Local Unemployment Numbers Edge Upward Again
August 18, 2012
One again, the latest job numbers released Friday showed a jump in unemployment in the three-county North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate increased from 8.7 percent in June to 9.0 percent in July. There were 520 more reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 12,756 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 10.4 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment increased from 8.4 percent in June to 8.8 percent in July. Santa Rosa County had a total of 6,495 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 10.1 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment jumped from 10.6 percent in June to 10.8 percent in July. That represented 1,622 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 11.6 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
Florida’s unemployment rate reversed course last month, edging up to 8.8 percent, 0.2 percent higher than in June, but was still nearly two percentage points below where it was a year ago, the government said Friday. The state’s total number of jobs in July decreased by 3,300 from June, the state Department of Economic Opportunity said.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 8.3 percent in July, was up from June’s rate of 7.8 percent but was still below the year-ago rate of 9.2 percent.
Blue Wahoos Split Twin Bill With BayBears
August 18, 2012
After Pensacola shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 142nd base in their 4-1 loss in the first game of their double header to Mobile, the Blue Wahoos pounded out 14 hits, including homers from third baseman David Vidal and first baseman Beau Mills in their 10-2 victory over the BayBears in game two to split their twinbill on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
With the split, the Fish moved to 28-26 in the second half of the season and now stand three games behind the Montgomery Biscuits for first in the South Division. Mobile following the double header now owns a 22-32 mark since the midway point of the year.
The Blue Wahoos struck first in the opening frame game one, with LF Bryson Smith driving home RF Andrew Means after Means doubled to center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mobile however, answered back with four tallies to take the night’s opener.
RF Alfredo Marte provided the power for two of the BayBears four scores, with solo homers in the fourth and sixth frames. The outfielder has now tallied 20 longballs this season, which ranks him fourth in the Southern League.
Mobile also plated two tallies in the fifth to complete their output. 1B Matt Mangini and LF Brent Clevlen both began with walks, before Mangini took advantage of a Blue Wahoos fielding miscue, while Clevlen moved to third on the play. 2B Dan Kaczrowski would then bring home Clevlen with an RBI single to left.
BayBears starter Brett Tomko (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned the win in the first game after yielding the lone earned run on five hits in his five frames, while Eury De La Rosa (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) notched his sixth save of the year with a scoreless ninth. Blue Wahoos RHP Kyle Lotzkar (4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs on two hits in four frames.
Marte (2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI) was the lone Mobile hitter to record a multi-hit effort, while 1B Donald Lutz (2-4) and 3B David Vidal (2-3) collected two base knocks for Pensacola. Hamilton singled in the first inning and stole second for his 142nd steal of the year, which brings him three away from Vince Coleman’s record of 145, set in 1983.
The Blue Wahoos bats got hot in the second contest, led by roundtrippers from Vidal and Mills. Vidal lifted a three-run blast to left in the third, while Mills mashed his team-leading ninth, a two-run shot, to right in the following frame. The third baseman would then add a second homer in the seventh, a solo blast to make it 10-1. Pensacola tallied four first inning runs to take command of the contest early on.
Hamilton led off with a single, moved to second on an error and third on a sacrifice bunt prior to coming across when LF Bryson Smith reached on an error. The Fish then collected four straight hits, including an RBI single from Lutz and a two-run double by 2B Brodie Greene to cap the four-run frame. Mills (3-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI), Lutz (3-4, 2 R, 1 RBI), Vidal (3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Greene (2-4, 2 RBI) combined to hit 11-for-16 with seven runs, three homers and eight RBI in the second game.
Pensacola starting pitcher Mark Serrano (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 SO) earned the win allowing just one earned run on five hits while fanning seven in 5.2 innings of work, while Mobile RHP Brett Lorin (4.0 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 SO) suffered the loss. Serrano’s seven strikeouts were a season-high for the right-hander, who also retired 15 straight batters at one point.
The two teams will face off in the rubber match of the series Saturday evening, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. in Mobile. RHP Daniel Corcino is expected to get the nod for the Blue Wahoos, while RHP Chase Anderson is slated to get the ball for the BayBears.
