Escambia County In Alabama Lands 300 New Tech Jobs
July 27, 2017
A multi-million deal will bring hundreds of jobs to Escambia County in Alabama.
The Brewton City Council has finalized a $6.5 million deal with Provalus and its parent company Optomi, LLC that will mean about 300 jobs for Brewton.
Optomi, LLC, a tech-staffing firm, will construct three buildings totaling 60,000 square fet on about 10 acres at the former Dogwood Hills Golf Course. Construction on the first building will begin once the company hires 50 employees.
Brewton will become Optomi’s ‘flagship U.S. facility’, according to Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero.
“What sold us on Brewton was its people,” Ruggiero said. “The first person I met was Mayor Yank Lovelace of Brewton and he represented the city very well. We have so much gratitude towards Mayor Lovelace for helping us along in this journey.”
The project will include $1.5 million from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s discretionary fund.
“Gov. Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” Lovelace said. “This project was a culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”
Applications are currently being accepted in the company’s current location in the former Cracked Pot on Belleville Avenue.
Most of the current IT jobs have been outsourced to other counties such has India, but Ruggiero said his company is on a mission to bring those jobs back to the United States.
“Provalus is on a mission to bring these jobs back,” he said. “And specifically we want to bring these jobs back to rural areas like Brewton.”
Ruggiero said Brewton was tops on the company’s list after an extensive search in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas.”
Pictured top: Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero addresses the Brewton City Council (pictured below). Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Pitches Law Enforcement Pay Raises
July 27, 2017
As he eyes a run for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday unveiled the first piece of his pending election-year budget proposal: a $30 million pay raise for state law-enforcement officers.
The initiative would provide the boost in the budget year that begins in July 2018. It would come on top of a 5 percent increase for law enforcement officers in the current budget year.
Speaking at a Florida Highway Patrol office in Jacksonville, the governor said that many law enforcement officers were grateful for the latest salary bump.
“But we cannot stop there,” Scott said. “The brave men and women who serve Florida as members of our state law-enforcement community work every day to keep Florida communities safe. And while I was proud of this important achievement, it’s clear that we must continue to build on this year’s pay raise.”
The next budget Scott proposes will be the last before he leaves office because of term limits in January 2019. At the same time, he is ramping up an expected challenge to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, an incumbent Democrat up for re-election in 2018.
In the meantime, the governor has been sprinting across the state and highlighting politically popular measures like the recent raise for law enforcement officers.
Heads of the state’s major law-enforcement agencies, on hand for Wednesday’s announcement, said the proposed raises would help them hire and keep employees that they now sometimes lose to local police forces.
“We can’t afford to continue to train these highly qualified young men and women to go out and defend the streets and the public safety for the state of Florida, only to lose them to other states, other agencies within the very near future just because they’re not making enough money,” said Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said the increases could help him hire the more experienced personnel that his agency seeks.
“It’s getting more and more difficult to recruit those seasoned investigators when local agencies are paying more than the state investigative agency,” Swearingen said.
Scott’s office said the state’s law-enforcement agencies would work out the details of how the $30 million would be distributed. And the Legislature would still have to approve Scott’s plan in its annual session, which begins in January.
It is likely to have at least some politically powerful allies. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency employs law-enforcement officers and who is running to succeed Scott in 2018, applauded the plan.
“Our state law-enforcement officers deserve all the support we can give them, as they’ve achieved a 46-year crime low and face unprecedented challenges, such as the current opioid crisis,” he said. “Our 240 law enforcement officers with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and their peers at other state law enforcement agencies deserve a raise.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputy Offers Look At Law Enforcement To Kids At Carver Park
July 27, 2017
From blue lights to badges, Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Tipton took the time to explain law enforcement to a group of children at Carver Park in Cantonment. A summer feeding program is available weekdays at Carver Park on Webb Street for children under 18. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Rally For Win
July 27, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Josh VanMeter wasn’t expected to play every day in the Southern League when he turned out to be “the player to be named later” in a trade between the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres at the end of 2016.
However, the 22-year-old has proven indispensable to the Blue Wahoos team. He has played second base, shortstop, third base and left field and with two outs and runners in scoring position he’s the hitter Pensacola wants a t the plate.
