Wahoos Rally, Up 1.5 Games In South Division
August 28, 2015
All second half of the Southern League season, left fielder Jesse Winker came through with a big hit when Pensacola needed it.
Winker’s last one — a double in the right field corner in the eighth inning — was the biggest and came under the most pressure.
It not only cleared the loaded bases by driving in three runs to catapult the Blue Wahoos back into the lead, 9-8, over the Mississippi Braves, it put Pensacola 1.5 games up on the Braves in the race for the playoffs in the second half of the Southern League’s South Division.
By the end of the eighth inning, Pensacola had scored five runs and beat Mississippi, 11-8, and received a standing ovation from its 23rd sellout of 5,038 Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola improved to 34-26 in the second half and remained in sole possession of first place, while Mississippi fell to 32-27.
With 10 games left in the season, this is the latest Pensacola has been in first place since July 22, 2012 in its first season.
Winker said he was looking for a fastball to hit deep and at least get a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Instead, he ripped a line drive to reach base all five times he came to bat. Winker was 2-2 with a double, four RBIs, three runs and walked three times. The last time he got on base five times was on June 11, 2014 for the Bakersfield Blaze.
“How sweet,” said Winker, who was drenched with water by his teammates after the game. “It was unbelievable with the playoff atmosphere, plus PK’s (manager Pat Kelly) birthday. It was real cool. It was a real fun game to be a part of.”
Winker has hit in 18 of his 23 games this month. He is hitting .367 (29-79) in August and .312 in the second half. The Cincinnati Reds top prospect currently holds the Pensacola Triple Crown, leading the team with 13 home runs, 53 RBIs and a .278 batting average.
In top of the fifth inning with Pensacola leading, 4-1, the video board flashed birthday wishes to Pensacola manager Pat Kelly, who turned 60 Thursday. One photo was him with a mustache during his minor league playing days and the other a shot from this season. He tipped his cap to the crowd and smiled.
However, Mississippi scored five runs after that in the fifth. Braves right fielder KD Kang came through with a three-run homer to left to knot the game, 4-4. Kang has reached base in 29 straight road games this year, the longest streak in the Southern League this season.
Then, the Braves second baseman Levi Hyams drove in two more runs on a line drive over the head of Pensacola center fielder Phillip Ervin to put Mississippi ahead, 6-4.
Mississippi added two more runs to go ahead, 8-4, in the seventh inning when Pensacola shortstop Alex Blandino threw wide of first base trying to turn a double play that allowed the Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz and catcher Matt Kennelly to score.
Pensacola entered the game 3-56 when trailing in the seventh inning.
“It was fantastic,” Kelly said of Pensacola’s rally in the eighth inning to win the game. “We were dead in the water. I thought, ‘Man, we are really in trouble.’”
But right fielder Juan Duran laced a low line drive single to centerfield with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning to bring home Blandino and Winker and pull the Blue Wahoos within, 8-6. He ended up going 2-4 with a three-run home run for five RBIs on the night.
Duran’s homer in the third inning was Pensacola’s 16th dinger in 24 games. After hitting just 25 home runs in the first half, the Blue Wahoos have clobbered 76 home runs on the season, which is third best in the Southern League.
Winker and Kelly both expressed optimism about making the playoffs with a series against the Jackson Generals in Tennessee and then its final homestand against Mobile at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
“We are all locked in on what we can do to win,” Winker said. “It’s something special to be a part of. I hope we go there (to Jackson) and take five.”
Kelly said beating Mississippi in a five-game series for the first time this season is huge.
“This puts us in a great position by winning it,” Kelly said. “It takes us to the Jackson series with some momentum. We’re going into that series in good spirits.”
Pensacola Soldier Among Two Casualties In Afghanistan
August 27, 2015
An Air Force officer from Pensacola was among two casualties in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley, 31, of Pensacola, and Capt. Matthew D. Roland, 27, of Lexington, KY, died of wounds suffered August 26 when the vehicle they were traveling in was attacked near Camp Antonik, Afghanistan.
They were at a vehicle checkpoint when two individuals wearing Afghan National Defense and Security Forces uniforms opened fire on them. NATO service members returned fire and killed the shooters.
“The losses of Matt and Forrest are a terrible blow to everyone who knew them,” said Col. Wolfe Davidson, 24th Special Operations Wing commander. “These two combat controllers were incredible warriors who not only volunteered to join our nation’s Special Operations Forces, but earned their way to the tip of the spear in defense of our nation.”
