DeSantis To Choose From Six Finalists To Be Escambia County Judge
May 3, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis will consider six people to replace Escambia County Judge Joyce Williams following her resignation in March.
The six finalists picked from 13 applicants by the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission are forwarded to the governor for consideration are:
- Paul Hamlin
- Andrew McGraw
- Charles V. Peppler
- Charles Russell
- David Stevens
- Charles Young
DeSantis has upto 60 days to appoint his selection.
Tate Aggies Celebrate Senior Night, Beat Gulf Breeze (With Gallery)
May 3, 2019
The Tate Aggies earned an 11-6 senior night win over Gulf Breeze Thursday night.
Jace Dunsford pitched the win for the Aggies, allowing two runs on four hits over three innings, striking out three and walking none. Dalton Biggs, Jordan Jarman, and Sam Shackle all put in work in relief out of the bullpen.
Raymond Lafleur homered in the sixth inning for the Aggies.
The Tate Aggies honored 10 seniors – Will Clary, Mason Land, Kaden Kings, Easton Sidner, Jace Dunsford, Trey Lafleur, Brantley Culbertson, Hunter McClean, Patrick Lascell and Mikey Potts.
For a photo gallery from Tate Senior Night festivities, click here.
Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Blanked By Biloxi
May 3, 2019
The Blue Wahoos fell for the third straight game, their longest losing streak of the season, losing 1-0 to Biloxi on Thursday evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Jorge Alcala bounced back from a pair of tough starts and provided the Wahoos with 5.0 shutout innings, striking out eight and walking none. Opposing him on the mound for Biloxi, Trey Supak was just as good, throwing 5.0 as well and allowing just one hit while striking out four.
On offense, the Blue Wahoos got their first hit of the game in the first inning, when Jaylin Davis lined a single to left. Pensacola didn’t have another hit until the eighth inning when Davis again singled, this time up the middle. They’d have just one additional hit, an eighth inning single by Luis Arraez.
After five strong innings by Alcala, RHP Jeff Ames threw 2.0 hitless innings of relief, striking out four of the six batters he faced.
RHP Cody Stashak followed in eighth inning. He ran into trouble quickly, allowing a single to the first batter he faced and hitting the second. A bunt moved both runners over. With runners on second and third, a passed ball by Caleb Hamilton allowed what proved to be the games only run to score. Stashak struck out the next two batters to escape the jam with just one run allowed.
The Blue Wahoos threatened in the home half of the eighth. Ernie De La Trinidad led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt by Jordan Gore. Arraez then lined a single into left that advanced De La Trinidad to third. With the tying run at third, Biloxi reliever Daniel Brown used a strike out and a ground out to get out of the frame with Biloxi’s lead still intact.
Shuckers closer Nate Griep retired the side in order to earn his fifth save of the season.
The loss drops Pensacola’s record to 17-10 while Biloxi improves to 14-13 with the win. The two teams will play game three of their five-game set Friday evening.
Trooper Finds Two Injured Women Near Highway 95A Intersection, Vehicle Deep In A Wooded Area
May 2, 2019
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper patrolling near the intersection of Highway 95A and Quintette Road observed a female in the roadway and another female near the wood line at the intersection about 9 p.m. Wednesday.
The trooper determined that a 2006 Chevrolet HHR failed to stop at a posted stop sign, causing the vehicle to travel about 200 yards into a dense wooded area. There were no witnesses to the crash, and there was no physical evidence placing either woman behind the wheel, according to the FHP.
The two women were identified as 28-year old Christina Holman of Pensacola and 35-year old Lindsey Flores of Corpus Christi, TX. Both were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Attorney Wants New Trial In 2014 Dam Failure Flooding Lawsuit Against International Paper
May 2, 2019
An attorney for a class of Escambia County homeowners is asking three-judge 11th Circuit panel to order a new trial in a lawsuit that claimed International Paper was responsible for flooding in several neighborhoods.
In 2018, a federal court judge rule that International Paper was not negligent in its design, maintenance or continued operation of an abandoned dam near Kingsfield Road and that the company was not responsible for flood damage to scores of homes. The jury took a little more than an hour to return the verdict.
The class action lawsuit claimed the flooding of homes in several neighborhoods was caused by failure of the “Kingsfield Road Dam”, located on IP’s mill property in Cantonment. The suit was filed in federal court in Pensacola in 2014, with class action status granted in September 2017 on behalf of eight named and other real property owners and in the Bristol Park, Bristol Woods, Bristol Creek and Ashbury Hills subdivisions in Cantonment.
Attorney Athanasios Basdekis argued Tuesday that a FEMA application by Escambia County had prejudiced the jury, causing them to believe the homeowners had received government compensation. FEMA awarded Escambia County $2.4 million in June 2018 for flood protection improvements in the area, including the purchase of several properties.
NorthEscambia.com reached out to an International Paper spokesperson Wednesday afternoon for comment, but we did not hear back.
The Original Lawsuit
The original lawsuit claimed that on the night of a record rainfall, a large “swell” or “wave” of water breached and overflowed into Eleven Mile Creek, including the Bristol Park and Ashbury Hills subdivisions, Devine Farms Road and other surrounding areas, as a result of International Paper’s dam or levee. The residential areas are located in “Flood Zone X” on flood insurance maps, meaning they were not in special flood hazard areas and required no mandatory flood insurance.
The paper mill stopped using the dam to discharge wastewater in 2012, according to court documents.
The failure, the lawsuit asserted, was the result of IP’s negligence in maintaining the Eleven Mile Creek Dam and levee, failure to counteract continued development, failed to control debris buildup in and around the dam, and of a failure to notify those downstream of the potential or ultimate failure of the levee system.
