Jackson Generals Beat The Blue Wahoos 5-0
May 22, 2018
The Jackson Generals put on an offensive showcase against the Blue Wahoos in Monday night’s game to complete the series sweep at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The game was called after the top of the eighth as the rain began coming down, which gave the Generals a 5-0 win.
Starting pitcher Wyatt Strahan (L 4-3) got off to a shaky start. The right-hander allowed a two-run double to Rudy Flores that gave the Generals an early 2-0 lead. His pitching woes continued as Kevin Madrano singled home two, which doubled the Generals lead to 4-0 after two innings. However, he finished strong and did not allow a run over his final three innings.
Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect Jon Duplantier (W 3-1), pitched six shutout innings and allowed just one infield single on the night. The Wahoos were unable to solve Duplantier and the Generals starter did not allow a runner in scoring position all night. Yuhei Nakaushiro pitched a scoreless inning in the seventh inning before the game was called. Jackson’s win handed Pensacola its first five-game sweep since May 3-7 at the hands of Chattanooga.
The Wahoos will have an off day Tuesday before continuing the homestand with a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies starting Wednesday night. Right-handed pitcher Daniel Wright (2-2, 4.63) will start for the Wahoos against Tennessee right-hander Trevor Clifton (3-3, 3.83).
Gulf Power To Be Sold In Multi-Billion Dollar Deal
May 21, 2018
In a major move in the state’s utility industry, the parent company of Florida Power & Light said Monday it will buy Northwest Florida’s Gulf Power as part of a $6.475 billion deal.
NextEra Energy Inc. plans to buy Gulf Power, the Florida City Gas natural-gas company and ownership interests in two power plants from The Southern Company. The purchase of Gulf Power and the stakes in the power plants, which are subject to federal approval, are expected to close during the first half of 2019, while the Florida City Gas purchase is slated for the third quarter of 2018, according to a NextEra Energy announcement.
The deal would expand NextEra Energy’s already-massive footprint in the state. Its Florida Power & Light subsidiary is by far the largest electric utility in Florida, serving nearly 5 million customers. Gulf Power, with about 450,000 customers in eight counties, is the largest utility in the Panhandle.
Florida City Gas has about 110,000 residential and commercial natural-gas customers in Miami-Dade, Brevard, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. NextEra said it will buy a 100 percent ownership interest in a power plant near Cocoa known as Plant Oleander, which has contracts to sell electricity to the Florida Municipal Power Agency and Seminole Electric Cooperative. It also will buy a 65 percent stake in a plant near Orlando known as the Stanton Energy Center, which has contracts with the Orlando Utilities Commission and the Florida Municipal Power Agency.
“These transactions will provide meaningful benefits for the state of Florida, and Gulf Power and Florida City Gas customers, as well as NextEra Energy shareholders,” Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, said in a prepared statement. “Importantly, these transactions are consistent with our long-standing, disciplined approach of maintaining the strength of our balance sheet and credit ratings, both of which are among the strongest in the industry.”
NextEra Energy plans to finance the deal through the issuance of new debt, according to the announcement. The $6.475 billion total includes NextEra Energy assuming $1.4 billion of Gulf Power debt.
Subsidiaries of The Southern Company, which is based in Atlanta, operate in numerous states. In addition to Gulf Power, the subsidiaries include Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power. The Florida Public Service Commission last year approved a settlement agreement that set base rates for Gulf Power.
In the announcement, NextEra Energy said that with the addition of Gulf Power, Florida City Gas and the power plants, the Juno Beach-based company “will be even better positioned to generate long-term shareholder value through a more robust financial profile, greater scale and an expanded platform for growth.”
by Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida
Driver Rolls Vehicle
May 21, 2018
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Sunday night.
