Prescription Drug Take Back To Be Held In Escambia County
April 5, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Walgreens, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will conduct a drug take-back program at five local Walgreens stores on Saturday April 27, 2013 from 10:00 to 2:00 pm.
The “Prescription Drug Round-Up” is a one-day effort between local and federal law enforcement to provide the public a site to voluntarily surrender expired, unwanted, unused pharmaceutically controlled substances, and other medications for destruction.
“Prescription drug abuse is not uncommon in our society and this is an opportunity for members of our community to get rid of their unwanted drugs before they fall into the hands of someone who may abuse or misuse them,” said Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan.
On September 29, 2012, the “Prescription Drug Round-Up” in Escambia County collected more than 438 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs.
At this year’s event deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and officials from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection providing information on the environmental benefits and ways citizens should dispose of prescription drugs properly.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the following Walgreens locations:
- Walgreens 4497 Mobile Hwy
- Walgreens 5995 Mobile Hwy
- Walgreens 85 Beverly Pkwy
- Walgreens 6314 North 9th Ave
- Walgreens 1841 East Olive Rd
Wahoos Ride Homers To Opening Day Win
April 5, 2013
The Blue Wahoos opened up their 2013 season with a bang, smacking four home runs en route to a 7-3 triumph over the Tennessee Smokies. The sellout crowd of 5,038 was the first of the season and 41st in 69 home dates in the history of the Pensacola franchise.
Pensacola was in control for nearly the entire game thanks to its balanced attack and powerful hitting. Travis Mattair started the show launching the first pitch he saw in Double-A deep over the left field wall in the second inning. Bryson Smith followed suit a frame later, sending a line drive shot over the left field fence to square the game at two. In the fourth, it was Tucker Barnhart who crushed on 0-1 pitch off the batter’s eye in center field to put the Wahoos on top 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. Donald Lutz joined the home run party in the seventh, lifting an opposite field shot to left to open the score up to 5-2.
The Wahoos also had RBI’s from Ryan LaMarre, with an RBI groundout in the fourth, and Devin Lohman, who added a two-RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Tennessee’s offense centered around shortstop Arismendy Alcantara. The Dominican native accounted for all three of the Smokies’ RBI’s, including a two-out, two-run tater in the top of third that gave Tennessee it’s only lead of the game at 2-1.
Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win for Pensacola, tossing five innings of four-hit ball while strking out four and allowing two runs. Yohan Pino, Drew Hayes, and Lee Hyde all earned holds in relief, with Hyde getting the powerful Justin Bour to ground out with the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the eighth.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler was harmed by three home runs in 5.1 innings and took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
The balanced Wahoos attack saw eight of the nine starters record at least one base hit, including the pitcher Rogers. Barnhart and Brodie Greene attributed two base hits apiece while Lohman had the lone multi-RBI game.
The series continues tomorrow as Josh Smith takes the hill for the Wahoos against Alberto Cabrera for the Smokies. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Story By Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos opened their season Thursday night with a win over the Tennessee Smokies. Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Chipley
April 5, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 4-2 Thursday night on the road.
Daulton Tullis went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up four hits. Kevin Vaughan was 2-4 at the plate.
The varsity Chiefs will travel to Freeport on Tuesday, April 9 before returning home to Bratt on Thursday, April 11 against the Baker Gators.
Tate Cheerleading Tryouts To Be Held Next Week
April 5, 2013
Tate High School Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 8-12 in the Tate gym after school. Information packets can be picked up at Tate’s main office or online by clicking here.
Florida Alimony Overhaul Clears Senate, Ready For Full House
April 5, 2013
The Senate on Thursday approved a bill that will revamp the state’s alimony laws, with supporting saying it will give greater certainty to the amounts of alimony payments between former spouses. Senators voted 29-11 to approved the measure sponsored by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel.
The bill, for example, ends the concept of permanent alimony and also creates standards for the award of alimony based on the lengths of marriages. Stargel said she has tried to create a “fair framework” with the bill.
But Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said she thinks the bill will have “bad, unintended consequences” and that it could create problems for women with children.
The House version of the overhaul has cleared committees and is ready to go to the full House.
By The News Service of Florida
ECUA’s Water Selected As ‘Best Tasting’ In Region
April 5, 2013
ECUA’s drinking water was selected as the “2013 Best Tasting Water” winner in a taste-test competition held recently in Destin. The annual event was sponsored by Region IX of the Florida Section/American Water Works Association (FS/AWWA).
Region IX is comprised of all water utilities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The FS/AWWA is divided into 12 Regions, each hosting their own regional competition. Participation in the Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest is open only to water providers within the geographical region who have not experienced any violations in the federal or state safe drinking water regulatory requirements. Destin Water users hosted the event and provided a panel of impartial judges. Each water sample was evaluated for taste, odor, color, and clarity.
