Herrington Pitches Northview To Win Over Central; Aliff Homers In Baseball
April 18, 2017
SOFTBALL
Northview 3, Central 2
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat state-ranked Central 3-2 Monday.
The Chiefs, 11-4 in Class 1A, hosts Chipley Tuesday night to decide if the Chief see second or third seed in upcoming district play.
“We struggled offensively and defensively coming off of a three-day weekend but we had players to step up and drive in three runs when needed to give us the win,” Northview Coach Amy Holland said. “Our team is still very young with only two seniors and the rest mostly ninth and tenth graders…Tori Herrington has 140 strikeouts this year — very impressive for a 10 grader.”
Herrington pitched a complete game for the Chiefs allowing six hits, three runs, two errors and striking out four. She was 1-3 at bat for the Lady Chiefs.
For Northview – Jamia Newton 2-4, R, RBI, 3B; Kendall Enfinger 1-2, RBI; Peighton Dortch 1-3, 3B; Teriana Redmond R.
The Chiefs host Chipley at 6:00 Tuesday in Bratt. Senior Night activities begin at 5:30.
BASEBALL
Northview 12, W.S. Neal 11
The Northview Chiefs beat W.S. Neal Tuesday 12-11. Jared Aliff homored for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs will cross the Escambia River to play Jay’s Royals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Tate 8, West Florida (9th grade)
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Hikes Garbage Rates By 36 Percent
April 18, 2017
The Century Town Council officially voted Monday night hike residential garbage rates by 36 percent.
Century’s 545 garbage customers currently pay $16.98 to per month. In order to stop financial losses in the garbage department, Mayor Henry Hawkins proposed the increase $6.21 per month, for a total bill of $23.19. The increase will allow the town to continue to collect bulk items such as furniture and appliances and vegetative waste.
The council rejected the idea of offering a discount for low income senior citizens as recommended by Council President Ann Brooks.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Henry Hawkins discusses garbage rates at a Monday night meeting of the town council. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
House, Senate Begin Trying To Reach Gambling Deal
April 18, 2017
House and Senate leaders met briefly Monday afternoon to lay the groundwork for negotiations on the two chambers’ vastly different approaches to gambling policy.
Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who will chair the conference committee on gambling, said the panel won’t meet again before Thursday but could work over the weekend hashing out differences between the plans. Lawmakers are trying to reach consensus on a new deal with the Seminole Tribe after a portion of an agreement with the tribe expired in 2015.
That component of the 20-year deal gave the tribe “exclusive” rights to operate banked card games, such as blackjack, at most of its casinos. The tribe sued the state over the games, and a federal judge gave the Seminoles permission to continue to conduct the games.
The House is backing what is essentially a status quo proposal that would give the Seminoles permission to operate the banked card games, such as blackjack, for another 20 years. The Senate, in contrast, has endorsed a pari-mutuel friendly plan that would allow slot machines at pari-mutuels in the eight counties — Brevard, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Washington — where voters have approved them.
Which pari-mutuels get slots — and where — is one of the biggest sticking points for the negotiators, according to Galvano and Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, a Miami Republican who is vice-chair of the gambling conference committee.
“Obviously, there are members from each of those communities that are looking out to make sure that one county doesn’t get new slots and their county is left out,” Diaz told reporters after the meeting.
Another point of contention involves controversial “designated player” card games operated by a number of pari-mutuel cardrooms, which are at the heart of the state’s legal dispute with the tribe.
The Senate plan would legalize the card games, while the House proposal would ban them. The tribe, which is seeking to add craps and roulette at its casinos, has maintained that the House measure — which would require a minimum guarantee from the tribe of $3 billion over seven years — would not get the requisite approval from federal authorities.
“We’re going to have to figure out what’s more important, (not) giving them those new games or getting more money for the state, because you might not be able to do both,” Diaz said. Lawmakers, who for years have been unable to reach consensus on broad gambling legislation, could be more motivated this year by a series of court decisions that could jeopardize the nearly $120 million in annual payments paid to the state by the Seminoles.
“Given what has occurred over the last several years, but especially recently with the judicial branch and the decisions that are coming out and the complexity and the ambiguity of the issues that we’re dealing with, inaction is not an option. We have to act,” Galvano said.
by The News Service of Florida
Suspect Arrested In Escambia Shooting Death
April 18, 2017
UPDATE: The suspect has been arrested per ECSO.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has named a suspect in an early Monday morning shooting.
Antuan Marques Harris, 24, is wanted for the murder of a Curtis Hodge Jr.
Just after midnight on April 17th, Harris shot and killed Hodge in the 700 block of Old Corry Field Road.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area to find Hodge with a gunshot wound to the face. He did not survive.
Anyone with information on the shooting death or the whereabouts of Harris is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pitured: Antuan Marques Harris.
Atmore Man Busted For Selling Drugs Near Elementary School
April 18, 2017
An Atmore man has been arrested with selling drugs near an elementary school after police executed a search warrant.
Dante Maurice Haynes, 38, was charged with distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, narcotics sale near school campus, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton without indent.
Atmore Police Department narcotics officers executed a search warrant in the 500 block of 4th Avenue — across the streets from the A.C. Moore Elementary School campus. During the search of the residence, officers reported finding a quantity of narcotics, including powered and rock cocaine.
“Narcotics sales near and around school grounds will not be tolerated,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said.
The Atmore Drug Task Force will accept confidential tips by leaving a message at (251) 368-8988.
Pensacola’s Wahoos Cook The Jumbo Shrimp 3-2
April 18, 2017
The most dingers that Pensacola Blue Wahoos center fielder Brian O’Grady had in his past three seasons of minor league baseball is nine, which he hit last year for High-A Daytona Tortugas.
Already in his first 25 at bats in Double-A, O’Grady has ripped two homers, including a solo shot he lifted high into right field in the seventh inning that capped the scoring to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 victory in the series opener against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in front of 3,646 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
O’Grady, who has two homer and four RBIs in his first season with Pensacola, said his home run hitting has developed in his professional career. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth round out of Rutgers in 2014, he ranked among school leaders in almost every offensive category, except home runs.
“In my defense, it is a big park,” O’Grady said, smiling. “I didn’t hit a ton there. I’ve developed more as a power hitter in pro ball. As soon as I hit it (tonight), I knew I got it.”
O’Grady attributed his success, so far, to playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League and his workouts in the offseason. He’s second on the team in hitting at .280 and has at least one hit in seven of the nine games he has played this year.
“I felt good coming into spring training,” O’Grady said. “I was confident in the work I put in in the offseason. The (AFL) was a really good and fun experience for me.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly has been impressed with O’Grady at the plate and in the field. He pointed out the 24-year-old can play first base, third base and all three outfield positions.
“We’ve been kind of hiding him in that eight spot (in the batting order),” Kelly said. “He smoked that ball today. That was impressive.”
Meanwhile, Pensacola continues to win with its pitching and defense. Blue Wahoos shortstop Blake Trahan and second baseman Josh VanMeter bailed out starter Tyler Mahle with an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
In the second inning, Devin Mesoraco, who is doing at least 20 days of rehabilitation in Pensacola, popped up quickly from behind the plate and fielded a dribbler by Jacksonville third baseman Brian Anderson down the third base line and tagged out Anderson in the batter’s box where he stood still.
Then in the eighth inning, Jacksonville left fielder Alex Glenn clobbered what looked like a homer over the right field wall but Pensacola’s Aristides Aquino reached up and grabbed it out of the air.
Mahle threw 4.1 perfect innings in the season opener and then 5.0 perfect innings in his second start and entered Monday’s game with a 0.71 ERA.
But Monday against Jacksonville, he had a shaky first inning. Mahle walked two and allowed two singles to the Jumbo Shrimp to allow Jacksonville to take a 1-0 lead when Glenn scored on second baseman David Vidal’s single that he laced to left field.
After that inning Mahle settled down and only allowed one more hit – a double to Vidal – against the last 14 Jacksonville batters he faced. On the night, Mahle threw five innings, gave up three hits and one run, walked two and struck out seven.
“That first inning he obviously struggled,” Kelly said. “He was a little out of whack mechanically.”
Pensacola, though, came right back to score two runs in the bottom of the first and go up, 2-1. Blue Wahoos catcher Mesoraco was hit by a pitch and scored when right fielder Aristides Aquino smashed a grounder down the third base line for an infield single. Gabriel Guerrero then singled on a sharp single off Jacksonville lefty Dillon Peters’ leg and was driven in by Angelo Gumbs ground ball that deflected off the glove of Jumbo Shrimp shortstop Alex Yarbrough.
Again Monday, the Pensacola bullpen then took over and did its normal thing. Four pitchers –
Jake Ehret, Brennan Bernardino, Ariel Hernandez and Geoff Broussard – combined to throw four scoreless and hitless innings, while striking out five. Broussard, who was called up from Daytona, earned the save.
Pensacola’s bullpen now is 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA and seven-for-seven in save opportunities.
“I’m very pleased,” Kelly said about the bullpen’s development. “Mez (Mesoraco) has led the way. He’s done a lot of work with them in the pen.”
Rubio Talks Opioid Abuse With Local Officials
April 18, 2017
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met Monday with Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan, Pensacola Police Chief David Alexander, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and other local officials to discuss combating the opioid crisis in Florida. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Marshal Investigating Fire On Ransom Middle Campus
April 17, 2017
Fire damaged a portable building on the Ransom Middle School campus this afternoon.
The fire was contained to one portion of a detached portable building used as restrooms on the rear of the campus. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries reported and no damage to any other structures.
Pictured above and below: Fire burns through a wall on a portable building on the Ransom Middle School campus. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Pipeline To Be Constructed From Century To Nine Mile Road
April 17, 2017
An underground natural gas pipeline through North Escambia from Century to Nine Mile Road is the works.
If all goes as planned, the Florida Public Utilities gas pipeline could be under construction as early as June 1 with an estimated completion date of early 2018, according to Barry Kennedy of FPU.
The pipeline will interconnect to an existing pipeline and begin on Fannie Road just northeast of Century on the Alabama/Florida state line. The pipeline will follow Fannie Road to Old Flomaton Road to State Road 4 to North Century Boulevard.
The 12-inch gas pipeline will continue south along the right-of-way of Highway 29 from Century to Old Chemstrand Road. From there, an eight-inch line will follow Old Chemstrand road to Ascend, while another eight-inch line will continue south on Highway 29 to Highway 95A in Cantonment to West Roberts Road to Pine Forest Road to West Nine Mile Road where the project will connect to an existing gas system.
The pipeline will be constructed on existing right of way, mostly in ditches, along Highway 29 and other roadways.
A public hearing to discuss the pipeline will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the Century Town Hall. No other public meetings are planned.
Supreme Court Sides With State In Satellite TV Fight
April 17, 2017
The Florida Supreme Court upheld a law that set different tax rates for cable and satellite television services — overturning a lower-court ruling that could have had major financial ramifications for the state.
The 16-page unanimous decision rejected arguments by satellite companies DirecTV and Dish Network that the differing tax rates are discriminatory and violate the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. That reversed a 2015 ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal that raised the prospect of the state having to pay refunds to the satellite companies.
A key part of the case focused on arguments by the satellite companies that the different tax rates benefited cable companies that are “in-state interests” at the expense of “out-of-state” satellite operators. The satellite industry contended that violated what is known as the “dormant” Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
But the Supreme Court decision, written by Justice Peggy Quince, rejected such a distinction between the two types of television providers. Quince pointed, in part, to the fact that Florida’s largest cable providers are headquartered out of state, as are the satellite companies.
“The cable and satellite companies have employees and property both inside and outside of Florida to facilitate their operations and earn income,” Quince wrote. “They both employ Florida residents to sell, maintain, or repair their service to Florida customers. They also own and lease a significant amount of property in Florida.”
The opinion added, “Cable is not a local, in-state interest any more than satellite. While it may be true that cable employs more Florida residents and uses more local infrastructure to provide its services, the Supreme Court has never found a company to be an in-state interest because it had a greater presence in a state.”
Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Charles Canady joined the opinion. Justice Ricky Polston concurred with the opinion but did not fully sign onto it. Justice Alan Lawson, who joined the court at the end of December, did not take part in the case.
The ruling was in favor of the Florida Department of Revenue and the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association. (Disclosure: The News Service of Florida and the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association have a partnership for the Capital Dateline Online news show.)
The case deals with the state’s communications services tax, which was enacted in 2001. Under state law, cable services are taxed at 4.92 percent, while satellite services are taxed at 9.07 percent, according to the Supreme Court ruling.
In a brief filed at the Supreme Court, the satellite companies described the difference in tax rates as “a 21st Century version of classic economic protectionism.”‘
But the majority opinion said justices did not find that the law was “enacted with a discriminatory purpose.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida