Molino Museum Renamed In Honor Of Lillian King
May 12, 2015
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society Museum in Molino was officially dedicated Monday afternoon as the “Lillian F. King Museum”. The museum was renamed in the honor of Lil King, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Molino Community Complex — housing the museum, the Molino Branch of the West Florida Public Library, multiple meeting rooms, and an auditorium — in the former Molino Elementary School.
“It was tough losing her,” King’s husband John said during the dedication. “This was her dream, to save this building.
Lil King also established the Molino Mid-County Historical Society in 1999, of which she served as president from the museum’s inception in 2013 until her passing in February 2015 at the age of 73.
Pictured top: (L-R) Lillian King’s son Ted King, husband John King and son David King listen as Commissioner Steven Barry reads the plaque now on display at the museum in the Molino Community Complex. Pictured below: Friends, family and county officials celebrate the renaming of the museum as the Lillian F. King Museum. Pictured bottom: A few of the displays in the museum. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott Face May 22 Deadline On Online Voter Registration , Guns And Growlers
May 12, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott faces a May 22 deadline for deciding whether to approve a bill that would lead to online-voter registration in Florida.
The bill (SB 228), filed by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, was approved despite opposition from Secretary of State Ken Detzner. It is one of 68 bills that the Senate sent to Scott last week, triggering a May 22 deadline for the governor to sign, veto or allow the bills to become law without his signature, according to a list on the governor’s office website. Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux issued a statement Monday calling on Scott to sign the online-registration bill, pointing to bipartisan support that it received in the Legislature.
“Online voter registration is a no-brainer: It saves the state money, has universal support from supervisors of elections, and is more secure than paper forms,” Arceneaux said. “Both parties in the Legislature recognized that expanding voter participation is good for our democracy. We need to seize this opportunity.” Scott also faces the May 22 deadline on issues such as a bill (SB 186) that would allow 64-ounce beer “growlers” in Florida; a bill (SB 290) that would allow more people to carry concealed weapons during emergency evacuations; and a bill (SB 7078) that would make changes in the state’s child-welfare system.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview Hits The Road For First Ever State Series
May 12, 2015
The Northview High School Chiefs loaded up and hit the road Monday afternoon for their first-ever in school history trip to the state final four.
The Chiefs will take on Blountstown at 3 p.m. (Bratt local time) Wednesday in the 1A state semi-final game at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. With a win, the Chiefs will advance to the state championship game at 7:35 p.m. Thursday.
The players are staying at the Hampton Inn and Suites at 4350 Executive Circle, which is now sold out. Other lodging and special rates for fans can be found by clicking here.
Live video from Wednesday’s game (and the following 1A semi-final game between Hamilton County and Williston) will air on the NFHS Network. For a FHSAA.org special access rate of $9.95 for one month, click here.
Live video from Thursday’s championship game will air on the Bright House Sports Network. Click here to purchase a one-day pass for $6.95.
Also, for periodic live score updates and bonus photos, like NorthEscambia.com on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @northescambia.
The Northview Chiefs baseball team hit the road Monday afternoon for the state tournament in Fort Myers. They received a send-off from the practicing football team (most students were already dismissed and off campus at the time). NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Drills For Hurricane Season
May 12, 2015
The hurricane scenario was ominous — a storm packing 140 mph winds with gusts to 170 was projected to make landfall within 72 hours somewhere between Gulf Breeze and Mary Esther. Gulf Power employees then went to work during their 2015 storm drill on Monday, making plans for this storm — or any storm that approaches Northwest Florida.
When a tropical system approaches Northwest Florida, Gulf Power’s 1,400 employees are ready for action — a coordinated force committed to restoring power — and hope.
To ensure employees are ready, every year team leaders participate in a storm drill to help employees find ways to continually improve storm restoration response. Monday’s storm drill was staged in the utility’s new Douglas McCrary Training & Storm Center.
“We prepare year-round for storm restoration,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications manager. “And our crews are among the best in the nation to restore electricity, safely and quickly. This drill enhances our employees’ awareness and sharpens our skills.”
Each year, the utility follows a detailed plan to rebuild the electrical system following a hurricane and works closely with county Emergency Management personnel. Every Gulf Power employee has a storm assignment and if needed, the company is prepared to bring in thousands of outside utility workers to help.
Planning is also important for Gulf Power’s 436,000 customers. Gulf Power’s storm center website offers comprehensive preparation and safety information, as well as general storm tips and directions on how to report outages. The storm center can be accessed at MyGulfPower.com.
Pictured: Gulf Power Company’s hurricane drill on Monday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Snap Three-Game Win Streak With Loss To Jacksonville
May 12, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (11-20) are at an early disadvantage in the race for the Golden Skillet as they dropped the first game of the series against Jacksonville (14-16) 5-4 . The defeat also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Wahoos, their longest of the season.
