GOP Candidates Pile Into House District 2 Race
April 9, 2013
Pensacola Republicans Mike Hill and Mark Taylor filed documents Friday to run in a special election to replace the late Rep. Clay Ford, adding to a list of GOP candidates for the seat.
Four other Republicans — Edward Gray III, Scott Craig Miller, John Webb Nobles and David Samuel Radcliffe — filed paperwork previously in House District 2, which includes the southwest Panhandle, according to the state Division of Elections website.
Gov. Rick Scott has scheduled a May 14 special primary election and a June 11 special general election to replace Ford, who died of cancer last month. Filing the paperwork, at least in part, allows candidates to raise money.
No Injuries In Hwy 29 Crash; Driver Cited With Careless Driving
April 9, 2013
There were no serious injuries in a wreck involving two pickup trucks Monday night on Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 17-year old Shelby Wenger of Walnut Hill was traveling north on Highway 29 approaching the intersection of Pinoak Lane in Cantonment about 9:12 p.m. in a 2003 Ford F250. He was looking down and failed to see a driver slowed to make a turn onto Pinoak. Wenger rear-ended a 2002 Toyota Tundra driven by 46-year old Richard Dodd of Cantonment. Dodd’s pickup came to rest on its roof in a drainage ditch.
Dodd, Wenger and his passenger, 14-year old Tristan Wenger of Walnut Hill, received only minor injuries and were not transported to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Shelby Wenger was charged with careless driving.
Pictured: There were no injuries in this accident Monday night on Highway 29 at Pineoak Lane. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Airbus Groundbreaking Held, Hundreds Of New Jobs
April 9, 2013
Airbus manufacturing in the United States advanced another step closer to reality Monday in Mobile with a groundbreaking to signal the start of construction of the company’s A320 Family Assembly Line.
At a capacity-crowd event attended by approximately 2,000 invitees, area residents and others, the final assembly line’s creation was hailed as a “game-changing” development in Airbus’ relationship with the United States – where it already is the largest export partner for the country’s aerospace industry.
Outlining the new facility’s significance were guest speakers that ranged from the top executives of a major U.S. A320 airline operator and a key avionics supplier for Airbus to a young Mobile student who spoke about opportunities in her community that will be created with the final assembly line.
Victoria Corob, a student at Clark-Shaw Magnet School in Mobile, spoke about the aspirations that many young people in the U.S Gulf Coast region may be able to realize as the result of Airbus’ new A320 facility. “Airbus’ growth here means that, if I keep working hard, I can achieve my dreams and might even be able to look forward to a future with an exciting and rewarding aerospace career…right here in Alabama,” she said.
JetBlue Airways CEO and President David Barger gave his perspective on how Airbus’ $600 million investment in the new Alabama industrial site is viewed by its U.S. customers: “It demonstrates the level of Airbus’ commitment of being close to its important American operator base for A320 aircraft.” He also announced that JetBlue will receive the very first A320 from the Mobile final assembly line – which is targeted for delivery in 2016.
The new Mobile final assembly line not only provides a strategically-located industrial facility in North America and a new aviation center of excellence for the U.S. Gulf Coast region, it also will generate increased work throughout the Airbus production and its worldwide supply chain.
The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce is currently working to grow existing companies in the area, or lure new companies, that will act as suppliers for the Mobile plant.
“Because of the history that all of us along the Gulf Coast share together, we knew that Airbus was exactly the type of partner that we wanted on the Gulf Coast,” Florida Congressman Jeff Miller said. He said everyone will work together to make the plant a success not only for Airbus, but for the entire region.
“It represents the real transformation of Airbus into a truly global company,” said Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier in his concluding remarks at today’s groundbreaking. “While Airbus has deep European roots, we have always seen ourselves as citizens of the world.”
Major construction of the facility will begin this summer. Aircraft assembly is planned to begin in 2015, with first delivery of a Mobile-assembled aircraft in 2016. At full production, the assembly line and associated facilities would produce up to four aircraft a month which directly translates into employing as many as 1,000 high-skilled workers.