Against the Biloxi Shuckers Wednesday, VanMeter delivered the decisive two-out, two-run double in the four-run eighth inning that gave Pensacola a, 4-1, victory in front of 4,358 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
VanMeter said he thrives in the clutch and his hitting statistics bear that out. The .259 hitter’s average balloons to .378 with the game on the line. The new Reds pick up has driven in 23 of his 39 RBIs in that position.
“When I think of good players, I think of clutch players,” VanMeter said. “It shows I’m able to control myself, even in pressure situations.”
Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel hit a high pop up to Biloxi second baseman Blake Allemand, who instead of making the catch to end the inning and preserve the Biloxi lead, 1-0, kept the rally going when it plopped to the ground. The unexplainable error allowed Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan to knot the game, 1-1.
Blue Wahoos first baseman Gavin LaValley then hit a bullet to left field that drove in center fielder Gabriel Guerrero with the go-ahead run, 2-1.
That’s when VanMeter stepped to the plate and delivered his double to the left center gap that scored Senzel from second base and LaValley from first to increase Pensacola’s lead to 4-1 heading into the ninth.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly is a big fan of VanMeter, who recalled hitting a buzzer beating jumper in the Indiana high school basketball 3A Regionals to upset the tournament favorite.
“His hit gives us a three-run lead and gives (closer Zack) Weiss a little wiggle room,” Kelly said.
Blue Wahoos reliever Carlos Gonzalez also played a pivotal role in the win that improved Pensacola’s record to 16-16 in the second half and back into a first-place tie with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern Division. The first half champions are 56-46 overall.
In the seventh inning, the Shuckers loaded the bases on a bunt single, sharp grounder to right field and a swinging bunt single with one out off Blue Wahoos starter Jesus Reyes.
Then rain poured down and delayed the game for 33 minutes, until it resumed at 9:18 p.m. It was the second rain delay of the game with the start pushed back 30 minutes.
When the game started again, Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez entered and got a pop out and strikeout to end the Biloxi scoring threat. His 1.2 innings with one strikeout improved his record in 14 relief appearances to 1-1 with a 1.90 ERA.
“That was a fantastic job,” Kelly said. “Those were five big outs for us.”
Biloxi scored in the first inning, going on top, 1-0, when leadoff batter Johnny Davis hit a grounder up the middle into center field, stole second base and reached third on an infield single by left fielder Angel Ortega deep in the hole to shortstop. Davis finally scored on Allemand’s soft line drive single to the opposite field.
Biloxi starter Jon Perrin threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out five.
“Every team we play is that way,” Kelly said. “They run those good arms at you every night.”
Need A Pig? Sheriff David Morgan Will Sell You One
July 27, 2017
Need a pig? Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan will be happy to sell you one.
A large brown male feeder pig will be sold to the highest bidder at 10 a.m. on August 3 in a sheriff’s livestock sale. The sale will be held at Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Substation at 5844 North Highway 29 in Molino.
For more information, call (850) 436- 9477.
Man Charged With Stealing Water Service From The Town Of Century
July 26, 2017
A Century man has been arrested for stealing water.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 400 block of Barnwell Street where Century Water Superintendent Alicia Jernigan stated that the residence had been connected to the town’s water supply without a meter since 2013. The following day, the utilities department dug in the road and discovered a second water pipe connected from their system to the house.
Jernigan told deputies that $2,847.32 of water had been stolen from the Town of Century.
Willie Owens, Sr., the owner of the residence, was arrested on a charge of theft of utility services. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Two Juveniles Seriously Injured In ATV Crash
July 26, 2017
Two minors were seriously injured in an ATV crash Tuesday evening in Cantonment.
The minors were on an ATV that reportedly collided with the side of a pickup truck near Pace Parkway and Mintz Lane. They were transported to an area hospital as a “trauma alerst” by Escambia County EMS. Neither minor was reported to be wearing a helmet. The pickup driver was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the 7 p.m. accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
No Injuries As Mattress Outlet Damaged By Fire
July 26, 2017
A two-alarm fire damaged two Escambia County businesses on Tuesday afternoon.
Bystanders reported flames and smoke showing from the building at Fairfield Drive and Ruby Avenue. The building is home to Mattress Outlet and MOVE Period, a local gym. The building was reported by bystanders to have flames and smoke billowing from it about 4:30 p.m.
Fire stations from across the county responded to the blaze, including ladder trucks from Century and NAS Pensacola. There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
State Grapples With Increase In Credit Card Skimmers
July 26, 2017
Credit-card skimming devices at Florida gas stations and stores are on a dramatic rise this year.
State figures show 315 skimmers had been discovered at Florida gas pumps through July 18, compared to 120 skimmers discovered through the first seven months of 2016.
That represents a 160 percent increase in the illegal devices used to collect consumers’ credit- or debit-card information.
This year’s seven-month total already far exceeds the 219 reported devices in all of 2016 and the 169 skimmers found in 2015, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
At a press conference in Orlando this month highlighting the problem, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam noted that his inspectors and law-enforcement officers have documented a continued rise since 2015 in the devices, which are typically placed inside gas-pump cabinets.
“Since that time, we have seen a steady trend upward, an increase in the number of skimmers being found around the state on these gas pumps,” Putnam said.
If undetected, each skimmer is capable of collecting credit- or debit-card data from 100 consumers, with each losing an average of $1,000 to electronic theft, according to Putnam’s agency., which is responsible for gas-station inspections.
Palm Beach County has the most reported skimmer locations this year with 58, followed by Broward County with 57, Miami-Dade County with 26 and Pinellas and Volusia counties, each reporting 12 devices.
Although there appeared to be a correlation between larger counties, with more cars and gas stations, and the detection of skimmers, that isn’t always the case. Brevard County, with 11 skimmer locations, had more than the combined totals of Duval County, with five, and Hillsborough County, with four.
In the majority of cases, one skimmer device was reported at each location. But some had multiple skimmers, including a New Smyrna Beach gas station where four skimmers were found on July 11, records show.
Putnam has been working with the Legislature, the Florida Retail Federation and the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association the past few years to curb the illegal activity.
In 2016, the Legislature passed a law that toughened penalties for credit-card fraud and required security devices on gas pumps, including the use of security tape to alert store employees and consumers about pump tampering.
This year, the Legislature passed another law making it illegal to possess skimmer-device equipment.
“As the third-largest state with 10,000 convenience stores and more than 100 million tourists visiting each year, Florida presents significantly more opportunities for skimming devices to be used,” said Scott Shalley, president of the Florida Retail Federation, after Gov. Rick Scott signed the latest anti-skimming legislation (HB 343) last month.
Putnam said the industry has taken steps to protect gas pumps from tampering, including moving away from a universal key system that allowed access to pumps in different locations. He said the newest stores and gas stations are deploying technology that will shut down pumps if they are opened without authorization.
But Putnam said skimmer criminals are growing more sophisticated, with some now using devices where credit-card data can be downloaded remotely, eliminating the need to retrieve skimmers from inside the pumps.
“Unfortunately, like many forms of criminal activities, the bad guys continue to evolve just like the laws continue to evolve,” Putnam said.
But Putnam also said “there are some very simple things that the traveling public can do during this summer traveling season to protect themselves.”
Among the recommendations are using cash to pay for gas; using credit cards, which typically have more consumer protections than debit cards if fraud occurs; using pumps closer to the stores, as skimmer criminals are more likely to target remote pumps; and avoiding pumps if the cabinets are open or if security tape is broken or appears altered.
“This is not a crime limited to Florida, but unfortunately it is a crime that we are seeing growth in and an increasing number of these devices are being found,” Putnam said.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service Florida
Pedestrian Struck By Escambia County Deputy’s Tahoe
July 26, 2017
A pedestrian suffered slight injuries when he stepped into the path of an Escambia County deputy’s vehicle Tuesday night in Escambia County.
Scott Miller, age 52 of Mobile, was struck by a mirror on the Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle on West Fairfield Drive near North Pace Boulevard. Miller was not in a crosswalk when he attempted to cross the roadway about 10:36 p.m.
Miller suffered minor injuries. He was cited with failure to cross in crosswalk by the Florida Highway Patrol.