Quintette Community Center Hosts Back To School Bash
August 7, 2017
The Quintette Community Center held their 3rd Annual Back to School Bash Sunday afternoon with fun, games, food, kickball, haircuts and free back to school supplies. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Student To Compete In National Pony Event
August 7, 2017
Local equestrian Lexi Bryant has qualified for the the U.S. Pony Finals coming up this week at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Bryan, 13, will be riding “Surreal”, owned by Morgan Mickel. The Ransom Middle School student qualified at an Elite “A” show that was held at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Bryant and Surreal will compete against the top ponies and riders in the nation at the event. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pine Meadow Elementary Parents: New Traffic Pattern This Year
August 7, 2017
Drivers dropping off and picking up students at Pine Meadow Elementary School must follow a new traffic with the new school year.
During the hours of 7-8 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. on school days, There is now no left turn leaving campus onto Omar Avenue or entering campus from 9 1/2 Mile Road.
“This is approved by law enforcement and you could be ticketed if you violate this pattern,” according to the school.
Entering campus, drivers should turn onto Raymar Street. Exiting campus, drivers should turn right onto 9 1/2 Mile Road. Signs are posted.
Once drivers have entered campus, the traffic pattern remains the same and signs will direct drivers to the correct area.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Drop Fourth Straight
August 7, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos jumped out to a 5-0 lead, thanks largely to second baseman Josh VanMeter, who has delivered clutch hits all season long and now leads the team with 44 RBIs.
However, the Tennessee Smokies scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game and then Charcer Burks drove in the game-winning in the sixth inning for a 6-5 victory Sunday over Pensacola at Smokies Stadium. It was the fourth straight loss for the Blue Wahoos and the defeat allowed Tennessee to clinch the five-game series, going up 3-0.
Pensacola center fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit his 18th double of the year in the first inning. Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel then followed with a liner to center field to put runners on first and third. That’s when VanMeter came up with two outs and smacked a line drive single to right field that scored Guerrero for a 1-0 Pensacola lead.
VanMeter is now 19-50, or .380, with two outs and runners in scoring position and has 25 RBIs.
In Pensacola’s four-run third inning, VanMeter singled in his second run of the game and also scored. He was 3-for-3 in the game and hit his 26th double, which ties him for fourth in the Southern League.
Pensacola first baseman Gavin LaValley singled in Guerrero to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0. VanMeter hit a soft liner to left field that drove in third baseman Nick Senzel for a 3-0 lead. Catcher Joe Hudson grounded out into a double play with the bases loaded that scored LaValley and Pensacola was up, 4-0. The final run of the inning came when center fielder Jonathan Reyonoso drilled a single to left to bring in VanMeter and give Pensacola what seemed like a commanding, 5-0, start.
Guerrero was 4-5 in the game and scored two runs and now has 32 multi-hit games this season and twice has had four hits in a game.
But then came the fifth inning when the Smokies batted through its order, scoring five runs on four hits, a walk and a fielding error. Tennessee catcher Erick Castillo, who was 3-3 in the game, doubled to drive in shortstop Carlos Penalver with the first run to trail Pensacola, 5-1.
Pensacola starter Deck McGuire then got the next two batters out on a sacrifice bunt and flyout. However, Tennessee right fielder Daniel Spingola singled to center to bring home Castillo and pull the Smokies within, 5-2. Tennessee second baseman David Bote followed with a double to score Spingola and make it a 5-3 game. Yasiel Balaguert hit a fly ball to Pensacola Aristides Aquino, who was charged with an error, and allowed both Bote and third baseman Jason Vosler to score, knotting the game, 5-5.
All five runs, three earned, came off McGuire, who allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out eight in his five innings of work.
Then in the bottom of the sixth, Burks, the Chicago Cubs No. 22 ranked prospect by MLBPipeline.com, singled to center to score Castillo to put Tennessee on top, 6-5.
Pensacola reliever Robert Stock gave up the game-winning run and dropped to 6-2 on the year. He pitched two innings and gave up three hits.
Meanwhile, Tennessee relievers Daury Torrez, Jake Stinnett and Craig Brooks combined to pitch 5.1 scoreless innings and give up just three hits to the Blue Wahoos, which had 13 in the game.
Pensacola fell to 20-23 in the second half in the Southern League South Division. Pensacola is 60-53 overall and won the first half title. Tennessee improved to 23-20 in the North Division and is 59-53 overall.