The next Blue Wahoos homestand begins on Sunday, August 19 at 4:00 p.m., with Pensacola hosting the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays for a five-game series.
By Andrew Green
Picture top: David Vidal blasted two homers as the Fish split their twin bill with Mobile Friday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Robertson Wins Recount For District 1 Commission
August 17, 2012
A recount in the District 3 Escambia County Commission race concluded Friday afternoon with a victory for incumbent Wilson Robertson.
When the final votes were tallied Tuesday, Robertson had just 33 votes more than challenger Jesse Casey. The half-percent total difference triggered a recount that began Friday morning and continued for hours at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
The final count for Robertson was 3,369 votes (50.24%) to Casey’s 3,337 votes (49.76%).
The recount was conducted by the Escambia County Canvassing Board, confirming that Robertson was the winner and will return to the commission.
Robertson will face a no-party candidate in November for the District 3 Commission seat.
More Rain This Weekend
August 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms possible.. Cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
- Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Cantonment Man Arrested In Marijuana By Mail Scheme
August 17, 2012
A Cantonment man has been arrested for his part in a marijuana through the mail scheme.
John Chase Griggers was charged with three felony counts — conspiracy to possess marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of cocaine.
In November 2011, a U.S. Postal inspector contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office about a suspicious package. A K-9 alerted on the package, which was then delivered to a business on Highway 29 north of 9½ Mile Road. That’s where deputies said Griggers signed for the package, which contained marijuana, as “Donald Trump”.
Deputies determined that right after the delivery, Griggers sent a text to Kevin Earl Jackson of Pensacola. Deputies tracked Jackson down, and he told them he had packages mailed to Pensacola on numerous occasions and distributed marijuana inside them after taking possession.
Griggers told deputies that he would receive the package for Jackson and in turn Jackson would pay him with money and a little bit of marijuana.
During a search of Griggers’ business, deputies also found a quantity of cocaine, according to an arrest report.
Griggers was released from the Escambia County Jail a $15,000 bond. He is set to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on August 31.
Jackson was arrested in late November for his part in the scheme and was sentenced earlier this year to three years in prison.
Escambia Man Sentenced To Die For Popeye’s Slaying
August 17, 2012
A Escambia County man has been sentenced to death for the brutal murder of his boss during a 1998 restaurant robbery.
Timothy Lee Hurst received the death penalty from Judge Linda Nobles. On March 9, an Escambia County Jury recommended 7 to 5 that Hurst receive the death penalty. Hurst’s conviction was upheld by the Florida Supreme Court which remanded the case back before the trial court to conduct a new penalty phase.
Hurst was convicted in 2000 for the murder of Cynthia Harrison inside the Nine Mile Road Popeye’s Restaurant on May 2, 1998. Hurst, who was then an employee at Popeye’s, stabbed Assistant Manager Cynthia Harrison approximately 60 times and placed her body in the restaurant’s freezer.
Thursday was the second time Hurst had been sentenced to die for the murder. He was first sentenced to death in 2000, but the Florida Supreme Court overturned that sentence because some evidence was not presented to the jury. That evidence included evidence of Hurst’s mental capacity.
Car Rider Line Improved At Bratt Elementary School
August 17, 2012
Parents dropping off or picking up their students at Bratt Elementary will notice big improvements this year. The car rider line area was resurfaced and extended toward the back of the school to allow more vehicles into the line and off North Highway 99.
School begins Monday in Escambia County.
Pictured: The new car rider line are at Bratt Elementary. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Voter Purge To Move Forward After Feds, State Finalize Agreement
August 17, 2012
Florida’s voter purge will move ahead after the federal government finalized an agreement to allow the state to access records that could detect non-citizens on the voting rolls, Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced Thursday.
Detzner said the memorandum of agreement with the Department of Homeland Security would allow the state to continue with its scrubbing of the rolls, this time using the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement Programs, or SAVE, database.
That would replace a state system, built on driver’s licenses and voter registration records, that Detzner’s department stopped relying on after critics said it was riddled with inaccuracies.
