Response Team Secures Holman Prison Dorm After Stabbing; Lockdown Continues
August 2, 2016
Officials with the Alabama Department of Corrections reported Monday night that a dorm inside the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore was secure following a disturbance hours earlier.
At 9:45 p.m.Monday, a Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) entered the dorm without meeting any resistance from the inmates. Inmates were cooperative and the situation was resolved without use of force or further incident.
The prison was placed on lockdown following an altercation about 3 p.m. between a group of inmates housed in the dorm.
Initial reports indicated four inmates were involved in the altercation. In an updated report, officials said only three inmates were involved in the incident and confirmed all three received stab wounds in the altercation. The inmates were treated onsite for non-life threating injuries.
The incident had escalated when several inmates inside the dorm became aggressive toward the correctional officers who were responding to the altercation. As a precaution, the officers secured the door to the dorm area and waited for backup from the CERT team.
The facility is reporting some damage inside the dorm area caused by a fire the inmates had started during the disturbance. Other areas of the prison were not affected.
The ADOC is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. The prison will remain on lockdown until the investigation is complete.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Homegrown Zika Cases In Florida Climb To 14
August 2, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott said Monday that 10 more people are believed to have contracted the Zika virus through mosquito bites in Miami and that the state is asking for additional help from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The announcement came after Scott and health officials disclosed Friday that the first four locally transmitted Zika cases had been diagnosed in residents of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. About 400 Zika cases have been diagnosed in the state, but until Friday all of the cases were described as travel-related. Two travel-related cases of Zika have been reported in Escambia County.
A statement released by Scott’s office said the 14 locally transmitted cases are believed to have occurred in a 1-square-mile area north of downtown Miami.
“Today, DOH (the Florida Department of Health) has confirmed that 10 additional people have contracted the Zika virus locally, likely through a mosquito bite,” Scott said in the statement. “DOH has been testing individuals in three locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties for possible local transmissions through mosquito bites. Based on DOH’s investigations, two locations have been ruled out for possible local transmissions of the Zika virus. DOH believes local transmissions are still only occurring in the same square mile area of Miami.”
Scott also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a notice advising women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant to avoid unnecessary travel to the targeted area. The virus is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and can cause severe birth defects.
“While we continue to learn more about this virus each day, we know that it is most harmful to pregnant women and their babies,” Scott said in the statement. “For women who live or work in the impacted area and are either pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, I urge you to contact your OB/GYN for guidance and to receive a Zika prevention kit.”
Scott said he also is asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to activate an “emergency response team” to help the Department of Health. The federal agency has been heavily involved for months in trying to combat Zika in the United States and other countries.
The statement said six of the 10 newly diagnosed people are “asymptomatic” and were found through a door-to-door survey conducted by the Department of Health. It did not say whether all 10 of the people live in the area. Of the 14 locally transmitted cases, two involve women and 12 involve men.
Public health officials have long feared that Zika, which emerged last year in South America, would be spread by mosquitos this summer in Florida and other states. Scott and state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Friday announced a series of steps to try to fight the spread of the disease, including stepped-up efforts to control the mosquito population.
Florida Republican and Democratic leaders have also expressed frustration that Congress has not passed additional funding to help combat Zika. President Barack Obama early this year proposed spending $1.9 billion on Zika, but lawmakers could not agree on a funding package.
In a statement Friday, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., said the announcement of locally transmitted cases was “exactly what the nation’s top disease fighters alerted Congress about for months.”
“It’s critical now that we immediately direct all necessary federal resources to this health crisis to protect the public,” said Buchanan, who supported Obama’s request for funding. ” Millions of Floridians — and Americans at large — are at risk as the hot summer months roll on and mosquitoes continue to spread.”
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Sparks Crushes Walk-off Homer For The Wahoos
August 2, 2016
Taylor Sparks hit his second solo home run in two games but this time it came in the 11th inning as a pinch hitter to give the Pensacola Blue Wahoos its franchise record ninth walk-off of the season.