Orientation Set For Tuesday Morning At Ernest Ward Middle
August 7, 2017
Orientation for incoming six graders and new students will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Schedules will be be printed; schedules can be accessed online.
Students can get forms notarized during these hours during the media center. For notary services, parents will need a government issued identification.
Landlines Or Cell Phone? Residents Pull The Plug On Traditional Phones
August 6, 2017
Landlines are quickly going the way of rotary-dial phones in Florida.
A newly released state report showed that large numbers of Floridians continue unplugging the types of phone lines that were a fixture of life for decades. Instead, they are reaching into their pockets for mobile phones or using internet technology to chat with friends and family.
The shift away from traditional residential lines has particularly affected the three largest carriers — AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier, which acquired Verizon’s landline business in the state. Along with using more wireless phones, customers also have shifted to using a type of internet technology known in the telecommunications world as “Voice over Internet Protocol.”
“The only calls we’d get on the AT&T landlines were solicitation calls. The prices kept rising. Had to make a choice, so we cut the cord,” said Debbie Burg of Cantonment in an informal NorthEscambia.com Facebook survey.
“Still have landline through Frontier, but only because cell service isn’t reliable where I live,” Holly McMorris of Walnut Hill said. Many people that responded to our survey said they keep their landlines because they are in rural location with poor cell service.
The report, produced each year by the Public Service Commission, said consumers are “able to find comparable services at reasonable prices” through the different types of technologies and providers in the industry. The report said there are an estimated 21.1 million wireless phones in Florida and 4.2 million Voice over Internet Protocol subscribers — while the state’s population was 20.6 million last year.
“Access lines for both residential and business customers have maintained a steady decline over the past several years,” the report said. “This contrasts with the continued growth in wireless-only households. While declines have occurred in the business market, they are partially offset by significant growth in business VoIP lines. Carriers are managing the shifts in market conditions by bundling services and providing a variety of pricing plans in an attempt to meet consumer demand and expectations.”
“Have had a corded phone in at least one room in the house for emergencies. If we lose power such as during the ice storm, or a tropical event, the cordless handsets no longer work. Cell service in a weather event can he hit and miss especially in Beulah. Landline corded phone always has my six,” said Beulah resident Tommy Hagren.
Several North Escambia residents reported keeping landlines because of compatibility with alarm systems, fax machines, medical equipment and other devices. Others found that they were paying for a landline not used, except by telemarketers.
“No landline, mainly due to telemarketers, just wireless,” said Sara Knighten of Bratt.
“We moved to Walnut Hill four years ago from Atmore. In Atmore, we did have a landline through Frontier. When we moved, we decided not to get a landline phone due to the fact we never used it at our old house, and only used our cell phones. When we did have our landline, the only people who called it were telemarketers or wrong numbers,” Lori Diller said.
Melissa McElhaney of Bratt said her family still has a landline. “I guess we like to be old school,” she said.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this NorthEscambia.com report.
Lady Astros Win USSSA Southern Nationals Tournament
August 6, 2017
The “Lady Astros” went undefeated in six straight games to win the USSSA Southern Nationals Softball Tournament in Gulf Shores recently. Players from Northview, Jay, Milton, West Florida, and Central high schools made up the championship team.
“Our players worked very hard and did great on defense and offense,” said Coach Donnie Nicholson. “I am very proud of all of our players.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 20 Years On Burglary Charges
August 6, 2017
An Escambia County man is headed to prison on burglary charges.
Willie Dixon, Jr., was sentenced by Circuit Judge Gary L. Bergosh to 20 years in state prison after entered a plea in five criminal cases.
His charges included dealing in stolen property, grand theft, felony petit theft, and criminal mischief entered a plea to four counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, six counts of dealing in stolen property by trafficking, and two counts of criminal mischief.
Dixon’s charges stemmed from multiple burglaries he committed in Escambia County during May and June of 2016. Dixon burglarized several homes–two of which were the property of Loaves and Fishes. During the burglaries, Dixon stole televisions, DVD players, other electronics, a bicycle, and several other items.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Beginning Again
August 6, 2017
Spring is usually the season for renewal, but new beginnings for state government are underway in the heat of summer.
Some are cyclical, like the earliest legislative proposals being filed for the session that begins in January. The claim bills — filed for people who have been harmed by the government in some ways — are usually the first concrete steps toward lawmakers’ annual gathering in Tallahassee.
Meanwhile, Visit Florida’s boss began a swing across the state, with the aim of helping rebuild the tourism marketer’s reputation after this year’s legislative session, which saw the organization serve as a pinata for House Speaker Richard Corcoran.
