Florida Sales Up, Local Home Sales Sluggish
July 24, 2013
Single-family home sales across Florida were up more than 8 percent in June compared to the same period a year earlier, Florida Realtors reported Tuesday. But the Escambia-Santa Rosa counties market was one of six areas across the state where new home sales dropped.
In the Escambia-Santa Rosa market, new home sales were down 2.9 percent in June, while local condo and townhouse sales fell 15.4 percent. The average home sale price in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties was up 7.1 percent to $169,250.
The median sales price statewide in June was $175,000, up 15.1 percent from June 2012 and the highest for the state since June 2008 when 11,700 sales had a median price of $205,500. By comparison, the national median sales price for single-family homes was $214,700 in June, up 13.2 percent from the prior year.
Overall the realtors reported closing 20,403 single-family home sales in Florida during June, up from 18,800 a year ago, and the highest for the month of June since 26,112 closings in 2005. Florida Realtors reported the number of single-family home sales had grown 18.7 percent in May and 17.4 percent in April.
Flomaton Police Seek Person of Interest
July 24, 2013
The Flomaton Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest that may have been involved in a theft at a local convenience store in Flomaton on July 17. Police have been unable to identify that man seen on the store’s surveillance system. Anyone that may be able to identify this man is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811.
Braves Blitz Wahoos 8-3
July 24, 2013
The Mississippi Braves bats awoke early on Tuesday night, scoring six runs in their first three at-bats in an 8-3 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the opening game of a five-game series at Trustmark Park.
The Braves jumped all over Wahoos starter Shaun Ellis, smashing eight hits against the Pensacola right-hander in just three frames. Mycal Jones led off the first with a double and scored on a Tommy La Stella single. La Stella advanced to third on a throwing error by Ellis and scored on a Robby Hefflinger single to make it 2-0.
An inning later, the Braves loaded the bases with nobody out but only managed a run on a Jones single. Christian Bethancourt grounded into a double play to thwart the rally.
However, Ellis wasn’t as lucky in the third inning as the Braves posted three more runs. Jose Martinez singled home Hefflinger before Christian Marrero drove home a run on a single to center while another run came home when Ryan LaMarre had the ball skip by him in center to make it 6-1. Ellis fell to 3-2 by allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits in three innings.
Pensacola got on the board in the top of the second on a Travis Mattair groundout that scored Donald Lutz. The Wahoos had two on with one out later in the inning, but Devin Lohman grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The score remained 6-1 until the top of the eighth inning when the Wahoos struck for two runs on a two-run, two-out double from Tucker Barnhart. However, Mississippi came right back with two runs in the last of the eighth on a La Stella double and an Edward Salcedo single to make the final margin 8-3.
Aaron Northcraft (4-8) picked up the win for Mississippi with his second straight quality start. The right-hander allowed just a run on four hits with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
The series continues on Wednesday night at Trustmark Park with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Daniel Renken (3-7, 3.77) will get the call for Pensacola against Mississippi’s Gus Schlosser (6-2, 2.36).
Protestors In Scott’s Office Cost State Almost $100,000
July 24, 2013
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement estimated Tuesday that it has cost nearly $100,000 to keep an eye on protesters who have spent the past week camped outside Gov. Rick Scott’s first-floor Capitol office.
That estimate, however, includes regular shift pay for officers assigned to the Capitol. FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said overtime costs made up about $37,000 of the overall total.
The estimated security costs from July 15, a day before the student-led Dream Defenders marched on the Capitol, through Monday, were $97,970.88, according to the FDLE. For security reasons, Plessinger declined to break down the number of officers who have been assigned to watch the protesters.
The single biggest day for security costs was last Thursday, with the estimate at $19,081.67. Scott held an impromptu meeting Thursday night with seven members of the Dream Defenders.
The protesters are calling for a special session on the state’s controversial 2005 “stand your ground law,” racial profiling by police and what they see as changes needed in the juvenile-justice system.
A daily log of the incidents recorded by the FLDE noted that state Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, twice brought food to the protesters during the weekend.
Also, protesters were told on two separate occasions they could not use air mattresses due to being potential hazards in an emergency. And one night, two males with no shirts on and a female in a bra and shorts were found sleeping in the Capitol’s first-floor chapel.
No Injuries In 297A Crash; Molino Driver Cited
July 23, 2013
There were no serious injuries reported in a three vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 297A and County Road 97.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 18-year old Zachary Lee Taylor of Molino was northbound on Highway 297A in a 1998 GMC Sierra pickup when he veered into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting another vehicle. He collided with a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 60-year old Emory J. Mason of Pensacola about 5:20 p.m. Taylor’s pickup then slid into a 2004 Saturn Vue driven by 59-year old Sandra Kaye Enterkin of Cantonment.
