The Florida Climate Center in Tallahassee reported that our area saw more than 8 inches above normal rainfall in June and July.

More than 700 storms were recorded statewide, 200 of which were in the first week of July. Flooding meant washed out roads, drowned peanuts and exploded watermelons.

Yet, many landscape sprinkler systems were still running.

Where were the rain shut-off devices?

Conservation and savings

Florida is one of a few states with a rain sensor statute. Since May 1991, new installations of irrigation systems have been required to include a rain shut-off device.

Florida Statute 373.62 states, "Any person who operates an automatic landscape system shall properly install, maintain and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture."

Thus, all automatic landscape irrigation systems require rain sensors or other shut-off devices such as soil-moisture sensor irrigation controllers.

Moisture sensing technology conserves water, saves money, reduces wear on irrigation system components, reduces disease and helps protect water resources from runoff.

If water costs and amount of water applied per watering cycle are known, it is easy to calculate how much money is saved when the sensor interrupts the cycle.

For example, if a system irrigates a half-acre of turf and is set to deliver a half-inch of water to each zone, approximately 13,576 gallons of water will be used during each watering event.

If the water costs $2 per thousand gallons, every time the sprinkler system comes on, the water bill will be $27.15.

Use a disc

The least expensive and most common rain sensor device is the expansion disc rain shut-off.

Expanding cork disks trigger a pressure switch. The expansion space can be easily adjusted by rotating the disc cover to a predetermined amount of rain required to trigger the switch. The amount of rain that will interrupt the irrigation system is marked on the adjustment cap.

A rain sensor must be mounted where it will be exposed to unobstructed rainfall — typically near the roofline on the side of a building.

The device can be tested during rainfall by setting out several straight-sided shallow containers, using the same technique as calibrating the irrigation system.

After rain has stopped, measure the water’s depth in each container with a ruler and calculate the average measurements. When the containers average a half-inch of rainfall, set the sensor to one-half inch and manually turn on the irrigation. The system should not run. If it does, a repair is needed.

Remember: Every drop that hits the ground will pick up pollutants as it flows to our groundwater. By only irrigating when the soil needs it, you are preventing contamination of drinking water.

Sheila Dunning is a Commercial Horticulture Extension agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Set your sprinkler to deactivate during rain

Authors Tiara Hawthorne and Don Schroeder will sign their latest books this weekend.

Hawthorne, a U.S. Air Force soldier, compares being a soldier to being a warrior in God's army in her book, "Pick Up Your Weapons and Fight!"

The signing is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at Country Inn & Suites, 235 Rasberry Road, Crestview, as part of the "I Love Me" conference.

Schroeder's book, "Air Raid Nights and Radio Days," describes growing up as part of the "Silent Generation” and post-Depression and WWII life in Indianapolis.

His book signing is 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17 at Hurlburt Field BX, 112 Lielmanis Ave., Hurlburt Field.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Book signings in Crestview and Hurlburt Field this weekend

CRESTVIEW — A local exhibit shows that scouting founder Sir Robert Baden-Powell's legacy is strong in the Crestview area, with multiple troops and packs continuing the movement he founded more than a century ago.

Through August, Crestview Public Library visitors can get a look at scouting as they view merit badges, Pinewood Derby racecar kits, caps, patches and souvenirs.

Materials cover all ages of scouting, beginning with Cub Scouts and continuing through Webelos, Boy Scouts and Venture Crew.

The Crestview area has five Boy Scout troops, five Cub Scout packs and a co-ed Venture Crew, said Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz of the Gulf Coast Council's Choctawhatchee District.

The Cub Scouts will host School Nights when classes resume, Schwartz said. Boys will hang posters and bring home fliers announcing each elementary school's event.

"Scouting is really one of the best youth activities available in our area," Schwartz said. "You don't need to be an athlete to be a scout. If there's something you're interested in, chances are there's a merit badge available for it."

Want to join scouting?

North Okaloosa Boy Scout troops meet Monday evenings as follows.

Troop 30: First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave.

Troop 773: Knights of Columbus, 701 E. James Lee Blvd.

Troops 731 and 732: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 Del Cerro Camino

Troop 532: First Baptist Church of Holt, 532 W. Highway 90

Cub Scout pack meeting times vary, as follows:

Pack 799: First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave.

Pack 530: chartered to the Elks Club, meets at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2250 P.J. Adams Parkway

Packs 731 and 732: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 Del Cerro Camino

Pack 532: First Baptist Church of Holt, 532 W. Highway 90

Venture Crew 773: First Presbyterian Church, 492 N. Ferdon Blvd.

Contacts: Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz, 585-5672, bakerny@yahoo.com.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library exhibit covers all ages of Boy Scouting

CRESTVIEW — Works by artists of varying ages and experience levels meet on the Crestview Public Library’s north wall in a current exhibit.

"They range from the budding artist to the dying artist," exhibit coordinator Peggy Hollingshead said.

In addition to some of Hollingshead's own abstracts, artists Charlotte Parrish, Terry Scott, Nicole Weaver, Sarah Hawkins and Jessica Bruegenhemke have works on the display wall.

One of the delights of shows featuring mixed talents and styles is the variety of expression. Patrons view details of Parrish's "Thistle Ballet" and contrast it with Hollingshead's evocative "Phoenix."

Budding artist Bruegenhemke sets us pondering with "Bird King," a splendid graphite work of a wolf holding a falcon on its forepaw under the full moon. Shades of "LadyHawke"? Only the artist knows for sure.

Northwest Florida State College student Hawkins displays remarkable agility in capturing textiles’ graceful drape in sepia pastels called "Cloth Drawing" and "Boot Drawing."

Weaver has lots of fun with color and text in her self-described "crazy paintings," including the lively "Pig Love," which includes roses, hearts and, yes, a friendly pink oinker.

Scott’s bright, cheerful floral paintings belie the artist's battle with a terminal illness, making his works even more emotional celebrations of life.

The exhibition will remain through August.

Note: A previous version of this article said Sarah Hawkins' medium used was watercolors. In fact, it's sepia pastels.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library exhibit features variety of local talent