Wrong Way Driver Wrecks In Post Office Parking Lot
June 4, 2017
There were no injuries when a driver wrecked in the parking lot of a local post office early Sunday morning.
The driver apparently lost control just before 1 a.m. in the 1400 block of Old Chemstrand Road, struck a “Do Not Enter” sign and two curbs before coming to rest in the parking lot of the Gonzalez Post Office. He refused medical treatment at the scene.
‘The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
Further information has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Traffic Alert: Delays On Highway 4 At Canoe Creek For Tuesday
June 4, 2017
Drivers can expect delays Tuesday morning on Highway 4 over Canoe Creek, between Bratt and Byrneville.
There will be alternating lane restrictions from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. for a routine bridge inspection. Drivers are reminded to use caution when traveling through the area and be alert for workers and equipment.
Youth Begin Fair Livestock Projects
June 4, 2017
Over 30 youth weighed-in their steers Saturday to being their Pensacola Interstate Fair Project. Each will work over the next 140 days to prepare themselves and the animals for the show. The final weigh-in and show will take place of October 23 with the sale on October 26. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Approves Funds For ‘The Bluffs’ And Muscogee Road, Vetoes Beulah Interchange
June 4, 2017
A major industrial campus development in Cantonment and Muscogee Road area improvements were among the North Escambia area projects to make Florida’s budget signed by Gov. Rick Scott on Friday, while a Beulah area project and millions for the University of West Florida were vetoed.
The budget included $3.1 million for The Bluffs in Cantonment – a site that could be home to as many as 60 new industrial and manufacturing companies and more than 15,000 jobs with wages of nearly $3.9 billion.
The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south. Although located along the Escambia River, most of the property to be developed is at a high elevation, about 100 feet above sea level, and not in a flood plain. Minimally, the project is expected to recruit approximately 10 companies that would occupy more than 3.9 million square feet of building space on 295 acres of land which will be significant to Escambia County and the regional economy.
The budget also included about $1.4 million for a commerce park planned at the Pensacola International Airport and $500,000 for improvements along the Muscogee Road freight corridor.
Scott’s largest local veto was $4.1 million total for four programs — archaeology, nursing practical education, physical therapy and robotics — at the University of West Florida. Scott also vetoed $250,000 for a Beulah Interstate 10 interchange and $100,000 for a Gálvez monument in Pensacola.
UWF did receive about $9.5 million for programs including Laboratory Services Annex, physician assistance program, mechanical engineering and more.
Pictured: Concept maps and drawings show the planned “The Bluffs” development along the Escambia River in Cantonment. Images for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Announced Year End Honor Rolls
June 4, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School has released the following year-end honor rolls:
6th Grade A Honor Roll
Erich Amerson
Leah Anderson
Ryan Andrews
Luke Bridges
Abbie Buford
Kaypra Casillas
Ethan Collier
Drake Driskell
Cross Goslee
Kayla Johnson
Emily Levins
Kennedy Long
Elianna Morales
Alyssa Moya
Kaden Odom
Cameron Partrick
McKenna Simmons
Jessica Stabler
Aubrey Stuckey
Abigail Weber
Clay Wilson
6th Grade A-B Honor Roll
Drew Albritton
Riley Blackwell
Leila Boutwell
Karson Brown
Na’khya Brown
Landon Chavers
Ryan Dove
Kameron Enfinger
Ja’kayla Evans