“ECUA water has been recognized as the best-tasting water in the Florida Panhandle for the fourth time in seven years. Our Water Department staff have done us all proud,” said ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker.
As a four-time winner of the Region IX competition, ECUA will now compete against the other 11 FS/AWWA Regions’ winners in the state-wide competition later this month in Orlando at the Florida Water Resource Conference.
Pictured: One of ECUA’s 32 water wells located on Tate Road in Cantonment. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Christens New Fire Boat
April 5, 2013
The Pensacola Fire Department christened a new fire boat Thursday morning.
“The City of Pensacola is very proud of our first-class fire department,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As we look to continue developing our downtown waterfront and growing business at our Port, this new amenity and the enhanced protection it provides is invaluable.”
The 36-foot “Fire Boat One” was purchased with $612,000 from the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program. The boat will allow the Pensacola Fire Department to provide firefighting as well as medical and rescue services across Pensacola’s waterfront and Pensacola Bay, as well as to surrounding communities like Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach if necessary. “This fire boat is truly a regional asset,” said Mayor Hayward.
Over the years, the City of Pensacola has had several serious waterfront fires. In the 1940s and 1950s, a series of fires destroyed many of Pensacola’s waterfront docks and port facilities. More recently, in 2008, the popular Oar House restaurant on Bayou Chico caught fire.
Fire Boat One has a top speed of 45 miles per hour and a maximum pump capacity of 2,000 gallons per minute.
Pictured: The Pensacola Fire Department’s new Fire Boat One was christened Thursday morning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Serious Injuries In Pine Forest, Longleaf Crash
April 4, 2013
There were no serious injuries in a Thursday morning wreck that tied up traffic near Pine Forest and West Florida high schools, and Longleaf Elementary.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Timothy L. Wilson was southbound on Pine Forest Road at Longleaf Drive about 7:35 a.m. when he turned in front of a 2004 Cadillac Deville driven by 31-year old Toccara S Shine-Dees. Wilson’s Ford Explorer overturned onto its left side, while the Cadillac struck a pedestrian control signal.
Wilson and his passenger, 15-year old Dylan J. Shepherd, were not injured. Shine-Dees suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
Wilson was cited by the FHP for turning left in front of approaching traffic.
Atmore School Placed On Lockdown During Police Standoff
April 4, 2013
An Atmore elementary school was placed on lockdown this morning due to a nearby law enforcement standoff.
An Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pick up Clarence Shoemaker on mental commitment papers on Poplar Street near Presley Street, just a couple of blocks from A.C. Moore Elementary School. He had reportedly threatened his mother with a gun Wednesday night.
Shoemaker remained in the house for about 30 minutes as it was surrounded by sheriff’s deputies and Atmore Police officers. He was eventually talked out of the home by his mother and surrendered to police without incident.
A.C. Moore was placed on lockdown as a precaution during the incident.
One Arrested After High Speed Chase That Led To School Lockdowns
April 4, 2013
A high speed chase involving a suspect believed to have an AK-47 ended with three schools on lockdown this morning.
Deputies responded to Village Mobile Home Park on Highway 29 about 10 a.m. after a report of an armed disturbance. The suspect, 33-year old Ellis Roy Clark, had threatened the victim several times over the past two days and had returned this morning and begin to violently beat upon the victim’s door, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sena Maddison said.
The victim had observed a handgun in Clark’s possession and also indicated he believed that he carried an AK47 in the trunk of his 2006 Ford Taurus. Clark fled the mobile home park before deputies arrived.
He returned 15 minutes later, and the victim called law enforcement again. The suspect fled upon seeing arriving officers and was pursued to Longleaf Drive just east of Wymart Road where he lost control of the vehicle and was taken into custody. There were no injuries to officers or Clark.
Nearby Pine Forest High, West Florida High and Longleaf Elementary schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Clark has been charged with aggravated stalking, knowingly driving while license suspended/revoked, driving with an expired license, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing and eluding an officer and reckless driving.
Clark is facing additional charges of reckless driving, leaving the scene with injuries, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop for stop sign in connection with a traffic crash at Highway 29 and Ensley Street during the pursuit.
The Florida Highway Patrol said deputies were few blocks behind Clark he ran a stop sign from Ensley Street to Highway 29 and slid into a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 36-year old James B. Williams of Pensacola. Williams was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 23-year old Madeline Kathleen Gonzalez was a passenger in Clark’s vehicle during the pursuit. She was not injured in the crash. There were no charges filed against Gonzalez.
Pictured top: A high speed pursuit ended on Longleaf Drive not far from Pine Forest High School this morning. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
