had given several out to friends. Officer Lewis located a Ziploc bag containing 12 cannabis cigarettes along with two hydrocodone pills. The drugs were seized and the woman was issued a notice to appear for possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a prescription drug without a valid prescription.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY — No information reported.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Wahoos Drop Second Game of Series To The Jacksonville Suns
May 17, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (18-24) dropped the second game of the series to the Jacksonville Suns (19-22), 3-2, at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Home runs accounted for all the runs in the game and starting pitchers Robert Stephenson and Chipper Smith combined for 14 strikeouts.
Stephenson had his longest outing of the season for the Wahoos; he gave up 3 R/ER in 7.0 innings pitched. The Reds’ top prospect struck out eight batters and walked just one, but he took the loss. The right-hander had pitched 13.0 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a fourth inning home run to Brady Shoemaker. RHP Drew Hayes followed behind Stephenson with a scoreless eighth inning and a strikeout. RHP Justin Freeman pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out one batter.
Travis Mattair broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning for the second night in a row on a single to center. Juan Duran followed behind him with the game-tying home run to left field. It was Duran’s third homer of the season.
Smith made his Double-A debut for the Suns. The left-hander gave up 2 R/ER on three hits through 5.2 innings, which was his longest outing of the season. Smith struck out six Wahoo batters and gave up just one walk. RHP Jheyson Manzueta earned the win in relief of Smith; he gave up no hits through 2.1 innings. RHP Nick Wittgren earned the save, getting Juan Silverio to ground out to shortstop Austin Nola to end the game.
The Suns were aided by a couple of home runs from their four and five hitters. Shoemaker’s two-run home run in the fourth gave the Suns their first lead of the game. Catcher J.T. Realmuto took Stephenson deep in the seventh to take back the lead.
The Wahoos will start Jon Moscot (3-2, 1.97) in the third game of the series. Marlins top prospect LHP Andrew Heaney (3-2, 2.35) will go for the Suns.
by Tommy Thrall
Dorothy Broughton Cipperly
May 16, 2014
Dorothy Broughton Cipperly, 97, of Atmore, passed away on Tuesday May 13, 2014, in Atmore. She was born in Monroe County, on December 17, 1916, to the late John S. and Mary Patrick Broughton. She was a graduate of Livingston University and taught school for over 40 years for the Monroe County School System. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Atmore, Order of The Eastern Star and The Teachers’ Retirement Systems of Alabama.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Louis H. Cipperly.
Survivors are a host of family and friends.
Services will be Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Grindle officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers are her first grade class, Lester Peavey, Luther Upton, Don House, W.C. Baggett, Stinston Jay, and Randy Lambert.
Family will receive friends, Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Escambia Commission Moves Forward On 4-H Land Purchase
May 16, 2014
The Escambia County Commission took another step forward Thursday night for toward the purchase of two parcels of property for Escambia County 4-H.
In 2012, the children and teens on the 4-H County Council voted to sell their 240 acre Langley Bell 4-H Center to Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah, and the Escambia County Commission agreed to construct a new 4-H Center on Stefani Road.
Now, the county is set to close on the two parcels totaling about 108 acres on or near Chalker Road, with the first closing set for today and the second for next week. The county will make the land purchases to house the 4-H’s animal science and outdoor education programs and then be reimbursed by the 4-H Foundation.
Brett Ward, a member of the Escambia County Farm Bureau Board, expressed concerns over two points in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) approved Thursday night between the county and the University of Florida IFAS.
He said it should be more clearly defined as how the property might be sold in the future and be replaced with a time limit on replacing the property. “So quite frankly nobody in the future will have to through what we’ve all been through the last two and half years in this process,” he said.
Commissioner Wilson Robertson agreed. “I thought we didn’t want to through this again”.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said he agreed with Ward and Robertson, but there was no time to make changes with a property closing just hours away. County Attorney Alison Robinson said making any changes to the MOU would delay, and perhaps endanger, the closings.
Ward said he also issues giving IFAS the exclusive rights in naming the property.
Escambia County Extension Director Pam Allen said it is the intent of IFAS is “to use it as a fundraising to earn additional money to put more things on the property. There’s not really a set plan in place. but 4-H wanted to retain the rights to do that.”
“Basically what we are going to do is put the name up for bid and whoever is the highest bidder, that’s going to be named after them,” Ward responded. “Why don’t we name the whole thing the Escambia County 4-H Center, and then whoever wants to sponsor individual buildings inside it…they can be named after them. But the whole center would be the Escambia County 4-H Center.”