The accident happened about 9:45 p.m. on Highway 95A at East Roberts Road when the driver of GMC Yukon lost control and overturned into the Wayne Frier Home Center lot. The driver’s injuries were not considered life threatening.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
This Week’s Gradution Schedule, New Security Guidelines
May 21, 2018
Graduation ceremonies will be held this week for most Escambia County schools, and there are important new security rules in place for those held at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The schedule is as follows:
May 21 – 11:00 Camelot Academy at First Baptist Church of Warrington
May 21 – 6:00 p.m. Judy Andrews (Second Chance) at Pensacola High School
May 23- George Stone EMT/Fire Academy 6p.m., Washington High
May 23 – George Stone Criminal Justice Center, 7 p.m. West Florida High
May 24 – at Pensacola Bay Center:
11:00 a.m. J.M. Tate High School
2:30 p.m. West Fla. High School
6:00 p.m. Pine Forest High School
May 25 – at Pensacola Bay Center:
11:00 a.m. Escambia High School
2:30 p.m. Pensacola High School
6:00 p.m. B.T. Washington High School
The Escambia County School District distributed the following security information for graduations held at the Pensacola Bay Center:
“There will be metal detectors in use. All patrons and bags are subject to a security search. Friends and family are encouraged to leave all gift exchanges for another location. Bags are limited to 12 inches and clutch purses size limit is 4.5” x 6.5” Camera lens must be 6 inches long or less. All attendees will be asked to remove keys and cell phones for the security search (belts, watches, jackets and jewelry may be left on and change and wallets may remain in a purse or pocket). Items that will be prohibited in the building include: large bags, backpacks, waist packs, strollers, noisemakers, signs or banners, containers, glass items, wrapped gifts. You may not bring in outside food or drinks. Also prohibited are any weapons, spikes, chains, laser pointers. Patrons with these items inside may be ejected from the venue. Umbrellas are restricted, but in the event of inclement weather, they will be allowed once cleared by security. Bay Center Security may also ban any other item deemed inappropriate or challenging to public safety.”
Students Cast Ballots For Favorite Books With Supervisor Of Elections Help
May 21, 2018
Students across Escambia County voted for their favorite books in Sunshine State Youth Reader Award book elections with the help of the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
The winning book at Ransom Middle School was “The War That Saved My Life”.
At McArthur Elementary School, 120 students cast a ballot. The favorite book among second graders was “Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea”, while third through fifth grade students chose “The Wild Robot”.
At Lipscomb Elementary School, the top book was “Maxi’s Secrets: Or What You Can Learn From a Dog”.
Pictured: Sunshine State Youth Reader Award book elections at Lipscomb Elementary (top), Ransom Middle School (below) and MrArthur Elementary (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
May 21, 2018
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of May 21-25:
Monday, May 21
Library Board of Governance – 4 p.m., 1301 W. Gregory St.
Tuesday, May 22
HUD Annual Plan Public Meeting – 5:30 p.m., 420 W. Chase St.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Merit System Protection Board – 5 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor Training Room
Wednesday, May 23
Coffee with Commissioner Bergosh – 6:30 a.m., McDonald’s, 5 S. Blue Angel Parkway
DSM Professional Advisory Committee – 8:30 a.m.,Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach
Santa Rosa Island Authority Budget Workshop – 5:05 p.m., 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach
Thursday, May 24
FloridaWest EDA Board of Directors – 1 p.m., 418 W. Garden St., Room 307
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
County Renews Contract For Lake Stone Caretaker
May 21, 2018
The Escambia County Commission is extending their caretaker agreement for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Dennis Keith Cole will continue to manage thee facility for another year, until May 31, 2019. He will be paid $11,400 in 12 equal monthly installments of $950 with housing and utilities provided. Cole was first named Lake Stone caretaker in June 2013.
Lake Stone Campground is a 100-acre campground and boat ramp facility located at 801 West Highway 4. The campground has 77 campsites for everything from big RV rigs to tents. Lake Stone is the Escambia County’s only facility located on a fresh water lake. The facilities include a boat ramp , indoor public use pavilion, a playground, showers, restrooms, a fishing pier, security lights, electrical and water hookups, a sewage dump station, picnic areas and the lake.
The Lake Stone pavilion or campsites can be reserved by calling the Lake Stone campground manager at (850) 256-5555 or Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the County has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker/management services at the facility.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Celebrates Reading With Star Wars Party
May 21, 2018
Bratt Elementary School held a Star Wars themed Accelerated Reader Party for students that met their reading goals for the year.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Report Says Changes Will Increase Health Premiums
May 21, 2018
Premiums for health insurance plans sold on the federal marketplace are expected to increase by nearly 16.9 percent in Florida next year due to changes in the Affordable Care Act, according to a new analysis released Friday.
Released by the Center for American Progress, the analysis estimates that a decision by Congress and President Donald Trump to repeal the mandate that people buy health insurance, coupled with proposed changes to the types of policies that can be sold, will increase premiums for Floridians by $1,011.
The report by the left-leaning group estimates that the average unsubsidized health insurance premium for a 40-year-old male buying a marketplace policy in 2019 will be $6,995.