Caitlyn Gibson
Emma Gilmore
Chase Hampton
Gabriel Harigel
Johnnie Howell
Ruthie Huskey
Ryan Kahalley
Emily Lambeth
Megan McGhee
Chase Pugh
Torian Richardson
Arquavian Smith
Kole Stewart
John Michael Ward
Alexia Yeater
Blake Yoder
Loghan Zellers
7th Grade A Honor Roll
Anna Adams
John Bashore
Hunter Borelli
Sarah Sconiers
Mia Starns
7th Grade A-B Honor Roll
Lakyn Bodiford
Tereasia Burt
Shelby Cotita
Kaitlin Gafford
Payton Gilchrist
Jason Gurganus
Samantha Hammond
Jon Harigel
Sarah Hetrick
Grayson James
Ethan Kilburn
Jaden Lewis
Madelyn McAnally
Kenzy McLaney
Kinzey Powell
Makayla Ramsey
Mackenzie Sims
8th Grade A Honor Roll
Maggie Amerson
Savannah Doremus
Amber Gilman
Hannah Hughes
David Lamb
Meredith McGhee
Brayden Mickel
Libby Pugh
Emily Stabler
Summer Waters
Lane Wilson
8th Grade A-B Honor Roll
Larry Allie
Kenley Brown
Logan Bryan
Christian Bullington
Kayla Campbell
Sophia Cotita
Makayla Garrett
Shelby Godwin
Hailey Harigel
Rylee Huskey
Justin Kent
Maille Kilcrease
Heather Knowles
Bryce Korinchak
Abigail Levins
Mary Paige Nassar
Abigail Nelson
Taviana Parker
Ryan Pendleton
Kenna Redmond
Madelin Sheedy
Cody Thomas
Le’Ariel Thomas
Ariel Ward
Ben Ward
Autumn Williams
8th Grade Presidential Awards
Maggie Amerson
Logan Bryan
Kayla Campbell
Sophia Cotita
Savannah Doremus
Makayla Garrett
Amber Gilman
Shelby Godwin
Hailey Harigel
Hannah Hughes
Justin Kent
Maille Kilcrease
Heather Knowles
Bryce Korinchak
Kaley Lashley
Abigail Levins
Meredith McGhee
Nathaniel Mickel
Mary Paige Nassar
Abigail Nelson
Taviana Parker
Libby Pugh
Tyler Ray
Kenna Redmond
Emily Stabler
Cody Thomas
Ariel Ward
Benjamin Ward
Summer Waters
Autumn Williams
William Wilson
Wahoos Win Series Over The Jumbo Shrimp
June 4, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos exploded against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for six runs in the sixth inning on six singles and two errors to cruise to its fifth consecutive series victory Saturday.
The game was tied, 4-4, when Pensacola sent 10 players to the plate and put on a hitting demonstration for the sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Blue Wahoos ended up winning 11-6 Friday and captured the series, 3-2, denying Jacksonville a chance to win its first series in Pensacola’s ballpark since June 2015.
Jacksonville committed seven errors, which was two short of the record of nine errors made by the Biloxi Shuckers on April 10 this season against the Montgomery Biscuits.
“We were hoping to take advantage of (the errors),” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “You don’t want to look up there and see seven errors and only have four runs.”
The sixth inning started for Pensacola with a lead-off single by left fielder Tyler Goeddel. Center fielder Gabriel Guerrero then hit a rocket to Jacksonville second baseman KC Serna who dropped the ball. Third baseman Josh VanMeter then hit a towering fly ball behind third base that Jumbo Shrimp shortstop Alex Yarbrough missed for the second error of the inning.
With the bases loaded and no outs, right fielder Aristides Aquino hit a one hopper that glanced off the first baseman’s glove and then bounced off VanMeter, allowing both Goeddel and Guerrero to score to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 6-4. First baseman Eric Jagielo ripped a single to right field to score VanMeter to make it, 7-4. Another single on a liner by second baseman Angelo Gumbs drove in Aquino for an 8-4 lead.
Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan hit a bullet into right field where Jacksonville’s John Norwood gunned down Jagielo at the plate for the second out of the inning. Blue Wahoos reliever Robert Stock then hit a bouncer up the middle that scored catcher Adrian Nieto and Trahan with the final two runs of the inning scoring for a 10-4 lead.
