Blue Wahoos Sweep The Jumbo Shrimp
April 22, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Austin Ross and Jacksonville starting pitcher Chris Mazza dueled to a 0-0 tie for seven innings.
But in the eighth the Blue Wahoos put up two runs on a walk, error and sacrifice fly and wild pitch to sweep the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the five-game series Friday in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly compared the game to a tennis match.
“A game like that the first team that makes a mistake gets beat,” he said. “If you’re the one to break the serve, you got a chance to win.”
It’s not often teams sweep five-game series. Last season, Pensacola swept the Birmingham Barons on the road to end the season and in 2015 it swept the Montgomery Biscuits at home.
The Blue Wahoos have now won seven straight games and own the best record in the Southern League at 12-3. It’s the best start since the franchise began in 2012.
This year in three starts for the Cincinnati Reds, the 28-year-old Ross is 2-0 with an 0.86 ERA. In 21 innings, he has allowed 10 hits, two earned runs, walked seven and struck out 13. Friday night, he pitched seven scoreless innings to up his scoreless inning streak to 18 innings.
He gave up just three hits, three walks and struck out seven Jumbo Shrimp hitters.
“Good pitches are good pitches,” the 28-year-old Ross said. “It’s all about just executing your pitches. It was fun going back and forth like that (with Mazza). With the flow of a game like that, sometimes guys just feed off each other. Each run matters.”
Fortunately for the Blue Wahoos, they scored first when left fielder Leon Landry walked and advanced to third when Joe Hudson came into pinch hit and bunted to Jacksonville third baseman Brian Anderson, who overthrew first baseman Taylor Ard.
With runners on second and third and no outs, Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right center to score Landry and put the Blue Wahoos up, 1-0. Catcher Devin Mesoraco then hit a line drive shot that was too hot for the pitcher to handle for a single and Hudson moved to third base where he scored on a wild pitch by Jacksonville reliever Tyler Higgins to give the Blue Wahoos ahead, 2-0.
Before the eighth inning, the highlight of the game was when right fielder Aristides Aquino chased down a single by Jacksonville right fielder John Norwood in the second inning deep in the outfield and then gunned a throw to Trahan to get Norwood out.
“That play changed the inning and changed the game,” Ross said. “It could have been first and second with no outs.”
UWF Celebrates Inauguration Of New President
April 22, 2017
The University of West Florida formally installed Dr. Martha Saunders as its sixth president during the inauguration ceremony held on April 21 at the UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
“I am truly glad to be here today the inauguration of a new president is really a celebration of the university she serves,” Saunders said.
Trustees, faculty, staff, students, board members, community leaders and delegates from institutions across the globe attended the celebration, which included a reception at UWF on the Emerald Coast on Tuesday, a distinguished guests reception on Thursday evening and an inauguration procession, ceremony and reception on Friday. Honored guests included Marshall Criser III, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, Madeline Pumariega, chancellor of the Florida College System, the Honorable Ashton Hayward, mayor of the City of Pensacola, Connie Crosby, representative of first UWF president Harold Crosby, past president Dr. John Cavanaugh, and Drs. Morris Marx and Judy Bense, presidents emeriti.
“This is an extraordinary day for the University of West Florida and I am thrilled to install Dr. Saunders as the sixth president of this remarkable institution,” said Mort O’Sullivan, chair of the UWF Board of Trustees. “She is the leader we need to take the University to the next level and help us grow our impact on our community, region, state and beyond.”
Saunders was selected as the sixth UWF president in September 2016, following a unanimous resolution passed by the Board of Trustees and confirmation by the Board of Governors in November. She assumed the role on Jan. 1, as the University launched its 50th Anniversary milestone celebration.
Saunders’ career in higher education began in 1984 at UWF, where she served as an instructor in the communication arts department. She quickly rose through the ranks, taking on roles including public relations program coordinator, director of the University Honors Program and dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Saunders also served as vice president for academic affairs at Columbus State University and as the first female chancellor for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She then led the University of Southern Mississippi as its first female president, before returning to UWF in 2013 as provost. In 2014, Saunders was appointed executive vice president at UWF, assuming the role as chief operating officer, in addition to chief academic officer and vice president for the Division of Academic Affairs.
Growth in enrollment, fundraising and campus structures were hallmarks of her previous leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Southern Mississippi. Saunders envisions similar growth in those areas at UWF by increasing its physical presence in downtown Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, investing in programs such as global online, cybersecurity and supply chain logistics and visiting local high schools to recruit talented students.
