Mobile Claims Season Finale Over Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos
September 3, 2013
The Mobile BayBears posted three runs in the first inning and coasted the rest of the way to a 10-1 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the final game of the season on Monday afternoon at Hank Aaron Stadium. Pensacola finished the season with a record of 59-79, including a 34-35 mark in the second half.
Reds top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson got the start for Pensacola, but didn’t make it past the first. Ender Inciarte led off the game with a solo homer off Stephenson (L, 0-2), who got two quick outs before allowing four straight to reach, culminating in a Mike Freeman two-run single to make it 3-0. Stephenson allowed three runs on three hits with a strikeout and two walks in his final start of the year.
The rains hit in the last of the third inning with Chris Manno on the mound, causing a brief delay before pinch-hitter Keon Broxton smoked a two-run single through the left side to make it 5-0. The rains hit even harder and forced a delay of an hour and 20 minutes.
Mobile doubled its lead in the last of the seventh with a five-run frame against Pat Doyle and Jamie Walczak. Nick Evans provided an RBI single off Doyle to make it 6-0 before a sac fly from Freeman made it 7-0. Broxton provided the exclamation mark with a three-run blast against Walczak to make it 10-0.
Bo Schultz faced the minimum in three innings for Mobile before leaving due to the rain delay. Willy Paredes (W, 3-0) picked up the victory with a scoreless top of the fourth inning.
The Wahoos were able to get on the board in the ninth on a Devin Lohman double scoring Juan Silverio.
The next time the Wahoos hit the field will be April 3, 2014 at home against the Tennessee Smokies. 2014 season ticket information will become available later in the month.
All Florida Lawmakers Registered To Vote In The Right District
September 3, 2013
None of the state Legislature’s members are registered to vote outside their districts, according to a letter from the Department of State obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.
“We have determined that the full residential address recorded as of August 29, 2013, in the Florida Voter Registration System for each legislator is located within the district to which he or she has been elected,” says the letter to Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Gaetz and Weatherford asked for the review in the wake of questions asked by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and other critics who charge that some legislators don’t live in their districts.
by The News Service of Florida
Miller Opposes Military Strike Against Syria
September 2, 2013
President Barack Obama will seek congressional approval to order military strikes against Bashar al Assad’s Syrian regime in response to claims of chemical weapons use against the civilian population in that country.
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Chumuckla), who represents the North Escambia area, does not support the military action.
“I think it is appropriate for the President to seek approval from Congress before launching an attack on Syria. However, I do not feel a strike on Syria is in the best interest of our country. The civil war in Syria, while tragic, does not have critical national security implications for the United States. I know the intelligence and intend to vote no on the authorization for military action,” Miller said Sunday.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday he is confident that Congress “will do what is right,” as Obama seeks approval for a military strike against Syria. Kerry calls the case against Syria “overwhelming.” He said the president has the power to act, no matter what Congress decides.
U.S. intelligence says more than 1,000 civilians, including entire families, were killed when Syrian forces dropped poison gas on four Damascus suburbs August 21.
Obama says the United States should take military action against Syria but thinks it is important for the country to have a debate on the issue. He has formally asked Congress to let him use military force in Syria to “deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade” the potential for more chemical attacks. He says no U.S. troops would go to Syria.
About 800 Acres Off Jacks Branch Road May Be Rezoned For Commercial, Other Development
September 2, 2013
The Escambia County Planning Board and the Escambia County Commission are considering a request to rezone just over 800 acres off Jacks Branch Road from residential to a variety of zoning districts including residential and retail commercial.
The property is located at 900 Jacks Branch Road and lies east of Jacks Branch and north of Well Line Road, all to the west of Highway 29. The rezoning is being proposed by the DDJ Land Company, LLC, managed by Jerry and Donald Long of Pensacola.
An area of 444 acres, 275 of which are not wetlands, would be rezoned to C-1 (commercial). The area would be intended to serve the surrounding area with larger and small scale retail, office and residential use. The center will be designed around pedestrian and utilized plazas and other public space “to create an attractive environment”, according to the application.
A 74 acre area, 60 acres of which are not wetlands, would be rezoned R-4 to allow for neighborhoods comprised primarily of attached single and multifamily residential dwellings. The roads will be designed in a gridded system, with public spaces for civic, community and recreational areas.
A 156 acre area, 65 acres not wetlands, would be zoned V-5. The area would be located in the “rural” area of the development with subdivision that would be clustered single family homes focusing on efficient use of land and infrastructure, conventional large lot development and accessible open space.
A 107 acre parcel, 85 which are not wetlands, would be zoned R-3 with a range of housing types on a gridded block road system.
An R-4 zoned area of 25 acres would provide a housing area of a variety of attached and detached residential homes. Parks, conservation and public spaces would be focal point for the neighborhoods.
