Tornado Damage Now Estimated At Over $22 Million; Recovery Supplies Distributed In Century
March 11, 2016
Tornado relief supplies from United Way were distributed Thursday in Century, and new dollar figures were released on the extent of the February 15 tornado in Century and the February 23 tornado in Pensacola.
According to Escambia County officials, tornado damage in the Century area is now estimated at $3.9 million, while damage from the Pensacola tornado is now estimated at $18.45 million. The EF-3 tornadoes, just eight days apart, were the strongest tornadoes to strike Escambia County in 45 years.
In an effort to help Century area residents recover, United Ministries distributed supplies — including water, food and personal care items – from United Way for six hours Thursday at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue.
Healthy Start in Century also distributed donated items Thursday from the United Way at their office at 511 Church Street. Healthy Start will continue to distribute the items, including gift cards, next week Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. or while supplies last to those with verified damage.
Pictured: Some of the United Way supplies distributed to tornado victims Thursday at the Pligrim Lodge Missionary Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Attempted Bus Stop Child Abduction Reported; Photo Of Suspect Vehicle Released
March 11, 2016
An attempted child abduction at a Cottage Hill bus stop Thursday remains under investigation.
A child waiting at their bus stop this morning at the corner of Glenna Lane and Williams Ditch Road told Escambia County deputies that an unshaven white male in his mid-20’s to early 30’s pulled up in a red car.
The juvenile said the male then tried to entice the child by yelling out of the car window “get in the car”. The child ran away from the bus stop to a nearby home where deputies were called.
Thursday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance photo of the car that may have been involved in the incident.
If you have any information on this incident call ECSO at 850-436-9630 or CrimeStoppers at 850-433-STOP.
Editor’s note. The ECSO also released surveillance video of a car and a man at an area convenience store. The ECSO said “We made contact with this man. No arrest have been made at this time.”. Those photos have been removed from this story.
Pictured: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the person that was driving this vehicle Thursday morning on Williams Ditch Road. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs ‘Pastor Protection’ Bill
March 11, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed a controversial bill aimed at protecting clergy members from performing same-sex marriages against their religious beliefs.
Known as the “Pastor Protection Act,” the measure filed by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, will prevent churches, pastors and church employees from facing lawsuits for discrimination if they refuse to perform gay and lesbian weddings. Its passage follows a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that found same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry. P
lakon and Senate sponsor Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, said the verdict had shaken conservative Christians.
“The entire marriage world turned upside down,” Bean said last week as the Senate debated the measure. Opponents said the First Amendment already protects pastors who refuse to perform same-sex weddings and challenged supporters to show that any religious organizations have been punished for discriminating against gay and lesbian couples. But supporters of the measure maintained that it was too soon for such lawsuits to have surfaced because the Supreme Court ruling has been in effect less than a year
Opponents also said the bill could open the door for pastors to refuse to marry interracial couples or divorced people.
by The News Service of Florida
Escambia Fire Rescue Offers Free Smoke Detectors
March 11, 2016
Crew members from Escambia County Fire Rescue Engine 4 in Cantonment walked door to door Thursday in the Saint Matthew’s Lane and Stacey Road area Thursday to install free smoke detectors and change smoke detector batteries for interested residents.
Escambia Fire Rescue offers free smoke detectors with free installation to anyone in need. Call (850) 595-HERO (4376) for the free alarms.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Seriously Injured In Cantonment Wreck
March 11, 2016
One person was seriously injured in a single vehicle accident in Cantonment Thursday. The driver of a car collided with a tree at the intersection of Santa Rosa and Well Line roads and was transported to an area hospital by ambulance. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol;further details have not been released. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
All-Star Basketball Games Are Tonight
March 11, 2016
The Pensacola Sports Association 2016 Subway All-Star Basketball games are tonight at Pensacola State. The girls game begins at 5:00 with the boys game to follow. Admission is $8, or $6 with a canned good or student identification.
The games will feature the top seniors from Escambia County high schools on the West teams, and the top seniors from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties on the East times.
Rosters are as follows:
Boys East Roster
Baker — Austin Walters; Central — Cody Abel; Choctaw — D’eddrick Rodgers; Crestview — Marquis McClain; Fort Walton Beach — Trevor Cochran; Gulf Breeze — Perin Foote; Bradley Proctor; Brennan Sige; Ole Smollitch; Jay — Steven Archer; Laurel Hill — Cameron Gordon; Milton — Junior Ramos; Navarre — Demetre Page, Tre Baker, Marcus Richardson; Niceville — Mitchell Morken, Anthony Litscher; Pace — Nathan Harshany, Jahmiah Simmons; Rocky Bayou — Jonathan Colquitt.
Coach: Jarod Denmon, Gulf Breeze
Boys West Roster
Catholic — Connor Goodspeed; East Hill — Nate Roberts; Escambia — Torell Pinkerton, Tyriek Brown, Jailon Bryant; Northview — Bradley Van Pelt; Pensacola — Austin Shoemore; PCA — Elliott Lockett, Austin Flack, Nathan Middleton; Pine Forest — Devin Peters, Malaki Wesson, Eldred McLamb, DeAngelo Johnson; Tate — Jordan Watkins, Hunter Girdner, CJ McGhee; Washington — TJ Mathis, Deurlo Champagne; West Florida — Jamari Sharp.