“The children of Esambia County 4-H are the richest in the nation. They have over $4 million invested, earning interest and they are running programs off that. They have plenty of money,” Ward said. “If we can add to that, I’m all for it, but to sell the name to the whole property?”
The commission unanimously approved moving forward with the MOU with IFAS, and the land purchase. Barry said he expects an open house to be held on the property without about three weeks.
Pictured top and bottom: An existing 5,722 square foot barn on one of two parcels that may soon be home to Escambia County 4-H. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Pictured inset: Two parcels will provide 4-H about 108 acres near Barrineau Park. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
County Awards $590K Contract To Pave Campbell Road
May 16, 2014
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday to pave the current dirt Campbell Road near Century.
The low bidder for the project, which also include drainage improvements, was Road, Inc., of NWE, in the amount of $590,295. Once work begins, the project is to complete within 210 days.
Three other companies bid on the project: Panhandle Grading and Paving at $628,725; Chavers Construction at $696,996; and Mid-South Paving at $733,455.
Northview High School Tribal Band Members Honored
May 16, 2014
Members of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band were recognized during their annual awards ceremony Thursday night at the school.
Band members were recognized for the following accomplishments:
Dixieland Marching Festival
- Superior Rating and Best in Class 1A award
- Drumline – Superior Rating and Best in Class 1A Drumline
- Drum Major Cory Hester – Superior Rating and Best in Class 1A Drum Major
- Color Guard – Superior Rating and Best in Class 1A Color Guard
- Dance Team – Superior Rating
Florida Bandmasters Association Marching Music Performance Assessments
- Dance Team, Majorettes, and Color Guard – Superior Rating
Florida Bandmasters Association Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessments
- Kendrick Walker – Excellent rating – Saxophone solo
- Kylie Brook – Excellent Rating – Flute Solo
- Paula Spicer and Abbie Johnson – Excellent Rating – Piano Duet
- Maddi Weber and Taylor Brook – Superior Rating – Trumpet Duet
- Taylor Brook – Superior Rating – Trumpet Solo
- Cory Hester – Superior Rating – Saxophone Solo
- Dance Team – Superior Rating – Dance Ensemble
Seniors were also honored with a trophy.
Members of the Northview High School Tribal Beat band are:
*Seniors denoted with an asterisk.
Drum Major
Cory Hester*
Band
Jessica Amerson
Ellie Amerson
Kylie Brook
Taylor Brook*
Anna Donald*
Amber Freeman
Magen Hardy
Austin Hill
Adrian King
Triston Long
Kyle Smith
Kent Smith*
Jessica Stacey
Samuel Stott
LaDarrius Thames
Kendrick Walker*
Emily Walston
Madison Weber
Pit
Tristan Brown
Hunter Dettling*
Davy Hanks
Abbie Johnson
Darion Riley
Jeremy Stacey*
Drum Line
Donald Baity*
Dylan Baker
Jonathan Elliott
Cheyanne Merchant
Benjamin Stott
Maxwell Townson
David Weber
Tristan Williams
Dance
Morgan Digmon*
Anna Fischer*
Leah Fischer
Chloe Leonard*
Jessica Lowery*
Shelby Nielsen*
Bethany Reynolds
Danielle Scott*
Rebekah Sepulveda*
Lily Townson*
Majorettes
Julie Hester
Brianna Smith
Morgan Wiggins
Color Guard
Tabitha Chavers
Sarah Dutton
Mashama Codrington*
Jasmine Maher*
Brittany Martin*
Morgan Packer
Paula Spicer
Pictured top and below: The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band’s annual award ceremony Thursday night. Photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flood Warning Continues For Escambia River; Crest On Saturday
May 16, 2014
A flood warning continues for the Escambia River near Century until further notice.
Thursday night, the stage was 18.4 feet. Minor flooding was occurring and minor flooding is forecast. The flood stage is 17 feet. The river will crest to near 20.4 feet on Saturday then begin falling by early Sunday morning.
At 19.0 feet, low lying pastures will flood and cattle should be moved to higher ground.
No Injuries In Pine Forest Road School Bus Crash
May 16, 2014
A Mississippi driver was ticketed Thursday afternoon after hitting a rear-ended a school bus.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 21-year old Erin Johnson of Ridgeland, MS, was northbound on Pine Forest Road near Sharon Lane and rear-ended the bus which was stopped at a scheduled bus stop. Johnson, bus driver Amarilys Dominguez and the seven students on the bus were not injured.
Johnson was cited for careless driving by the FHP.