New Coast Guard Stamp Unveiled At NAS Pensacola Ceremony
August 19, 2015
A new United States Coast Guard stamp was unveiled Tuesday at the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Congressman Jeff Miller, senior managers of the U.S. Postal Service, and Coast Guardsmen past and present were on hand for the dedication and unveiling of the new stamp issued to commemorate the 225th birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard, which began as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790.
Students Head Back To Class (With Photo Gallery)
August 18, 2015
Monday was the first day of school across the area, with tens of thousands of students heading back to class.
We asked NorthEscambia.com readers to submit their back to school photos.
For a photo gallery, click here.
We apologize, but due to a tremendous response, we were unable to publish all photos, and we are unable to add additional photos to the gallery.
Blessing The New School Year: Prayer Walk Held At Byrneville Elementary
August 16, 2015
A Prayer Walk was held Saturday morning at Byrneville Elementary School. Students and adults from Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia prayed for the Lord’s blessings upon the upcoming school year. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Gulf Coast Baptist Celebrates Move Into New Auditorium
August 15, 2015
The Gulf Coast Baptist Church will celebrate their new auditorium with an open house on Sunday.
Through financial gifts, missionary from Continental Baptist Missions in Michigan, local construction companies and a grant from the Lasko Foundation, the church will move into the new auditorium debt-free.
Everyone is welcome to attend a special service and the open house at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Gulf Coast Baptist Church at 1499 Chemstrand Road.
Century Health And Rehab Center Celebrates National Hippies Day
August 15, 2015
The residents of Century Health and Rehabilitation Center tie-dyed t-shirts to celebrate Saturday’s National Hippies Day. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Students Meet Their Teachers, Attend Orientation Events
August 14, 2015
Thousands of Escambia County students and parents attended “meet the teacher” and school orientation events Thursday. The first day of school is Monday. Pictured: Incoming Bulldogs had a chance to meet their teachers Thursday morning at Bratt Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A Blessed School Year: Prayer Walk Held At Molino Park Elementary
August 13, 2015
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Students and adults from Highland Baptist Church prayed for the Lord’s blessings on the upcoming school year.
Prior to the prayer walk, volunteers worked to clean up the school grounds.
Pictured: A prayer walk Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wu Name NW Florida League Of Cities Municipal Officer Of The Year
August 13, 2015
Pensacola council member P.C. Wu has been named the Municipal Officer of the Year by the Northwest Florida League of Cities. Wu has served as the Pensacola director on for the NWFLC for 10 yeares. He served as the Legislative Chair beginning in 2007 and moved up the executive committee ranks to become president of the NWFLC in 2009. He also served on the Florida League of Cities, including a term as president in 2013. He also services on the National League of Cities board of directors. Photo courtesy City of Pensacola for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jerry Davis Named Northwest Florida Agriculture Innovator of the Year
August 9, 2015
Jerry Davis of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has been selected as the Northwest Florida Agriculture Innovator of the Year.
Davis has been at the forefront of agricultural success in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties for many years. He has been a very progressive leader in many movements to improve farming techniques throughout the state. He comes from a farming family, growing soybeans and wheat in his youth.
The family tradition of farming continues to this day as his wife Patty, and daughter Caitlynn have been very active in the farming operation that has included cotton, peanuts, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, livestock and other crops. Early on, Davis designed a seed conditioning plant (to clean and bag seed for planting) at age 20 for the family farm, and after that, he began farming in 1984.
Davis has been on the cutting edge in adopting new technology for agriculture. In 1987, he became involved with the Extension service in testing a cotton crop simulation model and expert system developed by scientists in USDA-ARS and Mississippi State and Clemson Universities.
Davis attended several training sessions with the agent at Mississippi State University, and tested the model for many years on his farm. The computer model benefited program participants by allowing them to optimize inputs in relation to weather, nitrogen, moisture stress, crop maturity, growth resultants, and harvest aid materials. Data collected was provided to researchers for model improvement, and data showed that growers participating in the project increased net profits on test fields by more than $30 per acre.
The Davis Farm adopted no-till in 1985, ahead of the trend. In no-till farming, farmers plant and fertilize directly into the soil without tilling it first. Undisturbed topsoil and organic matter, including the remains of the previous crop, composts naturally, acting as a built-in natural fertilizer. The organic matter also serves to hold moisture in the soil.
Over the years, he’s diversified into other row crops as well as livestock and vegetables, but his mainstay has always been row crops.
Davis is widely considered an early adopter of innovations and is ready and willing to try new concepts on his farm. He has partnered with UF/IFAS on variety trials and projects over the years, but most recently, he has tried his hand at growing carinata, which can be processed into a ready-to-use biofuel.
Researchers are working to determine if carinata can be successfully grown in the Panhandle for use as oilseeds. The seeds would be crushed, and the resulting product would be refined for use as a renewable source of jet fuel.
Though Davis and his crew are busy farming multiple thousands of acres, he has always had time to work with Extension through committee work, as the leader of a tour, or as a sounding board. For the past several years, he has played a major role in the West Florida Research and Education Center’s Farm-City Week Celebration. His farm purchases and donates the sweet potatoes that are included in the box of Thanksgiving food that is given to pre-qualified needy recipients in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Much of the produce in the box is grown at the WFREC, but the sweet potatoes come from Baldwin County, courtesy of the Davis Family.
Davis is very civic minded and has worked diligently to advance the interests of the farming community. For many years he has been a spokesman for farmers at the local, state, and national levels. He has worked with policy makers to ensure disaster legislation and positive Federal Farm Bills.
by Libby Johnson, Escambia County Extension, and NorthEscambia.com
Pictured top: Jerry Davis harvests wheat. Pictured top inset: Northwest Florida Agriculture Innovator of the Year Jerry Davis. Pictured lower inset: Davis and his wife Patty. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Showband Presents Preview Show (With Video)
August 8, 2015
The Tate High School Showband of the South presented a preview show of the 2015 halftime show Friday evening.
Video is below, courtesy of the Tate High School Showband of the South.
(If you do not see the video, it is because your work, school or home firewall is block YouTube videos.)