The Affordable Care Act has provided subsidies for many people buying coverage, reducing their costs. More than. 1.7 million Floridians enrolled in the health insurance marketplace this year, with more than 1.5 million receiving subsidies either in the form of advanced premium tax credits or additional cost-sharing reductions that help lower co-payments and co-insurance requirements.
The new analysis accounts for the impact of repealing the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that individuals buy health-insurance policies as well as a Trump administration proposed rule to rescind limits on the sale of short-term insurance plans.
The individual mandate, one of the most-controversial parts of the federal health-care law commonly known as Obamacare, was repealed as part of a tax overhaul that passed in December.
In a prepared statement, Topher Spiro, vice president for health policy at the Center for American Progress, blasted Trump and Congress for what he called “sabotage of the insurance marketplaces.”
“First they passed massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, and now they’re asking middle-class Americans and people with pre-existing conditions to pick up the tab,” Spiro said. “They should be focused on lowering health care costs, not increasing them and intentionally undermining the stability of the insurance marketplaces that millions of Americans benefit from.”
The analysis came a day after Florida Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to Gov Rick Scott urging him to take steps to protect Floridians from spikes in health insurance premiums. They also asked that Scott — who adamantly opposes the Affordable Care Act — require health plans to provide for essential health benefits, like hospital care or prescription drugs, and raised concerns that consumers could end up buying low-benefit plans.
“These junk plans would return patients to the days where only upon illness did they discover their plans imposed limits on coverage and excluded vital benefits,” said the letter, signed by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Congresswoman Kathy Castor and 10 other Democratic members of the delegation. Nelson faces an election challenge in November from Scott.
The letter asked Scott to work with state Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier to take steps to make sure consumers are kept safe. Democrats also asked that Scott consider investing in outreach and enrollment efforts and help provide funding to navigators who can connect patients with the federal marketplace. Floridians buy coverage through the federal marketplace because the state decided against setting up its own exchange.
John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott, said the governor’s office received the letter, adding that “Congress hasn’t controlled the nation’s health care costs or passed a balanced budget in decades.”
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Generals Blank Wahoos 6-0
May 21, 2018
Saturday it was Taylor Widener who stymied the Wahoos bats. Sunday, it was Ryan Atkinson’s turn, and the former indy ball pitcher twirled six shutout innings in Jackson’s 6-0 win at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
For the second consecutive game, Jackson’s offense jumped out in front early. After a single from Jamie Westbrook, Rudy Flores cranked his seventh home run of the season off Vladimir Gutierrez (L, 1-6) to put the guests up 2-0. Jackson’s offense was relentless as they added runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings before they tallied one final run in the eighth. When the dust settled on Sunday’s contest, the Generals finished with six runs on 10 hits.
Gutierrez pitched five innings and surrendered a season-high five earned runs for the second time this year. His usual pinpoint command was absent in his ninth start of 2018. He often fell behind the General batters and issued a four-pitch walk to Marcus Littlewood in the fourth inning. Former Blue Wahoo and current Cincinnati Red, Michael Lorenzen, made his scheduled two-inning rehab appearance in the sixth inning, and did so in flawless fashion. Lorenzen retired all six batters he faced and struck out two.
The Wahoos offense sputtered again Sunday as Atkinson kept Pensacola’s bats in check. Despite recording hits in the first three innings of the game, the Wahoos were unable to drive any of the runners home. Atkinson navigated through trouble again the fifth inning after Alberti Chavez singled and C.J. McElroy walked, but the former Cincinnati Bearcat struck out Luis Gonzalez and got Brian O’Grady to pop out to end the threat. Atkinson struck out the side in the sixth before being lifted from the game, capping off a season-best 10 strikeout performance. Sam Lewis and Bud Jeter allowed one baserunner over the game’s final three innings. The Blue Wahoos have now been shut out three times this season.
Jackson’s starting pitchers have been the difference through the first four games of the series. Pensacola has pushed across three runs against the Generals starting rotation. The Wahoos are just 16-for-96 against Justin Donatella, Alex Young, Taylor Widener, and Atkinson. It gets no easier for Pensacola when they face the Diamondbacks top prospect in right-hander Jon Duplantier, who led all of minor league baseball last season with a 1.39 ERA. Duplantier was named the MLB Pipeline Pitcher of the Year in 2017 and also pitched for Team USA in the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Tomorrow’s finale is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with the Wahoos hoping to avoid a five-game sweep. Wyatt Strahan (4-2, 6.18) will get the green light for Pensacola while Duplantier (2-1, 2.96) looks to seal the deal for Jackson.