Escambia Extension To Offer Wildlife And Winter Forage Workshop
November 13, 2015
The UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension will be offering a wildlife and winter forage workshop for both youth and adults interested in learning more about livestock in the local community.
The free event will take place this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at the 4-H Outdoor Education Facilities (5681 Chalker Road, Molino). Activities will include soil testing and preparation, plot planting and a variety of techniques that can be used to extend the grazing season or attract wildlife.
All are welcomed to this no-cost event. To register or for more information, call (850) 475-5230 or email Libbie Johnson at libbiej@ufl.edu or Hank Bignell at hdbignell@ufl.edu
Judy Annette McDonald
November 13, 2015
Judy Annette McDonald was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Judy was born February 26, 1949, to W.T. (Bud) Shehan and the late Betty Jean McDonald. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Cecil and Elizabeth (Bessie) McDonald. Judy is preceded in death by one very special uncle, Billy McDonald and her twin sons, Christopher and Chandler Petty.
Judy is survived by her daughter and best friend, Lynn Petty McGhee and daughter by heart, Necole Rolin; one extra special grandson, Malcolm Troy McGhee, Jr. (TJ) and granddaughter by heart, Laura Marie Sells; two great-grandsons by heart, Keaton Lee Sells and Brylynn Lane Smedley. She is also survived by one sister, Rebecca Shehan Rolin (Doug) and one sister by heart, Ginger Troutman Caraway (Terry). Judy is survived by special niece and nephew, Teresa and Wayne Garrettson; and special great-nephew, Josiah Carter; very special friends, June, Jodie and Woodie. She also leaves behind her most precious puppy girl, Trudi J McDonald and the newest addition to our family, Sissy Pup. Judy will always be remembered for the exceptional mother, grandmother and friend she was. She will most certainly be missed. She loved and was loved by so many, too numerous to name, but each and every one of you know who you are. God bless you all.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 15, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. J.T. Guyton officiating.
Burial will follow at the Ray’s Chapel Cemetery.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Cantonment Man Charged For Store Armed Robbery
November 12, 2015
A Cantonment man has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery Tuesday in Navarre.
Daniel Ferry Lee, 31, was taken into custody Wednesday and booked into the Okaloosa County Jail for the armed robbery of the Underwood Food NERre on Highway 87 in Navarre.
According to an arrest report, Lee entered the store wearing mask and said “I am sorry, but I want the money” while armed with a knife. After the clerk handed over the money from the store’s register, Lee reportedly asked if there was more cash under the register.
The clerk told Lee “No! Now Go” by the employee. Witnesses say the he then fled the scene in a dark grey Lexus vehicle with no license plate.
Lee is expected to be returned to Santa Rosa County to face multiple felony charges including with fleeing with disregard of safety to person or property, assault on a officer and robbery with a weapon.
Mid 40’s Tonight
November 12, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Motorcyclist Injured In Cantonment
November 12, 2015
A motorcyclist was injured in a crash Wednesday afternoon in Cantonment.
The driver reportedly was thrown off the motorcycle and into a ditch in the 3:30 p.m. crash on Santa Rosa Road at Muscogee Road.
The motorcyclist was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight. Their condition was not available.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Escambia Resident Attacked By Rabid Fox
November 12, 2015
For the second time this year, a rabid fox has attacked an Escambia County resident.
The recent attack, during the daytime hours, occurred in the area of Dog Track Road. Back in July, an area resident was also attacked during the daytime hours in the Century area. In both cases, environmental health specialists collected tissue samples from the fox which were used by the state laboratory to confirm the presence of the rabies virus.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system. Without proper treatment, rabies can cause brain infection and death. Rabies is transmitted by a rabid animal by a bite, a scratch, or by contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. A series of “rabies shots” can protect a bite victim from developing the rabies infection, if given soon after the bite occurs.
“Rabies is a fatal infection but is preventable,” Dr. John Lanza, the FDOH-Escambia director. “It is important to not feed or pet wild and stray animals, to avoid animals that appear to be acting strangely, and to keep pets vaccinated against rabies. Persons who are bitten by a wild animal or an animal who has not been vaccinated against rabies should seek immediate medical care. Proper medical treatment of an animal bite can be life-saving.”
In Florida, raccoons, foxes, bats, and cats are the animals most frequently diagnosed with rabies. Other animals that are at high risk for rabies include dogs, bobcats, skunks, and otters. Because of their proximity to people, stray and unvaccinated cats and dogs pose a special risk.
- Individuals cannot always tell if an animal has rabies by looking at it. To against rabies, the health department recommends residents follow these steps:
- Teach your children not to go near wild and stray animals, and never keep them as pets.
- Vaccinate your dog, cat, ferret, or horse to protect against rabies. Keep vaccinations up-to-date.
- Do not feed your pets outside. The food may attract wild animals.
- Make sure your garbage is securely covered. Open garbage attracts wild and stray animals.
- Spay or neuter your pet to reduce its tendency to roam or fight.
- Do not let your pets roam freely or allow them to interact with wild or stray animals. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash at all times.
- Call Escambia County Animal Control, at (850) 595-0097, to remove stray animals from your neighborhood.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come into contact with people and pets.
- If your pet is bitten by another animal, immediately seek veterinary assistance for the animal and contact Escambia County Animal Control.
- If you are bitten by a wild animal, or by any animal that is acting strangely, seek medical care as soon as possible so that a physician can evaluate your risk of rabies infection and administer the rabies vaccine if appropriate.
DOH-Escambia’s Environmental Health division investigates animal bite reports, tests animals for rabies through the state laboratory, and orders animal quarantine as necessary. For more information, or to report an animal bite, contact the FDOH-Escambia Environmental Health office at (850) 595-6700 or visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.
Lawmakers Pitch Regulations For Florida Fantasy Sports
November 12, 2015
Two Republican lawmakers are filing legislation that would regulate the daily fantasy sports industry, which is the subject of a federal probe and lawsuits in Florida and other states focused on whether the popular online games are illegal gambling. Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach — both lawyers — issued a press release Tuesday with a draft version of their proposal.
The legislation would require all fantasy sports game operators to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and impose restrictions on who can play the games.
Employees, family members and owners of the fantasy sports websites could not participate in the games, and employees also could not share confidential information that could affect fantasy game played with third parties until the information is publicly available.
Players, officials and others affiliated with real sports teams could not participate in any fantasy game that is determined by the performance of the player, the team or the accumulated statistics of the team or player. Three million Floridians currently play some sort of fantasy sports games, according to industry insiders.
“I do not believe that these Floridians should be at risk of criminal prosecution for doing nothing more than participating in the fantasy sports contests they enjoy. However, due to a dated attorney general opinion, there is a need to clarify in Florida law that fantasy sports are legal, as well as institute commonsense regulations that address consumers,” Negron, who is slated to become the next Senate president, said in the press release.
The fast-growing daily fantasy sports industry is under scrutiny by prosecutors in New York and Tampa, where the U.S. Attorney’s Office recently subpoenaed the Florida-based Fantasy Sports Trade Association. Daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel, and the association have hired some of the state’s most influential lobbyists, and the association contributed at least $70,000 to political committees led by Florida lawmakers in September.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, told The News Service of Florida last month that he’s asked his lawyers to check into the fantasy sports industry, in which players pay entry fees to draft “teams” that compete against each other for cash prizes based on the actual performance of athletes.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview QB Club Hosting Community Pancake Supper Tonight
November 12, 2015
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will host a community wide pancake supper fundraiser for the Northview Chiefs football team tonight at 6:00 at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. $5 per plate and donations will be accepted.
The Quarterback Club is asking the community to come out and support the hometown team as they head to the first round of the playoffs.
The Chiefs will travel to Vernon High School Friday night.
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Turkey
November 12, 2015
Want a fried turkey but afraid to try it yourself? Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you on Wednesday, November 25, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $20 per turkey is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850) 384-9180 with questions or to schedule your time (leave a message if no answer). Reservations should be made early as they number of time slots is limited.
Bondi Not Challenging Marijuana Amendment
November 12, 2015
Though continuing to express concerns about a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana, Attorney General Pam Bondi is not challenging the wording of the ballot initiative.
The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments December 8 before deciding whether to approve the initiative’s wording, a key step as supporters seek to get the issue on the November 2016 ballot. Bondi fought a similar 2014 initiative at the Supreme Court, but justices allowed the measure to go before voters. Ultimately, the 2014 initiative failed to pass. P
eople United for Medical Marijuana, a political committee backing the legalization effort, tweaked the proposed 2016 ballot language to address concerns raised about the 2014 measure.
In a statement released by her office Monday, Bondi pointed to the 2014 ruling by the Supreme Court and indicated she would not challenge the revised initiative.
“Voters reviewed the language and at the polls made their decision that the (2014) amendment was bad for Florida,” Bondi said. “Based on the court’s decision in 2014, I have not filed a legal challenge to the current amendment, but my concerns with it are the same.”
If the Supreme Court approves the wording, supporters of the amendment will need to submit 683,149 valid petition signatures to get on next year’s ballot. They had submitted 346,804 as of Monday evening, according to the state Division of Elections website.
by The News Service of Florida