Pictured top: The ceremonial groundbreaking for Airbus’ U.S. A320 Family final assembly line Monday in Mobile. Pictured below: EADS CEO Tom Enders speaks at the ceremony. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Clips Tennessee 2-1 To Win Series
April 9, 2013
The Blue Wahoos used a strong start from Daniel Renken and timely hitting to defeat the Tennessee Smokies 2-1 on Monday night in front of 4,328 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The win gave Pensacola its first series victory of the season.
Renken (1-0) tossed a spectacular seven frames, yielding just a first-inning run on a sac fly from Justin Bour. The right-hander needed only 86 pitches to get through seven innings, retiring the final seven he faced and 13 of the final 15 overall. Logan Ondrusek and Lee Hyde allowed a single but nothing more in their two combined innings of relief. Hyde picked up his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Pensacola’s offense was silent through four innings but got on the board in the fifth against Tennessee starter Dae-Eun Rhee and reliever Brian Schlitter. Rhee loaded the bases with one out and was lifted for Schlitter who gave up an RBI single to Devin Lohman, the first batter he faced. Schlitter was able to avoid further damage by inducing a double play from Steve Selsky.
An inning later, Pensacola took the lead off Schlitter. Donald Lutz reached on an error by the second baseman and Travis Mattair drove him home with a double just inside the chalk down the right field line. Mattair’s hit snapped an 0-for-12 skid since a homer in his first at bat of the season on Thursday night.
Brodie Greene continued his hot start for the Wahoos, going 2-for-2 to extend his hitting streak to eight games dating back to the end of last season.
The Wahoos will take the day off on Tuesday before they travel to Mobile on Wednesday night for the first installment of the Bay-to-Bay series with the BayBears. Chad Rogers (1-0, 3.60) will toe the rubber for Pensacola against Mobile southpaw David Holmberg (0-0, 0.00). First pitch from Hank Aaron Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.
Story by Kevin Burke
Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Sports: Free Physicals
April 9, 2013
Free sports physicals will be offered Saturday for all Northview athletes. The physicals will begin at 9:30 at Baptist Medical Park on Nine Mile Road.
Transportation will be provided by the school, with a bus departing the school at 8:15 a.m. and returning upon the completion of the physicals. Students should be at Northview by 8:00 to ride the bus.
All necessary paperwork can be picked up this week in the main office at Northview. All forms should be completed before Saturday morning and require a parental signature.
State To Seek Death Penalty In Beating, Burning Death (With Video)
April 9, 2013
The State Attorney’s Office may seek the death penalty against three people accused of beating a woman then burning her alive.
Anthony Lamar Pressley, 26, Kiesha LeShay Pugh, 28, and Gregory Edward Williams, 21, were each charged with homicide and robbery for the March 31 death of Melinda McCormick inside her burning apartment of Mobile Highway. All three have confessed, investigators said.
Deputies say an autopsy shows McCormick was hit 40 times with a hammer, lead pipe and crow bar. She was still alive when her bed sheets were set on fire, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They were caught on video (see below) headed to and away from the area of the apartment.
Williams reportedly told investigators that he hated white people, and that was a partial reason for the crime.The trio allegedly planned to steal Social Security money from McCormick. Officials said arson charges may also be added against the men.
“This was a particular hateful crime,” Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. “One of the saddest parts of this story is that the card that they intended to steal was not even in the woman’s residence.”
Decades Of 4-H Activities Come To An End In Beulah
April 8, 2013
The 20th Annual Spring Livestock Show Saturday was most likely the last one to ever be held at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on Nine Mile Road after the sale of the property to Navy Federal.
Saturday was an emotional day for the 4-H kids and adults as they dedicated the Bobby Gindl Memorial Hog Barn on the property — even though it will likely never be used again, perhaps even razed by Navy Federal as they expand. Gindl, who passed away unexpectedly in November at the age of 54, taught agriculture for 30 years. He was also the leader of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, the oldest continuing 4-H Club in the state of Florida. He spent most of his life involved in 4-H, and took part in activities for many years at Langley Bell.
