Jax Beats Pcola 1-0
May 11, 2013
Audy Ciriaco delivered the game-winning single on a looping line drive over second baseman Brodie Greene in the bottom of the ninth to score Ryan Fisher from third to give Jacksonville a 1-0 win on Friday night at Bragan Field in Jacksonville. The loss is the third straight for Pensacola.
Blue Wahoos starter Josh Smith pitched brilliantly over six shutout innings. He surrendered just three hits while fanning a season-high nine batters, including a span of six consecutive batters from the second inning to the fourth. Loek Van Mil pitched well out of the bullpen for the Blue Wahoos with two scoreless innings. Josh Ravin had two strikes on Ciriaco before he delivered the game winning hit with two outs in the ninth. Ravin (L, 0-2) was handed his second loss of the season. Collin Carill (W, 1-1) earned the win for Jacksonville after pitching the final two innings for the Suns.
Offensively the Wahoos had only three hits. Third baseman David Vidal had two of them as part of a 2-for-4 game to extend his hit-streak to four games. The Blue Wahoos only threat came in the top of the ninth when they had runners at second and third with two outs. It was the only time the Blue Wahoos had a runner at third base in the game.
Pensacola will try to salvage the final game of the five-game series on Saturday night. RHP Tim Crabbe (2-1, 2.60) will start for the Blue Wahoos against Suns LHP Adam Conley (1-1, 5.88). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT from Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
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Judge: T-Ball Coach Poses Danger, Must Stay In Jail On Weapons Charges
May 10, 2013
A Century man arrested on federal weapons charges while coaching t-ball will be held without bond until his trial.
In her decision this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Timothy ordered Joshua Duane Griffis, age 26 of North Century Boulevard, held held because “no release condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community”. Griffis is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and disposing of a firearm knowing that it was stolen.
Griffis was taken into custody without incident at a t-ball game in Century, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
ATF Special Agent George Bruno testified a detention hearing this week that in September 2012 Griffis went to the home of a person known to him on Green Village Road near Walnut Hill and advised the resident that he needed to retrieve a cell phone charger from a bedroom. The resident complied.
Later that evening, the resident discovered his .22 caliber revolver was missing. The victim’s wife confronted Griffis. According to an arrest report, and he said that he had let a friend working offshore borrow the gun but it would be returned soon.
Agent Bruno testified that Griffis pawned the firearm at State Line Pawn in Atmore on September 27, 2012.
Court documents show Griffis has prior adult felony convictions for grand theft, fraudulent use of credit cards, two counts of burglary of a dwelling, two counts of concealing information to obtain a prescription and receiving stolen property. His record also includes 13 misdemeanor convictions for worthless checks, two counts of petit theft, two counts of driving while license suspended and domestic violence third degree assault.
Just eight days before the firearm was pawned, Griffis was sentenced to two years probation and a suspended year in jail for receiving stolen property and domestic violence offenses. Court documents also reflect that Griffis has substance abuse issues.
The court found Griffis should remain in jail for numerous reasons, including “the nature and seriousness of the danger posed by Defendant’s release, which is obvious in this case in light of Defendant’s drug addiction, prior record, and (based on the evidence presented) apparent stealing, possessing, and pawning a firearm”.
Griffis has been set for trial at the Federal Courthouse in Pensacola in July.
Molino Woman, Two Children Airlifted After Quintette Road Wreck
May 10, 2013
A Molino woman and her children were injured in a head-on collision in Santa Rosa County Thursday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway patrol, 31-year old Bridget M. Allen was traveling east on Quintette Road about 1:37 p.m. when she crossed the center line near Destinee Lane. Her 1994 Lincoln Town Car struck a 2003 Toyota Corolla driven by 25-year old Danielle T. Williams of Pace.
Allen and her two children were airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital. Bridget Allen was listed in critical condition, while 5-year old Bailey Allen was in serious condition, and 1-year old Brooklynn Allen was in minor condition.
Williams was transported by Lifeguard Ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition.
The accident closed Quintette Road for about two hours. Charges in the crash are pending, according to the FHP.
Everyone in the accident was wearing a seat belt or was properly restrained in a car seat or carrier, according to troopers.
Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Four Area Schools
May 10, 2013
The Atmore Rotary Club recognized an outstanding group of area high school students as Academic All-Stars Thursday night
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year, with at least one A for each grading period.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Those who have maintained this status from the 9th through the 12th grades, were honored as Four-Year Academic All-Stars (pictured top). Each senior received a $500 scholarship, while Four-Year Academic All-Stars received a $750 scholarship.
The Randolph B. Luttrell, Sr.Scholarship, valued at $2,000, was presented to La’Derious Ty’Shon Franklin (pictured left), who has a 4.1 GPA at Northview High School. The Mary Joyner Grissett Memorial Scholarship, also for $2,000, was presented to Jazmine McGinnis of Escambia County High School.
The following students were recognized Thursday night as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars:
(Four-Year Academic All-Stars are denoted with an asterisk)
ATMORE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Ninth Grade
Madelyn Boatwright, Christopher Gehman, Ethan Heller, Nathan Jurjevich.
Tenth Grade
Caleb Hochstetler, Wesley Hostetler, Darren Landis.
Eleventh Grade
Durrell Martin, Travis Smith.
Twelfth Grade
Aimee Jurjevich, Jacinda Stahly*, Narisa Wiggins*, Hannah Ziglar*.
ESCAMBIA ACADEMY
Ninth Grade
Noah Blue, Jay Cieutat, Saige Garrett, Madalynn Grimsley, Todd Lamb, Kajel Patel, Mikayla Spruill.
Tenth Grade
Claire Dawe, Jessica Glick, Baylie Godwin, Garrett Kirk, Auden Lassiter, Erin Rider, Anna Catherine Sasser, Nate Smith, Lindsey Weatherford.
Eleventh Grade
Abigail Akins, Grayson Emmons, Sarah Weatherford.
Twelfth Grade
Caitlyn Bruley*, Brandy Helton, Page Lancaster*
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Ninth Grade
Kindric Albert, Jakius Brown, Sky Buitron, Xavier Leslie, Ryan Mancinone, Gerald Norris, Rhykker Powell, Darris Rufus, Daniel Weaver.
Tenth Grade
Rodrick Felder, O’Shea Fountain, Robert Henderson, Lyricia Johnson, Ashleigh Simpkins.
Eleventh Grade
Tristen Boothe, Chantelle Bowens, Y’Netta Craft, Malik Deese, Shafoya Gulley, Chelsea Lawson, Dy’qwan Lee, Dy’ametue Leslie, Alexis Moorer, Annah Nichols, Ashley Prime, Larry Pugh, Matthew Quimby, Alexandria Stallworth, Aisha Stots, Davontae Walker.
Twelfth Grade
Scarlet Martin*, Violet Miller, Markee Segura, Heather Taylor, Bria Willis*.
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Ninth Grade
Kaitlyn Noelle Abbott, Jessica Kathryn Amerson, Christopher Noah Coker, Lawrence CW Douglas, Jacob Dunsford, Abbie Elizabeth Johnson, Trevor Dale Levins, Moriah Renee’ McGahan, Jason Andrew Perritt, Bethany Cheyenne Reynolds, Danielle Chanel Robinson, Savanna Brianne Roux, Jordan Caroline Taylor, David Franklin Thorpe, Harmoni Faith Till, Jensyn Lillian Warner, Haylee Alease Weaver, Madison Page Weber.
Tenth Grade
E’Layzha Rikiah Bates, Annie Lorene Bobo, Joshua Joseph Borelli, Kamryn Denise Brock, Tristan Taylor Brown, Megan Paige Bryan, Kristen Renae Byrd, Kendal Brooke Cobb, Austin Blake Cunningham, Hannah Elizabeth Gibson, Kyndall Lauren Hall, Julie Beth Hester, Adriann Dawn Lee, Jessica Leigh McCullough, Aaron Thomas McDonald, Tristan Hunter Portwood, Mallory Mason Ryan, Samantha Elizabeth Sharpless.
Eleventh Grade
Kasie Lee Braun, Audrey Leigh Byrd, Anna Elizabeth Donald, Anna Elizabeth Fischer, Tamara Maria Green, Courtney Lynn Jones, Courtney Yvonne Solari, Jeremy Logan Stacey, Courtney Alexandra Weaver, Victoria Anne Wright.
Twelfth Grade
Jessica Marie Baldwin, Alison Danielle Bardin, Hannah Elizabeth Fiellin, Jazzlyn Shanece Franklin*, La’Derious Ty’Shon Franklin, Ashton Brooke Gibbs, Justin Lance Halteman, Marcus Trey Johnson, Zachary Sean Johnson*, Ashley Nicole Mooney, Dustin Todd Parker, Winston Riley, Tyler Dewayne Roley, Julia R. Thorpe.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Northview Seniors Sign Sports Scholarships
May 10, 2013
Four Northview High School seniors signed college athletic scholarships Thursday morning.
Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne both signed volleyball scholarships with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. Ariel Holland signed a cheerleading scholarship with Faulker State Community College in Bay Minette, and shortstop Shaquanna Jones signed a softball scholarship with Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Pictured top: (L-R) Morgan Smith, Morgan Payne, Ariel Holland and Shaquanna Jones. Pictured below: The seniors sign their scholarships as family and school staff look on. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Legislature Sends Budget To Scott
May 10, 2013
The Legislature sent the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday, giving him 15 days to determine whether to sign the bill and which projects to strike if he does.
The $74.5 billion spending blueprint would boost pay for teachers and state employees, repay $300 million that lawmakers had drained from university reserves last year and set aside money for projects large and small, including $70 million to help restore the Everglades.
It would also increase university tuition by 3 percent, something that Scott seems unlikely to approve given his repeated insistence on holding down the cost of higher education, and hold about $2.8 billion in reserve. Scott will have to make his final decision by May 24.
By The News Service of Florida
Man Stabbed In The Throat In Flomaton; Man Beat With Tire Iron In Atmore
May 10, 2013
A beating was reported Thursday night in Atmore, while a man was stabbed in Flomaton. There was no immediate indication that the crimes were related.
One Stabbed In Flomaton
A 27-year old man was reported stabbed in the throat about 10:15 p.m. on Carter Drive in Flomaton, just off Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The man was transported by ambulance to the McDavid Fire Station and then airlifted in critical condition to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Reports indicated he suffered multiple stab wounds to the throat from a butter knife.
There was no immediate word of any arrests. Further details have not yet been released by Alabama authorities.
Man Beaten In Atmore
An Atmore was reportedly beaten with a tire iron Thursday night in Atmore.
The incident happened at an unoccupied home on South Road. The victim, identified as 31-year old Ned Bishop, was reportedly attacked by three men. One hit him multiple times with a tire iron, while another man reportedly pulled a gun.
The three suspects fled the scene before police arrived. Bishop was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital and later airlifted to a Mobile hospital.
Further details have not been officially released.
Firm Started By Gaetz Accused Of Medicare Fraud
May 10, 2013
The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the hospice company founded by Senate President Don Gaetz, accusing it of Medicare fraud, going back to when Gaetz was still with the firm.
The lawsuit, filed May 2 in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City and reported Thursday by the Miami Herald, alleges that Vitas Hospice Services and Vitas Healthcare Corp. have misspent millions in taxpayer money collected from Medicare.
Gaetz, R-Niceville, sold the company in 2004 to current owner Chemed and no longer has any interest in the firm. But the suit alleges Chemed’s Vitas Health unit billed Medicare for services it didn’t provide since 2002. The suit alleges that “since at least 2002, Vitas, and since at least 2004 Chemed (after acquiring Vitas),submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Medicare program by both: (a) billing Medicare for more costly crisis care services when certain patients did not need crisis care services or when Vitas, in fact, did not provide such services, or Vitas provided inappropriate medical care, and (b) admitting certain patients who were not eligible to receive hospice services (instead of curative care), because the patients did not have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illnesses ran their normal course,” the complaint says.
A spokeswoman for Gaetz told the Herald that the complaint involved matters “long after” he left the company. The company also vows to fight the suit.
By The News Service of Florida
Suns Burn Wahoos 10-3
May 10, 2013
The Jacksonville Suns put Thursday’s game out of reach with a five-run eighth inning against the Blue Wahoos at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Blue Wahoos have now dropped two straight at the hands of the Suns.
Jacksonville jumped on Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Renken early with a three-run homer in the first inning from Major League rehabbing catcher Jeff Mathis. The Suns never trailed from there, although the Blue Wahoos remained within striking distance until the five-run eighth inning.
Pensacola scattered their three runs beginning in the second. Joe Mather scored from second on a base-hit from David Vidal, which at the time, pulled the Wahoos within two. In the sixth, Tucker Barnhart singled home Bryson Smith, but Mather was thrown out trying to score from second by Suns left fielder Christian Yelich. The final run scored on a bases loaded walk in the ninth when the game was well in hand.
Travis Mattair picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 night and extended his hit streak to six games with his single in the second. Barnhart also had a two-hit performance, his eighth multi-hit game of the year.
Renken (L, 1-3) took the loss for Pensacola after getting charged with four runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out a season-high seven betters and matched a season-high with four walks. Jacksonville’s Matt Neil (W, 1-2) earned the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Pensacola will look to even the series on Friday night with RHP Josh Smith (3-3, 5.20) going against Jacksonville’s RHP Robert Morey (0-0, 4.15). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT from Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
‘Lock Your Car’ – Readers Report Multiple Vehicle Burglaries
May 9, 2013
Several vehicle burglaries occurred sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning near Cantonment.
NorthEscambia.com readers reported the vehicle burglaries Wednesday in the Farm Hill, Muscogee Road and Jacks Branch Road area. At least one resident reported a stolen firearm, while others reported losing cameras, purses and cash. Others reported there was nothing of value stolen from their vehicle.
In most of the instances, the vehicles were left unlocked.
“The moral of the story is to always lock your car and don’t leave valuables in it,” one victim wrote in message to NorthEscambia.com.
The vehicle burglaries are under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.