Angels At The End Of The Rainbow
August 12, 2013
In Pensacola, it’s not gold at the end of the rainbow; it’s blue and gold jets. This photo, taken Saturday at NAS Pensacola, shows the Blue Angels jets the end of rainbow. Courtesy photo by Blue Angel Maintenance Chief Bruce Kunke for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suns Outshine Wahoos
August 12, 2013
Danny Pertusati drove in all four runs, including a two-run homer to give the Jacksonville Suns a 4-1 win over the Pensacola Blue on Sunday evening. Pensacola still won the series three games to two, but fell four games behind the Suns in the second half South Division standings.
An early pitcher’s duel between Carlos Contreras for Pensacola and Andrew Heaney for Jacksonville turned sour quickly in the fourth inning as Contreras yielded a lead-off single to Mark Canha and a two-run homer to Pertusati two batters later to make it 2-0. Those were the only two runs Contreras gave up in 5.1 innings, but he took the loss to fall to 1-2. Contreras scattered five hits while striking out seven and walking five (two intentional) in his outing.
Pertusati drove in his third run of the day with a bases-loaded RBI groundout in the seventh inning to make it 3-0 and added a fourth RBI with a safety squeeze against Shaun Ellis in the top of the ninth inning.
Heaney, meanwhile, made just one mistake on the day, a leadoff homer to Donald Lutz in the last of the seventh. It was Lutz’s seventh homer of the season. The southpaw prospect improved to 2-1 by allowing only a run on six hits with four strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Pensacola will now look to regroup after an off day Monday when they welcome the Mississippi Braves to town for a five-game series starting on Tuesday night. Jon Moscot (1-0, 6.30) gets the call for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Aaron Northcraft (6-8, 3.60). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on an Out of School Tuesday with fireworks following the game.
McDavid SWAT Standoff Ends Peacefully; Suspect Taken Into Custody
August 11, 2013
A standoff between a McDavid man and an Escambia County SWAT team ended peacefully early Sunday morning with the arrest of 54-year old Gary Daniel Griffis.
The incident began around 9 p.m. Saturday at Griffis’ mobile home at 681 Gunner Road, off Mystic Springs Road east of Highway 29. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an known type disturbance at the home, according to Deputy Courtney Clanton, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
A shot was reportedly fired from within the mobile home where Griffis had barricaded himself inside. Griffis refused to exit the home, and the SWAT team and negotiator were called to a staging area at the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department on Highway 29. The SWAT team departed the staging area for the mobile home on Gunner Road just after 10 p.m.
At about 12:40 a.m., Clanton reported that the standoff had come to an end after teargas was fired and Griffis was taken into custody without further incident. Griffis was booked into the Escambia County Jail on an outstanding felony warrant for aggravated battery. He was being held on a $5,000 bond.
There were no injuries, Clanton said, and no shots were fired by deputies.
Pictured top: An Escambia County SWAT vehicle at a staging area set up Saturday night at the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured below: The Sheriff’s Office command center on scene with an Escambia County EMS ambulance nearby. Pictured bottom: The SWAT staging area at the McDavid VFD. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Front Street Residents Petition Town For Speed Bumps
August 11, 2013
Residents of Front Street in Century have petitioned the town’s leadership for speed bumps to slow drivers down.
A petition signed by 27 Front Street residents was presented to Mayor Freddie McCall and the Century Town Council asking for the speed bumps. The mayor will explore the issue and arrange for installation of the speed control bumps.
Pictuerd: A resurfacing project was completed on Front Street in Century back in March. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Jail Transfer Workshops Planned
August 11, 2013
Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will continue negotiations for the transfer of the Jail and Central Booking operations to the county. The meetings will be held both Monday and Tuesday.
Topics to be discussed included a weekly updated, cost centers, office space, equipment and human resources.
The workshops will begin at 10 a.m. both Monday and Tuesday at 221 Palafox Street in the fourth floor training room in the Escambia County Administration office. The workshop meetings are open to the public, but space is limited.
Alger-Sullivan Society’s Old 100 Train Restoration Crew Honored
August 11, 2013
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society held Collector’s Day and an awards lunch to recognize the crew that reassembled the group’s historic Old 100 train.