The children and teens on the 4-H County Council were the ones that voted to sell their 240 acres to the credit union. Navy Federal paid $3.6 million for the property next to the credit union’s campus in Beulah. $2 million of the sale proceeds were placed in an endowment fund for 4-H, and $1.6 million was reserved for 4-H to use under the guidance of UF/IFAS for a property including livestock facilities.
The children were promised a new piece of property comparable to Langley Bell, according to Escambia Commissioner Wilson Robertson, who also serves on the 4-H Foundation board. IFAS as assembled committees to research pros and cons of particular properties. The committees are still in the decision making process.
Speaking on behalf of the young 4-H’ers, a delegation of concerned citizens from Escambia County traveled with Tallahassee to meet with several state officials to discuss a Langley Bell replacement, including Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam, Sen. Greg Evers, Rep. Clay Ingram, Senate President Don Gaetz and Rep. Doug Broxson.
During Saturday’s livestock show, Escambia commissioners Steven Barry, Wilson Robertson, and Lumon May each individually visited with parents and 4-H members.
After a lunch break, Barry and Sen. Evers visited with young 4-H’ers to hear first hand to learn what they would like to have in a replacement facility. At one point, Evers knelt down to the childrens’ level in manure-filled show area to hear exactly what the 4-H kids had to say.
For more information about Saturday’s livestock show, click here.Pictured top: A panoramic view of the 20th Annual Spring Livestock Show Saturday at the Langley Bell 4-H Center. Pictured below: Current Navy Federal buildings can be seen across a lake at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Beulah. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Student, Grandmother Arrested After Drug Dog Alert
April 8, 2013
A 17-year old Tate High School student was arrested on multiple charges last week after a drug dog alerted on his car, and his grandmother was arrested for creating a disturbance at the county jail.
During a routine K-9 search of the campus, the drug dog alerted officers to drugs in the student’s car in the school parking lot. When school officials and the School Resource Office made contact with the student, a struggle ensued, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The male student was taken into custody, and deputies located marijuana, cocaine and durg paraphernalia is his car.
The students was charged with resisting an officer, disorderly conduct, marijuana possession, cocaine possession, and drug equipment possession.
He was transported to the Escambia County Jail, where he, along with his mother and grandmother created a disturbance in the Rapid Intake area. They were asked by detention deputies to stop yelling and the women were ordered to leave the area. The mother complied, but the grandmother, Dianna Kay Bair, refused to leave after multiple commands, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Bair was taken into custody and charged with resisting without violence. She was released from jail on a $500 bond.
JoJo Road Closed
April 8, 2013
The Escambia County Public Works Department has announced the closure of the JoJo Road effective today. JoJo Road is located south of Nine Mile Road, and will be closed at the intersection of JoJo Road at Chisholm Trail.
The closure is in conjunction with the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority lift station upgrades, and it is estimated that the intersection will be closed for one week.
Volunteers Attend Live Fire Training Class
April 8, 2013
Volunteers that have spent the last several week attending a Firefighter I class at the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue took part in the final phase of their training Saturday with a “life fire” exercise.
The training at the Pensacola Fire Department Training Grounds gave the students their first exposure to interior firefighting with actual flames and smoke.
Scroll down for additional photos.
Pictured top: Firefighter I class members Saturday at a Live Fire Training Class in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Lt. James Shaw (left) and Firefighter Jason Felicelli serve as a Rapid Intervention Team to handle any emergency during the training.
Above: Fire rages in the “burn can” for a volunteer training class.
Above: Students exit the “burn can” after a fire exercise.
Above: Students kneel inside the “burn can”.
Above: Students enter the “burn can”.
Above: Lt. Matt Scallan (red helmet) gives instructions to students prior to entering the “burn can”.
Above: McDavid Chief Eric Gilmore (gray shirt) speaking with students.
Photos submitted by Craig Ammons, Escambia County Fire Rescue, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.