Cantonment Student Named National Merit Scholarship Winner
May 20, 2015
A Cantonment resident has been named a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winner.
Olivia Y. Liseth iis one of Florida’s finalists to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
Liseth attends Pensacola High School. She is planning for a career in medicine.
Police Seek Suspects In iPad Thefts
May 20, 2015
The Brewton (AL) Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying the individuals pictured. They are suspected in the theft of several iPads from the Brewton Walmart. Anyone with information on their identities is asked to call Lt. Brock Holt at the Brewton Police Department at (251) 867-3212 or their local law enforcement agency. Photos courtesy Brewton Police Department for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
End Of An Era: Daniel Smillie Retires From Escambia Road Department
May 20, 2015
Daniel Smillie, Jr. was recently honored by the Escambia County Commission as he retired with 30 years of service as a field supervisor with the Escambia County Public Works Department, Roads Division.
“The impact that his persona, and he, have had on that department are really immeasurable,” said Public Works Director Wes Moreno. “He has been a mainstay of that department…I guess it is the end of an era…He’s always gotten the job done. If you wanted the job done, all you had to do was call Danny Smillie and you didn’t have to worry about it any more.”
Smillie was presented with the usual county proclamation, a golden shovel and a new fishing rod. “I’ll surely use that,” he said quipped about the new fishing rod.
“I love helping the citizens of Escambia County,” he said. “I will miss that because I met a lot of good people.”
Smillie, a former resident of Cantonment, now resides in Beulah.
Danny Smillie, Jr., is pictured in the blue-checkered shirt. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Summer Tryouts Next Week For Tate Softball, Northview Baseball, Tate Baseball
May 20, 2015
Northview High School Baseball and Tate High School softball have scheduled summer tryouts.
The 2015 Class 7A Softball State Champion Lady Aggies will hold Summer Softball Tryouts on Tuesday, May 26 and Thursday May 28 at 5:30 p.m. on the Tate softball field (enter the campus at the Kingsfield Road gate). For more information, contact Coach Melinda Wyatt at (850) 937-2300 ext. 241 or email mwyatt@escambia.k12.fl.us.
Northview High School will hold Summer Baseball Tryouts on Monday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at Northview for all returning Northview students, returning players and incoming freshmen. No pre-registration is required. Email Coach Marty Lister at mlister@escambia.k12.fl.us for more information.
Tate High School will hold Summer Team Tryouts on Monday, May 25 from 10 a.m. until noon. No pre-registration is required. Email Coach Greg Blackmon at gblackmon@escambia.k12.fl.us for more information.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hospitals To Scott: Go Look It Up Yourself
May 20, 2015
As Gov. Rick Scott’s newly created health-care commission prepares to meet Wednesday to begin sifting through data about hospital funding, the governor’s request for information has been met with hospitals essentially telling him to go look it up.
Many of the dozens of surveys returned by hospitals have five or fewer of the roughly 100 lines filled out with new information. Officials frequently referred Scott back to information filed with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, which oversees much of the state’s spending on health care.
“Florida Hospital regularly reports financial and hospital utilization data to the Agency for Health Care Administration, as required by state law,” wrote Joe Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Florida Hospital Carrollwood, in a letter accompanying an essentially blank response to the survey. “We believe our submissions are up to date, accurate and readily available to the public for review. In order to meet your urgent request, we respectfully refer you to consult AHCA to obtain this comprehensive information.”
Johnson also used his letter to make a pitch for Medicaid expansion — something Scott adamantly opposes — calling it “the most compassionate, sustainable and fiscally prudent approach to deal with the state’s uninsured population.”
The same letter, signed by other officials, accompanied the submissions from other Florida Hospital branches.
It is not the only form letter that has been circulated to the commission. Several hospitals used a similar letter that argued, among other things, that the information Scott was seeking in some cases was unclear.
“Rather than speculate, we will await further clarification on these data points before we provide the requested information,” the letter said.
Scott formed the Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding after the Legislature failed to agree during its regular session on a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. Lawmakers were tripped up by questions surrounding whether the federal government will extend the Low Income Pool program, which is set to expire June 30. The $2.2 billion “LIP” program sends money to hospitals and other medical providers that care for large numbers of low-income patients.
The Senate also wants to use Medicaid expansion funds to help low-income Floridians purchase private insurance, but the House has for two years opposed similar proposals.
In an email, a spokeswoman for Scott did not directly answer whether he thought the survey answers were responsive to his questions.
“We received some of the information the governor requested for the commission,” spokeswoman Jackie Schutz wrote. “AHCA is posting that information on the commission’s website.”
Not every hospital stonewalled the governor. Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine was “pleased to respond to your request for information,” according to a letter from Joseph Gordy, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer.
“Our team worked diligently to provide as much of the data as possible within the time allotted for response,” Gordy said.
But even some of those responses came with notes of caution. Don Henderson, CEO of The Villages Regional Hospital, appeared to question the wisdom of a proposal Scott has floated to have hospitals share profits if the LIP program goes away.
“However, I would like to point out that if the current operating surplus at TVRH were diverted to other parts of the state, we could no longer afford the capital investments needed to keep up with the exceptional demographic growth in our area,” Henderson wrote. “We would also be very challenged to continue to provide the same rates of charity and uncompensated care. Let’s hope that does not happen.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Win Over Mississippi, Even Series
May 20, 2015
Starting pitcher Daniel Wright (2-4) was able to get some run support as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (17-22) drove in a season-high seven runs to beat the Mississippi Braves (20-18) by a score of 7-4 on Tuesday night.
Wright went 5.0 innings and gave up three runs while striking out eight batters in the process. Greg Ross (2-3) earned the loss for the Braves as he gave up nine hits and five earned runs. Kevin Shackelford earned his first save of the season as he finished the game with a pair of scoreless innings. Wahoos reliever Blaine Howell, a former pitcher for Pensacola State College, also worked a pair of innings in his Double-A debut.
Kyle Waldrop, who hit safely in his first three at-bats of the evening, led the Wahoos at the plate with two singles, a double and an RBI. He is now hitting .361 in the month of May. Marquez Smith and Juan Perez contributed a pair of hits, with Smith driving in a pair of runs. Seth-Mejias-Brean and Ray Chang drove in a pair of runs each, as well.
The Wahoos got off to a good start in the first with a single from Kyle Waldrop and a two-out RBI double from Marquez Smith to drive him home.
The Braves responded in the second with a broken-bat single for an RBI from Eric Garcia, but Daniel Wright got out of the inning with consecutive strikeouts with runners at the corners, leaving the score tied 1-1.
The Wahoos threatened in the fourth inning, with Kyle Skipworth drilling a ball off the wall in straightaway center for a standup triple with one out. Juan Perez was able to draw a walk with two outs to put runners at the corners, but they were unable to take advantage of the opportunity.
Mississippi took the lead on the top of the fifth with a single from KD Kang. Wright then hit Seth Loman with a pitch to load the bases with one out, and Chris O’Dowd drove in another run with a single to right. Wright ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts, but the Braves would lead 3-1 by the end of the frame.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Ryan Wright was able to beat a throw from third for a two-out infield single. It would prove to be crucial, as Waldrop would drive him home on a double the next at-bat. Marquez Smith would follow that up with a single to bring Waldrop home and tie it 3-3. Seth Mejias-Brean then ripped a line drive into left-center field to bring two runs home, giving the Wahoos a 5-3 lead.
Kang and O’Dowd struck again as Kang doubled and was eventually driven home from third on an RBI groundout from O’Dowd, bringing the Braves within a run.
Reliever Kevin Shackelford gave up a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases in the eighth, but was able to get out unscathed by forcing a groundout to end the top half.
After Mejias-Brean walked and Perez singled in the bottom of the eighth, Juan Silva put them both into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. That set the table for defensive substitute Ray Chang, who would drive them both in on a single to make it 7-4.
Century Drive-by Shooting Under Investigation
May 19, 2015
An apparent drive-by shooting reported Monday in Century is under investigation.
