Birth: Lexi Marie Taylar Holland
July 1, 2012
Derrick and Christina (Allen) Holland of Atmore, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Lexi Marie Taylar Holland.
Lexi was born at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope on June 18, 2012, at 9:37 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20 inches long.
Proud grandparents are, Karen Allen of Atmore, Pam amd Will Lambert of Atmore. Great grandparents are Johnny Holland of Atmore, and Helen and Glenn Wolfe of Bay Minette.
Armed Standoff In Molino Ends Peacefully
June 30, 2012
A standoff in Molino between an armed man and Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies ended peacefully when he surrendered.
The incident began about 11:20 a.m. in the 5700 block of Shaag Road. The man was armed with a gun and threatened to harm himself or deputies. Deputies surrounded the man inside a brick home just south Omega Drive as they attempted to talk him into surrendering.
The man surrendered to deputies about an hour later, and deputies recovered a gun.
The man’s name has not been released by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was transported to West Florida Hospital for evaluation.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
19-Year Old Drowns In Perdido River
June 30, 2012
[Updated] A young man drowned in the Perdido River Friday evening near Cantonment.
The incident happened off River Annex Road near Adventures Unlimited about 7:30 p.m.
John Grace, 19, was wading across the river with his family when he apparently stepped into a deep spot and disappeared below the surface.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were among those that responded and began a search for the Grace. Molino first responders launched boat from the Pipes Landing on Old Bridge Road. Their efforts to locate the him were unsuccessful.
Grace’s body was recovered by divers from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office just over three hours later.
Pictured top: A 19-year old’s body was recovered from the Perdido River Friday night, about three hours after he was last seen. Photo courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dangerous Heat Index Conditions This Weekend
June 30, 2012
With the high heat index values forecasted for the weekend, Escambia County Emergency Management urges residents to take safety precautions while trying to stay cool. Residents working outside should take frequent breaks and be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water. Also, please remember to check on elderly neighbors and family members to make sure they are staying cool. Here are a few more reminders:
- Limit exposure to the sun and stay indoors. If you do have to work outside be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and reapply as needed.
- Stay on the lowest floor in an air-conditioned structure. If air conditioning is not available, stay in shaded area.
- Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
- Drink plenty of water. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
- Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. None is best.
- Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
- Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
- Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
- NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
- Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks.
- Pets should be kept out of direct heat, provided shade and water.
- Monitor NorthEscambia.com for the latest information.
FHP Crackdown Underway For The Fourth
June 30, 2012
The Florida Highway Patrol will be out in full force during the Independence Day holiday travel period, which began Saturday and extends through 8 a.m. July 5.
“The Florida Highway Patrol is committed to making the highways a safer place to drive, by intensifying our patrol efforts to reduce the number of crashes,” said FHP Director, Col. David Brierton. “Our troopers will be on the roadways taking appropriate enforcement action to ensure public safety for Florida motorists during the holiday travel period.”
All uniformed FHP personnel, including those normally assigned to administrative duties, will patrol interstates and other major state roads throughout the holiday period. The strategy aims to increase the FHP presence throughout Florida in an effort to deter traffic violations and to enhance services to motorists who break down while traveling or who need other assistance.
Gas Prices Slide Headed Toward 4th Holiday
June 30, 2012
Gas prices, which often spike in the summer around the Fourth of July, are instead dropping across Florida. Prices in Escambia County were as low as $3.04 Friday night, including stations in Cantonment and Molino. At some stations in South Alabama, gas has already dipped below $3 a gallon. At the Tom Thumb at West Roberts Road and Highway 29, the price of a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.05 Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Congress Approves RESTORE Act
June 30, 2012
Florida and other Gulf states will share the bulk of any monies received from BP under the RESTORE act passed by Congress Friday.
The bill, which was part of a larger transportation measure, earmarks 80 percent of water pollution fines BP is expected to pay for restoration efforts in Gulf States, which bore the brunt of the damage from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.
The company is facing fines of between $5 billion and $21 billion for violation of the federal Clean Water Act.
Voting against the measure in the House were Republican Reps. Sandy Adams, Bill Posey, Connie Mack, Richard Nugent and Dennis Ross. In the Senate, the Florida delegation split, with Democrat Bill Nelson voting in favor and Republican Marco Rubio voting against.
The RESTORE Act was included in a larger transportation bill. Also included in the bill was a continuation of low-interest rates loans for college students. The interest rates on guaranteed student loans were slated to double if no action was taken.
Wahoos Win 6-1
June 30, 2012
Blue Wahoos right-hander Daniel Corcino fired eight solid innings and gave up just one earned run, while center fielder Ryan LaMarre, third baseman David Vidal and left fielder Bryson Smith all homered to lead Pensacola to a 6-1 victory over the Jackson Generals in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Friday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The win evens the series between the two teams at 2-2 and also bumps the Fish’s overall record up to 39-39, as well as 5-4 since the All-Star break. The defeat drops Jackson to a 47-32 mark in 2012, in addition to a 5-4 tally in the second half. The capacity crowd was the second straight for Pensacola in the series, as well as their 25th overall in 38 home openings this year as they maintained their lead in attendance in the Southern League.
In his first start in Pensacola since firing the first eight innings of the first no-hitter in team history just under two weeks ago, Corcino (8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) was stellar again for the Fish, yielding just five hits and two walks while also fanning seven in his solid eight frames. Reliever Justin Freeman (1.0 IP, 1 SO) finished off the Generals with a perfect ninth frame, while Jackson starter Brandon Maurer (5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 5-2 after allowing four earned runs on five hits in five innings of work.
The Blue Wahoos jumped out to an early two-run advantage in the first frame with LaMarre starting the rally with a leadoff double. After walks from 2B Brodie Greene and 1B Beau Mills loaded the bases, LF Josh Fellhauer bounced a ground ball through the hole between shortstop and third base to plate both LaMarre and Greene.
LaMarre would increase the margin to 3-0 in the next inning, launching his third roundtripper of the year over the left field wall, while his run-scoring groundout in the fourth push the Blue Wahoos ahead 4-0. Pensacola then tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth with the longball. Vidal began the frame with his second big fly of the season, while Smith blasted his first homer of the year for Pensacola in just his second game since being promoted from High-A Bakersfield.
The Generals brought across their lone tally in the eighth to dash the Blue Wahoos’ shutout hopes. LF Kalian Sams reached with a base hit up the middle and moved to third on 1B Jharmidy De Jesus’ double, before he was sent home on an RBI groundout by SS Gabriel Noriega.
Smith (3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) led all hitters with three base knocks in the contest, while LaMarre (2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI) also collected a multi-hit effort for the Blue Wahoos in the win. Jackson CF Denny Almonte (2-4) totaled two of the Generals’ five hits in the contest.
With the series even at 2-2, the two teams will square off in the rubber match on Saturday night, with first pitch set for 6:30 pm at the bayfront stadium. The Blue Wahoos are expected to send RHP J.C. Sulbaran to the mound, while Jackson is expected to counter with RHP Taijuan Walker, who was tabbed by Baseball America before this season as the top prospect in the Seattle Mariners’ organization.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Daniel Corcino fired eight strong innings in the Blue Wahoos’ 6-1 win Friday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
For ‘Inspirational Message’ Bill, Few Immediate Effects
June 30, 2012
A controversial law that would allow student prayer at mandatory school events could have limited impact even after it goes into effect Sunday, both supporters and opponents of the “inspirational message” bill say.
The measure, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in March, paves the way for local school districts to approve policies allowing students to decide whether to have another student deliver an inspirational message at school events. But districts aren’t likely to approve any of the proposals because of the threat of costly litigation.
“On our advice, they are going nowhere with it,” said Wayne Blanton, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association.
Blanton said only one school district in the state – Clay County – has even considered implementing one of the policies, and decided not to. He said the measure was “a political bill” aimed more at the November elections than the actual policy.
Even one of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, said he didn’t expect school boards to leap into action right away. But Van Zant said he has heard from districts that are interested in the idea and might look into it early next year — after the November vote.
“I don’t think they’re going to do much of anything simply because there’s so much electioneering going on,” Van Zant said.
Looming over the entire bill is the threat of legal action against any district that tries to implement it. When Scott signed the bill, the ACLU of Florida, the Anti-Defamation League and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State each separately issued warnings to local school districts that going ahead with a policy could subject them to legal challenges.
The Santa Rosa County School District recently spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in a costly series of lawsuits over the role of religion in public schools, sparked in part by prayers at school events.
Van Zant said districts shouldn’t be deterred.
“I told them the ACLU is going to threaten to sue them,” he said. “Don’t worry about it.”
But in a statement issued Friday, ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said he didn’t expect many districts to follow Van Zant’s advice.
“Fortunately, Florida educators are likely to be smarter than legislators,” Simon said. “I expect few if any school districts to be enticed by the Legislature’s invitation to adopt an unconstitutional policy and end up in inevitable litigation — and spend scarce tax dollars on lawyers in the courtroom rather than children in the classroom.”
By The News Service of Florida
High Speed Escambia Chase Ends In Alabama, Deputy Involved In Wreck
June 29, 2012
[Updated 10:15 a.m] A high speed police chase that began in Escambia County ended about 20 miles into Baldwin County Thursday evening, injuring one person and causing a wreck involving a deputy and private vehicle.
The driver, 31-year old Michael Joseph Heath of Johnson Avenue, Pensacola, is being held without bond in the Baldwin County Jail as a fugitive from justice. He is awaiting extradition to Escambia County on charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault, plus additional charges stemming from the pursuit.
Escambia County deputies responded to a disturbance on Mercer Lane about 6 p.m. Thursday. The victim told deputies that her Heath, her ex-boyfriend, had thrown her clothes in the road and left the area. Officers responded to his residence where they observed him drive away in a white Dodge Caravan. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but Heath failed to stop. He led them from Mobile Highway, to I-10 and to West Kingsfield Road.
Witnesses reported over a half dozen Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies chasing white Dodge Caravan along West Kingsfied Road at a high rate of speed a short time later. Escambia County EMS was dispatched to West Kingsfield Road after a passenger in the van, 33-year old Timothy Johnson of Pensacola, jumped from the moving van and complained of a shoulder injury. Johnson is not facing any charges.
A short time later an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy in a marked cruiser and the driver of a Nissan pickup were apparently involved in an accident near the intersection of Muscogee Road and River Annex Road in Cantonment, just a short distance from the Alabama state line. That accident happened about 6:45 p.m.
A rear tire on the Grand Caravan began to come off, and Heath was finally stopped with the assistance of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama State troopers on Highway 112 near Holly Grove Road in Baldwin County, about 20 miles into Alabama. Heath then ran from officers on foot, but was soon apprehended.
Pictured above and bottom: A white Dodge Caravan was chased by Florida deputies into Baldwin County Thursday evening. Pictured below: An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was involved in a wreck on Muscogee road near the Alabama state line. Pictured bottom inset: A pickup truck was also involved a Cantonment crash. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