Pensacola is 31-24 and in first place in the Southern League South Division with just three series left before the end of the first half. The Blue Wahoos are trying to become the first Southern League team to win four straight halves since the Tennessee Smokies did it from 2009-2011.
Blue Wahoos reliever Alex Powers came through for Pensacola Friday. He finished the game with three scoreless innings, allowing four hits, one walk and striking out five.
Powers entered the game in the seventh inning after Stock loaded the bases and walked in a run. Powers struck out the side with the bases full.
“Powers gave us three huge innings right there,” Kelly said. “He had those three big Ks with the bases loaded. That was huge.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel Guerrero led the Pensacola offense Friday and throughout the five-game series against Jacksonville. He was 6-17 (.353) and drove in six runs, increasing his RBI total to 15 for the season. He has 21 multi-hit games in the 52 games he has played this season.
Plus, he has enjoyed playing center field more lately. He made a sliding catch in the fifth inning to rob Jacksonville left fielder Alex Glenn of a hit.
“I’ve had a good season, so far,” Guerrero said. “I’m seeing the ball and not trying to do to much.”
Pensacola also benefited from two great defensive plays by Angelo Gumbs at second base, especially in the eight inning when he fielded the ball on the shortstop side of second base, spun and threw out the runner.
Jacksonville is 4-16 in Blue Wahoos Stadium the last two years.
Jacksonville’s Perez tied the game, 4-4, when he lined a triple into the right center field gap to lead off the fourth. Jacksonville’s Yarbrough hit a chopper to Pensacola’s Jagielo at first base who threw home to get Perez but the center fielder scored when he slid wide behind home plate and tapped the plate with his left hand.
Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino had put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-3, in the third inning when he scored on catcher Adrian Nieto’s ground ball to Jacksonville first baseman Taylor Ard. Ard threw to Jumbo Shrimp shortstop Yarbrough to get Pensacola Jagielo out at second. But Yarbrough’s throw to first base glanced off the glove of Jacksonville starting pitcher Chris Mazza, allowing Nieto to reach third base where he was stranded.
The Blue Wahoos lead the game, 3-0, after the first two innings but Jacksonville right fielder John Norwood hit a three-run homer to left to tie the game, 3-3. Norwood has nine homers this season, which is fourth in the Southern League.
Century Man Charged With Attacking Girlfriend, Drug Possession
June 3, 2017
A Century man was jailed recently on a drug charge and for assaulting his girlfriend.
An Escambia County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck near the intersection of Lake Street and Old Flomaton Road in Century due to an inoperable tag light. The deputy reported discovering 22 grams of marijuana in the truck, along with a bong used for smoking marijuana, homemade nunchucks, metal knuckles and two knives .
Elisha Tyquan Hunt, 23, was charged with marijuana possession and arrested on an outstanding warrant for battery.
The battery warrant was issued after Hunt allegedly attacked is girlfriend last Demcember. Hunt allegedly attacked his girlfriend of two years, punching her in the eye with a closed fist. She was transported ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital for treatment.
Hunt was booked into the Escambia County Jail for battery and possession of marijuana. He was late released on a $1,000 bond.
School, Economic Development Get Special Session As Scott Signs Budget
June 3, 2017
After reaching an agreement with legislative leaders to boost money for public schools and to back plans for economic-development and tourism funding, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed an $82 billion state budget and called lawmakers back for a three-day special session to complete the deal.
“I think this is going to be good for job creation and I think it’s going to be good for education,” Scott said, following a press conference at Miami International Airport with Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes.
Each leader will get something from the deal, which will be completed in a special session that begins Wednesday.
Lawmakers have agreed to create an $85 million “Florida Job Growth Grant Fund,” which will provide money for infrastructure and job-training efforts. Scott had requested $85 million for business incentives that would go through the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida, but the House refused to go along with spending money on incentives.
Another concession to Scott will be $76 million in funding for the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida. Lawmakers had cut the funding to $25 million in the budget passed last month.
