World Renew Assessment Team Visits Century Tornado Zone
August 4, 2016
On Wednesday, a reconstruction assessment team from World Renew toured facilities capable of housing teams of up to 20 skilled reconstruction volunteers in Century.
The World Renew regional managers, project managers and construction managers began their assessment with a tour led by Mayor Freddie McCall. The outcome of the assessment could lead to a commitment by World Renew to deploy volunteer teams by fall to support recovery assistance to low income survivor families in Century and North Escambia with the assistance of the Escambia Long Term Recovery Group, with coordination by BRACE.
World Renew is a member of the National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster and widely recognized for its efforts to assist survivors following disaster. Services of World Renew include disaster response, needs assessment, reconstruction assessments and recovery reconstruction. The organization establishes up to five reconstruction sites simultaneously to support communities recovering from disaster. World Renew reconstruction sites are typically established for a year or longer hosting volunteers with teams rotating every three weeks.
Greg Strader, executive director for BRACE said, “the Escambia Long Term Recovery Group is thrilled that World Renew is considering our request that it establish a reconstruction site in Century”. World Renew partnered with BRACE and the Escambia Long Term Recovery Group to assist 113 low income homeowners in their recovery following the 2014 flood that impacted over 10,000 families in Escambia County.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Loads Bases In Ninth But Drop 3-2 To Mississippi
August 4, 2016
One thing about the Pensacola Blue Wahoos this season, you can never count them out until the very last out.
Mississippi reliever David Peterson loaded the bases by walking three Blue Wahoos with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning but allowed just one run to give the Braves a 3-2 victory Wednesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The teams are tied, 2-2, headed into the final game of the five-game series Thursday.
In all, Mississippi’s four pitchers walked nine batters and lead all of Double-A with 437 walks but Pensacola, which added two hits, failed to capitalize.
“Without getting any hits it’s tough to take advantage of nine walks,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly, whose team has a franchise record 10 walk-offs this season.
Pensacola and Mississippi are 1, 2 with the best earned-run averages in the Southern League at 3.17 and 3.21, respectively.
The Mississippi Braves twice threatened to go ahead and both times Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Sal Romano thwarted them.
However, Mississippi’s best pinch hitter Levi Hyams delivered a two-out, two-run triple on a fly ball in the right center gap off of Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez in the seventh inning to put the Braves up, 2-1. Hyams is 5-12 as a pinch hitter this year and 2-2 in this series.
Romano came out with a cramp in his right hamstring in the top of the seventh after allowing a single to Mississippi first baseman Carlos Franco and getting ahead on the count 0-2 against Braves right fielder Joey Meneses.
Franco’s run counted against Romano. It was the first earned run off of the big righty in his last four starts going back to July 17 against the Jacksonville Suns. Romano has allowed one unearned run in 22.2 innings.
The No. 17 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization turned in six innings, giving up one run on six hits, walking none and striking out six. He retook the Southern League lead in strike outs with 112 on the season. After starting the season 1-10, Romano has won three of his last five starts by pitching inside more effectively and relaxing before the game, Kelly said.
“I have a sour taste in my mouth that I didn’t get the win,” Romano said. “All of our starters are in a really good groove right now.”
Pensacola’s Romano was coming off his best game of the 2016 season when he threw 6.2 perfect innings the Montgomery Biscuits. He ended up throwing seven scoreless innings with one hit and seven strikeouts.
“It was nice. I got to dwell on it one day,” Romano said. “Then I had to pitch in the bullpen and get ready for this start. You can’t have that kind of outing every day.”
The Blue Wahoos scored its first run in second inning when Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej singled sharply back up the middle to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Pensacola first baseman Eric Jagielo got the other hit for Pensacola when he doubled in the sixth.
Vincej went to third when Mississippi pitcher Lucas Sims threw the ball past the first baseman on a pickoff attempt and it rolled into the bullpen. Pensacola third baseman Taylor Sparks then hit a fly ball to the warning track in right field to score Vincej easily.
Pensacola clung to that 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Mississippi threatened to score with base runners on second and third with one out. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson reached third base on left fielder Dustin Peterson’s Southern League-leading 34th double.
But Pensacola first baseman Eric Jagielo leaped to his right to catch a rocket off of the bat of the Braves Franco. Pensacola’s Romano then struck out Joey Meneses looking and pumped his fist as he walked to the dugout.
Again in the fifth inning, Mississippi third baseman Johan Camargo doubled off the left center wall and reached third with two out. And again, Romano ended the inning by striking out Mississippi second baseman Ozzie Albies — who is ranked No. 18 in MLB.com’s Top 100 and who has reached base in 37 straight games.
Mississippi added another run when center fielder Connor Lien hit his third homer this series and fourth home run in seven games, drilling the ball just right of center field. Lien now has five homers on the year and 11 RBIs in 34 games.
Groundbreaking Held For New Splash Pad In Century
August 3, 2016
The Town of Century held an official groundbreaking Tuesday afternoon for a new splash pad.
Installation of the splash pad at Showalter Park should begin by next week and be completed within another two weeks, if the weather cooperates. The splash pad will have hours of operation that are yet to be announced, but will likely follow a schedule along the lines of sunrise to sunset. A motion sensor will allow children to start the water flowing during operational hours.
Town officials had hoped that the splash pad would be up and running by the start of summer, but they said an EF-3 tornado that struck the town in February delayed the process. Town workers were busy with tornado clean up, leaving no time to install the water and sewer lines for the splash pad.
A $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant was awarded to the town last October to fund the splash pad. The competitive grant program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds. Century was the only recipient of the grant last year in Escambia County.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
August 3, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending July 28 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Lieutenant Hahr was patrolling in the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) when he observed a woman and three men sharing a cannabis cigarette while watching their children play in the river. All four were charged with possession of not more than 20 grams of cannabis and three were issued citations for possession of alcoholic beverages.
Officers Allgood and Cushing spent three days on the Fincat working offshore with FWC biologists from Pensacola to Panama City with a focus on the Madison-Swanson Marine Reserve. During their patrol, they assisted the biologists in retrieving and deploying 26 monitoring stations. They also issued federal citations for fishing in the Marine Reserve, for possession of red snapper and greater amberjack during the closed season and charter fishing in federal waters without a permit.
Officers Allgood and Cushing worked offshore on the Fincat in federal waters off the coast near the Florida/Alabama line. Fishermen on five different vessels were found to be in violation. Federal citations were issued for persons in possession of red snapper and gray triggerfish during the closed season, failure to maintain whole condition (gray triggerfish), and undersized king mackerel.
Officer Cushing observed a commercial shrimping vessel in Pensacola Bay trawling with three nets. Trawling with more than two nets is a violation. A notice to appear was issued to the owner/operator.
Officers Cushing, Jernigan and Jones responded to a boating accident involving two personal watercraft (PWC) in the Santa Rosa Sound. The PWC were being operated illegally at night without lights, and when the operator of the lead jet ski stopped, the following jet ski struck him. The operator of the first PWC was transported to the hospital for his injuries while the operator of the second PWC was arrested for Boating under the Influence (BUI) and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail by Officer Cushing. Charges are pending on the operator of the first PWC.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lewis was on patrol in the area near Blackwater River State Forest when he observed a convoy of Jeeps heading toward the forest. Since it had been raining all day, Officer Lewis thought the group was likely to go “wheeling” in the forest. Officer Lewis waited about 20 minutes, then made his way to an area where vehicles have been known to go off-roading. Officer Lewis located 12 Jeeps in the area, six of which were being operated off the established road. Officer Lewis issued each driver of the six Jeeps a citation for operating a vehicle off the established road in a state forest. Officer Jernigan came to assist Officer Lewis and in doing so observed a subject operating an ATV in the state forest. He issued the driver of the ATV a citation for operating an ATV in a state forest.
Officer Jones responded to a B.O.L.O. from the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office for a stolen truck, possibly in the Escribano Point WMA, and went to the Bayside Campground where he located an abandoned and vandalized Suzuki vehicle. The campsite had been ransacked, and the registration on the abandoned vehicle returned to a female from another state. Witness reports and information from WMA employees led investigators to be concerned that a mother and child previously seen with a man might be endangered. Officer Jones, along with several other FWC officers, attempted to locate the registered owner or others who may have information on their whereabouts and were able to contact the father of the vehicle’s registered owner. He provided information about his daughter and her boyfriend and said the infant child was his granddaughter, whose custody was granted to them by local court. After exhausting all efforts locally, Officer Jones received a call several days later stating that the couple were arrested in another state in connection with the stolen truck. The authorities contacted the grandfather of the child and he traveled to that state to take custody of the infant child.
Officer Hoomes was a guest speaker at the monthly meeting for the Milton Kiwanis Club. Officer Hoomes discussed the responsibilities and duties of an FWC officer. He also talked about ideas to reduce human and black bear encounters and the upcoming Family and Mobility Impaired hunts held on the Blackwater State Forest.
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.
One Person Injured In Molino Wreck
August 3, 2016
One person was injured in a wreck in Molino Tuesday afternoon. The accident happened about 4:50 p.m. on McKinnonville Road when the driver of a Mitsubishi lost control, ran off the roadway and struck an embankment. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Bond Denied For Escambia Man Charged In Federal ISIS Investigation
August 3, 2016
Bond has been denied for an Escambia County man suspected of supporting ISIS and then lying out it to the FBI.
A federal judge ruled that Robert Blake Jackson, 31, was a danger to the community and would not likely appear at future court hearings. He was arrested on a charge of making materially false statements in a federal investigation.
According to the criminal complaint affidavit, on several occasions in 2014 and 2015, Jackson made Facebook postings expressing support for extremist terrorist groups and stating a desire to assist the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS or ISIL). The affidavit also alleges that, in January 2015, a Pensacola telemarketing business reported it had fired Jackson for viewing ISIL and other terrorist-related websites and videos on his work computer. It is further alleged that, when FBI agents interviewed Jackson in June 2015, he denied all these activities.
The punishment for the crime alleged is a maximum of five years in prison.
Tate’s Freeman Commits To The Air Force Academy
August 3, 2016
Tate High School long snapper Raymond Freeman committed to the United States Air Force Academy. The 6-foot 3-inch, 210 pound senior also had an offer from West Point.
Freeman was recently picked as the best overall at the Rubio Long Snapping Camp in Kennesaw, GA. Freeman beat out approximately 70 participants from 11 states as Snappers gathered to learn from the best and get the most exposure possible to college coaches.
Off the field, Freeman also shines academically at Tate, ranked high in his class with a 4.63 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Scott Says Florida Remains ‘Safe State’ Amid Zika Battle
August 3, 2016
Florida political leaders say controlling the spread of the Zika virus is doable but will take everyone’s help, as travel advisories have been posted about visiting the state.
The assurances came just hours before the Florida Department of Health reported that it was investigating an additional case of a person being infected with Zika in Miami-Dade County. The report brought to 15 the number of people believed to have been infected by mosquito bites in the state, with health officials saying they think transmission of the disease is occurring in a small area north of downtown Miami.
Gov. Rick Scott, at the start of a state Cabinet meeting Tuesday, said it’s important to get the message out that Florida — anticipating a record 110 million to 115 million visitors this year — remains “a safe state.”
“We’re going to beat this,” Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said. “We’re going to move forward, and Florida is very much going to remain the state that is known for its exceptional outdoor activities and opportunities, and this will be just one of the more interesting chapters written about Florida.”
On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory that pregnant women should not travel to the area of Miami. Also, at the state’s request, the federal agency said it was sending an “emergency response team,” including experts on Zika, pregnancy and birth defects, to help in the response.
The mosquito-borne virus generally produces mild symptoms. However, it is particularly dangerous to pregnant women because it can lead to severe birth defects, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and developmental problems.
British officials also have advised pregnant women and couples looking to conceive to avoid non-essential trips to all of Florida and to some other parts of the U.S. because of the risk of contracting Zika.
As state and federal disease prevention officials work in South Florida, Scott and Putnam said residents can do little things to help keep the virus from spreading. That includes trying to reduce the population of mosquitos, which lay eggs in standing water.
“Everybody in the state has got to be active,” Scott said. “You (have) got to get rid of standing water. You have to get rid of standing water. And you have to get rid of standing water. You won’t have mosquitoes if they don’t have any babies.”
More than 1,600 cases of the virus have been reported across the continental U.S., nearly all contracted by people who traveled abroad or through sexual transmission.
A big concern for Florida is the frequency of travel between the state and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, where more than 4,500 cases have been reported, nearly all contracted through mosquitoes.
Putnam said Florida is in better position to fight the virus than other areas impacted by Zika due to better infrastructure that includes air conditioned buildings, unblemished screens, sanitation requirements and local mosquito control agencies.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Take Series Lead With 5-1 Win Over Mississippi
August 3, 2016
Pensacola catcher, turned first baseman, Chad Wallach continued his team’s power surge Tuesday belting the team’s fifth home run in three games at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Wallach knocked a two out, two-run bomb to left field that ended up in Pensacola Bay and put the club ahead, 3-0, on their way to a 5-1 victory Tuesday over the Mississippi Braves, who are in first place in the South Division in the second half.
