Wahoos, Biscuits Suspended In 2nd
July 13, 2013
The Blue Wahoos were threatening to break a scoreless tie in the top of the second inning with runners at first and third and nobody out Friday night when the game was delayed and eventually suspended at Riverwalk Stadium. The game will be resumed from the point it was suspended with Travis Mattair coming to the plate and runners at the corners.
Donald Lutz started the inning with a double before Tucker Barnhart reached on a bunt single creating the threat for Pensacola. After a large bolt of lightning struck near the stadium the game was delayed, and a heavy downpour followed quickly behind and never let up long enough for the game to resume. Pensacola was retired in order in the first inning by Biscuits starter Michael Colla. The Biscuits got a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the inning against Ryan Dennick, but didn’t score.
The two teams will resume the suspended contest to a nine inning conclusion on Saturday beginning at 5:00 p.m. before a seven inning game for the regularly scheduled fourth game of the series. When the game resumes, RHP Marquis Fleming will be on the mound for the Biscuits. The Blue Wahoos will use RHP Daniel Renken. Game two will feature RHP Josh Smith for the Blue Wahoos against Biscuits RHP Victor Mateo.
No Injuries In Hwy 29 Crash
July 12, 2013
There were no injuries in a two-vehicle accident late Friday morning in Bluff Springs.
The accident happened about 11:40 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road. Everyone involved in the accident refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released. The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Eleven Children Injured In Molino Hayride Accident
July 12, 2013
Almost a dozen children were injured Thursday night during a hayride accident at the Camp o’ the Pines near Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 11 children were transported to Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals following the 8:55 p.m. accident. None of the injuries were considered serious or life threatening. Twenty-seven children and an adult tractor driver involved in the accident were not transported.
Officials said there were 38 children on a trailer being used for the hayride when the arm attaching the trailer to the tractor broke. The trailer collided with the rear of the tractor, causing the tractor driven by 26-year old Andrew M. Reynolds of Pensacola to overturn. The trailer with the children was sent into a wooded area.
Multiple ambulances from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties responded to the accident, along with the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Camp o’ the Pines is operated by Youth Outreach Ministry, Inc., and provides “wholesome fun and recreation for campers” ages 8-12, according to its website.
Community Members Tour Century Correctional Institution
July 12, 2013
The Century Correctional Institution held a Community Partnership Event Thursday, inviting a wide ranging group of community stakeholders inside the prison.
The group was able to tour the facility and observe operations. Following the tour of the facility, the attendees watched a video and took part in a question and answer session. The event was designed to open avenues of communication between the facility and the community and provide feedback on the facility’s operations and programs.
The group attending the event included state representatives, state and local governmental officers, law enforcement representatives, members of the local education community, state officials and more.
Coming up Monday on NorthEscambia.com, we’ll begin a special series and take readers inside Century Correctional Institution for the tour that will include the medical unit, educational facilities, the chapel and prisoner dorms — including a dorm where the worst of the worst inmates are housed.
We’ll talk numbers and see how much it all costs, learn about life behind bars for prisoners and those that watch over them. And we’ll answer the age old question: Do they have air conditioning?
Pictured top and bottom: A diverse group of community members and governmental representatives toured Century Correctional Institution Thursday morning. Pictured inset: The group is seen via a security mirror. Pictured below: Warden John Whitehurst explains a prison dorm to group members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Attorney: Chamber Must Operate Under Sunshine Law
July 12, 2013
The State Attorney’s Office says the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce is the type of private entity that is subject to Florida’s Sushine Law.
In a letter from State Attorney Bill Eddins to Chamber President Jim Hizer, Eddins said the “Chamber is a private organization that must comply with all requirements of the Sunshine Law”. The letter came after concerns were raised in the community about the chamber’s status under the law.
The Chamber is subject to the Sunshine Law, Eddins said, due to the level of public funding provided to the private organization and whether the private entity is performing a public function.
The Pensacola Chamber receives over a half million dollars from the City of Pensacola and Escambia County to provide economic development services, plus $270,000 from the city and county through the Pensacola Economic Development Council.