Funding for public schools in the deal will go up by $215 million, enough to provide about a $100-per-student increase in the 2017-18 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The budget approved last month had only a $24.49 per-student increase.
Also as part of the agreement, Scott is expected to sign two education bills, passed in the 2017 session, that are important to Corcoran and Negron.
One (SB 374) contains most of the higher-education policy initiatives supported by Negron, including block tuition for state universities, a new oversight board for state colleges and a cap on enrollment in state college baccalaureate programs.
The other bill (HB 7069), which is backed by Corcoran, would expand the use of charter schools in Florida and provide bonuses to high-performing teachers and principals.
Scott, however, deflected questions on the House bill.
“We’re still reviewing (HB) 7069 but I believe that we’re on a pathway to have a very good special session,” Scott said. “I am going to work to make sure that everything we do is good for all students.”
To set up the special session, Scott signed the new budget (SB 2500), while vetoing $410 million in spending and projects. He said the vetoed funding was “more than sufficient” to pay for the school funding, tourism and economic development increases.
In a more extraordinary move, Scott vetoed the entire $20 billion K-12 funding program in the budget, which will require lawmakers to pass a new bill next week with the $100-per-student increase. It was a move supported by teachers, school boards and superintendents, who called the original funding increase inadequate.
It’s the first time in 34 years that a governor has rejected the Florida Education Financing Program, commonly known as FEFP, since Bob Graham’s veto in 1983.
Scott declined to veto another portion of the budget related to state college funding, meaning those schools may have to live with a $30 million cut in remedial education. Scott promised to seek a funding increase for the state colleges during the 2018 regular session, which begins in January.
The agreement ended a bitter feud between Scott and Corcoran, the House leader, over economic-development and tourism funding. While Corcoran criticized a $1 million promotional contract with rapper Pitbull and likened economic incentives to “corporate welfare,” Scott toured the state labeling Corcoran and other House members as “job killers.”
Scott downplayed those differences on Friday.
“I appreciate the fact that people fight for what they believe in,” Scott said. “I think often what happens at the end of that discussion … you end up with a good product.”
Negron and other Senate leaders emphasized that they had supported Scott’s call for increased school funding and economic-development and tourism funding from the beginning of the 2017 session.
“It’s a shame the House wouldn’t negotiate during the regular session,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, tweeted. “Now we have to spend $60-70k a day on a special session.”
Corcoran said Friday’s agreement showed “you can have leaders with competing opinions and still compromise to meet common goals.”
Corcoran won concessions that the Visit Florida would be held to higher accountability standards and that the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund would not be specifically targeted at individual companies.
“It’s truly a model for the rest of the nation wrestling with ending corporate welfare,” Corcoran said.
Controversy will continue over the charter school legislation, which is not part of the special session but drew fresh condemnation on Friday from Democrats and some public-school advocates.
“To pretend this newest backroom deal will help public education in our state is laughable,” said House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa.
She said the charter school legislation creates “a $140 million slush fund for private charter school operators in exchange for an $85 million slush fund for corporate welfare.”
Legislative leaders said they may add medical-marijuana legislation to the special session agenda, if they can resolve differences over the number of dispensaries that would be allowed to distribute the drugs. Voters approved a medical-marijuana constitutional amendment in November.
“We still want to try to get something resolved next week,” said Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. “If we cannot, I don’t know that waiting a month or two is going to make a difference.”
by Lloyd Dunkelberger and Dara Kam
Scott Signs BP Settlement Bill
June 3, 2017
Gov. Rick Scott signed measures Friday that will release BP oil-spill settlement money to eight Northwest Florida counties most impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
“Our beautiful beaches were devastated by the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” Scott said in a statement. “While the surrounding communities have worked hard to recover, this funding will allow them to make critical local investments and continue our efforts to market the state.”