Roland was a special tactics officer at the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron here. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2010. Upon completing the rigorous STO training program in 2012, he was a team leader who supervised real-world combat preparedness training of a 35-member team. He deployed three times in his five years of service to multiple locations globally. He is survived by his parents.
Sibley was a combat controller at the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, N.C. He was a four-time Bronze Star medal recipient, once with the valor device, and he deployed four times to sensitive locations around the world in his nearly seven years of service. He is survived by his parents.
Due to their extensive special operations training, both were military qualified static line jumpers, free fall jumpers, combat scuba divers, and qualified in joint terminal attack control.
Special Tactics Airmen integrate, synchronize, control air and space power to enable global access, precision strike and personnel recovery for special operations.
“The risks that these men and their teammates endured in combat and in training are all too well known to the Special Tactics community, but it does not make this great loss any easier to bear,” Davidson said. “We will honor Matt and Forrest for the legacy they left behind, embrace their families as our own, and thank them eternally for their ultimate sacrifice for American freedom.”
Both the 21st STS and 23rd STS fall under the 720th Special Tactics Group, 24th SOW, the only wing solely dedicated to Special Tactics in the Air Force.
Pictured: Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley.
FDLE Arrests Man For Sex Offenses
August 27, 2015
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Pensacola State College Police Department, arrested Jorge Rafael Carias, 24, of Milton, Wednesday on charges of using a computer to solicit a parent or guardian for sex with a child, traveling to meet a child for sex, and transmitting harmful material to a minor.
This case was investigated by members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force including FDLE, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Okaloosa and Walton County Sheriff’s Offices, and Pensacola Police Department.
The investigation began in July when Carias engaged in a series of email and text messages with an undercover officer who Carias believed to be the parent of a 12-year old girl.
During the email and text exchanges, Carias solicited the undercover officer to have sex with the supposed girl in exchange for cash. He also sent a pornographic photo of himself and sexual messages to the supposed child before traveling to a local motel for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Carias was located at Pensacola State College and transported to the Escambia County Jail on a $60,000 bond. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit.
Atmore Man Indicted For Murder Of His Brother
August 27, 2015
An Atmore man has been indicted for the May murder of his brother despite a stand your ground claim.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted James “Jamie” Tolin Scott on one count of reckless murder for the shooting death of Tony Tolin Scott. Tony Scott was shot to death with a small caliber rifle at James Scott’s home on Jefferson Avenue in McCullough, a small community north of Atmore.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office had responded multiple times to the home prior to the shooting due to fights between the brothers.
James Scott remains in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton with bond set at $250,000.
Jeb Bush Brings Campaign Message To Pensacola
August 27, 2015
Former two-term Florida Gov. Jeb Bush brought his presidential campaign message to Pensacola Wednesday. The Republican touted his experience as governor who can get things done in a crisis.
Bush spoke in a crowded room that held about 400 people at the Pensacola Bay Center. The crowd included many students, including a group from West Florida High School.
Pictured top: Northview High School student Mitchell Singleton with Jeb Bush Wednesday afternoon in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Bush addresses the crowd. Pictured below: Tyler Stilleto asks Bush a question during the town hall style meeting. Photos by Mitchell Singleton, Kim Stefansson and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Board Of Education To Ask For Record Funding
August 27, 2015
The State Board of Education decided Wednesday to once again ask lawmakers for record per-student funding for public schools — with the lion’s share of the increase coming from local taxpayers.
Board members unanimously approved a budget request of nearly $20.2 billion for the main funding formula for public elementary and secondary schools in the fiscal year that begins next July 1. That would set a new benchmark for total funding, up from this year’s $19.7 billion, as well as marking the highest per-student amount in state history.
“Last year, you’ll remember that Gov. Scott and the Legislature provided historic levels of funding for education, and we are hopeful that for the (coming) year, the governor and the Legislature will make education a top priority once again by providing historic funding levels,” Education Commissioner Pam Stewart told the board.
In a June special legislative session, lawmakers rejected Gov. Rick Scott’s call to increase per-student funding in the current budget year to more than the high-water mark of $7,126, which came in the 2007-08 school year. This year’s decision, made as the House and Senate tried to plug a hole in the health-care budget, deprived Scott of a victory on a campaign promise he had made during his successful re-election bid in 2014.
The proposal approved Wednesday by the board would boost spending to $7,209.39 per student, an increase of $104.33, or 1.47 percent, over the current year.
