Wahoos Fall To Mississippi
May 16, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos came close to matching the heroics of Saturday’s walk-off win but left the tying run at third base as the Mississippi Braves held on for a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon.
Jeff Gelalich walked to lead off the ninth inning and advanced to third on a pair of infield outs. But Stephen Janas coaxed a first-pitch swing from Tony Renda to end the game.
“We gave ourselves a chance,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said. “We got the tying run on base and winning run at the plate. He was only 90 feet away.”
Chris Ellis earned his Southern League-best sixth win for Mississippi before turning the game over to Janas, who held the Wahoos to one hit in their last three innings. Ellis helped his own cause with three of Mississippi’s eight hits, including an RBI double to open scoring in the third inning. He later scored on a single, the first of two hits for the Braves’ top prospect Dansby Swanson.
The Blue Wahoos led off the fourth inning with two walks before Gelalich’s RBI single, the first of his Double-A career, tied the game. Alex Blandino gave Pensacola a 3-2 advantage on his third home run in 10 games, but the lead was short-lived.
Swanson’s leadoff double to left field started a bases-loaded rally that forced Jackson Stephens out of the game. Former Pensacola catcher Matt Kennelly got a run home on a double play before Matt Lipka hit the eventual game-winner, an RBI single up the middle.
With Biloxi’s 2-1 loss to Chattanooga, the Wahoos remain a half-game out of first place in the Southern League South Division.
Marijuana Industry Sees Green In Florida
May 16, 2016
There wasn’t a tie-dyed shirt to be found last week at a gathering in Central Florida where the buzz was all about the business of pot.
More than 3,000 people from across the nation and seven other countries swapped information about grow lights, soil nutrients and safes — to stash money and products — at the marijuana industry’s premiere trade show. And the choice of Florida for the event was no accident.
“We’re here in Florida, because at all of our national events that we’ve hosted, we’ve had very strong attendance out of Florida. We are confident that when, and it’s not going to be an if, when Florida legalizes marijuana on a medical or a recreational level, the Florida market is going to be absolutely huge,” said Marijuana Business Daily CEO Cassandra Farrington, whose publication organized the three-day convention at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.
For the second time in two years, Floridians in November will have a chance to legalize medical marijuana for a variety of debilitating illnesses. A similar measure narrowly failed in 2014 to capture the 60 percent support required to pass constitutional amendments.
“(Florida) is going to be a bellwether state, not only in the Southeast, but across the country, for marijuana legalization,” Farrington said. “As such, the business opportunities here are accordingly very, very large.”
While Florida’s emerging market — projected to be home to the second-largest population of marijuana consumers, if the measure passes — was a draw for some of the convention attendees, for others the event was just an opportunity to network and scope out the latest equipment and merchandise in what some experts estimate is a $4 billion-a-year industry.
Wandering through the convention exposition floor, visitors could stop by the “Bud Bar,” which specializes in displays for marijuana dispensaries.
A few feet away, several men in white lab coats embroidered with a pot plant handed out green Mardi Gras-style necklaces festooned with flashing marijuana leaves.
A sign above a piece of machinery declared “Trimming sucks. The Twister T2 doesn’t.”
During an introduction to one of Tuesday’s speeches, Marijuana Business Daily Publisher George Jage begged the audience’s pardon before encouraging attendees to network, which “helps us all reach a little higher.”
And while the parties and after-parties were reminiscent of any other convention or trade show, the hosts, vendors and attendees were all mindful that the product that is the focus of this week’s event is different. While Florida is one of 24 states that have legalized some sort of marijuana, cannabis is still outlawed under federal law.
“The use, distribution or sale of any products containing THC is strictly prohibited at the event, in the exhibit hall, conference sessions or any other function space where the event is conducted,” the convention show guide warned. “Any individual who possesses, transports, or consumes any THC-based products is solely responsible for his/her compliance with local and state regulations.”
Florida legalized non-euphoric cannabis for patients with severe muscle spasms or cancer two years ago, but the products aren’t available yet. This year, lawmakers approved full-strength cannabis for terminally ill patients. But the November ballot’s Amendment 2, largely bankrolled by Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, would vastly expand medical marijuana for patients with a broad array of diseases. Morgan addressed the convention Tuesday.
“Your market is huge and the demographics are so perfect for cannabis,” said Sara Batterby, president and CEO of Hifi Farms in Hillsborough, Ore., who left her Silicon Valley job as a venture capitalist to start up a grow operation.
