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In just a few weeks, Escambia County Habitat for Humanity will begin a new build in the county and the group is looking for volunteers to help in the project. Habitat Director Shae Hines said volunteer labor helps to keep costs down when a home is built or renovated by the organization. “We pass along expenses of building a home, or remodeling a home for our partner families at the close of the project,” Hines said. “Any work that we can get completed using volunteer efforts helps keep the total cost down for the new homeowner.” Hines said th...
The Escambia County Health Care Authority (ECHCA) announced Monday the planned retirement of D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital (DWM) Administrator, Rick Owens, on Dec. 31, 2021. Owens has approximately 32 years of healthcare related experience with multiple health systems in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Owens joined D.W. McMillan in 2004 and served as CFO prior to becoming administrator. "We are very grateful for all of Rick's contributions to the success of DWM and for his leadership for the...
A shooting last Friday morning in Frisco City that caused the death of an innocent citizen, injured a sheriff's deputy and the shooter has drawn attention to the state's mental health system. Charles Dale, who is also referred to as Rat, shot and killed a convenience store customer during an attempted car-jacking in front of the store on the west side of Bowden Street. During an exchange of gunfire with Dale, Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Lindsey injured his shoulder while trying to take...
Jerry W. Keese was born on November 5, 1937 and was raised in Anderson, South Carolina. He graduated from Anderson College, went on to Furman University to earn his bachelor's degree in history. He attended Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and earned his Master's Degree in Religious Education and later another Master's in Religious Theology. He completed his doctorate degree in May of 2003 from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana that was accredited by the...
Drinking water safety is a real concern for many with questionable local water supply. A 2019 Gallup poll indicated 83 percent of Southerners are more concerned about contaminated drinking water than climate change. Karnita Garner, an Extension environmental specialist, said although regulations to test local water supplies have long been in use in communities, public concern over the safety of drinking water is still on the rise. “The Safe Drinking Water Act was put in place in 1974,” Garner said. “However, recent water quality issue...
Chris Burnham said he wants to bring hope back to Flomaton as the 50-year old Air Force veteran announces he has qualified to run for mayor of Flomaton in the Aug. 25 municipal elections. "It is with great pleasure to announce I have decided to run for mayor for the town of Flomaton," Burnham said. "I am wanting to bring back integrity, reliability and dependability to the local government. My overall goal is to listen to the citizens and to help make our hometown prosper." "I am the son of...
Trees are a coveted asset in the yard—that is until the trees present a hazard. Recognizing these potential tree hazards in the early stages could save a tree, as well as your wallet. Identifying Potential Tree Hazards Leans One of the first major signs of a hazard is a tree with a recent lean. Trees can lean naturally; they might be growing towards the light or away from other trees and structures. Beau Brodbeck, Alabama Extension community forestry and arboriculture specialist, said, “You should be very worried about a tree if a storm has...
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System Cotton Scouting School is iconic. For 60 years, Extension scientists taught the Scouting School in person and hands-on. But the 61st Cotton Scouting School is going digital—pushed to an online version because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The short course will be July 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. via Zoom. Growers, consultants, scouts and other are encouraged to attend just as they would an in-person scouting school. Alabama Extension cotton, peanut and soybean entomologist Scott Graham will facilitate the c...
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) was informed via self-reporting that one (1) staff member at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala. has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual along with three other staff members from correctional facilities around the state, promptly self-quarantined under the direction of their healthcare providers. The ADOC’s Office of Health Services (OHS) has initiated investigations to determine which, if any, ADOC inmates or employees may have had direct, prolonged exposure to these staff m...
Due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in our local area, the Escambia River Electric Co-operative (EREC) lobby in Jay is closed to the public effective Monday, July 6, until further notice. The drive-through will remain open. EREC encourages its members to utilize remote options for electric service. Payments may be made by mail, online at www.erec.com, telephone autopay, EREC app or by night depository. Services such as opening or closing an electric, water or internet account; making changes to your services; inquiring about your account...
Snakes are found just about anywhere. Inevitably, humans and snakes will cross paths. Like everything in nature, snakes play an important role in their environments. While many people may have a fear or dislike the slithering creatures, there are many tasks they perform that help keep the natural balance. Understanding the roles they play in the environment may help open people’s eyes to see the importance of these creatures. Nature’s Pest Control Many snake species are fairly opportunistic when it comes to their prey. However, Bence Car...
Escambia County (Ala.) will get a share of $192,264 awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey to Community Action Agency (CAA) of South Alabama to assist low-income and elderly residents with improvements to their homes to lower energy costs and improve home safety. CAA serves Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox counties. Ivey awarded a total of 14 grants totaling $2.9 million to support Alabama’s Weatherization Assistance Program which provides funds to keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in summer and makes them more ene...