“I foresee a future when people arriving in this area will know they are in a university town because they can see it, hear it, feel it, experience it,” Saunders said. “ Our students will come to us fully confident in their choice because we will take them where they want to be.”
Saunders received a doctorate in communication theory and research from Florida State University. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Federal Report Released In Deadly Airgas Explosion (With Photos)
April 21, 2017
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report into the August 28, 2016, nitrous oxide explosion at the Airgas manufacturing facility in Cantonment. The blast killed the only Airgas employee working at the facility that day and heavily damaged the plant, halting its manufacturing of nitrous oxide indefinitely.
The CSB investigation found that federal regulations require some chemical facilities that manufacture hazardous substances to have process safety management systems in place to protect their workforce and the public. The CSB discovered, however, that a majority of these specialized rules are not required for nitrous oxide facilities.
Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, “Nitrous oxide is a hazardous substance – facilities should have good safety management systems to mitigate the risks that exist. Safety management systems standards are critical to identify, evaluate, and control process safety hazards. This tragedy in Cantonment should not be repeated.”
Earlier this year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the company $12,000 saying it failed to provide a safe workplace.
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In its final report, the CSB notes that the contributing causes of the explosion all stemmed from the lack of an effective process safety management system. For example:
- Even though heat from the pump was a known hazard, Airgas did not evaluate safer design options that could have eliminated the need for the pump altogether;
- The company did not perform a management of change review or hazard analysis before installing the pump to identify and control hazards; and
- Safeguards installed by the company, including the safety interlock to automatically shut down the pump, and flame arrestors were likely ineffective, and failed to prevent the incident.
The Airgas Cantonment facility is one of four manufacturing plants in the United States producing nitrous oxide for industrial facilities, hospitals, and universities. The Airgas process includes pumping liquid nitrous oxide from storage tanks into trailer trucks or shipping containers, which deliver the product nationwide.
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On the day of the explosion, the Airgas operator likely began the transfer process. Under normal operating conditions, nitrous oxide is stable and can be safely handled; however, under certain conditions it can decompose explosively. CSB investigators found that a pump used to transfer nitrous oxide into a trailer heated the gas above its safe operating limit and triggered a violent decomposition reaction. The reaction migrated from the pump into the trailer causing the explosion. The explosion scattered large metal fragments for hundreds of feet, damaged the facility, and killed the Airgas operator, 32-year old Jesse Folmar. Investigators below Folmar was standing in the approximate location indicated by the yellow star in the photo above.
CSB Lead Investigator Dan Tillema said, “We looked at other possible causes such as static electricity, but the available evidence, it appears that the bypass of the safety interlock on the pump during startup likely allowed the pump to overheat and trigger a decomposition reaction.”
As a result of its investigation, the CSB issued safety recommendations to Airgas, the Compressed Gas Association, and to two nitrous oxide pump manufacturers. The recommendations include the development and implementation of a safety management system standard for nitrous oxide manufacturing as well as the distribution of increased warnings about nitrous oxide decomposition hazards.
Chairperson Sutherland said, “Our recommendations reiterate the importance of safety management systems as critical to control hazards during the manufacturing, transferring, and shipping of nitrous oxide. Strong safety management systems are good business practices, which also save lives.”
The CSB’s 146-page report was dedicated to Folmer.
The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. The agency’s board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.
The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Road Prison Officer Finds Perfect Partner In Animal Shelter Rescue Dog
April 21, 2017
Road Prison Officer Robert Oliver was looking for the perfect dog for Narcotic Detection Handler’s School. While he was anxious to begin the training, he knew that finding the right dog was worth the wait.
Britt, a 4-year-old German Shepherd, was picked up by Escambia County Animal Control as a stray. After being adopted from the shelter, she was returned because her adopters thought she was “too much dog.”
On Nov. 4, 2015 Oliver rescued Britt from the Escambia County Animal Shelter after spotting her during a random checkup on a work squad.
“She stood out from the rest of the dogs,” Oliver said. “We were checking on a squad and we walked through the kennels and saw her. We got a ball and took her out to a pen and threw the ball to see if she had toy drive.”
At that point, Oliver knew he had found something special in Britt.
“We asked if we could borrow her, and I contacted the trainers from the sheriff’s department,” he said. “They tested her and said if we didn’t want her, they did.”
Britt was tested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 instructors and recommended for narcotic detection. On Nov. 17, 2015 Officer Oliver and K-9 Britt began Narcotic Detection Handlers’ School. After 200 hours of training, both handler and K-9 received their Certification in Narcotic Detection.