Baby boomers and seniors who may have experimented with pot “back in the day” might be more amenable to using cannabis as a treatment for ailments as they age, backers of ballot initiatives like Amendment 2 believe.
Adam Bierman, CEO of MedMen, hosted a fundraiser Tuesday night in the hotel’s presidential suite for United for Care, a political committee backing Amendment 2.
November — when 20 states will have marijuana-related measures on the ballot — will be a “watershed moment for the industry and policy in general,” Bierman, whose California-based management company operates in four states and Canada, said in an interview Wednesday.
“From a political standpoint, it becomes harder and harder to be against,” Bierman said.
A poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University showed that Floridians agree with Bierman.
The poll found that 80 percent of voters support the proposed constitutional amendment, which would allow medical marijuana for patients with a wide range of conditions, such as cancer, AIDS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Dixie Elixirs CEO Tripp Keber, called by some the “Gordon Gecko of the marijuana industry,” refers to his products as “a new wellness platform” superior to prescription pain pills or alcohol.
The industry creates jobs, helps sick people and puts money into state coffers, said Keber a developer from Alabama who launched his Colorado-based company six years ago and is now operating in six states.
Keber’s company will join forces with one of the six nurseries licensed to grow medical marijuana in Florida, he told The News Service of Florida this week.
“The fact of the matter is that the money is real,” Keber said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Reimagine Century 2016 Set For Saturday
May 16, 2016
The third Reimagine Century will be held next Saturday.
Community agencies, businesses, churches and others will come together on Saturday, May 16 to help the needy in Century and surrounding areas. Activities planned include a food giveaway, clothing giveaway, free haircuts and manicures, free laundry detergent and much more.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2p.m. at 440 East Hecker Road. All activities are free.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
One Pedestrian Killed, One Seriously Injured In Cantonment
May 15, 2016
One pedestrian was killed and another critically injured when they were struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 29-year old Jeffrey Ard of Cantonment was traveling west on Muscogee Road near Stinnis Street about 1:15 a.m. when he struck two pedestrians that were crossing Muscogee Road. Ard pulled to the shoulder after the impact.
Lawrence Knight, age 49 of Pensacola, was critically injured. The second pedestrian was pronounced deceased on the scene. The FHP has been unable to make a positive identification of the second pedestrian.
Any charges in the crash are pending the outcome of FHP’s investigation.
Crews Work To Uncover History Of Old Muscogee Cemetery
May 15, 2016
Using trimmers and saws and a lot of brute force yanking on vines, a team of Gulf Power volunteers from Plant Crist and Environmental Affairs carved a path into a patch of densely overgrown woods to uncover a section of the Old Muscogee Cemetery, forgotten by society and families alike.
At the same time, a smaller group fanned out to collect garbage — a whopping one ton of discarded fuel tanks, a broken toilet, paint cans, tires, clothes, a cooking pot, drink cans and pounds and pounds of beer bottles.
“My bachelor’s degree is in environmental, so I feel a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to participating in stewardship events,” she said. “But it’s really sad that people who come here have to look at so much trash when they visit their loved ones. Not only is it sacrilegious to pollute hallowed ground, but it’s also extremely thoughtless and cruel when the Perdido Landfill is literally five minutes away.”
The cleanup was a partnership between Gulf Power Environmental Stewardship and Northwest Florida Water Management District to help begin restoration of the late 1800s cemetery, located a stone’s throw from the Perdido River in west Cantonment.
Steve Brown, senior land manager for the Water Management District, said it would have taken him and his three-member team weeks to do what 18 Gulf Power volunteers did in half a day.
“This has been a project we’ve wanted to do for some time, but it’s very sensitive,” he said of the fragile condition of the historic gravesite. “We can’t go in with large equipment. The only way to do the brushing back and clearing out is to use hand labor. It’s tedious and labor-intensive. We are thrilled that Gulf Power employees came out to help with their expertise.”
Jeff Cole, who leads the Environmental Affairs Stewardship program, said the project was a great opportunity to help out the community.
“Cleaning up the cemetery is key for this area because a lot of historic sites in Northwest Florida are being lost to time and a lack of money and materials to get them restored,” he said. “When we can come out and help, it adds another shining star to the community and historic value of the region.”
By the end of the workday, the team revealed six headstones and numerous indentations that are believed to be unmarked or vandalized graves.
