Highway 97 Traffic Moving To Temporary Bridge On Tuesday
May 12, 2018
Traffic on Highway 97 over Sandy Hollow Creek near Davisville in Escambia County will be transitioned to a temporary bridge on Tuesday.
The Florida Department of Transportation said motorists may encounter minor delays as workers prepare to switch traffic. Once the transition is complete, crews will begin replacing the 78-year-old structure with a new 12-foot wide bridge with eight-foot shoulders and a concrete barrier railing. The bridge approaches will also be resurfaced. The entire project is anticipated to be complete in the fall of this year, weather permitting.
FDOT is reminding drivers to slow down to the posted 45 mph speed limit and to use caution when approaching the temporary bridge. A weight restriction is in place on the temporary bridgel vehicles weighing over 88,000 pounds and cranes are prohibited.
Ag Interests Spread Cash In Florida Ag Commissioner Race
May 12, 2018
From farmers to horse trainers, agricultural interests put up more than $100,000 in April to support three candidates running for Florida agriculture commissioner, with U.S. Sugar Corp. accounting for $30,000, new finance reports show.
Republicans Denise Grimsley of Sebring, Matt Caldwell of North Fort Myers and Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven each topped six figures in April fundraising, with Troutman’s numbers aided by continued self-funding, according to the reports posted Thursday on the state Division of Elections website.
The three are among six candidates — four Republicans, two Democrats — seeking to replace Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who is running for governor this year.
Grimsley, a state senator, reported collecting $189,485 in April through her campaign account and the political committee known as Saving Florida’s Heartland.
With just over $1 million on hand in the two accounts as May kicked off, Grimsley drew $60,100 last month from people and businesses with ties to construction, development and real estate, $26,050 from agricultural interests and $13,820 from health care-related donors.
“Our positive vision and message continues to resonate with conservatives,” Grimsley said in a prepared statement.
Grimsley is a registered nurse and hospital administrator whose family has long been involved in citrus and cattle.
Grimsley’s committee received a $10,000 contribution from U.S. Sugar, long a major player in Florida politics. Other top contributors during the month included Pospiech Contracting of Inverness, $25,000; the Florida Prosperity Fund, which is tied to the business advocacy group Associated Industries of Florida, $15,000; and the health-care consulting firm North American Health Services, $10,000.
Caldwell, a state House member, posted just under $160,000 in contributions in April to his campaign account and the political committee Friends of Matt Caldwell, according to numbers on the election division’s website.
The two accounts held a combined $1.13 million as May got underway.
Caldwell’s campaign also touted that he’s raised nearly $2 million since filing to run in May 2017.
“Momentum is on our side,” Caldwell said in a statement.
Caldwell’s April money included $15,000 from the Voice of Florida Business PAC, which is tied to Associated Industries of Florida, and $10,000 from Disney Worldwide Services.
Caldwell also received $44,250 from people and businesses tied to farming, including $10,000 from U.S. Sugar and $5,000 from Collier Enterprises Management. Horse breeders, trainers and associations ponied up a combined $18,750.
He also received $11,000 from the construction industry and $3,000 from the Florida Phosphate Political Committee.
Troutman, a former state House member who is a grandson of the late Florida citrus and cattle magnate Ben Hill Griffin, Jr., put another $100,000 of his own money into the campaign in April. He also gathered $55,750 in contributions to his campaign account and his political committee known as iGrow.
With $2.8 million of his own money now in the contest, Troutman started April with about $2.9 million on hand in the accounts.
His April money included $35,900 from agricultural interests, including $15,000 from Winter Haven-based Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch and $10,000 from U.S. Sugar. Troutman also received $15,000 from PACs tied to Associated Industries of Florida.
Republican candidate Mike McCalister, a retired Army colonel from Plant City who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2010 and U.S. Senate in 2012, posted a single contribution in April of $2 from a member of the Florida National Guard from Lakeland. That was the only money McCalister had raised since opening a campaign account March 13.
On the Democratic side, Homestead Mayor Jeffrey Porter recorded a single contribution of $3,000 to his campaign account and $32,000 to his political committee Friends of Jeff Porter.
His largest contribution, $20,000, was from At Homestead Place, an assisted living facility.