Pensacola has 76 home runs as a team, which is third in the Southern League and one behind Mississippi.
Wallach’s fifth homer of the season was his second in nine games and also brought home third baseman Taylor Sparks, who drew a two out walk.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said Wallach’s homer was critical to give starting pitcher Jackson Stephens some breathing room. Stephens has taken the L in seven of his last 10 starts but that’s because the Blue Wahoos offense has averaged just 1.43 runs in those losses, getting shutout three times.
“He’s been that guy the last month or so who we haven’t been able to get runs for,” Kelly said. “We didn’t make it easy for him.”
Wallach said he was happy to contribute to Stephens’ first victory in five starts. Playing first base for the third time this season Tuesday night, instead of catching, he got on base all four times with a homer, single to left field and two walks.
“When he’s been pitching lately, we have not put up the runs to give him the wins,” Wallach said.
Pensacola also got offense out of right fielder Brandon Dixon, who hit his team-leading 14th home run in the second inning to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead. Before the homer, Dixon was 2-28 with one RBI and no extra base hits.
Mississippi shortstop Dansby Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 draft pick, led off the seventh inning with a triple when his opposite field fly ball landed just fair and rolled into the corner. The next batter left fielder Dustin Peterson grounded out on a chopper to first to allow Swanson to score, pulling the Braves within, 3-1.
In eighth inning, Pensacola center fielder Jeff Gelalich dove face first on a tailing fly ball to rob Mississippi catcher Willians Astudillo of a base hit.
In the bottom of the eighth, Pensacola second baseman Alex Blandino singled to center field with two outs to drive in two more runs for a 5-1 Blue Wahoos lead. Blandino extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 3-5. During his hitting streak, he’s batting .407 going 11-27.
“He and (hitting coach) Alex (Pelaez) have worked really hard in the cage and he’s starting to have success,” Kelly said. “He enjoys playing and wants to win.”
Meanwhile, Stephens improved to 7-10 on the year with a 3.27 ERA. The 21-year-old pitched seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and one walk, while striking out seven. Stephens retired 15 in a row before the Braves No. 1 prospect, Swanson, hit a triple.
Pensacola also got another strong relief outing from Alejandro Chacin, who slammed the door on Mississippi in the ninth by striking out both Swanson and Peterson, who leads nearly every major offensive category in the Southern League.
Pensacola, the first half Southern League South Division champion, moved into third place at 19-19 in the second half and are 60-48 overall. The Blue Wahoos trail first place Mississippi by three games after they fell to 22-16 in the South Division in the second half and are 56-51 on the season.
Head-to-head, Pensacola has a 9-4 record against the Braves this year.
Parole Denied For Nokomis Brothers In Murder Of Woman, Girl
August 2, 2016
This morning, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied parole for two Nokomis men behind bars for the 1993 murder of a woman and 12-year old girl.
Shannon Dean Barlow, 38, and Franklin Lee Barlow, Jr., 42, are both serving life sentences with the possibility of parole for the murders of Kathy Victor Hall Barlow and Angel Marie Hall. They will eligible for parole again in 2021.
This morning’s parole hearing was attended by 22 family members of the victims, and almost 2,500 area residents signed an online petition to stop the parole after a series of news stories on NorthEscambia.com and other media.
On October 10, 1993, the Barlow brothers went out with Albert Ganoe “Rocky” Beasley, consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana. They then went to the home of Kathy Barlow in Perdido, Ala., shooting her in the head with a .410-gauge shotgun when she opened the door. According to testimony, he then went to the room of Angel Hall, 12, raped her and shot her in the face.
“The reason why Shannon and Frankie Barlow don’t deserve parole is because they viciously murdered my aunt and cousin. They blew my aunt’s head off with a shotgun. They raped, stabbed, strangled, and beat my cousin till her body finally died. There should be no reason in the world why they should be let out. They possess a spirit inside of them that society cannot handle,” Masha Maher of Century said.
“We give all the glory to God, and thank you all for your support and concern,” Maher said.
“We will fight these parole hearings for the rest of our lives and theirs. They do not deserve the right to walk the streets anymore. They are a threat to us and society,” said Barlow’s sister, Janie Criswell of McDavid.
Shannon Barlow was sentenced to three consecutive life terms, and Franklin Barlow was sentenced to two life sentences. Both will remain behind bars at the Limestone Correction Facility in Alabama. Beasley remains in prison, sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.