Also, the state’s new death-penalty regime moved one step closer to a fateful decision that could clear the way for Florida’s first execution in more than 18 months. Some starts are unpleasant.
But the hope is that most new beginnings will be for the better and that the improvement will last until the next one comes along.
PENALTIES AND PAIN
It is virtually inevitable, when a state introduces a new drug mix for its lethal injections, that a legal challenge will soon follow. The case of Mark James Asay, a Death Row prisoner scheduled to be put to death Aug. 24, is following the pattern.
After losing the first round of the legal battle, Asay’s lawyer has gone to the Florida Supreme Court, asking justices to review the new drug protocol that would be used on Asay. It would mark the first execution in Florida since the state’s death-penalty regime was tied up by months of wrangling over the role of juries in imposing capital punishment.
Gov. Rick Scott originally set Asay’s execution for early 2016, before the legal battles put things on hold. After those issues were resolved, Scott moved the date to August; but by then, the Florida Department of Corrections had introduced its new drug mix.
Now, the state plans to use etomidate instead of midazolam as the critical first drug, used to sedate prisoners before injecting them with a paralytic and then a drug used to stop prisoners’ hearts.
Asay argues that the state failed to provide him notice of the revamped lethal injection protocol, essentially keeping his lawyer, Marty McClain, from having enough time to present evidence at a circuit court hearing last week. Ultimately, Duval County Circuit Judge Tatiana Salvador ruled that Asay failed to prove that the new three-drug protocol is unconstitutional.
McClain argues that, instead of the new drug protocol, corrections officials should use the three-drug lethal injection procedure involving midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride that was in effect when Asay’s original death warrant was signed last year, or a single-drug protocol adopted by some other death-penalty states.
Despite numerous challenges to the use of midazolam as the first drug in the lethal injection process, courts have repeatedly upheld its use, McClain wrote. But etomidate is another matter.
“It carries a risk of pain and a risk of seizure-like movements as Mr. Asay dies. This raises Eighth Amendment bases to challenge both the substantial risk of pain and the undignified manner of death,” he wrote.
The change in the protocol has come as states have scrambled to obtain lethal-injection drugs because manufacturers have refused to sell the substances to corrections agencies for execution purposes.
In a 65-page response, Assistant Attorney General Charmaine Millsaps referenced Salvador’s ruling.
Etomidate, also known by the brand name “Amidate,” is a short-acting anesthetic that renders patients unconscious. Twenty percent of people experience mild to moderate pain after being injected with the drug, but only for “tens of seconds” at the longest, the Duval County judge noted.
“Given that lethal injection protocols use needles to deliver the drugs, all such protocols involve some pain. But executions are not required to be totally painless,” Millsaps wrote. “Rather, the risk of pain from the protocol must be sure or very likely to cause ‘needless suffering.’ ”
Both of the state’s experts testified that, even though the medical literature refers to a 20 percent chance of patients experiencing some pain from etomidate, “neither had actually seen a patient experience any pain,” Millsaps added.
TAKING THEIR OWN ADVICE
Visit Florida is usually just the name of the state’s tourism-marketing agency — not an action plan. But Ken Lawson, president and CEO of the public-private organization, said this week he would indeed visit Florida.
After months of negative press and new rules that ended partnerships with a number of local tourism organizations, Lawson has started traveling the state to try to rebuild trust with industry officials.
He wrote Wednesday on the corporate blog “Sunshine Matters” that he has started to “humbly” reach out to different groups across the state.
“I want to earn your trust and learn from you first hand,” Lawson wrote. “This has been a hard year for all of us.”
Visit Florida this year had to fight to keep its state funding from being cut by two-thirds. Also, it dropped the sponsorship of an auto racing team and recently did not continue sponsorship of the British football club Fulham.
The tourism-marketing agency ultimately avoided major funding cuts. But with lawmakers approving new disclosure rules tied to the state funding, the agency has lost partnerships with 12 local organizations. That doesn’t necessarily mean the regional organizations have severed ties with Visit Florida.
“We will continue to evaluate sales and marketing opportunities, on a case-by-case basis, for possible integration within our destination marketing plan,” Jorge Pesquera, president & CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches, said Thursday.
Even with the change, 46 tourism organizations have agreed to continue partnering with Visit Florida.
Lawson acknowledged in the blog that the “battle” to maintain funding “was hard and messy.”
