Flomaton Opens New, Expanded Library
November 10, 2010
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday for the new Flomaton Public Library.
“It will allow us to offer many more services because it has so much more room,” said Librarian Faye Knowles. “It is a great facility.”
The town’s old library was only 2,400 square feet, while the new library is nearly four times that size. The extra space will allow the library the room to increase its book collection, provide space for meetings and programs, and offer room for library patrons to sit and read or use the wireless Internet access.
Residents outside of Flomaton are also able to enjoy the library, Knowles said, with library cards available to residents of both Alabama and Florida at no charge. Proper identification and a complete library card application are required.
The new Flomaton Public Library is located at the corner of Church and Houston streets, one block east of Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) in the downtown area. The library is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday. For more information, call (850) 296-3552.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward FFA Names Officers
November 8, 2010
Officers were recently selected for the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA chapter. Officers are (back, L-R) Allison Woodfin, teasurer; Aden Davis, chaplain; Tiffani Cruce, president; Madison McGhee, photographer; (middle, L-R) Jaylen Parker, vice president; Haylee Weaver, reporter; Addy Lee, parliamentarian; Haley Brown, secretary; Bethany Reynolds, sentinel; and Miranda Vidak, historian. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 7, 2010
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their annual fish fry Saturday.
The Officer of the Year Award was presented to Diann Stewart, who has given “a lot of blood, sweat and tears to the department and stayed in the department while taking care of her family in an exceptional way,” according to District Chief Chris Brown.
Gerry Steege was named Firefighter of the Year, an award chosen by his peers.
Founding members Vern Peters and Bob Mininger were recognized for their part in forming the fire department in 1965.
Saturday’s fish fry marked the 41st annual event for the department, with 613 fish and chicken plates sold.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department also presented their annual Community Service Award to NorthEscambia.com for service to the Walnut Hill community and the department.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Chad Rigby breads catfish Saturday morning during the department’s annual catfish fry. Picture inset: Diann Stewart was named Officer of the Year. Pictured below: Gerry Streege was named Firefighter of the Year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Steak Parmesan With Grilled Vegetables
November 7, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a Steak Parmesan with Grilled Vegetables. Fire up the grill, because this will be an instant hit at your next tailgate party. This dish’s blend of Parmesan, spices and a smoky-grilled flavor will score a real touchdown.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Fill Voids In Landscape With Shrubs
November 6, 2010
Occasionally gardeners will lose a shrub in their landscapes. This typically results in an unsightly void. Or perhaps you chose a beautiful shrub but put it in a location which it quickly outgrew. Fall is the best time of the year to plant new shrubs and transplant those that may need a new home.
When planting new shrubs, take the time to choose plants that will meet your design requirement and will be the right size for your location. Trying to artificially manipulate a plant’s size or height by pruning should be avoided in the landscape, unless you are an expert at topiaries.
Another consideration when choosing shrubs is their leaf-retaining characteristics. Evergreen plants always have green leaves on the plant; however, they do drop foliage throughout the year. Deciduous plants drop all of their leaves at one time of the year, usually late fall.
Deciduous plants typically add beautiful floral displays to the landscape. Evergreen plants will provide the backbone of the design. The well-designed landscape will contain both deciduous and evergreen shrubs.
Northwest Florida gardeners can choose from a wide variety of beautiful shrubs. Some popular choices include azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, cleyera, holly and gardenias. For more options and information, refer to a University of Florida publication titled “Selected Shrubs for North Florida.” It’s available online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg344 or by calling your local Extension Office.
The best time to add new shrubs to the landscape is when we experience cooler weather, fall through early spring. To ensure success, be sure to follow proper procedures when planting the shrub. Correct planting and proper aftercare will prevent problems in the future.
Begin by digging a hole at least twice as wide as and no deeper than the root ball. After digging, ensure that about one to two inches of the root ball is raised above the level of the surrounding soil. Remember the old saying, “Plant it high, it won’t die. Plant it low, it won’t grow.”
Probably one of the most overlooked steps is correcting root problems prior to planting. Shrubs that are planted with circling roots will always have circling roots and can abruptly fall over in high winds. Use your hands or a knife to loosen any roots that have been matted while growing in the container. Also, cut through any circling roots.
After you backfill the hole with the soil you removed, water-in the plant to release any air pockets. Mulch with three inches of organic mulch such as pine straw after planting is completed, but never on top of the root ball.
If you have decided to transplant a shrub, consider the following. Shrubs have better transplant tolerance than trees, deciduous plants better than evergreens, shallow rooted species better than deep rooted species, and younger plants better than older plants. Plants which are already in advanced stages of decline are likely to succumb to transplantation stress.
Dig as large a rootball as you can handle and follow the normal planting procedures. Aftercare is critical to a transplanted shrub’s survival, with proper watering perhaps the most important practice. Remember that sprinkler systems are not designed to establish trees and shrubs, so hand watering or a slow-drip system is recommended. Talk to your local Extension Agent for specific instructions.
You can have better success with planting or transplanting shrubs when you do it in the fall. Just be sure to follow established procedures and tend to the shrub for several months after planting.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.. Photo credit - David Marshall.