(story continues below photo)
Among the graves are three marked sites of the Owens family — Elise Owens, 1885-1961; Sam Owens – 1880-1957; and what may be a son or relative, Huston Owens, 1927-1962. Huston’s head stone indicated he served as a steward’s mate 2nd class in the United States Navy Reserve.
When volunteers carefully brushed away layers of decaying leaves from his cracked, concrete tomb, they discovered a weathered U.S. flag, dusted it off and gently draped it over his headstone.
As the cleared circumference expanded, a marble monument was released from saplings and vines. Deeper in the woods the small headstone of John Brown emerged from a thick blanket of decaying leaves with hard-to-read lettering that identifies him as a war veteran.
Monuments and marble headstones that still exist are testaments to the story of Muscogee, a once a thriving timber town-turned-ghost-town. Founded in 1857 it once boasted four mills, a school, post office, train depot and fire station before the lumber industry pulled up stakes and moved on.
Eventually, many of the estimated nearly 500 citizens moved on too, leaving behind their family plots.
About two decades ago, a citizens group began restoring the neglected white section of the cemetery but many of them passed on or become too old to do the work, according to local historian Helen Allen, who has championed the restoration of the cemetery.
At the time, with no apparent family members to tend to the black section, the woods reclaimed that land. And no one had any idea how many graves rested underneath the brush and vines.
Because of its location on the Perdido River, the Water Management District purchased the land encompassing the cemetery from International Paper Company in 2006 and took over maintenance.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
May 15, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29– Intermittent and alternating lane closures within the town of Century and from Champion Drive north continue.
- I-10/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements – Alternating lane closures on I-10 near U.S. 29 (Exits 10A and 10B) Sunday, May 15 through Thursday, May 19 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews perform resurfacing and shoulder work. The speed limit on I-10 will be reduced to 50 mph during this time.
- I-10 Widening – Intermittent and alternating lane closures on I-10, near U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway/Exit 17), from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of May 16 as crews perform bridge work.
- I-10 over the Escambia Bay and CSX Railroad- Eastbound lane restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 18 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) - Lane closure at Scenic Circle from 8 p.m. Friday, May 13 until 2 a.m. Saturday, May 14 for guardrail installation.
- Bayfront Parkway (State Road 196) – Road closed from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. Saturday, May 14 for a 5K run. Detour signs will be in place to direct traffic.
- U.S. 90 in Pace- Westbound outside lane closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14 between Burger King and Pace Patriot Boulevard in front of Dixon Elementary School as crews trim trees.
- Nine Mile Road - East and westbound traffic on Nine Mile Road west of Interstate 10 near Heritage Oaks Drive in Escambia County will encounter intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, May 19 through Monday, May 23 as crews perform construction activities
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Widening – Alternating lane closures on I-10, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 15 through Thursday, May 19 as work continues to widen this section of the interstate. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews perform bridge work.
- S.R. 399 over U.S. 98 – Overnight repairs to the S.R. 399 southbound overpass over U.S. 98 will be in place from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. throughout the project. U.S. 98 will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Shoreline Drive to just east of S.R. 399 to allow westbound U.S. 98 traffic to be diverted to eastbound U.S. 98. Westbound U.S. 98 access to S.R. 399 will be closed. An on-site detour will direct traffic to turn left on Daniel Street, left on Shoreline Drive and then right on eastbound U.S. 98 to access S.R. 399 via the at grade on ramp.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Tons Of Food Collected During Annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Drive
May 15, 2016
Saturday was the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, with letter carriers in Escambia County collecting tons and tons of food to benefit local groups like the Manna Food Pantries.
Manna Food Pantries received 71,120 pounds of food as of Saturday, with several thousand pounds more more expected to trickle in next week. A total of 109 volunteers contributed 440.5 volunteer hours to help Manna sort the food.
Each year the National Association of Letter Carriers holds the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, where U.S. Postal Service employees pick up donations of non-perishable food along their routes. In its 23rd year, the annual food drive has grown to be the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table.
“This is such an important food drive because it comes at a time when donations are typically low and the need has increased,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna Food Pantries’ executive director. “During the school year, many children get a healthy meal through the free or reduced breakfast and lunch programs. During the summer, those programs aren’t available. The donations from Stamp Out Hunger allow us to provide nutritious food to hungry families and children throughout the summer months.”
