FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 15, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending August 10 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Manning checked four individuals fishing in Escambia Bay. After a resource inspection, he found that they were in possession of more than 50 spotted seatrout. The fisherman claimed they were fishing commercially, but only one possessed the required license. Officer Manning issued the three remaining individuals criminal notices to appear for the violations.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers continue to patrol shorebird nesting areas around the Navarre Causeway, educating the public on the importance of protecting our imperiled species by not disturbing the nesting areas. Officers Ramos and Lugg informed two individuals who were walking through the protected area.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Pine Forest Road Closed At East Kingsfield
August 15, 2017
A section of Pine Forest Road from East Kingsfield Road to Frederick Street is closed due to an upgrade of the sanitary sewer and force main for a new lift station.
Pine Forest Road extending south 500 feet from East Kingsfield Road is closed to through traffic from East Kingsfield Road to Frederick Street. Local traffic will be detoured along Tate Road to West Roberts Road to Ryale Road. The roadway closure is expected to remain in effect for approximately three weeks. Drivers will not be able to access Kingsfield from Pine Forest.
Every effort will be made to expedite construction efforts to reopen the road on or before Thursday, August 31. If other lane or roadway closures are necessary beyond the anticipated time period, another notice will be issued and published on NorthEscambia.com.
Firefighters Respond To Report Of Smoke In Home Off Nine Mile
August 15, 2017
Firefighters responded to a home on Marsh Elder Drive off Nine Mile Road Monday night. The resident came home to discover smoke in the home and called 911. There was no immediate word on the cause of the smoke and no major damage reported. The Ensley, Cantonment, Ferry Pass, Beulah and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded. NorthEscambia photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County 4-H Shines At 4-H University
August 15, 2017
Head, Heart, Hands and Health. These are the four “H’s” that comprise 4-H.
This summer there were many 4-H activities promoting and utilizing all of the four “H’s” together and individually. One of these activities was 4-H University, which is a week-long convention for senior 4-H members (ages 14-18) hosted on the campus of the University of Florida. Over 340 youth attended this event and had the opportunity to utilize the different facilities such as dorms, Gator Dining and the Reitz Union. This year Escambia County had seven youth attend: Dillon Conti, Rashidi Joseph, Von Littlejohn, Taylor Nelson, Danielle Tinker, Michelle Tinker, and Bobby Vose.
On July 31 Escambia County 4-H members kicked off 4-H University with state competitive events, along with a spirit rally and guest speaker. Tuesday was a day of scholarship interviews and workshops. That evening, 4-H members attended the annual Share-the- Fun talent show. Wednesday was a morning of workshops and an afternoon of community service. That evening, 4-H members, participants and guests attended the formal 4-H University Awards Banquet where scholarships were awarded to seniors, 4-H trips were distributed and the 2017-2018 Florida 4-H State Council Officers were inducted. Escambia County’s own Michelle Tinker was inducted as the 2017-2018 Florida 4-H State Council Parliamentarian and she also received a trip to attend National 4-H Conference in Washington D.C. in 2017. Danielle Tinker received a 4-H scholarship and the prestigious Leader of the Legacy award, Florida 4-H’s version of a Hall of Fame.
Thursday morning was the competitive events award ceremony and Escambia County 4-H members received awards for their state competitions. Results of the different state contests were:
- Dillon Conti, first place, photography contest, architecture division
- Taylor Nelson, first place, photography contest, hat tricks and magic division
- Von Littlejohn, red ribbon, safety demonstration category
- Taylor Nelson, blue ribbon third place, personal well-being demonstration category
- Danielle and Michelle Tinker, blue ribbon first place, plants and gardening team demonstration category
submitted by Escambia County 4-H
Scott Pitches Making It Harder To Raise Taxes
August 15, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott, expected to run for U.S. Senate next year, wants lawmakers to put on the 2018 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder for future legislators to raise taxes.
Scott appeared Monday in the Central Florida community of Lake Mary to announce the proposal, which would require “supermajority” approval from state lawmakers, rather than a simple majority of 50 percent plus one, for hikes to taxes and fees.
“While cutting taxes is important, we must prevent against unfair tax increases in the future so our progress is not undone,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “It is my goal to make it harder for politicians to raise taxes on Florida families and businesses — and that can be achieved with an amendment to our state’s Constitution.”
If lawmakers go along with the proposal, it would require approval from 60 percent of voters during the November 2018 election.
The governor’s office did not provide full details about the proposal. But the idea drew quick support from House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast.
“I’m proud to offer my support to Governor Scott on this bold initiative and will do all I can to see that it is successful,” Corcoran, who is considering a gubernatorial run in 2018, said in a prepared statement.
Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who is running for governor next year, was also among those voicing support.
Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican who opened a gubernatorial campaign account on Friday, thanked Scott for the proposal, but then pointed to his own priorities for the 2018 legislative session, such as combatting the opioid epidemic and boosting jobs in parts of the state.
“Over 20 a day dying on opioids 36 counties lost jobs last ten years,” Latvala tweeted. “Those are my priorities right now.”
The governor’s office didn’t offer a definition of a supermajority, which typically is at least two-thirds of the lawmakers casting votes. Also, it didn’t outline whether all taxes and fees would fall under the proposed constitutional amendment or just certain types of taxes and fees.
A news release said more details will be available in “the coming weeks.”
If such a proposal is ultimately approved, Florida would join states such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oregon that require a two-thirds or three-fifths majority for all or some tax increases, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Scott also intends to make a similar request to the state Constitution Revision Commission, which is putting together proposed constitutional amendments to go before voters in 2018.
Already on the ballot for 2018 is a Corcoran priority that would let voters decide if homeowners should receive bigger property-tax breaks.
The proposal, approved this spring by the Legislature, would increase the non-school homestead exemption by $25,000.
Currently, homeowners receive a tax exemption on the first $25,000 in value of their properties. They pay taxes on the value between $25,000 and $50,000 and then receive an additional exemption on the portion from $50,000 to $75,000. Voters will be asked to apply an additional non-school exemption to the portion of values between $100,000 and $125,000.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Rainfall Is 24 Inches Above Normal
August 15, 2017
With another 1.66 inches of rain on Monday, the official rain gauge at the Pensacola airport hit 65.31 inches for the year to date. That is 23.98 inches of rain above average for this time of year.
The average rainfall for the entire year in Pensacola is 65.27 inches — so Pensacola’s rainfall so far this year is already above the average for the entire year, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.
Pictured top: Dark clouds roll across Gobbler Road in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Powerball Jackpot Grows To $430 Million
August 15, 2017
The Powerball jackpot has rolled 18 times, since the June 14, drawing, resulting in an estimated $430 million for Wednesday night’s drawing; the largest in the nation.
“The excitement is growing statewide and across the nation,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Jim Poppell. “This POWERBALL jackpot is not only a life-changing opportunity for any person, but it has already generated more than $28 million to Florida students and schools.”
Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize. To receive the cash option of an estimated $273.4 million, jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the drawing.
Players should also check their tickets carefully; even if they don’t win the jackpot they can still win cash prizes of up $2 million.
Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing will be held at 9:59 p.m. local time, tickets must be purchased by 9:00 to be eligible for the drawing.
Wahoos Win With Five Runs In The Seventh Over Mobile
August 15, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos jumped out to a 4-0 lead Monday and starting pitcher Jose Lopez cruised through six scoreless innings.
Then the seventh inning happened. The Mobile BayBears sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on seven hits and one walk to take a 7-4 lead. But in the bottom of the inning, Pensacola sent 10 batters up to bat and scored five runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batter to go back on top, 9-7.
Both sides used three pitchers as an avalanche of runs crossed the plate in the seventh inning.
The Blue Wahoos held on to defeat the first place BayBears, 9-7, at Blue Wahoos Stadium, although it looked like Mobile would come from behind again. Mobile rallied in all three of its wins in the five-game series, including two victories in the ninth.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly described the 12-run seventh inning as “pretty wild.”
“You had two very tired bullpens in a long series with a lot of hitting,” Kelly said.