However, only $50 million of the $475.9 million hike in funding would come from the state. The other $425.9 million would come from local property taxes that make up a key part of the formula for education spending. That approach has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who equate it to a tax increase.
Defenders of the formula point out that the local tax dollars go up because the value of property is rising, not because the actual tax rate is being increased.
The board’s proposal still has several stages to go through before a final number on per-student spending is set. Scott is expected to announce his budget proposal in December, and lawmakers will begin their regular session in January. A final state spending plan will likely be approved in March.
At least one board member held out the possibility that the increase could grow by the time lawmakers are done.
“I hope that percentage increases,” said board member Michael Olenick.
Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who chairs the Senate’s education budget subcommittee, said it is too early to tell whether it’s likely that the Legislature will approve a record amount.
“I hope it is (likely),” he said.
But Gaetz, a former district superintendent, also said he believes “Tallahassee politicians and school board members need to be careful about patting themselves on the back” for funding increases that largely come from local taxpayers.
At their Wednesday meeting, the state board also approved a list of legislative priorities for the 2016 session. Included were measures that would make it easier for high-performing charter schools to open new campuses, allow students in low-performing schools to receive enrollment preferences at charter schools and overhaul the Department of Education’s process for investigating teachers accused of misconduct.
Among other things, the latter bill would put more teachers on the board that investigates alleged wrongdoing and would allow the education agency to get access to the findings of child-protective investigations by the Department of Children and Families.
Wahoos Move Into First Place
August 27, 2015
Cody Reed held the Mississippi Braves to one run and struck out eight in six innings of work as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos won, 3-1, Wednesday night to move into first place in the second half of South Division play in the Southern League.
Wednesday night, Reed showed the 4,201 Blue Wahoos fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium what he’s made of. In the battle to make the playoffs, Reed retired nine Mississippi Braves in a row at one point.
On the road, Reed has a 3-0 record and 0.41 earned-run average. At home? Reed was 0-2, lasting just 7.2 innings with an 11.74 ERA.
Pensacola improved to 33-26 in the second half and sole possession of first place, while Mississippi fell to 32-26.
Reed said he knew he lacked his usual good stuff but wasn’t about to let the Braves have a big inning. He struggled early throwing 60 pitches over the first three innings.
“It wasn’t my sharpest day but I got through six innings,” said Reed, who came to Pensacola from the Kansas City organization in a trade for the Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto. “You just got to work through it. I love having that pressure of being the guy they give the ball to.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly, who turns 60 Thursday, said Reed’s six innings was exactly what the Blue Wahoos needed Wednesday against Mississippi. Reed improved to 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA.
“I had more guys in turf shoes than cleats tonight,” he said. “I love (Reed’s) stuff. He has a plus fastball with a plus slider. He really competes. He was upset he gave up one run.”
Pensacola scored first in the fourth inning when left fielder Jesse Winker walked and scored on right fielder Juan Duran’s fielder choice to go up, 1-0.
The Blue Wahoos added another in the next inning when Kyle Skipworth hit a shot to right field that was dropped for an error. He scored on Winker’s ground out to the first baseman for a 2-0 Pensacola lead.
But back-to-back doubles by Mississippi’s Keven Ahrens and Rio Ruiz brought the Braves within one run at, 2-1.
Pensacola, though, added an insurance run in the eighth inning to go up, 3-1, when shortstop Alex Blandino hit a rocket to centerfield for a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Marquez Smith.
Kelly said he’s glad to be in the hunt for a playoff spot with 11 games left in the season. The latest Pensacola has had sole possession of first place was July 22, 2012 in its first season.
“If you had told me in April or May that we would be here I would have told you that you were crazy,” Kelly said. “This is great. It’s nice being here at this point. We just gotta keep going.”
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Car, Burglary
August 26, 2015
A Cantonment man is behind bars after allegedly using force to steal a car and then using it as transportation as he committed a burglary the following day.
James Christopher Gulsby 32, punched and choked his live-in girlfriend to get the keys and take a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi car belonging to her father, according to an arrest report. The following day, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office receive a suspicious person call on Hound Chase Way, with the individual reported to be walking around with a black plastic box and a green garden hose.
They responded to find Gulsby in the backyard of a residence with a small crowbar and pair of pliers. Deputies discovered the back door of the residence with pry marks that matched the use of a crowbar, and they reported finding a black box with tools and a green garden hose inside.
