Frank White Campaign Raises Another $195K In AG’s Race
December 13, 2017
In the contest to replace Attorney General Pam Bondi, state Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola, touted he had brought in nearly $195,000 in November.
White, chief financial officer and general counsel for the Sansing Dealer Group, which runs auto dealerships in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, raised $143,980 for his campaign account, which had nearly $1.88 million on hand, while his political committee United Conservatives added $52,000 in November and started December with $76,000 on hand.
White has put $1.5 million of his own money into the contest.
Big November contributions included $20,000 from the Florida Jobs PAC and $10,000 from Gulf Power Co.
Meanwhile, Ashley Moody, a former Hillsborough County circuit judge who has the backing of Bondi, rolled out a statewide finance committee that included former House Speaker Dean Cannon, influential lobbyists Brian Ballard and Michael Corcoran, and former U.S. Senator George LeMieux before posting her sixth consecutive month of contributions stretching six-figures.
Moody’s personal campaign picked up $106,371 in November while the committee Friends of Ashley Moody picked up a single $10,000 contribution in November, from the Chamber of Commerce’s Florida Jobs PAC.
She began December with just under $1.23 million available in the two accounts.
Another attorney general candidate, state Rep. Jay Fant, R-Jacksonville, started December with just under $945,000 in his campaign account and an associated political committee known as Pledge This Day. He raised $36,810 last month.
Fant’s war chest included $750,000 of his own money that he put up in September.
State Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican who entered the race for attorney general in mid-November, reported picking up $8,860 through his campaign account. Combined with past contributions for his House re-election effort, Spano had just over $51,000 in the account to start December.
Spano’s political committee, Liberty and Justice for All, picked up $12,694 in its first month of activity.
Ryan Torrens, an attorney from Hillsborough County, is the only Democrat who has opened a campaign account for the race. He picked up $9,158 in November. But while he’s raised $58,264 since entering the contest in May, he started December with less than $4,000 in the bank.
Tate High’s Bloodworth Signs With Southern Union
December 13, 2017
Tate High School’s Ethan Bloodworth has signed to play baseball for Southern Union State Community College in East Alabama. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Bus Driver Rear-ends Another School Bus
December 12, 2017
The driver of one school bus rear-ended a second school bus Tuesday afternoon on Chemstrand Road near Kingsfield Road. There were students on at least one of the buses at the time, and there were injuries reported. None of the injuries were serious.
Complete details have not been released as the Florida Highway Patrol continues their investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man Airlifted After Being Burned In Pickup Truck Fire
December 12, 2017
A man was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after his truck erupted in flames on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
The man was southbound on Highway 97 in front of Ernest Ward Middle School when his truck caught fire, according to witnesses. The man continued off the roadway, where his truck came to rest against a concrete traffic signal pole at the corner of Highway 97 and Highway 99A.
The adult male was transported by Escambia County EMS to the nearby Walnut Hill Fire Station and transferred to a LifeFlight helicopter for transport to the burn center at the USA Medical Center in Mobile. He reportedly suffered serious second and third degree burns to his face, arms and hands.
The pickup was a total loss.
Since the vehicle was in motion on the highway at the time the fire started, the incident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Charged In Escambia County Double Homicide
December 12, 2017
A suspect is behind bars in a double homicide Monday night in Escambia County.
Gideon Elias Fussner, 19, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning in connection with the shooting deaths of 17-year old Julius Lewis and 19-year old Raymond Martinez about 11:15 p.m. Monday on Weis Lane. He is also charged with the shooting of a third victim, a 17-year old male, found suffering from a gunshot wound.
The shooting stemmed from an apparent ongoing dispute over a female.
Further information has not been released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Two Critical After Cantonment Motorcycle, Pickup Crash
December 12, 2017
Two people were critically injured in a wreck involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck Monday night in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 8:15 p.m. on Arena Road at County Road 97. The two motorcyclists were transported to area hospital as “trauma alerts”. The driver of the pickup was uninjured and refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further information has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Jay Sweeps Northview
December 12, 2017
In high school basketball action, Jay swept four games across the board against Northview Monday in Bratt.
BOYS
Jay 42, Northview 38
Jay 38, Northview 22 (JV)
GIRLS
Jay 46, Northview 23
Jay 43, Northview 3
Both varsity teams will take part in the Jay Christmas Tournament later this week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Get Help Wrapping Your Gifts From The Tate Band
December 12, 2017
The Tate Band Showband of the South will be wrapping gifts for donations at Walmart on Highway 29 in Ensley. Look for the big white tent and the Tate Showband trailer near the entrance.
Tate Band Gift Wrap Schedule:
- Tuesday, Dec. 12 — 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 15 — 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday Dec. 16 — 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 17 — 12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 19 — 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 20 — 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 22 — 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 23 — 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 24 — 11 am. – 5p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate’s Madisen Nelson Commits To Pensacola State
December 12, 2017
Tate High School senior Madisen Nelson has signed her commitment to play softball at Pensacola State College. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Considers Over $700K To Replace Tornado Ravaged Historic Homes In Century
December 12, 2017
The Escambia County Commission is set to approve nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in construction contracts to replace six historic homes that were damaged during the February 2016 Century tornado.
State Disaster State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program funding was allocated to Escambia County in 2016 to assist income eligible owner occupants with rehabilitation needs after the EF-3 tornado ravaged the area.
The six properties are located in Century’s Town of Century’s Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District, which is located on the National Register of Historic Places.
In August 2016, Quina Grundhoefer Architects was tasked to create replacement housing plans that would fit with the historic guidelines prescribed by the Town of Century history district as well as meeting approval with the State Historic Preservation Office since the funding is coming from the state. During the course of developing the plans, a geotechnical engineer was consulted due to the extremely mucky and erratic soils in the area. These findings were incorporated into the design of the foundations for the three sites which contained poorer soil conditions according to the engineering findings.
The project was initially advertised for bids on July 20, but the bids were canceled due to pricing exceeding budget. The architect made changes to the plans, and the project was advertised for bids again. Six contractors bid on the project, with Emerald Coast being the lowest bidder that could complete the homes in a group for just over $700,000.
Due to the funds being allocated to individual eligible property owners, six separate contracts are being issued as follows:
- 416 Front Street (owner Brenda Mullins), in the total amount of, $121,060
- 307 Front Street (owners Carl and Marielena Godwin) in the total amount of $114,000
- 300 Front Street (owner Charles Therrell), in the total amount of, $114,960
- 402 Front Street (owner Felic Fussner), in the total amount of, $126,060
- 407 Front Street (owner Jessica Campbell), in the total amount of, $120,060
- 403 Front Street (owner William R. Coker), in the total amount of, $114,060
The Escambia County Commission will give final consideration to the construction contracts during their regular meeting on Thursday.