The U.S. Treasury Department recently gave a $6 million community development award to United Bank, in Atmore, in south Alabama, one of the largest awards in the department’s Capital Magnet Fund program. The Capital Magnet Fund promotes investment in affordable housing and related economic development efforts that serve low-income families and low-income communities across the country. The awards go to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Funds such as UB Community Bank, the Atmore bank’s CDFI. United Bank was one of only 38 ent...
The 2020 Statewide “Don’t Drop It On Alabama” Spring Cleanup will be held the entire month of April. The cleanup is held annually and coordinated by Alabama PALS (People Against a Littered State), which also coordinates and implements the Alabama Coastal Cleanup (partnership with ADCNR), the Alabama Clean Campus Program, the Alabama Adopt A Mile and Adopt A Stream programs (partnership with ALDOT) statewide. Each of these efforts are made possible through partnerships with business and industry, state associations, and state agencies that...
Children's of Alabama launched a new mobile application designed to identify toxic plants and venomous and poisonous animals today, offering Alabamians a simple resource to identify potentially dangerous plants, insects, snakes and common household items from a mobile device. The app, entitled ‘Poison Perils of Alabama’, is free and can be downloaded for both iOS and Android devices. The resource was designed to make parents, grandparents, teachers and other caregivers aware of the plants, snakes, insects and household items that the Ala...
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 27, 2020 by President Donald J. Trump, the local community will receive a combined total of $1,325,041 in Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Escambia County will receive an allocation of $872,881 in funding, and the City of Pensacola will receive an allocation of $452,160. This funding distribution through HUD consists of $2 billion of an overall $5 billion allocation...
Maverick took advantage of a recent brief shutdown of the Jay Field in the Florida panhandle to perform previously planned, field-wide maintenance, and facility improvements. These actions rendered the field more efficient and even safer. As of Monday, June 22, 2020, the scheduled Jay facility upgrades are complete and production has resumed. According to Maverick’s Sarah Payne, “Safety is of paramount importance to Maverick Natural Resources....
Fresh from the garden vegetables make any meal better. While many fresh garden vegetables are available this time of year, there is a way to have the same fresh selections all year long. With a few simple steps, people can freeze and store almost every garden vegetable. Having high-quality frozen vegetables that keep their taste and nutrients relies heavily on the selection, preparation and storing processes. Selection Bridgette Brannon, an Alabama Extension food safety and quality regional agent, said the best vegetables to freeze are ones...
Cogongrass is one of the most significant non-native invasive plants in Alabama. Not only does it invade a wide variety of habitats, but it also disrupts ecosystem function, particularly through fire regimes and fire intensity. Thrives On Fire “Cogongrass is a fire-adapted species that thrives on fire,” Nancy Loewenstein, an Alabama Extension forestry, wildlife and natural resources specialist said. It burns easily and at extremely high temperatures in part because of its leaf characteristics but also because plants often have highly fla...
This year's hurricane season appears to be developing into an active one. Now, only three days from the official beginning of hurricane season (June 1), three storms have already been named. Two named storms developed before June 1 while a third earned the name Cristobal on Tuesday. Forecaster Predictions for 2020 For the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 30 percent chance of a...
Even before the onset of COVID-19, scams and fraud ran rampant in many parts of society. More often than not, many of these cases involve older adults. In fact, older adults lose billions of dollars each year because of scams or fraud. “Given their age-associated vulnerabilities, older adults are prime targets for many scams,” said Dorothy Brandon, an Alabama Extension consumer sciences and personal financial management specialist. While some cases are committed by professionals or strangers, an overwhelming number of them dealing with old...
Water plays an essential role in the environment. People use it in many aspects of their daily lives such as cooking, washing clothes, bathing and most importantly, drinking. While the Earth is covered by approximately 70 percent water, only one percent of that is easily accessible for human use. “For the majority of the people in this country, some of the safest water in the world is just a turn of the tap away,” said Roosevelt Robinson, an Alabama Extension forestry and natural resources regional agent. “Other parts of the world are not s...
D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton has announced that Stacy Hines has been named as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Hines will be responsible to develop short and long-term strategies and tactics to assure operational excellence, management and control for the hospital and related entities. This will include development of new business lines of service to drive growth and provide oversight to ensure the hospital continues to progress in alignment with the strategic plan. "Initially,...
The American Red Cross will be at Walmart, located at 3371 South Alabama Avenue, from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 11 for blood donations. The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate in the weeks and months ahead by downloading the free Red Cross Blood...
Deer season 2020 is in the books and turkey season just came to a gobbling close. An Alabama Cooperative Extension System forestry, wildlife and natural resource management regional agent said many hunters ignore their hunting properties through the summer months, but attention to the wildlife plot is still important. Bence Carter said summer is an ideal time for hunters to enhance their property to benefit wildlife throughout the year. He recommends making plans for property maintenance during the winter months. However, it is not too late to...