“It is now time to heal and come together,” Lawson wrote. “As part of this process, I am humbly reaching out to you to hear your story, learn about your challenges, and determine how Visit Florida can help with your future success.”
Meanwhile, the fallout from changes at another economic development agency continued. The board of the South Florida Water Management District decided to promote Ernie Marks to serve as executive director, taking over for Pete Antonacci.
Antonacci left the district to take over Enterprise Florida, the state’s business-recruitment agency.
Board members said they looked to Marks, director of Everglades policy and coordination, in part to avoid disruptions in ongoing water projects throughout the district’s 16-county region, which stretches from Orlando to the Florida Keys.
“We have a lot of projects that are critical, that we are on the cusp of completing, and having a seamless transition in that leadership is very, very important,” board member Brandon Tucker said. “I think those relationships that Mr. Marks has with our partnering agencies, and all these things we have going on, I believe he’ll do a tremendous job.”
CLAIMING THE INITIATIVE
As a percentage of money that the state spends every year, claim bills amount to a tiny sliver of the budget. For those affected by them, it’s another matter. And in any case, the legislative calendar pretty much dictates that the bills are first out of the chute.
Claim bills filed in the Senate for the 2018 session include addressing a woman who died as a result of a Florida Highway Patrol officer using a Taser and a Tampa chef left disabled after a crash with a city water truck.
Claim bills stem from people who are injured or die because of the actions of government agencies or employees. A legal concept known as “sovereign immunity” typically shields agencies from paying large amounts in lawsuits. But claim bills, if passed, direct agencies to pay more than sovereign-immunity caps, which are often $200,000 or $300,000.
The measures filed Tuesday totaled more than $50 million, but many of the proposals have previously been introduced in the Capitol and have struggled to advance.
Among the bigger-ticket proposals, Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, filed a bill (SB 46) that would direct the city of Tampa to pay $17.8 million to chef Ramiro Companioni.
In 1996, Companioni suffered “catastrophic” injuries when the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a crash with a city of Tampa water truck that had crossed three lanes of traffic, the bill said.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, proposed directing money to the estate of Danielle Maudsley, who in 2011 was critically injured and later died after a Florida Highway Patrol officer used a Taser on her.
The bill (SB 14), which would carry out a $1.95 million settlement, said the 20-year-old Maudsley was taken in September 2011 to a Florida Highway Patrol substation in Pinellas Park for processing after being arrested on traffic charges.
While handcuffed, Maudsley ran from the substation. In the parking lot, a trooper used a Taser, causing her to collapse and fall, leading to a traumatic brain injury. She died two years later.
STORY OF THE WEEK: The battle over the state’s new death-penalty protocol moved to the Florida Supreme Court, the next stage in a months-long fight about how the state carries out the ultimate punishment.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “This case, however, is a classic example of how inflexible mandatory minimum sentences may result in injustices within the legal system that should not be tolerated. I, therefore, recommend that appellant apply for executive clemency … and that the governor and Cabinet act favorably upon this request.”—1st District Court of Appeal Judge James Wolf, in a concurring opinion upholding the conviction and 20-year sentence of Eric Patrick Wright. Wright was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 2013 incident in Duval County.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Escambia County Employees Complete CPM Program
August 6, 2017
Several Escambia County employees recently completed the Certified Public Manager program, a nationally-recognized program for training and developing public managers and supervisors. They were among 350 participants to graduate this summer from the program, which has a primary goal of professionalizing public management and improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Escambia County CPM graduates are:
- Shawn Fletcher, Information Technology Director
- Julie Gonzalez, Waste Services Administrative Supervisor
- Felix Hotard, West Florida Public Libraries Network System Engineer
- Pat Johnson, Waste Services Director
- Chris Karp, Information Technology Manager
- Scott MacDonald, Information Technology Manager
- Leon Salter, Emergency Medical Services Deputy Chief
- Brent Schneider, PE, Waste Services Engineering and Environmental Manager
- Paul Williams, Escambia County Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief
The eight-level course took two years to complete, with the first seven levels taking place at the Escambia County Public Safety Building and the final level taking place in Tallahassee. Florida has one of the largest CPM programs in the country, with nearly 5,500 graduates from more than 100 agencies. Florida’s CPM Program is administered by the Florida Center for Public Management, which is part of the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University.
Other participating agencies that attended in Escambia County included the Escambia County Tax Collector, Santa Rosa County Tax Collector, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Revenue, First Judicial Circuit Court Administration and the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts.