Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In The Area
June 24, 2013
A winning Fantasy 5 ticket sold in in the area for Sunday’s night drawing is worth $88,113.47.
The winning ticket, with numbers 05-07-12-24-35 — was sold at the Kangaroo Express at 3225 West Nine Mile Road at the I-10 intercange. It was one of two winning tickets sold in the state. The other winning ticket was sold in Pembroke Pines.
There were also 326 tickets with four correct numbers worth $87 each, and 8,962 5 with three of five numbers worth $8.50 each.
Investigators: Three Arrests End Two County Robbery String
June 24, 2013
Investigators believe a string of convenience store robberies has come to an end with the arrests of three people early Sunday morning.
Just before 4 a.m. Sunday, the Circle K in the 3400 block of Barrancas Avenue was robbed. Deputies arrived as the suspects fled from the store; the trio was taken into custody without incident.
Damascus Isaiah Williams, 20, Maurice Pettus, II, 35, and Julius Lamar Scott, 35, were booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, grand theft and possession of firearm by a convicted felon. Additional charges are pending, investigators said.
Bond for Williams and Pettus was initially set at $190,000. Scott is being held with no bond due to an outstanding probation violation warrant.
Escambia and Santa Rosa Sheriff’s investigators believe the suspects were involved in multiple prior armed robberies in both counties in recent weeks.
Pictured below: A recent Circle K robbery in Santa Rosa County. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Faces Pressure From Gun-Rights Groups Over Bill
June 24, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott is being flooded with calls and emails about a bill that would stop some gun sales, and whichever course he chooses could be risky as he runs for re-election.
The measure (HB 1355) would block gun sales to some people who voluntarily admit themselves for mental-health treatment. It’s backed by the National Rifle Association’s Marion Hammer, one of the best-known gun-rights advocates in the country – which made her all the more effective at helping to pass the measure.
Hammer said she was recruited by Judge Steve Leifman of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, who chairs the Florida Supreme Court’s task force on mental health. She also said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation were at the table, as were conservative and liberal legislators. The bill passed the Legislature with just one dissenting vote.
But since then, the bill has been under fire from two out-of-state groups, the Colorado-based National Association for Gun Rights and the Gun Owners of America in Virginia.
As of Thursday, 3,940 people had contacted Scott’s office about the bill, with 3,914 asking him to veto it.
Hammer began pushing back with an e-mail alert on Wednesday, and said she hadn’t expected so much opposition.
“But there are times when people who have motives that differ from honest motives, there ends up being a battle,” she said. “There are groups – a lot of people call them fringe groups – who like to attack NRA and NRA’s work as a fundraising mechanism. And they spin people who are well-meaning and think that if you have an organization – or pretend to have an organization – that you know what you’re talking about.”
Danielle Thompson, press secretary for the National Association for Gun Rights, said hers is the fastest-growing gun rights group in the country, with more than two million members.
Thompson said HB 1355 would strip the rights of people who haven’t been charged with a crime.
“The NRA supports a bill that will result in about 100,000 law-abiding Floridians losing the right to bear arms,” she said. “And the NAGR will never support a bill that infringes on a citizen’s right to bear arms.”
Critics of the bill also say it would discourage people with mental illnesses from seeking treatment.
Signing the measure would expose Scott to another round of recriminations from Second Amendment die-hards. Many are already livid that he suspended Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch after FDLE investigators said Finch destroyed documents tied to the arrest of a man charged with illegally carrying a concealed firearm.
But vetoing the bill could alienate independents and women – constituencies where Scott is already facing low approval ratings.
“I would think it would be very difficult for the governor to veto a bill that is designed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people with mental illnesses,” said Hammer, who added that 91 percent of NRA members support legislation to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.
Political scientist Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida doesn’t expect Scott to veto the measure.
She pointed to a Rasmussen poll released on Dec. 19, 2012, the week after 20 children and six adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
The poll found that 48 percent of Americans believed more action to treat mental health issues would do the most to prevent such shootings, with 27 percent saying stricter gun control laws would do the most and 15 percent saying curbs on violent movies and video games would do the most. Ten percent were undecided.
“Florida is a pro-gun state,” MacManus said. “But pro-gun means the ability to buy guns and ammunition…Are these people who are avidly pro-Second Amendment going to vote for Charlie Crist? Or are they going to stay home in a close race? That’s always a danger.”
Some observers say that after Newtown, the more mainstream gun-rights advocates agreed to go along with some limits on the sale of guns to the mentally ill rather than face a more stringent law, such as an assault weapons ban or universal background check.
“Republicans take (the) Rasmussen (poll) very seriously,” wrote David Weigel in Slate the day the poll came out. “….They cited ‘mental health’ as an issue to look at long before they cited gun laws – if they cited gun laws at all. …This is a safe prediction: Gun rights advocates will work, carefully, to shift the conversation to mental health and media violence, and away from gun laws.”
Hammer said she expected to talk to Scott after he returned from a week-long trade mission to Paris.
“People with mental illnesses through no fault of their own simply can’t be trusted with guns until they’ve had treatment and are well, and this bill tries to address that,” she said. “We worked hard to protect the rights of the mentally ill, and we worked hard to protect the rights of the people who could potentially be victims of those folks.”
As Scott arrived in Tallahassee Friday afternoon, he said only that he’s reviewing the bill. He has until July 2 to decide.
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Solari, Wainwright Elected To District FFA Posts
June 24, 2013
Courtney Solari, president of the Northview High FFA Chapter, was recently elected at the 85th Florida FFA State Convention to serve as the 2013-2014 District I president. Logan Wainwright, 2012-2013 president of the Milton High FFA Chapter and former Northview student, was elected to serve as District I secretary.
Florida FFA District I includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington counties.
Pictured top: Florida FFA District 1 President Courtney Solari (left) and District I Secretary Logan Wainwright (right). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment 14U Pony Team Wins GCYBA District Allstars Championship
June 24, 2013
The Cantonment 14U Pony team brought home their second straight GCYBA District Allstars Championship Sunday. Cantonment beat Myrtle Grove 8-2 in Navarre to remain undefeated in the tourney to win the championship.
Team members are Clay Ryland, Corey Ryland , Money Purifoy , Josh Neese , Corey Grim, Quentin Sampson , Nickey Johnson, Travis Delacruz , Rod Smith and Chris Geoghagan. Coaches are Chris Ryland, Mike Neese, Wonder Purifoy , Barry Gunter and Ritchie Grim.
Pictured: Cantonment 14U Pony team celebrates their GCYBA District Allstars Championship win. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 14-Inning Marathon 4-3 Over Montgomery
June 24, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos battled for nearly five hours and set a new season-high with 14 innings played before knocking off the Montgomery Biscuits 4-3 in the rubber match of the five-game set.
With the score tied at three entering the 14th, Ryan LaMarre smoked a double to left on the first pitch he saw to set the stage. Luis Durango then laid down a sacrifice bunt that the pitcher Neil Schenk (1-2) threw away into right field. LaMarre raced home to score, what proved to be, the winning run.
Wilkin De La Rosa walked two batters in the last of the 14th inning but got Keith Castillo to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the contest while stranding to tying run at second base. De La Rosa (2-4) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and walking a pair.
Montgomery had a chance to win the game in the last of the 11th as they put runners on first and third with just one out. Chris Manno countered the threat by striking out Mikie Mahtook and Cameron Seitzer to keep the game alive. Manno struck out six in three frames as the Pensacola bullpen combined to allow just one run on five hits in nine innings of relief with 11 strikeouts.
The Wahoos jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Montgomery starter Jake Floethe. In the second inning, Pensacola loaded the bases on a double and two walks before Floethe walked Durango to force in the game’s first run. Floethe was able to escape without further damage by getting Corey Wimberly to fly out.
In the fourth inning, Pensacola again loaded the bases with one out and Floethe’s lack of control contributed to two runs. LaMarre scampered home on a wild pitch before Devin Lohman drove home the Wahoos’ third run with a sacrifice fly to score Durango.
Montgomery came back with a pair of runs in the fifth inning against Pensacola starter Josh Smith. The Wahoos righty issued three walks to load the bases with two outs for Todd Glaesmann, who slammed a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Smith made it through five innings but settled for a no-decision as he allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
Josh Ravin relieved Smith and allowed the tying run in the seventh as Robby Price led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild offering from Ravin.
Pensacola now returns home for the first of five games with the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Blue Wahoos have yet to announce their starting pitcher while the Braves will go with Mitch Atkins (1-1, 4.67).
Navy Receives First F-35C Lightning II
June 24, 2013
The U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 received the Navy’s first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft from Lockheed Martin Saturday at the squadron’s home at Eglin Air Force Base..
The F-35C is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.
The F-35C will enhance the flexibility, power projection, and strike capabilities of carrier air wings and joint task forces and will complement the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which currently serves as the Navy’s premier strike fighter.
By 2025, the Navy’s aircraft carrier-based air wings will consist of a mix of F-35C, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers electronic attack aircraft, E-2D Hawkeye battle management and control aircraft, Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) air vehicles, MH-60R/S helicopters and Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics aircraft.
VFA 101, based at Eglin Air Force Base, will serve as the F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, training both aircrew and maintenance personnel to fly and repair the F-35C.
Pictured top: Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Tabert, F-35C Lightning II instructor pilot, U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-101 lands Saturday afternoon at Eglin Air Force Base’s 33d Fighter Wing after a two hour flight from Ft. Worth, Texas.
Motorcyclist Killed In Early Morning Crash
June 23, 2013
A motorcyclist died in after running off the road in Santa Rosa County early Sunday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 45-year old James Mandabach of Milton was northbound on Glover Lane south of the intersection with Lambert Lane. He failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway and overturned onto the shoulder of the road. Mandabach was ejected from his Harley Davidson onto the roadway.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 12:20 a.m. crash.
A Hero’s Goodbye: Family, Community Honor Fallen Soldier (With Photo Gallery)
June 23, 2013
Hundreds and hundreds of people turned out Saturday to honor Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas, 31, who was killed June 10 while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Patriot Guard members stood guard outside the East Hill Church of God in Christ in Pensacola for the memorial service. An estimated 400 Patriot Guard riders escorted the funeral procession from the church to Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola for the graveside service.
Many supporters held signs and waived flags in support for the solider and his family. Rumors were rampant prior to the service that the Westboro “church” would protest the funeral, prompting many to stand outside the service with signs targeting the Kansas hate-group “Westboro Baptist Church” — a controversial “church” that protests at the funerals of fallen soldiers.
“WBC You’re Mean”, read the sign of young girl. “God Is Love”, read a sign held by Father Nathan Monk, a Pensacola priest, as he stood next to an American flag. “Jesus (Heart’s) The Troops and So Does Pensacola”… “WBC The Village Idiots”…”God Loves All” – were just a few of the other signs outside the church aimed at the Westboro “church”.
For a photo gallery, click here.
During the memorial service, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller spoke in tribute to Thomas, as did his brother Darrin Thomas and friend Randae Jordan.
Staff Sgt. Thomas attended Pensacola High School and joined the Army after graduation.
Thomas was assigned to the 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command out of Kleber Kaserne, Germany. He leaves behind his wife, Michelle, also an active duty member, three stepchildren, and his mother, Irma Oliver.
During his service to his country, he earned numerous awards: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
Pictured: The funeral service of Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas Saturday afternoon in Pensacola. Photos by Mark Taylor for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Gindl Gets First MLB Hit
June 23, 2013
Molino’s Caleb Gindl had his first hit Saturday for the Milwaulkee Brewers in their 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Gindl picked up his first Major League hit — a single — as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, before stealing his first bag.
He was called up by the Brewers a week ago for Ryan Braunl, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a thumb injury. Thursday against the Houston Astros, Gindl made it to third on an error — hitting a drive that was dropped by an Astros’ center fielder.