No. 100 was built in September 1919 for the Britton Saw Mill Co. in Florala, Ala. Four years later, it was sold to The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company in Century for use on its subsidiary common carrier, the Escambia Railway, abandoned in 1947. The Escambia Railway once operated a total of nearly 200 miles of logging railroad in Florida and Alabama with an all-time roster of at least 29 locomotives. No. 100 was used as a general-purpose logging engine until 1935 when it was rebuilt for use as the sawmill’s switch engine.
As the sawmill switch engine, No. 100 would occasionally operate over Louisville & Nashville tracks from Century to Flomaton, Ala. This practice continued up until its retirement in 1954, making it the last wood burning steam engine to run on “Old Reliable” tracks.
By late 1974, the No. 100 was in such poor condition from vandalism and weather deterioration that Jim Walter Doors, new owners of the sawmill, decided to sell the eyesore for junk.
After the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, Old 100 was sold to the Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville, Indiana, a not-for-profit Railroad Museum, where until the early 1990s it faithfully hauled tourists on a daily roundtrip run.
When the engine developed boiler problems, it was removed from service until a new boiler might be fabricated. However, there were problems with the new boiler upon delivery and because of financial concerns and tightening of federal regulations, the engine was not placed back in service at all, but rather sat in a sad condition for over 14 years.
With the assistance of grants from the State of Florida and a tremendous outpouring of support and donations from local people, the engine made its way from Indiana to Century in May of 2007.
Pictured top: The crew responsible for the restoration of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Old 100 train (L-R) Jewel Warren, Margaret Collier, Jerry Fischer, Harold Warren, Bobby Warren and Jed Warren. Not pictured: T.C. Jordan. Picture below: Old 100 sits restored in Century. Pictured inset: The train is moved into place in Century in 2008. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alzheimer’s Panel Calls For Wide Ranging Changes
August 11, 2013
Saying Florida is the “epicenter” of an epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia, a legislatively created panel has recommended a wide range of changes in the state’s efforts to address the memory-robbing diseases.
The Purple Ribbon Task Force issued a report last week that calls for steps such as setting aside $10 million a year to support research and creating a grant program similar to already-existing programs that fund biomedical and cancer research.
The report, for example, also calls for increasing the use of adult day-care services, providing statewide training for law-enforcement officers about Alzheimer’s-related issues and ensuring access to services and resources for the Hispanic and African-American populations — which have a greater prevalence of the diseases.
Lawmakers in 2012 approved creation of the task force, which posted the report on the state Department of Elder Affairs website. The 18-member task force included Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and representatives of groups such as caregivers, law enforcement, care facilities and elder-law attorneys.
School Supply Lists
August 11, 2013
School starts Monday, August 19 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Here are the school supply lists from each elementary school and middle school in Escambia County, plus the North Escambia area schools in Santa Rosa County.
(High schools typically do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
North Escambia Area Schools:
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville (not provided)
- Central School
- Chumuckla Elementary
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Jay Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- Molino Park Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Ransom Middle
Complete Escambia County Lists:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
- Bellview Elementary
- Beulah Elementary
- Blue Angels Elementary
- Bratt Elementary
- Brentwood Elementary
- Byrneville (not provided)
- Cook Elementary
- Cordova Park Elementary
- Ensley Elementary
- Ferry Pass Elementary
- Global Learning Academy
- Hellen Caro Elementary
- Holm Elementary
- Jim Allen Elementary
- Lincoln Park Elementary
- Lipscomb Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- McArthur Elementary
- McMillan Pre-K
- Molino Park Elementary
- Montclair Elementary
- Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Navy Point Elementary
- Oakcrest Elementary
- Pine Meadow Elementary
- Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Scenic Heights Elementary
- Semmes Elementary
- Sherwood Elementary
- Suter Elementary
- Warrington Elementary
- Weis Elementary
- West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- Bailey Middle
- Bellview Middle
- Brown Barge Middle
- Ernest Ward Middle
- Ferry Pass Middle
- Ransom Middle
- Warrington Middle
- Woodham Middle
- Workman Middle
Suns Stun The Wahoos 8-6 In 16 Innings
August 11, 2013
Chris Gutierrez and Derek Dietrich homered in the top of the 16th inning, completing an incredible comeback for the Jacksonville Suns over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 8-6 on Saturday in front of the 25th sellout crowd of the year at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The loss dropped the Wahoos to fourth place in the South Division, three games behind the Suns.