Porter started May with $53,302 in the two accounts.
Democrat David Walker, a marine biologist from Fort Lauderdale, raised $6,587 in April while putting up $37,251 of his own money.
Walker, who ended April with $49,894 in his campaign account, had put $59,793 of his own money into the contest.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Fourth Graders Visit State Capitol
May 12, 2018
Fourth graders from Byrneville Elementary School visited the Florida State Capitol on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: Using Water Wisely In Your Landscape
May 12, 2018
by Ray Bodrey UF/IFAS
It’s a struggle to manage Panhandle landscapes, especially over the late spring-summer months. Small adjustments can mean significant impacts in conserving water.
Some homeowners are not aware that watering plants too much can have as much of an ill effect as not watering enough. Shallow rooted plants, as well as newly set plants can easily become water stressed. Some people lightly water their plants each day. With this practice, one is only watering an inch or less of the topsoil. Most plant roots are deeper than this.
Instead of a light watering every day, soaking the plant a few times a week is best. A soil that has been soaked will retain moisture for several days. This is a very good practice for young plants. In contrast, some people soak their plants to often. This essential drowns the roots by eliminating vital oxygen in the root zone. This can also cause root rot. Signs of overwatering are where leaves turn brown at the tips or edges, as well as leaf drop.
The following are tips from the UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscape Program. These tips will help conserve water and provides best management practices for landscapes.
- Choose the right plant for the right place: Be sure to place plants in your landscape that match conditions with plant needs.
- Water Thoughtfully: Of course, follow water restrictions first and foremost. Water early in the morning and water when plants and turfgrass start to wilt. Refrain from watering in the late afternoon or evening. This is when insects and diseases are most active.
- Perform regular irrigation maintenance: Remember, an irrigation system is only effective if it is maintained regularly. Check for and repair leaks. If using a pop-up heads for turfgrass, point heads away from driveways and sidewalks.
- Calibrate turfgrass irrigation system: Ideal amount of water to apply to turfgrass is ½”- ¾”. A simple test can be done to calibrate. Place a coffee or tuna cans throughout the landscape. Run the irrigation system for 30 minutes. Average the depth of the water containers. Adjust running time to apply the ½”- ¾” rate.
- Use microirrigation in gardens and individual plants: Drip or microspray irrigation systems apply water directly to the root system with limited surface evaporation.
- Make a rain barrel: Rain barrels are an inexpensive way to capture rainwater from your roof. This can translate into a big impact on your water bill as well.
- Mulch plants: Mulch helps keep moisture in the root zone. Two to three inches in depth, for a few feet in diameter will work well for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables.
- Mow correctly: Mowing your grass at the highest recommended length is key. Be sure to cut no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow. Keep mowing blades sharp as dull cuts often cause grass to be prone to disease.
- Be a weather watcher: Wait at least 24 hours after a rainfall event to water. If rain is in the forecast, wait 48 hours until irrigating. Use a rain gauge or install a rain shut-off device to monitor irrigation scheduling.
Tate’s Jacob Nowling Signs With Division II Carson-Newman For Football, Fishing
May 12, 2018
Jacob Nowling, a fourth generation Tate High School Aggie, has signed to play football with Division II, Southern Atlantic Conference powerhouse Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, TN.
Nowling started playing football with the Cantonment Cowboys at age six.. He was coached by Jason Lassiter, Tim Barnes and Keith Moore in his early years. After joining the Aggies football team as a freshman, Nowling was coached and mentored by Coach Lindsey and Coach Williamson. Nowling was the starting center for the Aggies varsity team during both his junior and senior years.
While at Tate, he was also a member of the wrestling team, Tate FFA and Tate Veterinary Science Academy.
Nowling has also signed with Carson-Newman to be a member of the Eagle Angler Collegiate Fishing Team. He will pursue a degree in business. He said he is looking forward to the challenge of competing at the next level.
The Most Popular Baby Names Are…
May 12, 2018
Emma and Liam are America’s most popular baby names for 2017.
This marks the first time Liam has bested the boys, beating Noah for the top spot, and the fourth straight year for Emma. Liam first crawled into the top 10 in 2012 and has been reaching for the highest honor ever since. In other huge baby name news, Michael has been bumped from the top 10 for the first time since World War II, landing at number 12 this year. Emily also fell out of the top 10 for the first time since 1990.
