Authorities On The Hunt For Escaped Alabama Inmate
September 9, 2015
Authorities are searching for an escaped inmate from Baldwin County.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said work release inmate James Marshall Rigsby, 43, left from his assigned job location in Bay Minette on Tuesday. He was serving an eight year sentence for receiving stolen property in case out of Macon County, AL.
Rigsby is described as a white male, 6-feet 2-inches tall, 175 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on Rigsby’s whereabouts is asked to call (800) 831-8825 or their local law enforcement agency.
Washington Pre-Files As Democrat For Escambia School Superintendent
September 9, 2015
Gerald Washington has pre-filed for Escambia Superintendent of Schools, as a Democrat for the 2016 election cycle, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office
Washington is currently the only Democrat pre-filed for the office. Incumbent Malcolm Thomas and Jim Taylor have announced as Republicans.
Submitted photo.
Citizens Property Insurance Rate Hikes Approved For 2016
September 9, 2015
The state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Tuesday received approval of rate changes for 2016, with some tweaks that are expected to spread additional costs to policyholders in coastal areas.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved the average rate changes equating to 1.8 percent on residential multi-peril accounts, an increase from the 1.3 percent requested by Citizens. The office also set an 8.3 percent increase for residential wind-only policies. Citizens had sought a 9 percent increase for the wind-only policies.
“The office modified some of Citizens’ recommended rates to address key issues cited as causes for increasing homeowners’ insurance costs for policyholders in South Florida and on the coast,” a release accompanying the order said.
The new rates will vary by county and depend on a property’s location, the home’s style, and the type of policy. Citizens’ policyholders in Southeast Florida have better chances of seeing rate increases than homeowners in other parts of the state.
Even with the average rate increases, Citizens expects rates to come down for about 60 percent of its policyholders. The order includes no changes for sinkhole coverage, while increasing rates on mobile home coverage.
The order, which came two weeks after a public hearing on Citizens’ 2016 rate proposal, also advises Citizens not to pass to policyholders all the costs of buying reinsurance but to treat that as an expense, noted Citizens spokesman Michael Peltier. Reinsurance is effectively backup coverage for insurers to help cover large claims.
Florida insurance consumer advocate Sha’Ron James had asked Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty to “strongly consider” the large amount of reinsurance purchased by Citizens before making any decision on the company’s requested rate hike.
Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway argued during last month’s public hearing that a “disturbing” rise in water-damage claims in South Florida had driven the need for much of the proposed rate increases.
Citizens entered the six-month Atlantic storm season with a $7.5 billion surplus, the highest in its history, and $3.9 billion in reinsurance coverage from private, offshore firms.
The new rates go into effect Feb. 1.
“Today’s decision by the Office of Insurance Regulation reflects Citizens’ success in reducing exposure and returning to its role as the state’s insurer of last resort,” Gilway said Tuesday in a release.
The rate proposal comes as Citizens has dropped from 1.5 million policies in 2012 to 589,456 policies as of July 31. Gilway said he expects the number of policies to be just above 500,000 by the end of the year.
Resurfacing, Widening Projects To Begin On Hwy 99, Barrineau Park Road
September 8, 2015
Work is set to begin this month to widen and resurface several miles of County Road 99 and Barrineau Park Road.
One project will widen and resurface Highway 99 from Barrineau Park Road north to Highway 97A in Bay Springs. The contractor, Panhandle Grading and Paving, will add paved shoulders and widen the road to 11-foot lanes. The project will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration Agency (FHWA) for reimbursement at an estimated project construction cost of $2.87 million. Work is expected to be completed by November 2016.
The second project will widen and resurface Barrineau Park Road from Highway 99 to Jacks Branch Road. Panhandle Grading and Paving will add paved shoulders and widen the road to 12-foot lanes. Escambia County will also seek reimbursement for $1.2 million. Work is expected to continue through November 2016.
Both projects will include other work typically association with resurfacing and widening, including drainage, sodding and pavement striping. The contractor will work to minimize interruption for area residents, and an Escambia County inspector will monitor the construction areas daily.
Work on both projects will take place 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Two Injured In Jacks Branch Rollover Crash
September 8, 2015
Two people were injured in single vehicle rollover crash on Jacks Branch Road near Molino Monday night.
The driver of a Ford F150 lost control and overturned just after 10 p.m. on Jacks Branch Road just south of Barrineau Park Road. Two people in the truck were transported to area hospitals by Escambia County EMS; their conditions were not available.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Molino Park 1st Graders Attend Wedding Of Q And U
September 8, 2015
The letters Q and U were united in marriage last week in a wedding hosted by the first grade at Molino Park Elementary School.
First graders wore their fancy clothes to look like a QUeen or King for the royal event. Students also brought wedding “gifts” for the newly united couple, from real items to magazine cut-outs or printed items. Anything starting with “QU” was the perfect gift.
Wedding gifts ranged from QUarters, QUilts, boxes of QUinoa grain, Elsa the snow QUeen inspired items, a QUiver and even one student who said his special gift was to be QUiet for the wedding. The reception that followed involved lots of festive QUacking with the Chicken Dance song, ring pops and Little Debbie wedding cakes.
After the QUick wedding, Q and U are now QUietly at home in the vocabulary of first graders at Molino Park Elementary as they continue their QUest for learning.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Emergency Repairs Set To Begin On Quintette Road Bridge
September 8, 2015
The Quintette Rooad Bridge is set to be temporarily shifted to a single lane due to bridge repairs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. until Friday, September 18.
On June 25, the Escambia County Commission authorized an emergency purchase order to DKE Marine Services for emergency bridge repairs on a portion of the bridge on Quintette Road for $196,369.40.