The 16th inning was made possible thanks to a five-run ninth from the Suns. Trailing 6-1 entering the frame, Jacksonville loaded the bases with one out and got a run back on an RBI single from pinch-hitter Sharif Othman to make it 6-2. Loek Van Mil relieved Drew Hayes and promptly gave up a grand slam to Isaac Galloway on an 0-2 pitch to tie the game at six.
The Wahoos dodged Suns rallies in 10th, 12th, and 14th innings before building their own rally in the last of the 15th. Pensacola loaded the bases against Jacksonville’s Michael Brady, but Yorman Rodriguez struck out, sending things to the 16th.
In the 16th, Chris Manno (3-3) came on and yielded a leadoff homer to Guiterrez and a two-out shot to Dietrich to give the Suns a two-run lead. Arquimedes Caminero worked around a two-out single in the last of the 16th to pick up his fourth save of the year.
Pensacola had jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the contest through six innings. The Wahoos scored five runs in the first four innings, including two RBI base knocks from Mike Costanzo in the first and third innings. Travis Mattair, Rodriguez, and Devin Lohman contributed RBI’s as well in the first six frames.
Jacksonville started its comeback trail once Pensacola starter Josh Smith exited the game after six innings. Smith struck out five in his six scoreless frames, but had to settle for a no-decision. The Suns scored a run in the seventh against Shaun Ellis to cut it to 6-1 before the ninth inning heroics.
The game was the longest in the Southern League this year in terms of innings played and also the longest in Wahoos franchise history in both innings and time (5:01).
Pensacola will look to rebound in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. Carlos Contreras (1-1, 3.05) takes the ball for the Wahoos while the Suns will counter with southpaw Andrew Heaney (1-1, 5.00).
Florida Sheriffs: Keep ‘Stand Your Ground’ As Written
August 10, 2013
The Florida Sheriffs Association is no longer neutral on the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the new president of the association, announced Friday that members agreed earlier this week without opposition to support the law “as currently written.”
“Our current judicial system is comprised of multiple checks and balances to ensure fair and equitable application of all laws, including ’stand your ground,’ ” Judd said in a prepared statement.
When the National Rifle Association-backed law was approved in 2005, the association remained neutral on the issue.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican who supports “stand your ground” and whose subcommittee will hold a hearing on the law, called it enlightening that a group that “has traditionally been tepid” on the law now “recognizes its value.”
“I think they recognize that Florida is a safer place when our citizens don’t have a duty to retreat and run,” Gaetz said.
The voice vote Tuesday came with 57 of the state’s sheriffs in attendance.
The law, which grants legal immunity to people who use deadly force if they reasonably believe their lives are in danger, is one of the targets of a group of protesters, led by the Hialeah-based Dream Defenders, who have remained around the clock at the Capitol for 25 days.
“Stand your ground” has come under heavy scrutiny since the July 13 acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of teen Trayvon Martin in Seminole County. While Zimmerman’s defense team did not use the “stand your ground” law, the debate over the shooting at times focused on it.
The protesters also want legislation advanced that ends zero-tolerance school discipline policies and support initiatives meant to combat racial profiling.
As of Friday afternoon, 28 lawmakers — all Democrats —- have filed petitions with the Florida Department of State requesting a special session on the law.
The proposal is an effort to circumvent the opposition to a special session by Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leadership.
If 32 legislators make the request, all 160 legislators from both Republican-dominated chambers would be polled. A special session would be held only if three-fifths of the members supported the idea.
The sheriffs association took up the issue after House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi said they would like to know the view of law enforcement on “stand your ground.”
Weatherford had said he would be open to considering changes if law enforcement clearly outlined that any changes were needed.
“I appreciate the input from the Florida Sheriffs Association regarding ’stand your ground,’ ” Weatherford said in an email Friday. “Getting feedback from Florida’s leaders in law enforcement is critical to the Legislature and will be important as we hold a hearing on the law later this fall.”
Weatherford has directed Gaetz’ Criminal Justice Subcommittee to hold a hearing this fall.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported that the protest attracted 38 people to spend Thursday night at the Capitol, confined to the area outside Scott’s office on the first floor. The number was up from 12 the night before.
The cost for Capitol police to watch the protesters has now reached $361,654, of which $143,017 is in overtime pay, according to the FDLE.