There are several new names in the top 10–Amelia and Evelyn make the list–Amelia for the first time and Evelyn for the first time since 1915. These traditional names show parents are keeping up the trend of naming daughters after grandmothers. Logan and Oliver are new for the boys, both making their first appearance on the list.
Fire Dept. Provides Flomaton Field Day Cool Down
May 12, 2018
Friday was Field Day at Flomaton Elementary School, and the weather was hot. The Flomaton Fire Department provided a wet cool down, with fireman Dylan Emmons and furture fireman Noah Patterson manning the hose. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Birmingham In Series Finale
May 12, 2018
It looked like a long night was in store for Wyatt Strahan (W, 4-2) after the Barons scored four runs in the first two innings of the game. Instead, Strahan turned in one of his best starts of the year as the Wahoos came from behind to win Friday’s finale 6-4 at Regions Field.
The Barons’ start to the game was a microcosm of the entire series between these two teams. In the first inning, the Barons jumped ahead on a two-run home run from Zack Collins, and immediately doubled their lead in the second when Keon Barnum launched a two-run shot of his own. That marked Birmingham’s 21st home run against the Wahoos throughout the 10 games, which is exactly half of the total home runs allowed by Blue Wahoos pitching this season (42.)
But after those two innings, Strahan slammed the door shut on the hosts for the rest of his outing. The USC graduate retired 17 of the final 18 Barons before he was lifted, having completed seven strong innings for his longest outing of the season. He also did not walk a batter for the first time this season and struck out four.
After Taylor Sparks chipped in a solo home run in the second inning to put the Pensacola on the board, the Wahoos scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4.
After an error and a walk, Shed Long laced a two-run triple off Barons starter Ian Clarkin (L, 3-4), and then scored on Luis Gonzalez’s RBI groundout. In the following inning, Gavin LaValley walked and then scored after Aristides Aquino crushed his third home run of the season to give the Wahoos a 6-4 lead. Pensacola tacked on a precious insurance run in the ninth inning after C.J. McElroy singled, stole a base, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on Gonzalez’s infield single to short.
The bullpen had to withstand some late-inning pressure from the Barons but held on to close out the win for the visitors. Carlos Navas hurled a scoreless eighth inning, which extended his team-best scoreless-inning streak to 9.2 innings. Alex Powers then entered the game in the ninth but was chased from the game after loading the bases and allowing a two-out single to Ryan Brett, which cut the Wahoos lead down to 7-6. Jody Davis then brought in Rafael De Paula (S, 2) to secure the final out, and after De Paula walked Collins to load the bases, he got Chicago White Sox top prospect, Eloy Jimenez to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Pensacola will continue their road trip with a five-game series against the first-place Biloxi Shuckers. Last season the Wahoos won 11 of their 20 matchups against the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate; however, the Shuckers will enter play 11 games above .500. Daniel Wright (2-1, 6.42) will take the hill for the Blue Wahoos in search of his first win since April 16th. He will be opposed by Thomas Jankins (5-1, 3.63), who suffered his first loss of the year in his last outing.
Small Aircraft Crashes In Escambia, AL; Pilot Seriously Injured
May 11, 2018
A pilot was seriously injured in an ultralight crash in Escambia County, AL, on Friday.
The pilot was identified as Matthew Scott Newton of Pensacola. He was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was listed in stable condition with a badly injured leg.
The plane crashed on Darryl Dawe Lane about a mile from the Robinsonville Baptist Church, and about 4.5 miles from the Alabama/Florida state line. The plane lost power, clipped a tree and power line before crashing into a yard.
The crash is under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The aircraft is listed as experimental by the FAA.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Nine Mile Road Starbucks Stores Burglarized
May 11, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man that burglarized two Starbucks on Nine Mile Road early Friday morning.
Investigators said the white male “disabled the front door locks” to enter the businesses at 1701 East Nine Mile Road and 2200 West Nine Mile Road. He is described as about six feet tall and was wearing blue jeans,a green jacket, black shoes and a scarf covering his face.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers (850) 433-STOP.
Images courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