The Escambia County Commission is expected to set a public hearing on the rezoning request for October 3 at 5:45 p.m. The Escambia County Planning Board will consider the proposal on Monday, September 9 at 8:30 a.m.
Pictured top: A location map for about 800 acres that may be rezoned. Pictured east: Looking north into the parcel from Well Line Road. Pictured below: Looking east into the parcel from Jacks Branch Road. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Dies In Lynn Haven Accidental Shooting
September 2, 2013
A 32-year old Escambia County man was killed when a gun accidentally discharged early Saturday morning at a Lynn Haven, Fla., home.
The victim was identified by the Lynn Haven Police Department as Anthony Jamar Pickering. The shooting was from “an accidental discharge while handling a firearm”, according to the Lynn Haven Police Department.
The incident happened at a home on Kentucky Avenue in Lynn Haven. Local police said the only other person in the home at the time was the victim’s brother, Allan Jermaine Pickering. But police stressed the shooting was not a violent act.
The incident remains under investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Century Council Meeting Rescheduled
September 2, 2013
The regular first Monday night of the month council meeting tonight in Century has been rescheduled due to the Labor Day holiday.
This month, the Century Town Council will meet Monday, September 9 and Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. All meetings are open to the public.
Cantonment Sonic Abruptly Closes
September 2, 2013
There’s no official word yet as to why the Sonic restaurant on Highway 29 in Cantonment abruptly closed this weekend. Customers who drove into the drive-in chain were greeted with missing menu boards and a sign that stated “We Are Now Closed” and directed customers to another Sonic location on Pensacola Boulevard.
The restaurant was constructed in 2007.
Pictured top and inset: Missing menu boards at the now closed Sonic location on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Pictured below: A sign announcing the closure of the Sonic on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Photos by Kristi Smith and Brad Johnson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Week Ahead: Prep Football Schedule
September 2, 2013
Here is a preview of Friday night’s high school football schedule from across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
- Northview at Marianna, 7 p.m.
- PHS at Tate, 7:30 p.m.
- Milton at West Florida, 7 p.m.
- Pine Forest at Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
- Rocky Bayou Christian at Jay, 7 p.m.
- Escambia at Mosley, 7 p.m.
- Pass Christian (Miss.) at Washington, 7:30 p.m.
- Niceville at Pace, 7:30 p.m.
- Navarre at Wakulla, 7:30 p.m.
- Gulf Breeze at Fort Walton Beach, 7 p.m.
ALABAMA
- Clarke County at Escambia County, 7 p.m.
- Hooper Academy at Escambia Academy, 7 p.m.
- Washington County at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Opp, 7 p.m.
- Straughn at W.S. Neal, 7 p.m.
Smith Leads Pensacola Wahoos 5-1 Over Mobile BayBears
September 2, 2013
Josh Smith fired seven shutout innings and picked up his first hit of the season as part of a 5-1 Blue Wahoos win over the Mobile BayBears on Sunday evening at Hank Aaron Stadium. The win snapped Pensacola’s four-game losing streak.
Smith (W, 11-9) allowed just four hits during his seven strong innings, only one of which made it through the infield without at least being knocked down. The Southern League leader in strikeouts added four K’s to his ledger to bring his season total to 139. In addition, Smith reached on an infield single in the sixth inning for his first professional hit in 36 at-bats this season.
Pensacola provided plenty of offense for Smith, knocking Mobile starter David Holmberg out after five innings. Holmberg (L 5-8), making his first appearance since his Major League on debut on Tuesday, gave up two runs in the third inning on a Brandon Short single and a Travis Mattair ground out to make it 2-0. Chris Berset added a sac fly in the last of the fifth to make it 3-0. Holmberg gave up the three runs on eight hits with a strikeout and three walks.
Yorman Rodriguez smacked a two-run homer, his fourth of the season in the top of the ninth to provide some extra cushion. Lee Hyde saw his scoreless inning streak come to an end at 39 frames on Dustin Martin’s solo homer in the last of the ninth. Hyde had not given up a run since May 21 and his 31.2 scoreless frames with the Wahoos set a new franchise record.
The two teams will close out the 2013 season with a Labor Day matinee at Hank Aaron Stadium. Robert Stephenson (0-1, 3.45) gets the ball for Pensacola while Mobile will counter with Bo Schultz (5-4, 2.96). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.
Lightning May Be To Blame For Bratt Fire
September 1, 2013
Lightning may be to blame for a fire inside a Bratt home this afternoon.
The residents of the 2800 block of Breastworks Road reported smoke in their brick home about 4:50 p.m. Firefighters arriving on scene reported light smoke in the structure coming from a burned computer.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the incident.
Pictured inset and below: Light smoke pours out of a Breastworks Road home in Bratt Sunday afternoon. Pictured top: The source of the smoke was traced on burned computer equipment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