Coach: Terrence Harris, Pensacola
Girls East Roster
Baker — Ashley Black; Choctaw — Dae Dae Matthews, Nadia Fingall, Justyce Riggs, Niyiah Roney; Fort Walton Beach — Leesa Greenwood; Gulf Breeze — Michelle Barrineau; Jay — Kennedy Salter; Navarre — De’Naizna Elder, Jordyn York, Khorri Newton; Niceville — Amanda Wilson; Pace — Bri Moore, Aaliiyah Neal, Tailer Preston; Rocky Bayou — Monica Marchena.
Coach: Don Brown, Choctaw
Girls West Roster
Catholic — Jenna Falco, Kiley Brady, Isabella Williams; Escambia — Tyanna Livingston, Sydney Walton, Janet Barrot; Northview — Jada Tucker; Pensacola — Victoria Samuel; Pine Forest — Destiny Ervin, Kim Payne, Raleigh Harvey; Tate — Brianna Daniels, Alexis Hoskins, Corine Lavender; Washington — Kaloni Pryear, Gabby Lawrence, Dazhnique Gould; West Florida — Faithe Franklin, Deja Jones, Astasia Lee.
Coach: Jade Brown, Washington
Pictured: Boys West team member Bradley Van Pelt. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jeff Miller Won’t Seek Re-election
March 11, 2016
Congressman Jeff Miller has announced that he will not seek re-election. Here is his statement, in his own words:
Fifteen years ago when Vicki and I were praying about running for Congress, we could have never imagined what may lie ahead. As we made our decision, we knew there would come a day when it would be time to pass the torch. That day has come, and I am announcing I will not seek reelection to Congress.
I am deeply humbled that the good people of Northwest Florida have chosen me to be their voice in the halls of Congress for nearly a decade and a half. The confidence and support the voters of the First District have placed in me are honors I have never taken for granted. I will be forever grateful for the trust, encouragement, and love my constituents have shown to Vicki and me.
As the first Republican Member of Congress to take the oath of office after the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001, the safety and security of this country have never left my mind. I sought positions on the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees – two places where I felt I could best represent my district and make a difference for the entire Nation.
I’ve been blessed with many successes during my time in Congress. There are now two “new” VA Clinics serving the veterans of the First District, including the Joint Ambulatory Care Clinic, which was the prototype for many others around the country. After a host of powerful storms, including a 2004 Hurricane named Ivan, we worked together to rebuild our community time and again. When the Deepwater Horizon disaster affected the Gulf of Mexico and its surrounding communities, we passed the RESTORE Act, which will help our community recover for years to come. And after exposing VA’s delays in care and accountability crises, we wrote and passed the most significant reform bill in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Some of our greatest successes, however, are unknown to most. Things like cutting through red tape to help a widow, assisting a veteran with a disability benefits compensation claim or mediating a bureaucratic dispute for a constituent rarely make front-page news. But they are important responsibilities every member of Congress has a duty to fulfill. Thanks to my dedicated staff, a group that has always understood the importance of providing first-rate constituent services, we have made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of our neighbors.
There is still more to accomplish before I depart. I intend to complete my tenure as House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs chairman while maintaining the same robust oversight of VA that has defined my chairmanship. As we approach the markup and consideration of the annual Defense Authorization Bill, I will do everything in my power to ensure our Armed Services remain the finest and most equipped fighting force in the world. And in an ever dangerous world, I will continue my service on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
When it comes time to elect a new U.S. Representative for the First District, I have every confidence that Northwest Floridians will choose someone who embodies the integrity, optimism, and values of the people of our great community. And when I return home to Chumuckla at the conclusion of my time in office, I will do so with a deep love of this Country and a strong belief that her best days are not behind her, but yet to come.
Roundup: Wins For Tate, Northview
March 11, 2016
BASEBALL
Tate 12, Escambia 0
The Tate Aggies beat the Escambia Gators Thursday 12-0.
The Aggies never trailed after a three run second. The Aggies added another four runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth for the win.
Jake Davis struck out six for the Aggies in five innings of shutout ball, allowing just four hits.
Tate hitters – Reid Halfacre 3-4, RBI, 2 runs, double; Mason Land 2-4, 2 runs; Cole Halfacre 2-4, 4 RBIs; Hunter NeSmith 1-3, 3 runs; Madison Lockman 1-2; Trevor Hoffman 1-1; Logan Blackmon 1-3, run; Josh Barnes 1-1, RBI;
Northview JV 8, West Florida freshmen 4
The Northview JV baseball team defeated the West Florida freshman team tonight, 8-4.