Mason was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Taylor and Enterkin were not injured.
Taylor was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Sheriff Makes Late Offer To Keep Control Of The Escambia Jail
July 23, 2013
Monday, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan extended a late offer to keep the county jail and defer some of his budget requests, if the Escambia County Commission can come to term with some of the conditions of his offer.
In late June, the county commission voted to take over the jail effective October 1 after Morgan notified them that he was giving them control of the lockup. The move came amidst budget negotiations and questions over how to best bring the Escambia County Jail into compliance with a Department of Justice report. The jail needs funding for new employees to comply with the DOJ findings and there was nowhere near a consensus among commissioners as how to fund the improvements.
In Monday’s letter to commissioners, Morgan said he would be willing to continue to be responsible for the jail.
“I continue to believe that transfer of the jail to the county is not in the best interest of the county or its constituent taxpayers. Transfer of the jail by October 1, 2013, will be challenging and will come at a significant cost in terms of labor and funding,” Morgan wrote. “Once the transfer is complete, reversing the process will be equally challenging. Additionally, transfer of the jail will divert attention and resources from the many serious issues county government now faces.”
- Morgan said he is willing to enter into an agreement to retain management of the Escambia County Jail until October 1, 2014, with the following stipulations:
- The county will increase the jail budget for the upcoming fiscal year by $2.6 million, along with mandatory retirement and insurance increases to allow for the hiring of a portion of the increased staffing recommend by the DOJ.
- Morgan will agree to defer seeking pay parity for deputies and detention deputies (about $2.6 million of his original request for holiday and overtime pay) until the next budget year.
- Morgan will agree not to appeal this year’s budget to the governor, if the county does not decrease his law enforcement and court security budgets.
Morgan said he believes his new proposal will be “much more palatable” to the DOJ than the current plan to “hurriedly transfer the jail”. If the county has interest in his proposal, Morgan suggests the formation of a negotiating team work out the details.
Lightning Hits Byrneville Elementary
July 23, 2013
Area fire departments responded to a fire alarm early Monday evening at Byrneville Elementary School. There was no fire, but firefighters did discover that a portion of the school’s alarm system had apparently been damaged by lightning.
Several fire departments, including Century and Flomaton, responded to the call just after 7:00 following a localized thunderstorm.
Alabama Man Critical After Chumuckla Highway Wreck
July 23, 2013
An Alabama man was critically injured in a single vehicle crash Monday night near Chumuckla.
Cory Lee Edward Fuston, age 24 of Robertsdale, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola following the 7:24 p.m. crash on Chumuckla Road just north of Willard Norris Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Fuston was northbound on Chumuckla Highway in heavy rain when the right side tires on his 2005 Chevrolet Silverado traveled off the pavement and onto the grass shoulder. After traveling for about 180 feet, Fuston attempted to pull the vehicle back onto the roadway. He lost control and struck a tree.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
One Pleads Guilty In 2012 Murder Of Atmore Businessman
July 23, 2013
An Atmore man entered a guilty plea Monday to the murder of an Atmore business man in 2012.
Damien Deonshay Jones entered the plea to charges of murder, first degree robbery and breaking and entering in connection with the robbery and shooting death of Kendrick Lamon Dortch. Authorities said Jones took part in the June 26, 2012, robbery, but was not the trigger man. Jones is expected to testify against his co-defendant, De’Athony Dailey, who was just 16 at the time of the shooting. Dailey will be tried as an adult.
Investigators said Dortch was a victim of a random robbery and did not know Jones or Dailey.
Dortch, 38, was discovered dead in the parking lot of his business, KLD Enterprises, at the intersection of Ridgeley Street and 2nd Avenue just before 5 a.m. June 26, 2012, by a passerby. He had been shot once in the back and was pronounced dead on the scene.
The business, which is a small auto detailing shop, was locked and secure. It appeared that Kendrick had been living in the business or his car. Dortch had hoped to open a game room in the building but had not yet acquired the license. He worked full time for Johnson Ford in Atmore..
Pictured: The scene were an Atmore businessman was found shot to death on June 26, 2012. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Twirler Abbott Receives Multiple Awards, Bowl Game Invites
July 23, 2013
Kaitlyn Abbott, a featured twirler for the Northview High School Tribal Beat band, received several awards at a Marching Auxiliaries camp held at the University of South Alabama.
She was presented with the Superior Marching Auxiliaries Camp Award, the Outstanding Soloist Award, the All-Star Performer Award, the Marching Auxiliaries Honor Award, and received personal invitations to perform at the Capital One Bowl and the Cotton Bowl.
Earlier this summer, Abbott received the Best Majorette Bodywork Award during the Troy University Sound of the South Band Camp.