Sparks is now 3-3 as a pinch hitter with two homers and a single.
“That’s fun right there,” said Sparks after the game whose seventh homer of the season gave Pensacola a 4-3 victory Monday in front of 3,943 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he “felt very comfortable” with Sparks, who is hitting .198 on the season, pinch hitting with one out.
“I did like Sparks in that situation,” Kelly said. “He’s a good looking player. Obviously, he’s got power. Those (walk-offs) are pretty amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team hit that many.”
Sparks, who is playing his first season in Double-A getting called up June 22, said he goes to the plate with a different approach when he’s pinch hitting.
“I walk up to the plate just trying to smash one,” said Sparks, who hit two homers in his Double-A debut. “It’s tough coming off the bench and swinging it. I waited for a pitch I could hammer. There’s no science to it.”
Pensacola, the first half Southern League South Division, improved its record to 18-19 in the second half and 59-48 overall. Mississippi is now 13 of 17 and leads the South Division in the second half with a 22-15 record and are 56-50 on the season.
Pensacola third baseman Alex Blandino sent the game into extra innings with his solo bomb that tied the score up, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning. His deep fly ball cleared the left field fence just over the outstretched glove of Mississippi left fielder Dustin Peterson.
Mississippi had taken the lead, 3-2, in the seventh inning when catcher Joseph Odom ripped his first home run of the season over the left field wall in the top of the seventh inning to score two runs to tie the game, 2-2. Braves pinch hitter Carlos Franco hit a two-out single to drive in right fielder Stephen Gaylor, giving Mississippi a 3-2 lead.
“These are two pretty good clubs right here,” Kelly said. “They got a hanger and beat us last night and we got a hanger and beat them tonight (Monday).”
Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej, named Southern League Player of the Week earlier in the day, continued his hot hitting Monday. Vincej — batting .444 during his seven game hit streak — hit a chopper that squeezed between the third baseman and shortstop in the fourth inning to drive in left fielder Phillip Ervin, who doubled to start the inning. The run put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 1-0.
Ervin then hit a grounder to shortstop and beat out the throw on a double play attempt by Mississippi, allowing center fielder Jeff Gelalich to score from third in the fifth inning to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0.
Pensacola starting pitcher Rookie Davis cruised through the first six innings against Mississippi, allowing only one hit and retiring 11 in a row.
Mississippi’s best chance to score against Davis came in the sixth inning when center fielder Connor Lien reached third base with two outs and shortstop Dansby Swanson at the plate. Swanson entered the game hitting .360 against Pensacola but Monday was 0-4. Davis, a 22-year-old righty, struck out Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 draft choice, to end the inning.
Davis ended up allowing three runs, though, in the seventh inning to the Braves. He finished the game throwing 6.2 innings, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
In his previous four starts, Davis has allowed three earned runs in 23.1 innings for a 1.16 ERA, while striking out 24. He has won his last three starts and the Blue Wahoos had won all four games that Davis started.
“Rookie (Davis) was terrific,” Kelly said. “He had a one-hitter going into the seventh. I told him real men play in the National League. You have to run the bases and pitch, too.”
Mississippi starting pitcher Jed Bradley had dominated the Pensacola lineup coming into the game going 3-0 in 10 appearances and throwing 15 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
After throwing three scoreless innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts Monday, Pensacola finally broke the lefty’s streak with Ervin’s run in the fourth inning.
Mississippi’s Bradley ended up lasting 5.2 innings giving up two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high eight batters.
The Braves gave up two runs on two hits both solo homers by Sparks and Blandino. Despite that, they have now allowed nine runs in 65.1 innings dating back to July 11.
Property Taxes Hiked In Century Due To Tornado Destruction
August 2, 2016
Property taxes in Century are going up to offset revenue lost when hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed during an EF-3 tornado.
The Century Town Council voted Monday to hike the ad valorem millage rate from 0.9005 to 0.9732 for the next fiscal year. That’s equal to a $3.63 tax increase on a $50,000 property.