Pensacola starter Keyvius Sampson (1-1) pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Jacksonville starter Austin Brice (1-3) earned his first win of the season in 5.0 innings while giving up two runs, two hits and six walks. Sean Donatello earned the save for the Suns, his ninth of the season.
Beau Amaral and Kyle Waldrop each added two hits and an RBI, with Amaral hitting his first home run of the season in the ninth. Ryan Wright made an impact at the plate for the Blue Wahoos, reaching safely on four of his five plate appearances with a hit and three walks to go along with a stolen base. Ray Chang extended his hit streak to eight games on a pinch-hit single in the seventh.
The Wahoos got things started with a run in the top of the first. Second baseman Ryan Wright was able to score from second on an infield single from outfielder Kyle Waldrop as the Wahoos managed a pair of hits and a walk in the inning.
The Suns struck back in the bottom half, first with a ground-rule double from Matt Juengel with runners on first and second. The RBI double left runners at second and third, which allowed Viosergy Rosa to drive in another run on a groundout to give Jacksonville a 2-1 lead.
Jacksonville’s Kenny Wilson opened the bottom of the third with a stand-up triple to the right field corner, but Sampson was able to fan three consecutive batters to leave him stranded.
Rosa was able to add to the Jacksonville lead with a solo shot to right to make the score 3-1 in the fourth. The Suns looked to inflict further damage after a pair of singles to put runners at the corners with nobody out, but Sampson was able to strand both of them with two groundouts and a strikeout.
In the fifth, a pair of walks and a wild pitch put Wright and outfielder Beau Amaral at second and third, respectively. First baseman Marquez Smith was able to send Amaral home on a sac-fly to center, bringing the Wahoos within a run.
Zack Cox sent the second solo shot of the game for Jacksonville to right field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, his third home run of the season.
The Wahoos managed a pair of singles from Kyle Waldrop and catcher Kyle Skipworth, putting runners at the corners with one out in the top of the eighth. Waldrop was able to reach home on a sacrifice fly from infielder Juan Perez to bring the Wahoos back within a run at 4-3.
The Suns pushed their lead back to two on a pair of doubles from David Adams and Sharif Othman, with Othman’s resulting in an RBI.
Amaral made things interesting with a solo home run to right field in the top of the ninth to make it 5-4, but a fielder’s choice and a fly-out to center ended the game.
Scott Names Hospital Panel Without Hospital Executives
May 12, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday appointed nine people — none of them hospital executives, and only one of whom appears to have significant medical experience — to a commission meant to examine the economics of health care and hospitals in Florida.
The appointments to Scott’s Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding came as industry officials are still digesting the governor’s call to have hospitals share profits like Major League Baseball teams if federal officials decide not to extend a $2.2 billion program that helps pay for the care of uninsured patients.
The nine people named to the panel, which is aimed at making recommendations for a special legislative session scheduled to begin June 1, are Carlos Beruff, president of Medallion homes, who will be the chairman; former SunTrust Bank executive Tom Kuntz; retired Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl; attorney Marili Cancio Johnson; former Gadsden County Commissioner Eugene Lamb Jr.; Jason Rosenburg, a physician and former chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine; Ken Smith, owner of Integrated Beef Consultants; former Destin Mayor Sam Seevers; and Robert Spottswood, president and director of Spottswood Companies, which has interests that include real estate and hospitality.
Scott, a former hospital chief executive officer, put together the commission after lawmakers ended the 2015 legislative session without a budget due to a complicated stalemate over health-care funding.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department hasn’t ruled on the state’s application to extend the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program beyond a scheduled expiration date of June 30. The program mostly sends money to hospitals and other medical providers that care for large numbers of low-income patients. But the agency said last week that, at first blush, the state’s application “falls short of key principles” that federal officials will consider when weighing the program’s future.
Tony Carvalho, president of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, said Monday that the members of the commission looked to be “very competent people” despite the lack of health-care executives.
“We are disappointed that there were no hospital CEOs or financial experts on the commission,” he said.
Lawmakers who had asked to serve on the commission were also turned aside by Scott’s decision.
Funding for LIP is part of a complex health-care logjam that has left legislative leaders unable to reach agreement on a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. Hoping to encourage federal officials to approve the state’s LIP proposal, the Senate offered a $2.8 billion initiative that would use Medicaid expansion funding to help low-income Floridians purchase private insurance.
But Scott and the House have fiercely opposed the expansion alternative, and the governor has sued the Obama administration in an effort to prevent federal officials from linking the LIP decision to Medicaid expansion.