Pictured: Volunteers, including the Gulf Power Transformers, work to sort local Stamp Out Hunger food drive donations Saturday at the Cantonment Post Office. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Justices Gives Green Light To Traffic Stop Over License Plates
May 15, 2016
In a case that started with a dangling tag light, the Florida Supreme Court made clear Thursday that police officers have broad authority to pull over motorists whose license plates are not fully visible.
Justices, in a 5-2 decision, rejected an appeal from Jermaine D. English, who was stopped by Orlando police because a tag light and wires were hanging down over the license plate on a vehicle he was driving. Evidence found during the stop led to English being charged with possession of cocaine, marijuana and paraphernalia.
In seeking to suppress the evidence, an attorney for English contended that police did not have cause to stop the vehicle. But the Supreme Court upheld a 2014 decision by the 5th District Court of Appeal, which found that state law requires numbers and letters on license plates to be “plainly visible at all times.”
A major part of the dispute centered on whether the law applies only to license plates that have been defaced or covered in substances, such as grease, that would prevent them from being easily read — or whether it also applies to situations such as bulbs and wires hanging down.
“We conclude that the plain language of (the section of state law) is clear and unambiguous, and requires that a license plate be plainly visible and legible at all times without regard to whether the obscuring matter is on or external to the plate,” said Thursday’s ruling, written by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and joined by justices R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince, Charles Canady and Ricky Polston.
But Justice James E.C. Perry, in a dissent joined by Justice Barbara Pariente, wrote that the law was intended to prevent motorists from “physically altering or obscuring the license plate.”
“Under the majority’s view, the licensing statute could lead to potentially outrageous results,” Perry wrote. “For example, families and avid bikers who utilize rear bike racks will now be guilty of unlawful activity if any part of the bicycle or bicycle rack — or the nylon straps which are used to secure the bike to the rack — covers the license plate. The possibilities under which law enforcement may now detain drivers under this statute are limited only by the imagination, potentially placing in the hands of law enforcement unfettered discretion to enforce the statute.”
In going to the Supreme Court, English’s attorney argued that the 2014 ruling by the 5th District Court of Appeal conflicted with an earlier decision by another appeals court. That decision, by the 2nd District Court of Appeal, found that police could not stop a vehicle because a trailer hitch blocked the view of a license plate, according to a brief filed last year by English’s attorney.
The Supreme Court majority, however, sided with the 5th District Court of Appeal and rejected the earlier ruling.
“The plain language of (of the section of law) requires that a license plate be ‘clear and distinct’ and ‘free from defacement, mutilation, grease, and other obscuring matter;’ it does not suggest that matter external to the license plate may constitute a permissible obstruction under the statute,” Labarga wrote.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
No More Extra Tornado Debris Removal In Century
May 15, 2016
Extra tornado debris removal in Century is over, three months after an EF-3 tornado ripped through the town.
Large dumpsters from Republic Services were placed in the hardest hit areas for debris following the tornado ; those dumpsters have now been removed. The town will resume its normal curbside pickup scheduled of the first and third Tuesday of each month. The next pickup will be this Tuesday, May 17.
On February 15, the Town of Century was struck by an EF-3 tornado that had winds estimated to be up to 155 miles per hour that damaged or totally destroyed 109 structures.
Escambia County agree to pick up the tab for the large dumpster rentals and the rentals of equipment the town did not own for a three month cleanup period, up to $75,000.
Pictured: Tornado debris is loaded into a dumpster on Front Street in Century in March. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Week Work Stoppage, Lockdown Over At Holman Prison
May 15, 2016
The Alabama Department of Corrections reported that a two-week lockdown at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore is over.
The lockdown was lifted on Thursday when inmates who were participating in a work stoppage there reported to work.
Approximately 30 inmates at Holman worked kitchen detail for each meal shift; 35 inmates reported to the facility’s tag plant that produces the state license plates; and 23 inmates worked in the sewing plant that manufactures bed linens for state prisons. The tag plant remained operational during the work stoppage by inmates from the Atmore Community Work Center. The tag and sewing plant are part of the Alabama Correctional Industries (ACI).
Inmates who work in the Alabama Correctional Industries are paid 25 to 75 cents-an-hour for their work. Inmates assigned to kitchen detail, the recycling plant, and laundry services are not compensated.
Prison officials said Alabama Correctional Industries is primarily a work-training program for inmates that employs approximately 70 state employees and 500 inmates. ACI offers products, custom items such as furniture, and other services to state agencies.
During the work stoppage, staff provided basic services to inmates such as food and medical care while keeping the facilities secure.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.