Century Police Department Cruiser Back On The Road
November 4, 2010
A Century Police Department cruiser is back on the road, thanks to the handiwork of a North Escambia man.
Jason Stein of Cantonment purchased the inoperable 1991 Ford LTD cruiser for $300 from the Town of Century, and he has restored it to be a near-replica of the original, complete with a Century Police door decal and the original blue flashing lights.
When the Century Police Department was disbanded in the early 1990’s, the car and law enforcement duties were turned over to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office repainted the car and used it until about 1994, Stein said, before giving it back to the town where it was used as an administrative vehicle. By the time Stein purchased the car in 2008, it had been sitting for four or five years.
“I am very pleased with the results so far, but it’s not complete,” he said. “I have really enjoyed working on it.”
The number “26″ on the car is the original Century Police Department fleet number, and the door shield logo is as correct as possible he said. The blue lights are original and restored.
The blue light bar is removable, he said, while the police department markings on the car are removable magnetic signs to keep the car street legal.
Stein, who is a law enforcement dispatcher at Pensacola NAS, recently displayed the car in the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show, and it will be on display this Saturday at a car show at the Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola. In addition, Stein is a member of Panhandle Cruisers and participates in their car show most Saturday nights from 7 until 9 at the Burger King at Nine Mile and Chemstrand roads.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Release First Nine Weeks Honor Roll
November 4, 2010
The following students were named to the first nine weeks honor roll at Byrneville Elementary School:
First Grade: Mrs. Rogers
A’s:
Tessa Flowers
A’s and B’s:
Cody Adams
Hunter Borelli
Nevaeh Brown
Kaleb Ellis
Dalton Hanks
Alyssa Jordan
Julianna Moore
First Grade: Mrs. Thornton
A’s:
Shelby Cotita
Taylor Levins
Dillon Spears
A’s and B’s:
Grace Blackmon
Bama Coburn
Kaitlyn Gafford
Lillie McCall
Torka Mills
Second Grade: Mrs. Lambeth
A’s:
Luke Watson
A’s and B’s:
Logan Bryan
Sophia Cotita
Maggie Mae Cufr
Maille Kilcrease
Tyler Merchant
Ty Rolin
David Wiggins
Third Grade: Mrs. Dunsford
A’s and B’s:
Skyler Busbee
Hannah Merchant
Waylon Milstead
Lea Nall
Cloe Smith
Third Grade: Mrs. Weaver
A’s:
Alex Glidewell
Nicholas Trump
A’s and B’s:
Madicyn Bell
Jacob Coleman
Valorie Padilla
Savannah Steadham
Olivia Watson
Fourth Grade: Mrs. Gilmore
A’s:
Kris Baxter
Seth Killam
Tanner Levins
Destiny Payne
A’s and B’s
Austin Adams
Olivia Porter
Faith Watters
4th grade: Ms. Levins
A’s
Courtney Payne
A’s and B’s
Jacob Borelli
Matthew Caine
Rebecca Diamond
Colby Graham
Paige Killam
Sarah Nelson
5th grade: Mrs. Johnston
A’s
Anna Belle Barberree
Kayla Galvan
Abby Hammond
Shellie Harrelson
Beau Henderson
Bailee Hinote
Alaina Rolin
Jayda Warner
A’s and B’s
Jenna Black
Cole Hassebrock
Tori Lee
Jessica Muse
Patience Newsome
Meagan Reid
Destiny Watson
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students Of The Month
November 4, 2010
Students of the month for September and October have been named at Ernest Ward Middle School.
September students of the month are (pictured above, L-R) Hunter Cofield, Ben Linam, and Trevor Levins. October students of the month are (below, L-R) Kayleigh Linam, Penny Banda, and Liberty Peebles.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Walnut Hill Tornado?
November 3, 2010
A NorthEscambia.com reader took these interesting photos that appear to show a possible funnel cloud Tuesday afternoon. Steven Godwin snapped the photos with his cell phone as he traveled along Highway 97 near Kansas Road in Walnut Hill.
WEAR TV 3 Meteorologist Allen Strum told NorthEscambia.com that the pictures “certainly look like a funnel cloud”; however, he said that radar did not indicate any severe weather near Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon.
There were no weather watches or warnings for North Escambia Tuesday afternoon, and there were no damage reports received.
Submitted photos by Steven Godwin for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: No Monkeying Around
November 2, 2010
No monkeying around — the ladies of the Molino Homemaker’s Club took a first place prize for their booth at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
The booth entitled “No more MONKEYS jumping on the bed” featured a happy family of handmade sock monkeys in a playful setting of an old fashioned bedroom. The booth also includes instructions for making the simple toys.
Members of the club that worked on the booth, stitched quilts and created sock monkeys were Nancy Holland, Elizabeth Barlow, Barbara Jones, Carolyn Peterson, Frances Cheney, Becky Dorch, Terri Brown, Dawn Johnson, April Glass, Lucile Whitegon and Millie Brantley.
The next meeting of the Molino Homemakers Club will be Wednesday, November 3 at 10 a.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. Annual membership dues are just $5, and anyone is welcome to join.
Submitted photos by Terri Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.