Town Of Century Honors Edith Page, Longtime School Secretary
July 9, 2013
The Town of Century has issued a proclamation honoring the life of Edith Joyce Page, a longtime school secretary that passed away on June 30.
Page, a resident of Molino, served as school secretary for Carver High School and Carver Middle School in Century for 43 years. She also served as church secretary for the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in the Cedartown community near Molino for over 45 years.
The proclamation issued by Century Mayor Freddie McCall honored Page as a “leader and icon” in the community, with a “heart and love for Century and its children”. The proclamation also recognized Page because she was “known to live her role of Christianity….putting the well-being and happiness of others before her own”.
Funeral services for Page, 73, were held Saturday at the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church.
Wahoos Drop Fourth Straight
July 9, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos offense was quieted for a majority of the evening and couldn’t convert on a late-inning threat, falling 3-2 to the Jackson Generals in the series finale on Monday night. Jackson ended up taking the final four games of the five-game set.
Just like every other game in the series, the Generals jumped out to an early lead, this time against Wahoos starter Josh Smith. The right-hander plunked Ramon Morla with one out in the second inning and Jack Marder made him pay by blasting a two-run homer to left to give Jackson a 2-0 lead. It was Marder’s second home run of the season.
An inning later, Steven Proscia singled home Chris Taylor who had singled and advanced to second on an error by the center fielder Ryan LaMarre. It ended up being an unearned run charged to Smith, who fell to 7-7 with a tough-luck loss. Smith posted his third straight quality start by allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in six innings with six strikeouts.
Pensacola jumped back into the contest against Jackson starter Chance Ruffin in the fourth inning. The Wahoos loaded the bases on two singles and a walk against Ruffin before Stephen Kohlscheen replaced him. Ryan LaMarre and Theo Bowe brought home runs with sacrifice flies to cut the lead to one.
Kohlscheen then dominated the Wahoos, allowing no hits in 3.1 innings of relief to pick up his third win of the season against three losses.
In the eighth, though, Pensacola had runners on second and third with one out but Stephen Shackleford extinguished the rally with a strike out of Travis Mattair and a fielder’s choice from Ray Chang after an intentional walk to Ray Chang.
Shackleford walked two in the ninth inning, but got out unscathed with a caught stealing, strikeout, and a flyout to the warning track from Devin Lohman to end the game.
Pensacola returns to action on Wednesday with the first game of five against the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium. Newly named All-Star Shaun Ellis (3-1, 3.21) will toe the rubber for the Wahoos against the Biscuits’ Enny Romero (8-4, 3.02). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
story by Kevin Burke
Pensacola Mayor Terminates City Administrator Reynolds
July 8, 2013
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward has terminated City Administrator William “Bill” Reynolds. The move came just a few days after the State Attorney’s Office found that Reynolds and Press Secretary Derek Cosson violated Florida’s public records laws.
The violations were non-criminal in nature. [Read more...]
Hayward issued the following statement Monday afternoon:
“Last week, I received the disappointing news from the State Attorney’s Office that Bill Reynolds chose to leak a confidential employee complaint. The wellbeing of the City’s hardworking employees is one of my top priorities. Mr. Reynolds’s actions violated this sacred responsibility. This is unacceptable to me.
“In January, I began the process of separating from my former Chief of Staff, John Asmar. After I started that process, we received an employee complaint. The employee’s concerns were addressed, and the employee chose to withdraw the complaint requesting that the complaint and resolution be kept confidential. While Mr. Asmar was not asked to leave service over these allegations, my plans to end Mr. Asmar’s role with my administration were affirmed and accelerated.
“In addition to Mr. Reynolds’s breach of trust, the State Attorney’s Office also found that Mr. Reynolds and Derek Cosson withheld logos in their possession that had been requested through the public records request process. While these actions were unintentional, transparency is critical to the success of our city. To that end, I have revised the City of Pensacola’s Public Records Request Policy, purchased software that will help us to track and fill requests, and I have reached out to Barbara Peterson with the First Amendment Foundation to help with extensive training for our employees. It is my goal to reinforce excellence as a part of our culture when it comes to fulfilling public records requests, and I remain steadfast in my insistence on transparency in my administration.”
Editor’s note: Pensacola City Administrator William Reynolds is no relation to the NorthEscambia.com publisher of the same name.
I-65 Police Chase Ends Near Flomaton Exit; Vehicle Stolen From Florida
July 8, 2013
A police pursuit that began in Saraland, AL, ended just north of the Flomaton exit on I-65 Friday with the driver of a car stolen from Santa Rosa County behind bars.
Gary J. Daughtery, 34 of Knoxville, TN, allegedly shoplifted items from a Walmart in Saraland. He allegedly fought back against store loss prevention employees and assaulted a good Samaritan that tried to help. He fled the store in a vehicle that police later learned was stolen from Milton.
The pursuit continued north on I-65 where spike strips were deployed and disabled his vehicle at the 71 mile marker, about two miles north of the Highway 113 Flomaton exit.
Daughtery was charged with first degree robbery, first degree attempted assault, first degree receiving stolen property, third degree theft of property and reckless endangerment. He was also cited for driving on a revoked license, running a red light, not using a turn signal and an improper lane change.
Daughtery may face additional charges in Florida related to the stolen vehicle.
Escambia Approves Design Of Cantonment Drainage Improvements
July 8, 2013
Escambia County is working to design drainage improvements in a 215 acre area of Cantonment around the Carver Park.
The project has been divided into four areas, with a $87,803.50 contract recently issued to Hatch Mott MacDonald to develop drainage improvement plans for the “East Area”, which is east of Highway 297A and south of the railroad tracks near Muscogee Road. The East Area includes Webb Street, Griggs Street and Ransom Street, along with portions of Booker Street, Louis Street and Washington Street.
Once the design for the East Area is completed, design will begin on one of the three remaining zones. All four zones include an area bounded by Ransom Street to the east, the Escambia County Road Prison to the south, Booker Street to the west, and Muscogee Road to the north.
The complete design will be funded by Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds. The design projects will includes topographic surveys, geotechnical exploration, wetlands assessments, permitting, public meetings and construction administrative services.
The design projects do not include any actual construction; construction contracts would have to be awarded by the Escambia County Commission at a future date.
Retired Escambia Chief Deputy Aiken Joins Technology Company
July 8, 2013
Larry Aiken, former chief deputy of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has joined technology company Edge Access of Odessa, Fla. Edge Access is a developer and integrator of voice over IP technologies for first responders and the correctional industry.
Aiken, who retired from the ECSO effective at the end of June, joined Edge Access as vice president of business development.
“Larry brings 34 plus years of law enforcement experience along with an incredible technical prowess to Edge Access. When you combine that with the most advanced video visitation and investigative system available in the market today, I feel that the company is now positioned to dominate this evolving market,” said Rob Veschi, Edge Access president and CEO.
“I look forward to working with the team to move the company forward by deepening our current customer relationships and attracting new accounts with the most robust visitation system I’ve seen available today,” Aiken said.
11U Argos Win Gulf Coast Elite World Title
July 8, 2013
The Cantonment 11U Argos are the Nations Gulf Coast Elite World Champions. They recently defeated the Gulf Coast Storm 16-9 for the title, after needing to win three straight games during the tournament in Gulf Breeze. Pictured: (bottom L-R) : Christian Munoz, John Pinette, Nathan Brewton, Trevor Norton, Cole Mullins, (top) Sam Shackle, Cameron Bailey, TJ McCants, Chase Barcus and Jacob Bryant. Coaches are Mike Norton, Levy Bryant and Matt Faust. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Generals Put Damper On Late Wahoos Rally
July 8, 2013
The Jackson Generals saw a 3-0 lead disappear but put together a two-run top of the eighth inning to take Sunday night’s game from the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5-4 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Trailing 4-3 heading to the eighth inning, Jackson took advantage of some sloppy defense to take the lead. The Generals loaded the bases with nobody out with two singles and a sacrifice bunt with Leon Landry reaching on an error by first baseman Donald Lutz. Steven Proscia knotted the game at four with a sacrifice fly before the bases were reloaded with an intentional walk. Loek Van Mil struck out Ramon Morla but then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Landry to scamper home from third with the go-ahead run. Van Mil got John Hicks to fly out to end the threat.
Pensacola wasn’t able to muster a comeback in the final two innings and fell for the third consecutive game, thus losing the series to the Generals with a game still to be played.
The Wahoos offense looked much like it did in Saturday’s doubleheader, mustering just one hit through the first five innings. Jackson had built a 3-0 lead after five thanks to a Proscia solo homer in the second, a Ji-Man Choi single in the fourth and a Hicks sacrifice fly, also in the fourth.
Yorman Rodriguez sparked the Pensacola offense, though, with a one-out solo homer in the sixth against Jackson reliever Kyle Hunter. It was the first career Double-A home run for the 20-year old Rodriguez, and 10th this season combined between Bakersfield and Pensacola.
An inning later, the Wahoos rallied for three runs to take the lead. Matt Kennelly singled to lead off the frame, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher Hicks. Ryan LaMarre singled him home to make it 3-2. Ray Chang and Brodie Greene followed with singles to load the bases. LaMarre then scampered home on a passed ball to knot the game at three before Devin Lohman reached on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop as Gabriel Noriega’s throw to the plate to try and get Chang was wide, giving the Wahoos a 4-3 advantage. Pensacola was unable to scratch across any more runs as Donald Lutz grounded into a double play two batters later.
Tyler Burgoon (4-2) picked up the win by getting the final two outs of the seventh inning and then retiring the side in the eighth inning for the Generals. Jackson starter James Gillheeney went two innings before exiting the game due to unknown circumstances. Carson Smith picked up his 10th save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.
Daniel Renken started for Pensacola and posted another quality start, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings. Wilkin De La Rosa (2-5) took the loss by allowing the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth. De La Rosa yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits in an inning plus three batters.
The series wraps up on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Recently named All-Star Josh Smith (7-6, 3.47) will take the ball for Pensacola against Jackson’s Chance Ruffin (4-3, 3.66).
story by Kevin Burke
AG Bondi: Hurricane Window Film Is A Scam
July 8, 2013
Attorney General Pam Bondi said people need to be cautious of companies that claim window films provide protection from hurricane-force winds. Bondi’s office has entered eight settlement agreements to resolve allegations against companies that sell window film, noting that the Florida Building Commission has not approved the material as a form of hurricane protection.
“What’s happening now is we have scam companies selling people window film. Making people think it’s safe to stay in their homes during a storm, Bondi said Tuesday. “I don’t want our Floridians, especially our seniors, to purchase this junk and have a false sense of security.”
Bondi added that her agency continues to investigate a number of businesses that are offering the window covering as a storm protection and said consumers should check on the companies with the Better Business Bureau before completing any deals.
Farm Bureau Names Greg Evers 2013 Legislative Champion For Agriculture
July 7, 2013
The Florida Farm Bureau has named several lawmakers as Champions of Agriculture, including Sen. Greg. Evers.
Florida Farm Bureau is initiated the new program to recognize a group of lawmakers as Champions for Agriculture for their role in promoting an agriculture- friendly legislative agenda. After a productive legislative session where all of its priority bills were passed, Farm Bureau recognized 18 representatives and six senators who took an active role in supporting the state’s farmers and ranchers.
“In a year where we had so much legislative support, this is our way of highlighting and thanking a group of legislators who showed leadership in promoting strong agricultural policy for Florida,” stated Adam Basford, director of State Legislative Affairs at Florida Farm Bureau. “Each of these Champions for Agriculture played key roles in passing legislation that allows agriculture to continue to benefit the state both economically and environmentally. We are truly grateful for their efforts.”
The Florida Farm Bureau 2013 Champions for Agriculture are:
Florida Senate
Sen. Jeff Brandes
Sen. Greg Evers
Sen. Denise Grimsley
Sen. Alan Hays
Sen. Bill Montford
Sen. Wilton Simpson
Florida House of Representatives
Rep. Ben Albritton
Rep. Halsey Beshears
Rep. Jim Boyd
Rep. Matt Caldwell
Rep. Marti Coley
Rep. Neil Combee
Rep. Steve Crisafulli
Rep. Katie Edwards
Rep. Travis Hutson
Rep. Mike La Rosa
Rep. Debbie Mayfield
Rep. Ray Pilon
Rep. Jake Raburn
Rep. Holly Raschein
Rep. Pat Rooney
Rep. Charlie Van Zant
Rep. Clovis Watson
Rep. Ritch Workman