The town lost $404,593 in taxable property to the February tornado, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office.
New Law Allows School Bells To Ring Next Week
August 2, 2016
Tens of thousands of Florida school children will return to their classrooms next week as districts take advantage of a state law that allows schools to start as early as Aug. 10.
Forty of the 67 public school districts are opening next Wednesday under a 2015 law that decoupled the school start from Labor Day, according to the state Department of Education. A prior law required districts to open schools no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.
Escambia County schools will open on August 10, while students will return August 15 in Santa Rosa County.
Last year, less than a dozen districts used the Aug. 10 start, but this year a majority of the districts have opted to start in the second week of August, which also means those districts will end their 2016-17 school year well before Memorial Day.
The state’s two largest districts, Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which have more than 600,000 students, will be among the last to open on Aug. 22.
This is the earliest opening date for a majority of the districts since the 2006-07 school year, when most opened in the first week of August, with Seminole County starting on July 31.
The early opening dates resulted in a backlash from parents and tourism groups, prompting the Legislature to tie the start of school to Labor Day.
But Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who sponsored the 2015 law, said the primary reason for the legislation was to allow the 67 school districts to decide for themselves on the opening date.
“I believe those decisions need to be made at the local level by local elected school boards and the superintendents who get direct input from the parents,” said Montford, who is head of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
Montford, a former Leon County superintendent, said districts get plenty of input on the annual school calendar from parents, students and others who sit on school and district advisory councils.
Although he has heard questions about why schools do not start closer to Labor Day, Montford said a variety of factors make the earlier starting times more logical, including having high-school students take their first semester exams before the winter holiday break.
“You don’t want to come back after two weeks off after the winter break and then take semester exams,” Montford said. “It’s not good for the students, and it’s not good for the teachers.”
Another factor is the number of vacation days built into the annual school calendar, including winter and spring breaks as well as time off for Thanksgiving.
“If we take all these days off during the year you still have to put in 180 days,” Montford said. “You either have to start earlier or go later.”
Montford said many districts prefer an earlier starting date to give teachers and students more time to prepare for the annual state assessment tests in the spring, which are linked to student progress and school grades.
“Some districts tried to get in as many days as they could before the state assessments,” Montford said, noting the annual tests come early in the spring and not at the end of the school year.
Opposition to early school starts has come from some parents who complain that an early August start puts Florida out of sync with other states and complicates summer vacation plans. Groups tied to Florida’s tourism industry have opposed early starts, noting the law linking the start to Labor Day boosted their industry.
“This is the time of year that many families take an in-state vacation before the school year starts. We hope that all Floridians have an opportunity to enjoy everything our great state offers over the summer, especially in areas that are economically dependent upon a traditional summer season,” said Carol Dover, president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
“They make a very good argument for the tourist industry,” Montford said. “But school superintendents and school board members and parents and others make a doggone good argument that what’s really important is the child’s learning.”
Montford said the current law gives districts the ability to set school opening dates closer to Labor Day or even after the holiday.
“Those decisions should be made at the local level,” he said.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Five People Injured In Cantonment Hwy 29 Crash
August 1, 2016
Five people, including two children, were injured in two-vehicle crash Sunday evening in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 21-year old Troy Jackson of Cantonment was stopped in his 1995 Chevrolet Silverado facing east on Neal Road when he pulled into the direct path of a 2007 Ford F150 driven by 26-year old Raven Kendrick of Molino. The force of the collision cause the Silverado to overturn.
Jackson and his passenger, 19-year old Brianna Chavis of Cantonment, received minor injuries and were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. Kendrick and his passengers, 8-year old Bailey Herrington and 5-year old Tessa Kendrick of Molino, all received minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Jackson was cited for violation of right of way at stop intersection by the FHP.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Operation Blue Spaghetti: Firefighters Show Support For Law Enforcement
August 1, 2016
The crew of Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 4 in Cantonment joined other fire stations in Escambia County for “Operation Blue Spaghetti” on Sunday.
Firefighters cooked spaghetti and invited and invited on-duty law enforcement to stop by a fire station have join them for lunch.
“This is our way of saying thank you, we support you, and we’ve got your back,” firefighter Tim Najim said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Bratt Church Honors Law Enforcement Officers With Special Service
August 1, 2016
Shiloh Freewill Baptist Church in Bratt held a special service Sunday morning to show their appreciation for law enforcement officers and their families and to recognize other first responders.
Among those recognized were Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies David Bashore and James Gilman, and Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department members Diann Stewart and David Johnson.
“We appreciate all that our law enforcement does and the sacrifices they make,” said Shiloh Pastor Kevin Stott. “May God bless all…LEO’s and their families.”
The deputies were also present with New Testaments by Gideon member James Deloney of Molino.
Florida Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Set
August 1, 2016
Florida families will save on clothing, footwear, and school supplies during the three-day Back-to-School Sales Tax holiday this upcoming weekend.
During those three days, August 5-7, Florida law directs that no sales tax or local option tax will be collected on purchases of:
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
- Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
The holiday does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
- Any school supply item selling for more than $15
- Books not otherwise exempt
- Personal computers and computer-related accessories
- Rentals or leases of any of these items
- Repairs or alterations of any of these items
- Sales of clothing or school supplies in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport
Mississippi Beats The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 8-3
August 1, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos win 63.4 percent of the time at Blue Wahoos Stadium but the Mississippi Braves hit three home runs to take the opener of the five-game series, 8-3, Sunday.
Mississippi center fielder Connor Lien smacked two homers and drove in four runs, while the Braves No. 1 prospect Dansby Swanson hit a two-run blast in front of 4,502 Pensacola fans.
Pensacola had tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth inning when third baseman Taylor Sparks crushed a solo shot to deep left center field, which was his sixth homer of the season.
But both of Lien’s homers came at critical times for Mississippi. His first one was a solo shot in the first inning and his second was a three-run blast in the seventh inning that put the Braves up, 6-3. He finished the game 2-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
Lien injured his thumb in Mississippi’s first game and returned June 23. Pensacola last saw Lien in the opener when he had a strike out and a walk before going on the disabled list. Lien now has four home runs in the last eight games and 10 RBIs on the season.
“We saw him in one at bat for Mississippi,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “He’s obviously a big strong guy and he hit two balls pretty good.”
Pensacola starter Tyler Mahle rebounded from his first bad showing in Double-A when he gave up seven earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Montgomery Biscuits.
Against Mississippi Sunday, Mahle threw six innings giving up three runs, one earned on six hits and a walk, while striking out six. Mahle, who led the High-A Florida State League in strikeouts, has 38 strikeouts in 44.1 innings with Pensacola. He left the game, when it was tied, 3-3.
Kelly said he has been impressed with the 21-year-old Mahle, who threw a no-hitter for High-A Daytona before getting called up to the Blue Wahoos.
“I don’t think you can be perfect every time out,” Kelly said. “He gave us six good innings and kept us in the game. He’s shown maturity all the way through.”
The game was a seesaw battle until the seventh inning. Mississippi right fielder Joey Meneses laced a line drive deep into the left center gap for a stand-up double that drove in both Lien and Swanson to put the Braves ahead, 3-2.
Pensacola had gone ahead in the fifth inning, 2-1, when Eric Jagielo scored on a deep sacrifice fly to center field by center fielder Beau Amaral.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game, 1-1, in the third inning when second baseman Alex Blandino hit a grounder past a diving Swanson to drive in Pensacola catcher Chad Wallach. Blandino is hitting .343 in his last 10 games and has driven in six runs.
All month, Zach Vincej was hot at the plate, going 34-92 for a .370 average and driving in 11 runs, making July his best month, so far, this season. He went 3-3 Sunday with a double and walk and is hitting .289 on the year.