Escambia Firefighters, EMS Crews Work To Keep School Zones Safe
August 25, 2014
Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS units were in school zones across the county with lights flashing as a reminder to drivers to slow down during the first week of school. In an email to NorthEscambia.com, Jim Allen Elementary School offered a special thanks to the crew of Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 4 (pictured) in Cantonment for slowing down the traffic on Highway 95A to help keep students safe. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia, Santa Rosa Farm Bureaus Donate 1.5 Tons Of Peanut Butter To Manna
August 25, 2014
The Florida Peanut Producers and the Farm Bureau in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties teamed up to donate one and a half tons of peanut butter to the Manna Food Bank.
After discussing the flood that damaged the Manna warehouse and food supply, the Escambia County Farm Bureau voted to spend $1,000 to buy peanut butter, Manna’s most needed item. The Santa Rosa County Farm Bureau board then voted to donate $1,001 toward the peanut butter donation.
When notified of the purchase of peanut butter, the board of directors of Florida Peanut Producers and Ken Barton, executive director and agreed to match the purchase and donated a pallet of peanut butter.
With the two counties cooperation and the match from the Florida Peanut Producers, the total number of peanut butters jars donated will be 2,880. The second of two pallets of Peanut Proud peanut butter is expected to ship later in August to complete the donation.
Stafford: Election Day Tips
August 25, 2014
Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford offers Escambia County voters the follow tips to prepare for Tuesday’s primary election day:
- Confirm the location of your polling place prior to Election Day: check your sample ballot, voter information card, EscambiaVotes.com, or call 595-3900.
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.com, e-mail soe@escambiavotes.com, or call 595-3900.
- If you need to update your address, contact the elections office prior to Election Day so you can be directed to your proper polling location.
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present an approved form of ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
- Be sure to review your sample ballot prior to Election Day in order to familiarize yourself with all of the contests. A sample ballot was mailed to voters, and you can view your sample ballot online at EscambiaVotes.com.
- Voters are encouraged to study and mark their sample ballot and bring it with them to the polls to expedite the voting process.
- Remember to make only one selection per contest on your ballot.
- Registration books closed on July 28 – new registrations for this election may not be made at the polls.
- You may not return your voted absentee ballot to your precinct on election day – it must be returned to the elections office by 7 p.m.
- If you requested an absentee ballot but chose not to return it and wish to vote at your polling place instead, please bring your ballot with you so it can be cancelled.
- Early voting ended Saturday – if you have not yet voted or did not request an absentee ballot by August 20, you must go to your designated precinct on election day.
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., during lunch, and 4:30 p.m. until the polls close at 7:00 p.m.
- For further information, please contact us by phone at (850) 595-3900, e-mail us at soe@escambiavotes.com or visit www.EscambiaVotes.com.
State Parties Rake In Millions Ahead Of Elections
August 25, 2014
The Republican Party of Florida raised about $14.9 million in a little less than five months, while the Florida Democratic Party collected $13.1 million, according to newly filed finance reports.
The money was raised from April 1 through Thursday, as both parties gear up for elections that feature the big-ticket gubernatorial race. Already this year, the GOP has raised nearly $25.3 million, about $10 million more than the Democrats. During the most-recent period, the Republican Party reported spending $20.9 million, while the Democrats spent $10.7 million, the reports show.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Win At Home Against The Montgomery Biscuits
August 25, 2014
Excitement ran high when Ben Lively toed the mound for the first time in his hometown for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
A much larger than usual sellout crowd packed the ballpark to see the big 22-year-old righty from Gulf Breeze High School start, after he tore up the California League for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze.
Sunday night in his last home start, Lively had several members of the Cincinnati Reds front office looking on, including Walt Jocketty the president of baseball operations and general manager.
Lively delivered his first win in seven starts at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium as the Blue Wahoos stomped the Montgomery Biscuits, 9-4, in front of 4,019 on Sunday. The Wahoos have two more home games left against the Biscuits at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Jocketty, who was making his second visit to Pensacola, gave his critique of Lively after watching the game in the stands behind home plate. Lively ranks as the sixth best prospect in the Reds organization.
“It was the first time I’ve seen him pitch,” he said. “From what I saw he has pretty good stuff. He has a rising fastball and a good curveball. I wished I had seen him earlier. He’s had a great year.”
Lively, who entered the game 0-4 with a 3.86 ERA in front of family and friends from across the Pensacola Bay where he used to play in Gulf Breeze, was “absolutely” happy to post a W. On the year, he is now 3-6 with a 3.76 ERA and his five strikeouts in five innings last night gave him 167 on the year to remain among the top three pitchers in strikeouts in all of minor league ball.
“I stayed relaxed,” said Lively, who admitted not even remembering where he was in his first start in Pensacola. “I was a lot more calm than I was before.”
Right fielder Kyle Waldrop who had two singles, a double and a triple in five at bats scored twice and knocked in two runs said he was happy for Lively.