The first week of March, the pair attended a testing seminar put on by The United States Police Canine Association. Testing was conducted on room searches as well as vehicle searches. Officer Oliver and K-9 Britt were both certified through USPCA in narcotics detection. They have since re-certified.
As the Road Prison’s only narcotics dog, K-9 Britt and Oliver have made numerous narcotic “finds.” They routinely search the Road Prison, crew trucks and job sites where road crews are working. They also search the Work Release center and the Main Jail.
The pair have also trained and competed at the Southern States Manhunt and Field Trials. In 2016, just after becoming certified, they took fourth place out of nearly 20 teams in the Drug Detection Division. This year they fared even better, winning second place out of 14 teams.
“I’ve had several other institutions ask me to keep an eye out for a dog at the pound,” Oliver said. “We’ve even connected a few dogs.”
While Oliver’s demeanor is stoic, he recognizes how lucky a find K-9 Britt was.
“She’s a great dog,” Oliver said. “She’s loveable, she’s wired up. She checks on you all the time. If you move she thinks you want to go throw the ball.”
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Gets Senior Night Shutout Over Navarre
April 21, 2017
SOFTBALL
Tate 7, Navarre 0
Hannah Brown threw no hitter Thursday in a Tate Aggie Senior Night 7-0 win over Navarre.
Brown pitched seven innings, allowing no runs, two hits, and striking out eight.
Hitting for Tate — Hannah Brown 2-4, RBI; Hayden Lindsay 1-3; Belle Wolfenden 2 RBI; Shelby Ulrich R, RBI; Madison Nelson 1-3, R; Shelby McLean 2-3, R, 2 RBI; Kendall Attaway R.
Thursday was Senior Night with special honors for Kendall Attaway, Tristen Cook and Hayden Lindsay.
Pictured top: Tate seniors Kendall Attaway, Tristen Cook and Hayden Lindsay. Pictured below: Senior Night activities. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Police Warn Of Parking Ticket Scam
April 21, 2017
If you receive an email saying you have received a parking citation within city limits and can pay it online with a charge card, don’t do it.
Neither the Pensacola Police Department nor the Downtown Improvement Board sends parking citation notifications via email nor asks people to click on links to pay the parking fine. Both the police department and Downtown Improvement Board only issue paper citations.
The police department was notified of the scam Thursday after a citizen received an email Wednesday informing them they had received a handicapped parking ticket. The email said a court appearance was required and listed the parking ticket number.
The person was then told to check the parking fine via a link and that they could either pay online by Visa or MasterCard or via an automated telephone system using a Visa or MasterCard.
Parking citations issued by the Pensacola Police Department can be paid in person at Coastal Bank & Trust, 125 W. Romana St., or by following instructions attached to the citation and returning them in an envelope addressed to the Pensacola Downtown Management District, P.O. Box 12332, Pensacola, FL 32591.
Parking citations from the Downtown Improvement Board can also be paid in person at Coastal Bank & Trust, via envelope, online at parkingticketpayment.com\pensacola, or by calling 1-866-890-2807.
Century Library Celebrates 10th Anniversary
April 21, 2017
The Century Branch Library celebrated 10 years on Thursday with cake for patrons all day. Librarian Pat Rigel is also celebrating 10 years at the Century Branch Library. Pictured below: Rigel, who has several horses, received sack of animal feed as a gift from Todd Humble, director of the West Florida Public Library System. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fatal Motorcycle Crash Discovered Along Interstate
April 21, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday that a fatal crash discovered along the interstate likely occurred Tuesday night.
The FHP said 53-year old Rodney Earl Logan of Pensacola was northbound on I-110 and had entered the westbound exit ramp to I-10. Troopers believe he failed to negotiate the curve, traveled onto the shoulder and entered a wooded area on his 2014 Harley motorcycle.
Troopers believe the accident happened about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. They said the crashed motorcycle was not visible from the roadway.
Northview Falls To Chipley (With Photo Gallery)
April 21, 2017
The Northview Chiefs fell to Chipley on Tuesday, 10-3.
Hitting for Northview — Jamia Newton 0-3, R; Kendall Enfinger 1-4 R, RBI; Aubree Love 1-4, R, RBI, 2B; Peighton Dortch 2-3, RBI, 2B; Alana Brown 1-2; Terriana Redmond 1-3.
Tori Herrington pitched seven for the Chiefs, allowing nine hits while striking out 10.
NorthEscambia.com photos, and photos by Ditto Gorme for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Corrections Agency Scraps Prison Health Contract
April 21, 2017
Citing shortcomings in mental-health services at a South Florida prison, state corrections officials are terminating a contract with a private health-care provider months before the deal was set to expire.
Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones on Wednesday canceled the contract with Wexford Health Sources, giving the Pittsburgh-based company a required 180-day notice of termination. The cancellation notice means that Wexford will have to pull out of Florida prisons before its contract was set to expire in December.
Jones cited a scathing review this month from the Correctional Medical Authority about “the apparent lack of psychotropic medications prescribed and administered” to most of the patients receiving mental health services at a Doral facility.
The report, sent to Jones this week, included examples of inmates’ medications being cut off and inmates getting put in restraints instead of being treated with medications.
At the time of the correctional authority’s survey over a two-day period this month, only one of 37 inmates was prescribed psychiatric medications, according to the report.
“Although, not all inmates may meet the criteria to be placed on medications, the clinical justification for discontinuation was not always present in the medical record and often occurred without consideration of titration or possible withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, there was no evidence in the records reviewed, that medications were considered when the inmate’s mental status continued to decline,” the report found.
But in an email to The News Service of Florida, Wexford took “strong exception” to the findings and accused Jones of not allowing the company to respond to the allegations before terminating the contract.
“We treat every patient under our care with respect and dignity, and with the full hope that we can help restore them to mental health. Isolated cases involving inmates with histories of mental problems would not appear to be the basis for termination of an entire contract,” Wexford spokeswoman Wendelyn Pekich said in an email.
But the report draws attention to the types of cases that have earned the department a black eye after reports of inmate abuse at the hands of prison guards and of corrections’ officers lack of training in how to handle mentally ill prisoners.
For example, the report documented the case of one inmate whose medications were discontinued after he was processed into the prison.
After entering the facility, the inmate’s “behavior escalated, as evidenced by smearing feces, multiple self-inflicted lacerations to his arm, as well as banging, threatening, and continuing to cut himself,” according to the report sent to Jones.
The behavior “continued for hours” until a clinician was notified, according to the report.
The patient was placed in restraints, but “there was no documentation that emergency medications were considered,” the evaluators reported.
“Secretary Jones is absolutely outraged at Wexford’s lack of performance and delivery of services” described in the report, the department said in a statement Thursday. “The department has been committed to meaningful health care reforms and takes the issues detailed in the CMA’s notification extremely seriously. Following this medical emergency notification, the department immediately deployed a mental health ombudsman and behavioral health risk management team to review all inmate mental health needs handled by Wexford at South Florida Reception Center.”
Wexford objected that, while privacy laws restricted the company’s ability to respond to the specific examples cited in the report, “there was nothing in the treatment of these inmates that should, or could, justify contract termination based on medical considerations alone,” Pekich said.
“It is extremely disappointing that the department acted without consulting with our psychiatric providers regarding the affected inmates, in order to determine why our personnel, relying on their professional judgment, pursued the chosen course of treatment. Instead, the department relied on CMA’s non-psychiatric auditors, who — without being licensed psychiatrists — told the department how they thought these patients should have been treated. These allegations led to the declaration of an emergency situation,” Pekich said.
Jones move to sever ties with Wexford came after after Corizon Health in late 2015 notified the state that it was walking away from a five-year, $1.2 billion deal three years early. The Tennessee-based company claimed it was losing money on its contract with the state.
Corizon managed health care for about three-fourths of the state’s 100,000 inmates, while Wexford — lauded by prison officials until recently for its performance — handles about 18,000 prisoners in the southern portion of the state.
Jones came under fire for signing a no-bid, $268 million contract with Centurion of Florida LLC in January 2016 to take over for Corizon. Wexford’s contract with the state was unaffected by the Centurion deal.
Jones decided to redo the health care services contracts in 2015, and issued an invitation to negotiate for select companies to submit proposals. Wexford and Centurion are two of the three companies vying for the contracts, which Jones has broken up into pieces, including mental health services.
Wexford, Centurion and Correct Care Solutions are all in the running to deliver mental health services to the state’s prison system. Centurion and Wexford are also vying to provide medical services, according to the corrections department.
The cancellation of Wexford’s contract is the latest twist in a drawn-out controversy over health care for Florida prisoners.
Earlier this month, the state and Corizon agreed to pay about $2.1 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by inmates who claimed the state agency and the company denied hernia operations to save money.
The embattled corrections agency has been under scrutiny for several years in the wake of reports of inmate deaths at the hands of prison guards, cover-ups regarding inmate deaths and allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers.
Appearing before lawmakers, Jones has stressed the need to beef up mental health services for inmates, citing treatment issues as a safety concern for prison guards as well as inmates.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photos.