A resident of Archie Street called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported that they had found apparent bullet holes in their home. One apparent bullet hole through a front window was easily visible from the street as deputies and a crime scene technician conducted their investigation just before noon Monday.
It was not immediately know exactly when the alleged drive-by occurred. There were no injuries.
A spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said their investigation is continuing as they work to develop a suspect in the case.
Pictured: The investigation in to an apparent drive-by shooting Monday on Archie Street in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mark Your Calendar For Graduations
May 19, 2015
Make your calendars now for graduation. Graduation ceremonies will be held for Escambia County Schools as follows:
Escambia Westgate School — May 28, 9 a.m. at Escambia Westgate
District Extended Program — May 29, 9:30 a.m., J.E. Hall Center, Room 160
Escambia Charter School — May 29, 7 p.m., UWF Conference Center
Northview High School — May 30, 2015, 4:00 p.m., Northview High Gym
Booker T. Washington High School – Jun 1, 2015, 11 a.m. — Pensacola Bay Center
Pensacola High School – June 1, 2:30 p.m. — Pensacola Bay Center
Escambia High School – June 1, 6 p.m. — Pensacola Bay Center
Pine Forest High School – June 2, 11 a.m. — Pensacola Bay Center
West Florida High School — June 2, 2:30 p.m. — Pensacola Bay Center
Tate High School — June 2, 6 p.m. — Pensacola Bay Center
Escambia Health Dept. Urges Steps To Avoid Swimming Related Illnesses
May 19, 2015
The Florida Department of th in Escambia County is observing National Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, May 18-24, by promoting simple steps that everyone can take to reduce the spread of recreational water illnesses.
Every year, thousands of Americans get sick with recreational water illnesses (RWIs), which are caused by germs found in places where people swim. The most common locations for contracting or spreading RWIs are swimming pools, water parks, water play areas, hot tubs, rivers, lakes, and open bodies of water such as bayous, bays, and the Gulf of Mexico. Swallowing even a small amount of contaminated recreational water can make you sick.
RWIs can include ear, respiratory, eye, skin, wound, and gastrointestinal infections. A single swimmer with a diarrhea-causing illness can quickly contaminate the water of a large swimming pool or a water park. RWIs are preventable, but everyone needs to take an active role in protecting themselves and other swimmers.
Take these simple steps to help prevent the spread of germs that cause RWIs:
- Don’t swim when you have diarrhea.
- Don’t swallow pool or recreational water.
- Don’t swim when you have an open wound or broken skin.
- Practice good personal hygiene.
- Shower before entering a pool or other recreational water venue.
- Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper.
- Check diapers or take children to the restroom every 30-60 minutes and only change diapers in restrooms. Changing diapers pool-side can spread germs in and around the pool.
Following healthy swimming steps will help protect you, your family, and other swimmers from RWIs, according to the health department.
Ribbon Cut On Carver Park Improvements In Cantonment
May 19, 2015
A ribbon cutting was held Monday for improvements at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Improvements to Carver Park include a renovated community resource center, enlarged parking lot, volleyball court and re-striped basketball court. The park will also soon feature a new pavilion for family and local events. The improvements began in 2014 and were funded to Local Option Sale Tax dollars.
Much of the work at Carver Park has been spearheaded by the Cantonment Improvement Association, a group working, as their name implies, to improve the quality of life for all law-abiding citizens of Cantonment, with an emphasis on making sure children and safe and well-prepared.
“Like the Bible says, we are going from the least one to the most, so we want everybody to be involved because our kids need all of us.,” said Josh Womack, Cantonment Improvement Association president. “The more people that’s watching, the less people are going to mess with out kids. That’s the most valuable resource we have…that’s our children.”
“They are working very hard and have put a lot into this,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said at Monday’s event. “The CIC is a group that will have more people show up for a work day than came today for a ribbon cutting and free food.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Carver Park is located at 208 Webb Street. The play and picnic areas at the park are located under the largest natural oak canopy of any Escambia County park.