The naming of the panel came after Scott on Friday proposed revenue sharing among Florida hospitals if LIP is not extended for another year.
“Your assistance in suggesting fair profit sharing to replace federal LIP funds at those institutions that rely on them most, like Shands Jacksonville, will be critical to keeping them up and running,” he wrote in a letter to the president of the Florida Hospital Association. “This would be similar to how large market baseball teams share revenues with small market baseball teams.”
Scott said he wanted the hospitals to submit three models by May 22, so that his Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding could consider them on May 26.
So far, industry groups have been cautious about the governor’s initiative.
“We received the letter and will be issuing a response to Governor Scott this week,” said Monica Corbett, a spokeswoman for the FHA.
The Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals has a conference call scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the suggestion.
Carvalho didn’t foreclose the possibility of some form of revenue sharing, but said the commission first needs to consider how much hospitals already contribute, including the hundreds of millions of dollars they pay in taxes.
“I think people will realize that hospitals are doing enormous amounts already,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Alert: Fundraising For Northview Baseball Team
May 11, 2015
The Northview High School baseball team is headed to the Florida High School Baseball State Championships in For Myers this week, and the school’s principal wants businesses and organizations to know that an Illinois company is not authorized to solicit funds on behalf of the school or team.
Principal Gayle Weaver said Royal Publishing has contacted local organizations and solicited funds for the Northview baseball team. She said those funds will not benefit the team in any manner, and any representation of the school or team by the company is unauthorized.
The NHS team is in need of additional funds for their trip. Donations can be made with checks payable to the “Northview Diamond Club” and dropped off at the school.
Pictured below: Email warning from Northview Principal Gayle Weaver, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Reported Missing; Vehicle Found In McDavid
May 11, 2015
Authorities are searching for a missing Flomaton, AL, man whose vehicle was found abandoned near McDavid.
John Douglas Oswalt, 35, was last seen by and communicated with family members on Sunday, May 3, according to Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis. His silver in color Chrysler Crossfire was found abandoned on Pine Barren Road near McDavid on Tuesday, May 5 by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office.
Oswalt is described as a white male, about six feet tall with hazel eyes and bald head. No clothing description was known. He previously listed a home address in Cantonment.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Oswalt should contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
New Traffic Signal Now Installed At Dangerous Molino Intersection
May 11, 2015
A new traffic signal is now installed at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. The signal is still is flash-only mode, and is expected to remain that way for a period of time before it becomes operational.
In October 2013, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay for the red light at the intersection. A Florida Department of Transportation study determined the intersection did meet the criteria for the light due to a high number of serious crashes, with an agreement in place that FDOT would design and construct the upgrades with Escambia County paying for the construction.
FDOT completed the design phase. and the Escambia County Commission approved $265,400 in funding for the light in August 2014, with the payment made from the county to the state in late October 2014. The project then faced several delays before the light was installed.
Once the Florida DOT announces the first day of operation for the light, the date will be published on NorthEscambia.com.
A second upcoming project will redesign the intersection of Crabtree Church Road and Highway 97, which is currently just feet away from Highway 29.
Pictured: A new traffic signal in flash-only mode Sunday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Softball Baby Gender Reveal: The Pitch Is Good…It’s A Girl!
May 11, 2015
A single softball pitch and an explosion of pink made Mother’s Day extra special for mom-to-be Ali Martin of Bratt.
Ali and boyfriend Marshall Rolin are expecting a baby in mid-October. The couple picked a gender reveal that was a bit different than most — an “exploding” softball filled with colored chalk. Both love softball, and decided that it would be a home run way to answer the big boy or girl question.
Neither knew the gender..Ali was given a sealed envelope by the ultrasound tech last Wednesday. She made two softballs, one filled with blue chalk, the other with pink. They looked exactly the same, so she placed them in bags with a note labeling which was which.
Sunday at the ballpark, Ali’s cousin Sydney McGhee went to her car, opened the envelope and picked the correct softball to be pitched before family and friends. No one else knew before the pitch.
“I was really nervous about pitching it,” she said. Ali wound up and pitched it to Marshall, who slammed the ball into an explosion of pink.
“I’m extremely excited about it,” she said Sunday night, now knowing that she has a little girl on the way. “Now that we know the gender and everything, I am so excited for the big day.”
The couple has not yet picked a name for their little girl, but they already know they’d like her to have the initials “MJR”. Marshall, his mom, his dad and his two brothers all share the initials “MJR”.
“I just pray that I can be the best mom to my sweet little girl and give her everything she deserves and even more,” Ali said. “My heart is so full of happiness and love, that I can’t imagine how I will feel when the big day is finally here. I am so ready for it.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
