One Injured In Cantonment Pickup Truck Wreck
July 22, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident Sunday night on Tate Road near West Roberts Road. The driver of a GMC Sierra apparently lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a tree about 10:35 p.m. The driver was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County EMS and the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Business Groups: Online Sales Tax Loophole Costs Florida Jobs
July 22, 2013
Business advocates have gotten behind a study that says Florida would see robust job growth if “e-Fairness” tax laws were adopted to close loopholes that allow many out-of-state retailers to avoid collecting sales taxes when Floridians make purchases online.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, and the Florida Retail Federation, along with Florida TaxWatch, on Friday lent their support to the national study that estimates more than 107,000 mostly retail jobs would be created in Florida within a decade if sales taxes were collected for online purchases. They hope the data from the Alliance for Main Street Fairness study will sway lawmakers to require the collection of the taxes.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Over Huntsville 7-5
July 22, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos overcame a late two-run deficit with four runs in the last of the seventh inning to knock off the Huntsville Stars 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win snapped Pensacola’s three-game losing streak and seven-game home losing skid.
Trailing 5-3 entering the seventh inning, Corey Wimberly drew a leadoff walk in front of Mike Costanzo who launched his first homer in a Wahoos uniform this season to knot the game at five. Yorman Rodriguez followed with a walk before Donald Lutz tripled him home on a fly ball to center, giving Pensacola a 6-5 lead. Tucker Barnhart drove home Lutz with a sacrifice fly to left to give the Wahoos a two-run lead.
Jamie Walczak fired a 1-2-3 eighth to set up Trevor Bell, who notched his sixth save of the season with a scoreless ninth frame, picking up two strikeouts in the process.
Pensacola jumped out on top in the contest in the last of the first against Huntsville starter Ariel Pena. With two on and one out, Lutz singled to right to score Costanzo before Barnhart brought home Rodriguez with a groundout, pushing Pensacola out in front 2-0. Lutz had the lone multi-hit game for the Wahoos posting a 2-for-3 night with two RBI. Barnhart saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end, but still managed to drive home two runs.
The two teams traded tallies in the fifth inning. In the top half of the frame, Chadwin Stang tripled and scored on Nick Shaw’s sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. Pensacola countered in the last of the inning by loading the bases with nobody out and scoring a run on a double play ball off the bat of Barnhart.
Wahoos starter Josh Smith then ran into trouble in the sixth inning as he yielded a leadoff homer to Jason Rogers, his fourth homer in the last two games. Mike Walker then doubled before a walk and a fielder’s choice forced Smith from the contest. Drew Hayes entered and promptly gave up a go-ahead three-run homer to Hector Gomez, giving the Stars a 5-3 lead.
Hayes battled back to pick up the win, improving to 3-2. The right-hander was charged with a run on two hits with three strikeouts. Smith took a no-decision while allowing four runs on five hits in 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts. Overall, the Wahoos struck out 14 Stars, setting a new season-high for a nine-inning game.
Arcenio Leon (1-6) took the loss for Huntsville as he gave up three of the four runs in the seventh inning. Pena lasted five frames for Huntsville, giving up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and five walks.
The five-game series wraps up on Monday at 7 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Shaun Ellis (3-1, 3.55) will get the ball for Pensacola against Huntsville’s Andy Moye (4-10, 4.37).
Local Unemployment Rate Climbs
July 22, 2013
The latest jobs numbers show the unemployment rate held steady in Florida and fell in Alabama, but the local jobless numbers were not as positive.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate jumped from 6.7 percent in May to 7.1 percent in June. There were 595 more people reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 10,156 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 8.7 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment was up from 5.9 percent to 6.7 percent from May to June. Santa Rosa County had a total of 5,017 persons reported to be still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.3 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment increased from 7.6 percent in May to 8.0 percent in June. That represented 1,173 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 10.0 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in June, holding steady over the month, but down 1.7 percentage points from 8.8 percent a year ago. The state’s May and June rates were the lowest since September 2008 when it was 7.0 percent.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.5 percent in June, was down from May’s rate of 6.8 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 7.6 percent.
Campbells Recognized As Santa Rosa Farm Family Of The Year
July 22, 2013
The Keith Campbell family of Chumuckla was honored as the Santa Rosa County Outstanding Farm Family of the Year.
The Campbell farm includes 1,300 acres of cotton, peanuts, wheat, 60 head of beef cattle and an apiary for honey production. The Campbell’s pride themselves on maintaining a family-run, community supported farm that stays on the cutting edge of agricultural progress to reduce costs while increasing total crop yield.
They have embraced numerous technological advancements over the years that have allowed the Campbell farm to thrive and become a mainstay in the Northwest Florida farming community.
In addition to Keith’s wife, Robynn, several other members of the family contribute to the overall success of the farm, including their daughters, Ashleigh, a teacher at Bennett C. Russell Elementary School and Brittney, a student at the University of West Florida; their nephew, Dale Campbell, who helps out after school; and Ashleigh’s husband, Adam Bondurant, a senior at the University of West Florida.
Keith Campbell is a sixth generation farmer. He began farming with his grandfather, W.T. Stewart, in 1983 and has since taken over the entire operation.
The Campbell’s were recognized last week in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Jeff Miller. “My wife Vicki and I wish the Campbell family all the best as they continue to serve the citizens of Northwest Florida,” Miller said.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Part 5: Inside Century Correctional – Reel Mowing And Laundry Cents
July 22, 2013
Today, we continue our look inside the Century Correctional Institution with cost savings in the laundry. Our series will continue later this week with a look inside the prison’s most secure housing unit and more.
Cost savings. That’s what running a state agency in Florida is all about these days. The lawnmowers used inside the fence at Century Correctional Institution look like they are on the last half of their own life sentence. Nobody seems to know just how old they are, but with minimal maintenance and a blade sharpening from time to time, they just keep on going. The old fashioned reel mowers are all prisoner powered, no gas engines here.
(story continues below photo)
The CCI laundry is, obviously, a busy place. The laundry washes all clothes, blankets and linens for the entire main unit population and the nearby work camp. There are 23 inmates assigned to work in the laundry.
The laundry is working toward using their own detergent at a cost of about 2-cents per load. And that’s not where the frugality ends. The laundry makes all their own boxer shorts for the inmate population, and they have recently started using the small and medium size shirts to make larger shirts and pants.
Our series “Inside Century Correctional Institution” continues this week on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured top: Old fashioned prisoner-powered reel mowers are using on the prison grounds. Pictured above and below: The CCI laundry. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Quintette Road Bridge Accident Claims Life
July 21, 2013
One person died in a two-vehicle accident on a Quintette Road bridge Saturday night.
The head-on collision happened about 11 p.m. on the Escambia River Bridge between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The Florida Highway Patrol said 44-year old Floyd W. Scruggs. Jr., of Milton was traveling west on Quintette Road in a 1992 Chevrolet pickup when he crossed into the wrong lane. He collided head-on with a 2008 Ford pickup towing a trailer with an ATV driven by 27-year old Johnathon R. Carpenter of Pace.
Scruggs was pronounced deceased at the scene. Carpenter was transported by Santa Rosa Lifeguard EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was listed in serious condition.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Emergency crews from both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties responded to the crash. The bridge remained closed into the early morning hours.
Pictured top: The driver of this pickup, 44-year old Floyd W. Scruggs. Jr., of Milton, was pronounced deceased in this accident on the Escambia River Bridge on Quintette Road. Pictured below: The driver of this blue pickup, 27-year old Johnathon R. Carpenter of Pace, was seriously injured. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Over 100 Attend Women’s Conference
July 21, 2013
Over 100 women attended a one-day Women’s Conference Saturday at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid.
Keynote speaker for the event “Unpacking Titus” was Liz Traylor, wife of Dr. Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola. Worship was led by Leah Taylor. Breakout sessions on a variety of topics were led by women from Ray’s Chapel and other churches.
Pictured: “Unpacking Titus”, a women’s conference, held Saturday at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid. Photos by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Band Washes Its Way Toward The New Season
July 21, 2013
Members of the Northview High School Tribal Beat band held a car wash Saturday in Century to raise funds for the upcoming season. The band must pay may all of its own expenses, including transportation to away football games. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipes: Mexican Sausage Pizza, Sausage Mushroom Calzone
July 21, 2013
A busy life does have to put a damper on dinner plans with these two simple recipes — Mexican Sausage Pizza and Sausage and Mushroom Calzone.
(Scroll down to see both recipes.)
Mexican Sausage Pizza
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes 4 servings
1 pound roll sausage (can use hot)
3 cups baking mix
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 can (15 ounces) refried beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup minced cilantro
2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
Sour cream (optional)
Salsa (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In medium skillet over medium heat crumble and cook sausage until brown. Cool.
In large bowl, combine baking mix, cheddar cheese and cooked sausage. Stir in 5 or 6 tablespoons water to form a dough. Pat out into a thin layer on a large baking sheet or pizza pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until light brown.
Spread crust with refried beans. Top with onions, tomato, cilantro and cheese. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Sausage and Mushroom Calzone
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings
1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained (4 ounces)
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In large skillet, crumble and cook sausage until browned. Set aside.
Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12- to 14-inch rectangle. Cut into 4 pieces.
Top half of each rectangle with sauce, sausage, mushrooms and cheese. Fold dough over to enclose. Crimp around edges with a fork. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown.