August Primary Voter Registration Deadline One Week Away
July 9, 2012
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David H. Stafford is reminding voters that Monday, July 16 will be the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for those who wish to cast a ballot in the August 14 Primary Election.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations must be completed on or before the end of the business day on July 16 in order for them to be effective for the August 14 election. Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Am I Registered?”.
Escambia County citizens have several ways to register or update their record:
Online/By Mail: Visit EscambiaVotes.com and complete, print, and sign the online application. Be sure to include a valid Florida Driver’s License number, a valid Florida ID number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number in the appropriate space. Completed applications must be received no later than July 16 to: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, PO Box 12601, Pensacola, FL 32591-2601. Or, take the completed application to the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola. Also, to have a form mailed to you, call (595-3900) or e-mail the Elections Office (soe@escambiavotes.com).
In Person: You can register at the Elections Office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola, at any Florida Driver’s License Office, and several other governmental offices and public assistance centers. Registration forms are also available to pick up at many locations countywide. For a complete list of locations throughout Escambia County, visit EscambiaVotes.com or call or e-mail the Elections Office.
For voters who wish to cast a ballot by mail (an absentee ballot), go to EscambiaVotes.com and complete the online request form, or call or e-mail the elections office. Early voting begins August 4 at several locations throughout Escambia County.
Motorcyclist Killed Driving The Wrong Way On The Interstate
July 9, 2012
A motorcyclist traveling the wrong way on I-110 was killed Saturday night.
Kevin Minoria, 41 of Greenville, SC, was northbound in the southbound lanes of I-110 south of Cervantes Street on his 2012 Victory motorcycle when he collided head-on with a southbound Dodge Stratus about 8:30 p.m.
Minori was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 9:17 p.m.
The driver of the Stratus, 25-year old Tiffany Richardson of Pensacola, and her passenger, 24-year old Danyelle Johnson of Pensacola, were transported to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Richardson was unable to avoid the crash. She was following a truck that veered when the driver saw the wrong-way motorcycle, but Richardson did not have time to swerve.
Richardson was not charged.
Tri-County Drops Two In 12U State Tourney
July 9, 2012
Tri-County dropped two in the 12U state baseball tournament Sunday in Alexander City, Ala.
In extra innings, Alexander City downed Tri-County 4-2. Alex City picked up the win on a two-run homer out of the park.
In Sunday’s second game, Childersburg defeated Tri-County’s all stars 11-5.
Tournament play continues on Monday.
NWE 12U Boys Drop Two In State Tourney
July 9, 2012
The Northwest Escambia 12U baseball team dropped a couple in the state playoff series Sunday in Alexander City, Ala.
Southern defeated NWE 4-3, and Florence downed NWE 17-3.
NWE will be in action again in two Monday afternoon games, teams to be announced.
Mobile BayBears Bite The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 20-3
July 9, 2012
Mobile launched four home runs, including two longballs from right fielder Marc Krauss, while six different BayBears hitters recorded a multi-hit game to defeat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 20-3 on Sunday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss drops Pensacola to an 11-7 record in the second half, while Mobile improved to an 8-10 mark since the Southern League’s All-Star Break. The Blue Wahoos announced during the game that Sunday home contests in July and August will move to a 4:00 p.m. first pitch, with gates opening at 2:30 p.m. Games that will reflect this change are July 15, August 12 and August 19.
The BayBears scored a Southern League-high for this year of 20 runs, plating five tallies in the fifth, three in the sixth, five in the seventh, three in the eight and four in the ninth. The club combined for four longballs, including grand slams from LF Bobby Borchering and pinch hitter Daniel Kaczrowski, while Krauss mashed a pair of three-run blasts.
Krauss (3-4, 4 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), along with SS Chris Ownings (3-7, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI), 1B Kyle Greene (3-4, 3 R, 2 BB), CF Evan Frey (2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB), 3B Matt Davidson (2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and C Ed Easley (2-4, 3 R, 2 BB) all collected a multi-hit effort in the contest for the BayBears. All eight position players in the Mobile starting lineup accumulated at least one base knock.
The Blue Wahoos started the scoring with single scores in the third and fourth to go up 2-0. RF Andrew Means doubled down the left field line before coming home when 2B Brodie Greene singled to right in the third, while C Tucker Barnhart doubled in the fourth for his first hit at the Double-A level in his third game, prior to a run-scoring single up the middle by Miguel Rojas.
3B David Vidal added to Pensacola’s tally in the ninth by leading off the frame with a roundtripper that snuck inside the foul pole down the left field line. The longball was the third of the year for Vidal and his first since June 29 versus Jacksonville in Pensacola.
Mobile starting pitcher David Holmberg (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory to improve to 2-1 this year after allowing just two earned runs on five hits in six frames, while Pensacola reliever Brian Pearl (0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) suffered the defeat to fall to 0-1. Blue Wahoos starter Mark Serrano (4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 SO) started the game strong by firing four shutout innings, yielding just three hits and fanning five in his outing.
With the series tied at 1-1, the Blue Wahoos and BayBears are scheduled to face off Monday night for the rubber match of the three-game set, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is expected to send RHP Daniel Corcino to the mound, while RHP Derek Eitel is slated to take the mound for Mobile.
By Andrew Green.
David Vidal crushed his third home run of the year for Pensacola Sunday afternoon. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fireman: Police Chief’s Quick Action Saves Drowning Child
July 8, 2012
Quick action by Flomaton’s police chief is being credited with saving a toddler’s life Saturday evening.
A 3-year old boy nearly drowned in a pool about 6:30 Saturday. According to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton, Police Chief Daniel Thompson was off-duty a few houses away when the incident happened. Thompson performed CPR on the young child for at least a couple of minutes until the first firefighters arrived on scene and took over, Stanton said. The young boy was resuscitated.
The boy could be seen alert and smiling in the arms of a LightFlight medic as he was transferred to a stretcher to be airlifted. to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
“I just want to thank all of our policemen and firemen for the training they undergo,” Stanton said. “And I want to thank them all for the job they do.”
Pictured: Quick action by Flomaton Police Chief Daniel Thompson, along with the work of the Flomaton Fire Department, is being credit with saving the life of a near-drowning victim Saturday. The toddler was airlifted from Hurricane Park to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Equine Group Rescues Neglected Horse Living On Corn And Saltine Crackers
July 8, 2012
A neglected horse that was living on just whole corn and saltine crackers was rescued in Nokomis Saturday.
The four-year old mare named “Bootsy” was removed from a property on Jake’s Road in extreme northwestern Escambia County by Panhandle Equine Rescue, a non-profit group authorized by the court system to investigate equine cases in Escambia County.
“She had eaten everything in her pen and was pushing the fence down trying to get to grass,” PER President Diane Lowery said. “She is a very sweet girl and so very thin, but she is fighting to survive.”
The owner voluntarily surrendered the horse to PER, and the mare was taken a veterinarian for evaluation and then to PER’s facility in Cantonment. Lowery said the case is being investigated by Escambia County Animal Control. No charges have been filed against the horse’s owner.
Panhandle Equine Rescue is a non-profit organization, Lowery said, that relies on donations to feed and provide shelter for horses like Bootsy. For more information, visit www.panhandleequinerescue.org.
Pictured: A neglected horse rescued Saturday from Jakes Road in Nokomis. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sometimes, An Old Tractor Just Has Soul
July 8, 2012
Sometimes an old tractor can just have soul. Just ask Randy Cole.
It’s no doubt that Cole knows mowers — he’s a master technician and, with Scott Taylor, co-owns Hendrix Service Center on Highway 29 in Molino. He sells the latest and greatest in mowers, complete with comfortable seats, cup holders in the just the right spots and lots of horsepower with a zero turn radius.
But Saturday morning, Cole was out mowing grass along Highway 29 on a 1949 McCormick Farmall Cub with a 412 Bush Hog deck. It just sounds good if you read that out loud.
Cole restored the old fashioned beauty using parts from two different “Cubs”. As pretty as she might be, it’s the story behind the tractor that gives it soul.
For that, we’ll let Randy Cole tell the story in his own words:
“When I was about four or five years old, I spent countless hours riding on the Cub in my granddaddy’s barn. I would sit on the spring loaded seat and bounce up and down all day long. My granddaddy would park it in the barn and turn the gas off.
I watched him do this many times. I also watched him start the Cub by pulling out on the ignition and pulling the starting rod. One day, while in my granddaddy’s barn, I got on the Cub and cranked it up. It was in reverse and I backed it out (unintentionally). It went back about 20 feet, right to the water faucet where he would fill up the radiator.
It would have gone farther but the gas was off and it ran out right there. I ran inside excited. I hollered to my grandaddy.
‘I have the tractor out ready to put water in it.’
I was in deep trouble. He gave me a good whoopin’ and I wasn’t allowed to play on that tractor for a long time. That was the start of my career as a Master Technician. After 50 years I finally decided to build one like his.”
Pictured: Randy Cole on his restored 1949 McCormick Farmall Cub with a 412 Bush Hog along Highway 29 in Molino Saturday. Submitted photos by Charlie Cole for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE 16U Girls Beat Atmore, Head To State Championship; NWE 12U Boys Rained Out
July 8, 2012
Northwest Escambia beat 20-2 Atmore Saturday to advance in the 16U state playoffs at Brewton’s YMCA park.
NWE will face Brewton at 1 p.m. in the 16u championship game.
Also on Saturday, NWE’s 12U boys were rained out in the state tournament in Alexander City, Ala. Northwest Escambia will face Southern at 1 p.m. and Florence at 1 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Beat Mobile 8-2 To Open Series Before Sellout Crowd
July 8, 2012
Pensacola first baseman Beau Mills homered and drove in four runs, while starting pitcher Tony Cingrani fired six shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak to 20.2 frames as the Blue Wahoos topped the Mobile BayBears 8-2 in front of the 30th sellout crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos improved their record to 11-6 in the second half and remain tied for first in the Southern League’s South Division with a Montgomery victory. The BayBears fell to 7-10 since the Southern League All-Star Break with the defeat. The capacity crowd was the 30th of the year in their 42nd home opening.
Former Alabama star running back and number three overall draft pick by the Cleveland Browns Trent Richardson was in attendance and joined the team for batting practice before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch just prior to the contest.
Pensacola got the scoring started in the third, when Didi Gregorius started the two-out rally with a triple to right and was sent in by LF Bryson Smith’s single up the middle. Smith would subsequently score when Mills launched a two-run shot to left to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 3-0.
The Fish would add four more in the sixth to extend the margin to 7-0. 3B David Vidal began the inning with a walk and then scored on a run-scoring double from C Mark Fleury, who would move to third on a groundball before coming home when Cingrani reached on a fielder’s choice. Gregorius then got on with a base knock and Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Mills, who laced a line drive down the left field line to plate Cingrani and Gregorius.
After Pensacola plated their final run of the game in the eighth with Smith’s sacrifice fly, Mobile brought home two in the final frame to end the Fish’s shutout hopes. 3B Matt Davidson and 1B Marc Krauss drew back-to-back free passes to start the frame before 2B David Nick singled to load the bases for C Ed Easley. The backstop would then single to right to send home Davidson and Krauss, though that would be Mobile’s only scores.
Blue Wahoos starter Tony Cingrani (6.0 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 SO) earned the win after yielding just two hits for the second straight outing and allowed three walks in his six scoreless frames. The southpaw has not been scored on in his last three outings, totaling 20.2 consecutive shutout frames. Reliever Drew Hayes (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) followed Cingrani to shut down the BayBears bats with two quiet innings, while Mobile starter Chase Anderson (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 2-2.
Mills (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB) and Gregorius (2-5, 2 R, 1 3B) each tallied two hits in the contest to lead the Blue Wahoos, in addition to all eight position players in Pensacola’s lineup collecting a base knock. Easley was the only BayBear batter to collect a multi-hit game in the losing effort.
With the Blue Wahoos up 1-0 in the series and 6-5 in the overall season series with Mobile, the two teams will square off again Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola has not yet announced their starting pitcher, while the BayBears are expected to send LHP David Holmberg to the mound.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Tony Cingrani tossed six shutout innings in the Wahoos’ 8-2 win on Saturday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.