State Rep. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican who oversaw the issue in the House, said the money “will help our businesses continue to grow and attract visitors from around the world to our beautiful coast.”
The measures allocate $300 million of $400 million received by the state last year to Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton counties through the non-profit organization Triumph Gulf Coast.
Kim Wilmes, president and CEO of the regional economic-development organization Florida’s Great Northwest, said the money will allow the region “to begin building that bright new economic future.”
The bill sets minimums for how much each county will receive and expands the Triumph board from five to seven, to provide more representation from less-populated counties. The eight counties are also slated to get three-fourths of the remainder of the $2 billion the state is expected to receive for damages associated with the BP disaster, which dumped millions of gallons of oil less than 100 miles off the Florida coast.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 3, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending May 25 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer McHenry was working in Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed three individuals enter the area after hours. He approached the individuals in his patrol vehicle and turned his blue lights on. All three individuals fled the area on foot, but Officer McHenry caught up to one of the individuals. A notice to appear citation was issued for resisting arrest without violence, under age possession of alcohol and illegal entry into the WMA. The two other individuals were identified and warrants will be filed for their arrest.
Officers Cushing and Land were on water patrol in Pensacola Bay and conducted a marine fisheries inspection on a small fishing vessel near a navigational buoy. Upon contacting the two persons on board, they said that they had a few lane snapper. An inspection revealed they were in possession of 17 juvenile red snapper, all of them measuring between six and thirteen inches. The appropriate action was taken for the violation of possession of red snapper during closed season.
Officers Allgood and Manning patrolled federal waters south of Pensacola and found five different vessel operators in possession of red snapper during closed season. Federal citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Long checked vessels as they returned to Navy Point Boat Ramp and found one individual in possession of 15 undersized red snapper and another individual in possession of an amberjack during closed season. Officer Long issued notice to appear citations for the violations.
Officer Manning received information that someone was selling seafood at a local flea market without a license. When he arrived, he found an individual selling blue crabs, shrimp and blue runners. The individual did not have a saltwater retail license or any records on where the fish were purchased. Notice to appear citations were issued for the violations.
Officer Cushing spoke to a group of approximately 20 members of the Pensacola Recreational Fisherman’s Association. Officer Cushing gave an overview of the agency’s core mission and answered many questions in regards to current saltwater regulations and boating safety.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
While on patrol, Officer Mullins observed two individuals fishing the Garcon Point area. He conducted a fisheries/license inspection and one subject was unable to produce a fishing license or identification. The subject provided several different names and dates of birth. Despite the false information, Officer Mullins and FWC Dispatch discovered the subject’s identity. It was revealed that the subject had an active warrant for probation violation. The subject was placed under arrest, booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail and issued citations for interference with an FWC officer and no fishing license.
Investigator Molnar followed up on a complaint about a subject possibly killing over the bag limit of turkey during the 2017 spring season. After multiple interviews with several people, Investigator Molnar interviewed the subject. After the interview, the subject confessed to killing five turkeys in northwest Florida during the 2017 spring turkey season. Three sets of turkey spurs and beards were seized as evidence. Charges will be filed on a later date.
Officers Jernigan and Lewis participated in a Career Field Day at Chumuckla Elementary School. The FWC officers, Santa Rosa Sheriff’s K-9 deputies, and local EMT’s, paramedics, and volunteers from the local fire departments spent time with different classes to tell about their careers and what they do each day in the field. Officers Jernigan and Lewis spoke to more than 150 children about boating and gun safety. Each child boarded a patrol vessel, received coloring books, stickers and fun facts about Florida’s bears and alligators.
Officers Lewis, Jernigan, Hutchinson and Clark coordinated with the Blackwater Pirates and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary to perform voluntary vessel safety inspections on multiple vessels at Carpenter’s Park and Russell Harbor boat ramps in Milton during the weekend. Everyone involved educated the public on boating safety; distributed boating safety literature, and answered various questions from the public
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.