The Jaguars scored first to take a 1-0 lead, but the Chiefs scored 4 runs in the 2nd and 2 runs in the 3rd to take a 6-1 lead. The Jaguars cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the 4th inning, but the Chiefs responded with two runs of their own to go up 8-3. West Florida added one more run in the top of the 5th.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were Jackson Moore (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI), Sam Stott (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 run), John Chivington (2-3, 1 run), Heath Sheldt (2-3, 1 run), MJ Jones (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run), Seth Killam (1-2, 1 RBI), Cade Allen (1-2, 1 run) and Jason Fischer (1-2, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run). Alex McMinn scored 2 runs for the Chiefs.
Seth Killam earned the win on the mound, throwing a complete 5 innings, striking out 9 batters while allowing 7 hits.
The Northview JV baseball team defeated the West Florida freshman team tonight, 8-4.
The Jaguars scored first to take a 1-0 lead, but the Chiefs scored 4 runs in the 2nd and 2 runs in the 3rd to take a 6-1 lead. The Jaguars cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the 4th inning, but the Chiefs responded with two runs of their own to go up 8-3. West Florida added one more run in the top of the 5th.
Leading hitters for the Chiefs were Jackson Moore (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI), Sam Stott (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 run), John Chivington (2-3, 1 run), Heath Sheldt (2-3, 1 run), MJ Jones (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 run), Seth Killam (1-2, 1 RBI), Cade Allen (1-2, 1 run) and Jason Fischer (1-2, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run). Alex McMinn scored 2 runs for the Chiefs.
Seth Killam earned the win on the mound, throwing a complete 5 innings, striking out 9 batters while allowing 7 hits.
The Chiefs improved to 8-1 and return to action Monday night at Central.
SOFTBALL
Tate 15, Escambia 3
The Tate Aggies beat Escambia 15-3 Thursday night.
Savannah Rowell pitched the win for the Aggies in seven innings, allowing just three runs, four hits and striking out 12. At the plate, Rowell also delivered a grand slam for the Aggies.
Tate hitters – Hannah Brown 2-2, RBI, run; Savannah Rowell 2-4, grand slam, 5 RBIs; S. Ulrich HR, RBI.
Baker 3, Northview 2
The Baker Gators came out on top of the Northview Chiefs in Baker 3-2.
Batting for the Chiefs: Laurie Purdy: 3-3 with 3 singles and 1 RBI. Tori Herrington: 1-4 with a single and a run. Aubree Love: 1-4 with a double and a run. Lydia Smith: 1-3 with a single and a stolen base. Daphne Young: 1-2 with a single and a walk. Brittany McLemore: 0-3with an RBI.
The Chiefs will host Chipley Friday night at 5:00.
Pictured: NHS JV action from Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Opening Day Postponed
March 11, 2016
UPDATE: Due to weather, Opening Day has been postponed until April 2.
Baseball returns Saturday to the Cantonment Sportsplex after a three year absence. Opening Day is Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.
Everyone in Cantonment and surround areas are invited to attend for a day full of fun activities and baseball.
Additional activities include a dunking booth, bounce house and more. There were be team fundraisers, including a fish fry and pizza for lunch.
The opening day schedule is as follows:
‘Shacking Up’ Ban Headed To The History Book; Local Lawmaker Disagrees
March 10, 2016
It soon could be legal to shack up in Florida.
The state House on Wednesday approved repealing a law dating to 1868 that makes it a crime for men and women to live together if they are not married.
With the Senate passing the bill (SB 498) last week, the measure is ready to go to Gov. Rick Scott. The House approved the bill in a 112-5 vote, with five Republicans — Janet Adkins of Fernandina Beach, Brad Drake of Eucheeanna, Mike Hill of Pensacola Beach, Jennifer Sullivan of Mount Dora and Charles Van Zant of Keystone Heights — dissenting.
None of the opponents of the bill commented on the House floor Wednesday.
“You have to ask yourself, would you want you children to live together with others or prefer to see them married. Marriage was mostly certainly the original intent of the law,” Hill told NorthEscambia.com. “I don’t subscribe to popular opinion that it becomes the accepted norm that makes it right because that’s the way society has evolved.”
“When you take a look at the state of Florida, and the nation in general, as to how many people live together while not married, to have a law on the books that says it’s illegal just doesn’t make good sense,” said Rep. Richard Stark, a Weston Democrat who is one of the sponsors of the repeal.
Stark said the issue affects seniors, as well as younger singles.
“I represent communities of seniors, where a lot of them are technically not married,” he said. “They are living together, but it makes more sense financially or for whatever reason like Social Security to not be married. I don’t think that they want to be considered to be violating the law.”
House and Senate staff analyses said the law originally went into effect in 1868 and makes it a second-degree misdemeanor for men and women to “lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together” without being married.
The analyses said Florida, Michigan and Mississippi are the only states that make cohabitation illegal. Seven other states — Arizona, Idaho, Maine, New Mexico, North Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia — have repealed similar laws in recent years, while a court struck down a North Carolina law, the House analysis said.
Such laws have rarely been used to bring criminal charges, but the House analysis said the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation used the law in 1979 during a civil proceeding to suspend a liquor license.
During a committee meeting in September, Van Zant pointed to religious objections to the repeal.
“Who are we to say that we do not at least fear God?” he asked.
by Jim Saunders and Tom Urban, The News Service of Florida with contribution from NorthEscambia.com