“It definitely feels great to get him some runs,” said Waldrop, who is batting .471 over the last two series with two home runs and 11 RBI. “He has pitched well all year.”
After the game, Lively said even tougher than fighting his nerves in his first start was fighting the 93-degree temperature to start the game. He said the heat and the 80-plus percent humidity was something he wasn’t use to anymore.
“Every time I pitched, I could see sweat flying off my arm,” he said. “It’s tough to pitch in a sauna. I just had to bear down and throw strikes when I needed to.”
The biggest adjustment Lively said he has made at Double-A is throwing a two-seam and four-seam fastball to vary the miles per hour from the high 80s to mid 90s and getting better command of his curveball that dips to the low 70s.
“We’ve been working on it and all the pitchers have been helping me out,” Lively said.
He said he’s happy to have gotten the chance to pitch in his hometown despite looking up and seeing people he knows almost every time he looks into the stands and having his cell phone light up with texts. His goal this offseason is to build his strength, especially in his legs, so he can pitch deeper in starts.
“This has been a good learning experience,” he said. “It’s been awesome.”
Wahoos Manager Delino DeShields has liked what he’s seen out of Lively, especially handling playing in his hometown.
“Ben is a competitor,” he said. “He’s pitched a lot better than his record indicates. He will be a lot better for playing here. If he plays here next year, he will be a lot more prepared.”
The fourth game of the five-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate the Montgomery Biscuits gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Monday. RHP Robert Stephenson (6-9, 4.84) takes the mound for the Wahoos and is scheduled to be opposed by the Biscuits LHP Jimmy Patterson (3-0, 3.67).
Pedestrian Struck And Killed
August 24, 2014
An Escambia County pedestrian was killed Saturday night when she stepped into the path of a Dodge Caravan on Pace Boulevard near Jordan Street.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 67-year old Linda Lee Green of Pensacola stepped into a crosswalk and was hit by the van, driven by 68-year old Philip Brantley Fisher of Pensacola. Green was pronounced deceased at the scene. Fisher suffered minor injuries, and his passenger was not injured.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, per the FHP.
Early Morning Wreck Cuts Power, Closes Roads In Byrneville For Hours
August 24, 2014
Numerous Byrneville area residents were left without power during humid early morning hours of Sunday after a single vehicle accident.
The driver of a Dodge Dakota pickup truck lost control at the intersection of West Highway 4 and Byrneville Road and struck a power pole about 12:45 a.m. The driver was not injured and refused transport to the hospital.
The collision sent power lines down across the intersection, closing both roadways for several hours, and leaving an unknown number of Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers without electricity. Additional EREC customers lost power about 4:00 as the downed pole was being replaced.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Further details, including the driver’s name, have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Church Takes Cardboard Testimonies Highway 29, Sharing Stories Of Faith
August 24, 2014
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But a few words on piece of plain brown cardboard can tell a life story and story of faith in a way a thousands words could not touch.
The concept is simple. A piece of cardboard. A permanent marker. On the first side of the cardboard for all to see is the story of a sin, a trial, a struggle or battle. On the flip side is where the person stands today though Christ.
“I was broken and tried to kill myself,” read one side of a piece of cardboard a woman stood holding alongside Highway 29. “But God made me whole!”
Her “cardboard testimony” was one of dozens from CrossFaith Church in Molino at the Highway 29 and Muscogee Road intersection in Cantonment Saturday morning. The biggest challenges, hurts, and prayers of a lifetime condensed into seconds for passing traffic on plain cardboard.
“I was a womanizer, a[n] adulterer, drug user, acholic [sic], dealer, verbally abusive,” tough words for a grown man to admit on one side of his sign. The other: “God cleansed and set me free.”
For a photo gallery with more CrossFaith Church cardboard testimonies, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Early Voting Ends With 4,354 Ballots Cast
August 24, 2014
The final, unofficial early voting tally in Escambia County was 4,354 when eight days of early voting came to a close Saturday afternoon.
Polls for the August 26 primary will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. across Escambia County. Voters may also cast previously requested absentee ballots, which must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee ballots may not be returned to a polling location.
Looking Back: Escambia Railway Engines In 1942
August 24, 2014
Here are two photographs of Escambia Railway engines that were taken 72 years ago this weekend. The Escambia Railway was operated by Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co. in what is now present day Century.
The above photograph — taken in Century on August 23, 1942, shows Escambia Railway Engine Number 99. It was bought new and purposed as a woods logging engine. It was damaged in 1922 by a boiler explosion caused by low water, killing the fireman. It was repaired and returned to service. Engine Number 99 was retired in 1945 and scrapped in May 1957.
Below is Escambia Railway Engine Number 96, photographed in Century on August 23, 1942. The engine was formerly the T.R. Miller Mill Co. #7 and was used as a woods logging engine. It was retired sometime prior to 1945 and scrapped in April 1957.
Photos courtesy the State Archives of Florida.