“We have an obligation to ensure Florida’s voter rolls are accurate, and accessing the SAVE database greatly improves our ability to accomplish that goal, as well as ensure the overall integrity of our elections,” Detzner said in a statement issued by his office.
The decision was a blow to opponents of the purge, who have pushed in a variety of lawsuits to stop further efforts to remove voters from the rolls. The Department of State had already stopped the program by the time the first lawsuit was heard, saying that the initial sample of 2,600 names had proven that ineligible voters had cast ballots even though local elections supervisors said many of the voters whose names were provided to them were, in fact, eligible.
Those 2,600 names, submitted in April, will be the first ones checked against the SAVE database, Detzner said.
A federal court in June rejected a request by the U.S. Department of Justice to bar the state from taking any more steps toward carrying out its purge program but said concerns that eligible voters could be removed from the list were significant.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said the state could pursue the removal of non-citizens within 90 days of a federal election, paving the way for some version of the scrubbing to continue, especially if the state gained access to SAVE and could prove the effort isn’t discriminatory.
Detzner had already made it clear during a press conference Tuesday, held to coincide with the state’s primary elections, that his department intended to push forward with the purge once it got access to SAVE.
One of the organizations suing in federal court issued a statement Wednesday cautioning Detzner to proceed carefully. Critics contend that, even with the more accurate SAVE database, there is a chance that legitimate voters could be mistakenly removed from the rolls.
“Florida has not released the process it will undertake to review the voter rolls and use the SAVE program to verify citizenship,” said Ben Hovland, senior counsel for the Fair Elections Legal Network. “What we do know is that Florida has a history of inaccurate list matching efforts that have jeopardized thousands of Floridians’ right to vote. With the November election quickly approaching, the Florida Secretary of State’s office should avoid any action that will inappropriately remove eligible citizens from the voting rolls.”
By The News Service of Florida
Man Injured When Gunfire Strikes Home
August 17, 2012
One man was injured in a shots fired disturbance Thursday evening in Escambia County.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Miller Street and Baars Avenue, near I-110 and Texar Drive, after dispatchers received calls about shots fired. They discovered that a house was hit by gunfire in the 3000 block of Miller Street.
An adult male who was at the house during the shooting received minor injuries. He was reportedly grazed in the eye by a bullet. He was treated on the scene and refused to be transported to the hospital.
The shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Escambia United Way Honors Key Partners And Volunteers
August 17, 2012
The United Way of Escambia County thanked special partners Thursday for a year that included $3.5 million that was leveraged into an $8.1 million impact in the local community.
“We couldn’t have done it without you. Your 30,000 hours of volunteer service and your generous giving means we can fund nine new programs. That combined with efforts of 2-1-1 and the 36 other funded programs will serve 212,000 citizens in Escambia County. Without you, we could never have leveraged our funds and efforts to the $8.1 million impact that will create opportunities for a better life in our community,” said local United Way President and CEO Andrea Krieger.
Special recognition was given to the following individuals and organizations:
DAY OF CARING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Dan and Connie Cassidy have demonstrated exemplary support and innovation in the creation of a Breakfast Committee that helps with donations to keep costs down and inspiration that builds participation.
VOLUNTEER GROUP OF THE YEAR: Gulf Power Resistors always answer the call and help multiple area non-profits. The Bay Area Food Bank and BRACE joined United Way in thanking this group comprised of John Hutchinson, Ron Robertson, Chris Edwards, Mark Davidson, Jeff Pike and Caroline Wilson… all from Gulf Power.
VITA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Nancy Taylor has served others for 20 years. With over 800 volunteer hours in 2012, she led 42 other volunteers who processed over 1,700 tax refunds for a $2.2M return to the community.
2-1-1 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Denise Ables joined the 2-1-1 team in the fall of 2011 and quickly became one of our community’s most valuable resources. She directs callers to the best available resources and referrals.
EMERGING LEADERS SOCIETY MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Cherri Baker served as the Engagement and Volunteerism Chair for the 2012 ELS Steering Council. She led volunteer activities and drives for Early Learning Coalition, the CDAC Early Riser program and Bridges to Circles.
BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Linda Hoffman’s peers on the United Way Board praised her for her quiet willingness to help whenever and however needed. Her hours and guidance provided as Chair of the Community Impact Initiative resulted in the first United Way impact initiative to improve third grade reading scores through The Next Right Thing tutoring program at the Global Learning Academy.
STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Tom Hilton was praised a United Way’s “unsung hero.” He is a constant at United Way on the weekends and volunteered 427 hours to United Way and to other charities in our area. His expertise and willingness to lead is shared with United Way staff and other non-profits who need financial guidance. Tom is United Way’s CFO.
RAYELL IRISH – COLOR A BRIGHTER WORLD AWARD RECIPIENT: Donna Fassett has been serving our community since 1979. She has dedicated her life to serving those in our community with developmental disabilities. During her time as the Executive Director of ARC Gateway, she has achieved many milestones and has expanded the organization’s programs to serve more than 900 children and adults with developmental disabilities.
AGENCY PARTNER OF THE YEAR: Gulf Coast Kid’s House was recognized for their exceptional partnership in 2012. They conducted 6 presentations, 3 agency tours and 1 agency expo for the annual workplace campaign. They hosted meetings of the United Way Agency Director Association (UWADA) and their Executive Director served as Secretary. On all levels, they participated in volunteer and fundraising efforts to support the community, while at the same time serving 2,000 child victims of child abuse. In addition, they excelled at collaborative partnerships and expanded their advocacy and preventive through a new prevention coordinator who enabled the organization to serve 620 children and 95 adults in Escambia County.
DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNER: Gulf Power had 129 employees volunteer in service to the community through United Way partnerships. They collaboratively donated 1,470 hours to United Way and 9 partner agencies. Employees donated over $209,959 to multiple local agencies including United Way, Council on Aging, American Heart Association, Communities Caring at Christmas, Ronald McDonald House, Cram the Van and the American Cancer Society…to name a few. The corporate match in 2012 increased this giving by another $47,239. Their volunteer hours and efforts alone represented another $31,443 in free labor that enabled area agencies to do more to serve others.
UNITED WAY SERVICE AWARD: Shannon Lands has been serving her community with passion in partnership with United Way for over 12 years. Her dedication and commitment is evident in all that she does and can be seen in her engaged pursuit of service. In 2012, she donated 183 hours in service to United Way and our community. She was present at agency trainings, volunteer trainings, tours and oral presentations without exception. She even coordinated use of her company’s board rooms for agency oral presentations. Currently, she also serves on the Human Resources committee and the strategic planning committee with United Way. She has served as the Youth Support panel chair, the Family Support panel chair, the Health Support At-Large member of the Full Committee, the Physical Health Conditions panel chair, the Funds Distribution Vice Chair and now as the Funds Distribution Chair.
DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Quint and Rishy Studer’s commitment and impact in the field of human services impact the Pensacola community is inspirational. They demonstrate a true empathy and compassion which they readily share for the betterment of others. While they do daily good works under the radar, any quick perusal of local media or the internet will show broad and significant gifts of time and financial resources from this couple. They embody the goodness of “uniting” to serve others. From a baseball team conducting charity nights at a University Field starting in 2002 to gifting proceeds from selling the team their philanthropy has grown. Their $2.25M gift to the stadium and their leadership in bringing the Wahoos was the fuel that is igniting positive change that lifts our entire community. Wherever they have seen success, they have willingly and generously shared with others. This includes the annual lead gift they have maintained as members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for the last five years. They also share the resources of their businesses and the assistance of staff and personnel trained to assist with organizational management and personal spend hundreds of hours annually serving as leaders in various roles in our community. They inspire others to do the same and in 2010 alone supported their employee’s performance of more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service in the Pensacola community. They feel that giving back to one’s community is not just an option – but an obligation. We are lucky to have Quint and Rishy as committed community partners who are dedicated to serving others. They continually live the ideals of Distinguished Community Service and are well-deserving of this award.