The plaintiffs were seeking damages for loss and damage to personal and real property, diminished property values, loss of enjoyment, mental anguish, loss of income and additional expenses due to the flooding in the neighborhoods.
Pictured: Aerial photos provided to NorthEscambia.com in 2014 by plaintiff attorney J.J Talbott show what he said was the failure a dam and levee owned by International Paper that allowed flood waters to rush down Eleven Mile Creek. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Mounted Posse Presents Library Story Time In Molino (Gallery)
May 2, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse took part in a special story time Wednesday at the Molino Branch Library.
Children were able to meet posse members and their horses and learn about the important job they do in the community, how they train their horses and horse care.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Sophomore Carach Receives Grant To Fight Childhood Hunger
May 2, 2019
Northview High School sophomore Naudia Carach has been awarded a Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grant through Youth Service America (YSA). The grant will support Carach in leading a community service project that addresses the issue of childhood hunger.
Carach’s “Sack Out Hunger” collection drive will create weekend and school break snack packs that will be available to students who may be at risk of going hungry at times when they do not have access to school provided meals.
Carach is one of 114 young leaders across the country awarded $400 grants to organize projects to help end childhood hunger and was also awarded an additional summer sustainability grant of $400.
Escambia Gators Top Northview
May 2, 2019
The Escambia Gators topped the Northview Chiefs 7-4 Wednesday night in Bratt.
Tanner Levins allowed three hits and four runs in three innings while striking out one for Northview. Seth Killam threw four innings in relief allowing four runs on five hits and striking out one.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New FWC Rules Governing Nonnative Species Pets Take Effect Today
May 2, 2019
New rules will help proactively protect Florida from invasive species becoming established in the state. The rules, which were approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in February, go into effect May 2.
The new rules clarify rule language by defining key terms and add some high-risk nonnative animals to Florida’s Prohibited Nonnative Species List. Using recent risk assessments and screenings, the FWC determined these species present a high level of risk to the state and will therefore be added to Florida’s Prohibited Nonnative Species List:
- Mammals: meerkat/mongoose, raccoon dog, dhole, brushtail possum, flying fox.
- Birds: red-whiskered bul-bul, dioch, Java sparrow, pink starling.
- Reptiles: brown tree snake, yellow anaconda, Beni anaconda, DeSchauensee’s anaconda.
The rule changes include a 90-day grace period for people to come into compliance with the new rules, since prohibited species may only be possessed by permit for research or exhibition purposes. The grace period, which ends July 31, will allow commercial dealers who possess these species to sell their inventory, since commercial sales of these species are no longer allowed in Florida and people will no longer be permitted to acquire them as pets.
The new rules also include grandfathering language for people who possessed these species as pets prior to the rule changes. People who have any of these species in personal possession will have until July 31 to submit a permit application to the FWC, which will allow them to keep their pet for the rest of its life.
“Our native fish and wildlife are facing a serious threat posed by various invasive species found throughout the state,” said Kipp Frohlich, director of the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. “This new rule will help prevent those species on the prohibited list from becoming the next Burmese python.”
The public can help the FWC control nonnative invasive wildlife by reporting sightings to the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-IveGot1 (888-483-4681), online at IVEGOT1.org or by using the free smartphone app IVEGOT1.
If you currently possess one of the newly listed prohibited species and do not wish to obtain a grandfathered pet permit, the FWC says don’t release it into the wild. It is illegal and can be harmful to native wildlife. The FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program helps prevent nonnative animals from being released into the wild by providing exotic pet owners who can no longer keep their pets with a legal and responsible alternative to releasing them. People may surrender their exotic pets at Exotic Pet Amnesty Day events or year-round by calling the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (483-4681). All exotic pets, including ones held illegally, are accepted without penalty and placed with pre-approved adopters. Learn more about the program at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives under the “Exotic Pet Amnesty Program” tab.
Blue Wahoos Drop May Opener To Biloxi
May 2, 2019
After a record-setting month of April highlighted by brilliant starting pitching, the Blue Wahoos stumbled out of the gate in May, allowing seven early runs in a 7-3 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday evening.
RHP Sean Poppen took the mound for the Wahoos sporting an unbeaten record an a minuscule 0.75 ERA. After a quick first inning, he ran into trouble in the second. In the game’s second frame, Poppen struggled to find the strike zone, walking four batters in the inning and allowing three runs on two hits.
After the tough second, Poppen was replaced on the mound by LHP Tyler Jay to open the third inning. After retiring the first two batters, the inning unraveled for Jay. Five consecutive batters reached on two walks, a single, a double, and a triple, and four runs scored to put the Shuckers up 7-0.
Pensacola took a run back in both the third and the fourth innings. In the third, Tanner English was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a single by Luis Arraez. Mitchell Kranson plated him with an RBI ground out. In the fourth, Joe Cronin slipped a triple under the glove of a diving Trent Grisham and scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Grzelakowski.
Those were the only two runs the Wahoos would get off Biloxi starter Johan Belisario, who earned his first win of the year by going 5.0 innings and allowing just three hits. The Wahoos added a run against reliever Marcos Diplan in the sixth, loading the bases on singles by Jaylin Davis and Travis Blankenhorn and a walk to Joe Cronin before a sacrifice fly by Grzelakowski.
The Blue Wahoos received quality relief from Sam Clay and Adam Bray, who combined to throw 5.0 hitless innings and strike out six batters.
Pensacola finished the game, their first series-opening loss of the season, with six hits. Blankenhorn was 2-4 in his first game at Blue Wahoos Stadium after a recent call-up from A+ Fort Myers. Grzelakowki was 1-2 with a double and a pair of runs batted in.
The loss drops Pensacola’s record to 17-9, still best in the Southern League, while Biloxi improves to 13-13. The two teams will continue their five-game set Thursday.