“It is clear the Chamber receives a substantial level of public funds to provide economic development services,” Eddins wrote.
Eddins noted that the Greater Pensacola Chamber received more than $5.7 million from Escambia County in 2012 and 2013 for tourism promotion and operation of the Visitors Information Center.
Escambia Man Gets 35 Years For Choking Girlfriend
July 12, 2013
An Escambia County man was sentenced Thursday to 35 years in state prison for choking his girlfriend to death last year.
Kristopher Shawn Silas, 36, pleaded guilty in April to second degree murder for killing 40-year old Tammy Lynn Bigham. The two were arguing in their apartment at the Carlton Palms condominiums at Alcaniz and Garden streets when their disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation.
Silas called 911 to report that he choked his girlfriend.
Silas will serve his 35 year sentence with no chance for probation.
Wahoos Make It Two Straight With 7-2 Win Over The Biscuits
July 12, 2013
For the second straight game the Blue Wahoos had five players with multi-hit games as Pensacola cruised to a 7-2 win over the Montgomery Biscuits for their second consecutive win on Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium. Corey Wimberly (2-for-4), Donald Lutz (2-for-5), Tucker Barnhart (2-for-5), Travis Mattair (3-for-4) and Brodie Greene (2-for-4) all had multiple knocks aiding the 13 hit effort by the Wahoos.
Ryan LaMarre got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Greene tripled a batter later and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wimberly to make it 4-0. That proved to be all the Blue Wahoos would need behind more solid pitching. The Biscuits scattered six hits against Blue Wahoos starter Tim Crabbe (W, 4-7) over his six shutout innings on his way to his fourth win of the year. Jim Patterson (L, 0-2) took the loss after allowing all four Blue Wahoos runs in the fourth. They were the only four runs he allowed over his three innings out of the Biscuits bullpen.
Both teams traded runs in the seventh. Pensacola scored one when Barnhart singled home Lutz. In the bottom of the frame, Todd Glaesmann doubled home Cameron Seitzer before scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield a couple batters later for the Biscuits two runs. Both runs were scored off reliever Jamie Walczak in his only inning of work.
Pensacola extended the advantage and put the game away with two more runs in the ninth off Austin Hubbard. Wimberly homered to right for his first of the season with Pensacola, before Barnhart singled home Lutz for the second time in the game making it 7-2 Wahoos. Josh Ravin and Loek Van Mil both worked scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to cap off the win.
The five-game set rolls on Friday night at Riverwalk Stadium. LHP Ryan Dennick (4-10, 3.77) takes the ball for Pensacola against Biscuits RHP Mike Colla (3-1, 3.29). First pitch is slated for 7:05 in Montgomery, Ala.
NOTES: Former Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph made his Major League debut on Thursday afternoon for the Kansas City Royals against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The lefty worked 0.1 innings allowing just a hit and a walk. Joseph was traded to Kansas City with former Wahoo J.C. Sulbaran near last year’s trade deadline in exchange for Jonathan Broxton.
story by Kevin Burke
Developer Picked For UWF BEI Project
July 12, 2013
Business Enterprises Inc., the for-profit business division of the University of West Florida, announced a developer Thursday for projects known as University Park and Northwest Village.
Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions was named the master developer for the project University park will possible include such possible football stadium, parking garage, bell tower, new student union and plaza. Northwest Village will be an active adult community for residents age 55 and up on the west end of the campus. It will provide housing for retired employees and those interested in the community.
Balfour was chosen by a committee that included representatives from Baskerville Donovan Engineering, Caldwell and Associates, Architects and Interiors and the Morette Construction Company — all of which will work with BEI to create facility plans.
The entire project will be spread over a period up to 10 years.
BEI is currently working to secure a developer and financing for a second $55 million project for a hotel, conference center, new student housing and more at the Davis Highway entrance to UWF. Read more…
Flash Flooding Hits Molino Area (With Photo Gallery)
July 11, 2013
Flash flooding caused numerous problems in the Molino area today, including the partial closure of the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
At one point, most of the intersection at Tom Thumb (also known as the “Atmore Cutoff”) was underwater, prompting authorities to close lanes. The water receded in just over an hour, and all lanes of traffic were reopened.
Scroll down for additional flooding photos from the Molino and Barrineau Park areas.
Above: Highway 29 at Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Above: Hi Lo Trail off Molino Road. Reader photo by Donna Schachle.
Above: Pinoak Lane, Cantonment, near Highway 29. Reader photo by Valerie Davis.
Above: Wilders Creek on Fairground Road. Reader photo by Ian King.
Above: Barrineau Park Road between Barrineau Park School Road and Barrineau Lane. Reader photo by April Mitchell.
Half Million Savings: Alabama, Florida Farmers Learn Chemical Control
July 11, 2013
Drive around the back roads near Atmore or Walnut Hill at this time of year, and you will see big fields planted in cotton and peanuts. Keep driving and odds are pretty good that you may drive between Florida and Alabama without ever realizing that you have crossed the state line.
Farmers in this area often work fields in both states. Row-crop production is big business in this area. Last year, more than 28,000 acres of cotton were grown in the two neighboring counties. Peanuts were planted in more than 30,000 acres in that same time period.
For cotton and peanut producers to run profitable operations, they have to manage closely all of their production inputs from seed to fuel.
Kim Wilkins, a row crops regional agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, says agri-chemicals are the most expensive input farmers must buy.
“They use as little as they can to be effective because farmers just don’t have the money to waste,” says Wilkins.
Wilkins and her Florida Extension counterpart, Libbie Johnson, were looking for ways to help their farmers stay profitable when they came up with the idea of holding three agricultural sprayer workshops.
Johnson says it just made good sense to work together since many of the farmers have fields on both sides of the state lines. Wilkins agrees.
“In this area, we have farmers who work a lot of acres,” says Wilkins. “There is no way for them to be profitable in these crops without a lot of acreage. “
Johnson says the pair took an idea that was being used successfully in south Florida and modified it to work with their growers.
“We knew that if we could get the growers to the meetings and help them calibrate their sprayers that we could help them reduce input costs,” says Johnson.
Sprayer calibration is a critical element for producers, says Wilkins.
“Apply too much, you risk crop injury and potential environmental impacts, and you have increased costs because of wasted product. Apply too little, you risk poor pest control, increased chemical costs because of product reapplications and reduced income from yield loss.”
Wilkins and Johnson enlisted the assistance of Smith Tractor Company and Hypro Sprayer Company. The sprayer workshops reached 60 farmers and included classroom presentations followed by sprayer tip evaluation demonstrations. During these demonstrations representatives from Alabama Extension, Florida Extension, and the companies would calibrate sprayers brought on site by farmers.
Wilkins says most of these sprayers have more than 60 tips, and each tip was evaluated using state-of-the-art calibration equipment.
“We then took the information from calibration testing and put it in a spreadsheet designed by Florida Extension. After doing some calculations, the spreadsheet advises whether producers should change their sprayer tips.”
Wilkins says a five percent reduction in total spray volume is a conservative assessment as a result of calibration changes made at the workshop.
Extension economists estimated that each of the 60 producers was farming an average of 1,000 acres so workshop participants as a group were working about 60,000 acres. According to the Gulf Coast Farm Analysis Association, the average cost of chemicals for peanuts and cotton is about $171. This means that workshop participants as a group saved more than $500,000 in input costs.
Johnson says producers appreciated how the workshops were set up.
“They appreciated that the meetings were held well in advance of planting times and that the meetings offered more than classroom instruction,” she says. “Being hands-on with farmers is still an important part of the county agent’s job. We are just doing hands-on work in ways that make the most of the technology available to us.”
Wilkins and Johnson add another benefit to partnering with industry is reaching new clients. Wilkins says that the workshops highlighted the quality of Extension programs to producers who have not been to many Extension programs.
Pictured top: A farm sprayer. Pictured inset: (L-R) Kim Wilkins, Billy Danielson, Libbie Johnson and Eddie Booker. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.