Gulsby was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, criminal mischief with property damage, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, possession of burglary tools with the intent to use, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Escambia Legislative Delegation Sets Public Hearing
August 26, 2015
The Escambia County Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing September 21, according to Sen. Greg Evers, delegation chairman.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities and take public testimony on proposals for the 2016 Legislative Session. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend.
Those who wish to make a presentation or provide testimony should contact Dave Murzin at murzin.dave@flsenate.gov or cell, (850) 380-8249 to receive a Meeting Participation Form and return it to Evers’ office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 17.
Local bill submissions should includeda brief summary of the proposal, a draft of the proposed bill, and a 2016 Economic Impact Statement Form, must be received by Evers office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14th.
The public hearing will be held from 5-7 p.m. on September 21 at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, located at 1000 College Boulevard. in Pensacola.
The Escambia County State Legislative Delegation includes Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Mike Hill.
Lineworker Appreciation Day Marked
August 26, 2015
One of the most dangerous and deadly jobs in America is that of electrical lineworkers, cracking the top 20 at number 10 on a recent Washington Post list. These jobs are considered by many to be the fourth most dangerous occupation in the world.
Working with live wires is dangerous enough. Add to that working in all types of weather, from torrential storms to oppressive heat to responding to the scene of an accident. All to make sure electricity continues to flow safely and reliably to homes and businesses.
It’s a tough job with little thanks. But Gulf Power, with the State of Florida, recognized the contributions and dedication of lineworkers during Lineworker Appreciation Day on Aug. 26, a day set aside by the state Legislature in 2012.
Gulf Power paid special tribute to the nearly 190 employees that work on the company’s 9,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines between Pensacola and Panama City, which serves more than 447,000 customers.
One of those lineworkers, Ed Morrell, has worked 17 years at Gulf Power as a distribution service and line technician.
“I have a great job, with a great company, and I’m very thankful,” said Morrell. “I get to help people improve their quality of life everyday. Whether it’s just hot outside and they need their air conditioning on or if customers need electricity for artificial respiration or other medical equipment, it feels good to know I play a critical part in their lives.”
Morrell started working at Gulf Power after a church member mentioned possible job opportunities. He applied and interviewed, but was not chosen after his first interview. “It’s all in God’s timing,” he said. Nonetheless, he interviewed a couple of months later and eventually joined the company as an apprentice.
“After graduating from high school, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years,” said Morrell. “I thought it would be hard raising a family in the military by being gone all the time so after the first Gulf War, I did electrical work for myself back home to support my family.”
However, Morrell quickly found that utility line work is very different from wiring a house. He said adhering to the safety standards of Gulf Power is extremely important and always job one.
“We have to constantly be aware of our surroundings and remain safe at all times because your first mistake may as well be your last,” he said.
Morrell began his career assisting in the daily construction and maintenance of the distribution systems in order to provide service in a safe, timely and economical manner. He quickly responded to and corrected problems with the electrical distribution system during normal working hours, after hours, nights and weekends and in extreme weather conditions.
“Sometimes it’s tough working different shifts and being on-call, but I love helping other people and working with our crews. We have a special bond among us. After Hurricane Ivan, we worked for more than two weeks with no power at our own homes. We were inspecting, testing and repairing power lines and other equipment using special reading and testing devices. We rebuilt entire lines, set poles, hung transformers and connected service throughout our area. Working with customers in the field and seeing our communities come together was particularly gratifying,” he said.
He tells fellow lineworkers that when times get tough to remember that others may have it even worse during natural disasters. “We have worked with crews in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy and with crews in Tuscaloosa, Alabama after tornadoes,” said Morrell in a solemn tone. “Both of those areas were completely devastated, homes destroyed, people were missing, and to bring hope to so many families was indescribable. There is always someone, somewhere out there that needs us.”
Morrell advises others wanting to become a lineworker to have a good attitude, be adaptive and flexible, expect to work hard and play hard, develop safe habits, follow directions and do the best you can.
“There is no such thing as a typical day. I sometimes wake up when it’s raining and I’m surprised I haven’t gotten a call. Other days, I’m prepping my truck for when I have to depart at a moment’s notice,” he said.
Throughout Morrell’s career, his very supportive family has stood behind him. Morrell’s wife Kristie, and their three children look forward to him returning home safely each and every day. They, too, continue making sacrifices.
“It’s funny that sometimes heroes look like ordinary people,” said Kristie. “Most people only dream of meeting their hero, but I married mine.”