On Friday, June 19, Escambia County received notification from Infrastructure Engineers, a Florida Department of Transportation bridge inspection contractor, that recommended immediate repair to pilings under the bridge. The repair, the inspectors said, is needed to advance scouring around three pilings under the bridge.
Quintette Road is a major east/west corridor over the Escambia River between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The bridge was constructed in 1957.
2016 Escambia County Voter Guides Have Arrived
September 8, 2015
The new “Escambia County Voter Guide – 2016″ from Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford is now available online.
Click here to access the “Escambia County Voter Guide – 2016“.
The booklet details 2016 election dates, offices to be filled and contains complete information on how to register to vote, keep voter information current, and how to vote at the polls.
Individual Health Premiums Expected To Rise
September 8, 2015
Florida insurance regulators said that premiums in the individual health-insurance market are expected to increase an average of 9.5 percent in 2016 — though changes will fluctuate substantially among insurers. The average is for major medical plans sold under the federal health-insurance exchange and outside the exchange.
Information released by the state Office of Insurance Regulation says the average monthly premium would increase from $379 to $415, though those numbers don’t account for federal subsidies that can reduce the premium amounts that many people pay.
Also, the rate changes have not been finalized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are subject to change, according to the state office.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Drop Game to Mobile; Chang Plays All Nine Positions
September 8, 2015
Where is Ray Chang?
That was the game played by the 4,202 Pensacola Blue Wahoos fans during Monday’s Labor Day game at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Chang became the first Wahoo to play all nine positions in the field, as Pensacola had loads of fun but dropped the final game of the series with the Mobile BayBears, 4-2.
Pensacola clinched the Southern League South Division second half championship Sunday for the first time since its inaugural season in 2012, so its game Monday was inconsequential to its playoff run.
So, when Chang entered the clubhouse, Pensacola manager Pat Kelly gave him two options—sit out and rest or play all nine spots in the field. Chang said the decision was easy.
“It was not even close,” said Chang, who is 32-years-old and an 11-year minor league veteran. “I want to thank Pat Kelly for giving me the chance to do that. It was such a great day.”
Kelly said it was something he had been thinking about for a while. Former Blue Wahoo Juan Perez had asked to do it last year in Bakersfield under Kelly.
“It was fun and everything worked out perfectly,” Kelly said. “The fan reaction was awesome, especially in that eighth and ninth inning.”
In his professional career, Chang had never played center field, right field or catcher in a live game.
On Monday, he went 3-4 with three singles and scored a run in the ninth inning when shortstop Zach Vincej smashed a two-run homer — his fifth of the year — to left field. Chang, who lifted his average to .283 on the season, also stole his first base since 2012.
“I told the first baseman, ‘I haven’t stolen a base all year.’ He said, ‘Do it! Take off!’” Chang said. “It was definitely ugly.”
He played catcher in the eighth inning and caught Zack Weiss, who leads the Southern League with 25 saves and was named to the league’s postseason All-Star team. Weiss throws a fastball in the mid-90s.
That was the hardest position “by far,” Chang said. “My heart was racing.”
Chang then warmed up in the bullpen and pitched the ninth inning. He already had pitched two games this season on May 4 against the Jackson Generals and on Aug. 19 against Chattanooga Lookouts. He threw two innings gave up one hit, a walk and one earned run.
Fans gave Chang a standing ovation when he took the mound as the pitcher. Chang needed all of four pitches to retire the side in order, including a fly out that was chased down by center fielder Billy Hamilton who leaped in the air at the wall.
“There’s not another human being alive besides (Hamilton) who makes that play,” Kelly said.
Fans chanted, “Ray!” and he came out of the dugout. Hamilton had tossed the ball into the stands but the fan gave the ball back, so Chang could have it. Chang gave the young man one of his black bats and autographed it in exchange for the ball.
Hamilton, who played three games for Pensacola to help in his right shoulder recovery, said he looks forward to returning to the Cincinnati Reds. He went on the disabled list Aug. 19 and he still leads the National League with 54 stolen bases.
“I’m ready to get back to Cincinnati and battle with my guys,” Hamilton said. “But it’s always good to come back to Pensacola and visit. I come back in the off season sometimes just to visit.”
Hamilton, who set the minor league record of 155 steals in 2012 with Pensacola, said he plans to follow the Blue Wahoos in the playoffs.
“I just really feel like they’re going to win it,” Hamilton said. “Their mindset is about winning. They really want it. I’ll be rooting for them and checking up on them.”
Mobile scored first Monday when catcher Mark Thomas gave Mobile the lead, 1-0, with a solo home run deep to left field. Thomas enjoyed Pensacola pitching smashing three home runs and driving in seven runs. Thomas entered the series against Pensacola batting .162 with three home runs and 13 RBIs and finished it batting .174 with six home runs and 20 RBIs.
Mobile led, 2-0, in the third inning when left fielder Socrates Brito tripled in third baseman Raul Navarro. Mobile added one run in the sixth on Gabriel Guerrero’s solo homer to left field and another in the seventh when Pensacola pitcher Wandy Peralta walked Thomas to score Alex Glenn to put Mobile up, 4-0.
The winner of the South Division then plays either the Twins Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts or the Tampa Bay Devil Rays affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits.
Pensacola, which was 38-32 in the second half, takes on the Biloxi Shuckers at 7:10 p.m. Thursday and Friday at MGM Park. Biloxi then moves to Pensacola for a 6:35 p.m. game Saturday and, if needed, will play at 4:05 p.m. Sunday and 6:35 p.m. Monday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos playoff rotation is slated to be Daniel Wright (10-11, 4.53), Cody Reed (6-2, 2.17) and Tim Adleman (9-10, 2.64).
Pictured: Ray Chang on Sunday. Photos courtesy Barrett McLean, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.