For the series, Pensacola had 12 homers, which is a franchise record. It’s five home runs Sunday tied a franchise record. In all, Pensacola scored 37 runs or 7.4 runs per game. Mobile scored 30. Not too shabby for a Blue Wahoos team that has struggled to hit and score runs all season.
“We’re swinging the bats great. I’m very pleased,” Kelly said. “Your physics professors said the ball travels better in humid weather. I never would have believed it. I think we saw it this series.”
Pensacola second baseman Alberti Chavez came up with the clutch hit Monday smacking a two-out bases loaded single to left field to score right fielder Aristides Aquino and catcher Chad Tromp with the game-winning runs that made the score, 9-7.
Blue Wahoos DH Gavin LaValley singled to drive in the first run of the inning and scored on first baseman Brian O’Grady’s sacrifice fly to the wall in right field to tie up the game, 7-7. LaValley went 2-5 with three RBIs.
“We had to battle the whole series,” LaValley said. “A couple of things didn’t go our way (in the seventh inning) but we didn’t let it get us down.”
He praised Chavez coming through for the team that improved Pensacola’s record in the second half to 23-27 just three games behind front-runner Mobile at 26-24. The victory also meant the two rivals ended up, 10-10, head-to-head this year.
“He’s the man (Chavez). He’s awesome. I love that guy,” the 22-year-old LaValley said. “He doesn’t get to play a lot but he takes advantage when he does get in.”
Lopez, named the Southern League pitcher of the week for a seven-inning complete game shutout victory over the Tennessee Smokies in his last start, increased his scoreless inning streak to 21 innings Monday against Mobile.
Lopez pitched 6.1 innings, and allowed the first two runs in the seventh to Mobile. Lopez gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five. The 23-year-old righty retired 14 of 15 Mobile batters he faced between the first and sixth innings.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get him the win,” Kelly said of Lopez, who is 7-1 on the season with a 2.46 ERA. “He pitched super.”
Pensacola center fielder Jonathan Reynoso hit a bomb just inside the top of the left field foul pole for his first Double-A home run of his career for a 4-0 lead. It also extended the Blue Wahoos franchise record to 12 homers in a series.
With just two position players on the Pensacola bench, Reynoso got hit by a pitch in his left wrist and fell to the ground in pain in the seventh inning. However, he finished the game on defense.
Pensacola scored first when LaValley ripped a double into the right field corner driving in both left fielder Gabriel Guerrero and third baseman Nick Senzel to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 2-0. Catcher Chad Tromp poked a bloop single into left field that brought LaValley in for a 3-0 Pensacola lead.
Missing, Endangered Adult Found
August 14, 2017
UPDATE: THIS MISSING ADULT HAS BEEN FOUND.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for missing, endangered adult.
Richard Cart, 71, was last seen in the Montclair neighborhood early Monday morning wearing a gray shirt with the “Army” on the front and blue pants. He possibly had a cane with him. He made need medical attention.
Anyone that sees Cart should call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or their local law enforcement agency.
New Historic Marker To Be Erected In Century
August 14, 2017
For the first time in decades, a new historic marker is set to be erected in North Escambia.
The marker will be installed on public right of way near the corner of Jefferson and Front streets in Century. It will commemorate the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District.
According to the planned text for the marker, the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company was constructed in 1901 and was one of the largest and most advanced pine sawmills east of the Mississippi. Along with the sawmill came the company mill town of Century and housing districts “for black and white families”. The housing ranged from small shotgun houses to large, two-story executive homes. Today’s current Front, Church, Fourth and Mayo streets, and Jefferson and Pinewood avenues are part of the historic district, consisting of 45 historic structures and a formal garden site. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The historic marker will be erected by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society and maintained by the Town of Century. The marker will serve not only to commemorate the historic district, but also to offer a small boost to tourism in Century, according to Russell Brown of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society.
“Historic tourism is on the fastest growing segments of tourism in Florida,” Brown said. He said the last historic marker erected in North Escambia was in the 1960’s.
The full text that will appear on the historic marker is below, click to enlarge. Pictured top: Russell Brown of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society explains the size and design of a new historic marker to be erected in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
