Amtrak’s Sunset Limited Passenger Train Could Return
August 16, 2012
Amtrak’s Sunset Limited passenger train, which ran from New Orleans through Pensacola to Jacksonville before Hurricane Katrina, may once again travel the rails.
On Thursday, Gulf Coast officials will meet to discuss moving closer to the return of passenger rail service to the area. In all, more than 40 mayors, lawmakers and representatives will attend a summit in Mobile. When they are done, the group hopes to have a proposal to present to Amtrak and Congress.
Prior to Katrina, the Sunset Limited stopped in Atmore before heading south through North Escambia for a stop in Pensacola. Due to track damage by Hurricane Katrina, service ended east of New Orleans. But those tracks have been repaired and are currently supporting freight service.
The Escambia County Commission passed a resolution earlier this year in support of returning passenger rail service for several reasons. The resolution pointed out that the Pensacola area is isolated with no train service and no passenger connection to the rest of the nation. The commission also said that the Sunset Limited would create economic opportunities for Escambia County.
While a New Orleans to Jacksonville Sunset Limited route would include a stop in Pensacola, it is not yet known if the Atmore stop would be restored. A 2009 report indicated that it would cost $740,147 to demolish the Atmore station and replace it with a new station that meets current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com show that very few people — less than an average of three per week — ever boarded the Sunset Limited in Atmore. In 2003, there were 223 that boarded the passenger rail service in Atmore; 292 in 2004; and 255 prior to the service’s end in August 2005.
Pictured top: The train station in Atmore has not seen a passenger train since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Football Camp (With Gallery)
August 16, 2012
The Northview Chiefs recently held a one day football camp for players eight years to eighth grade. The young Chiefs will be recognized during halftime of the first home Northview football game.
Pictured: A recent Northview high School Chiefs football camp for young players. Submitted photos by Amy Holland for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charges Dropped Against Former QB, Other Teen; Two Enter PTD Program
August 16, 2012
Charges have been dropped against the former quarterback for the Northview Chiefs and a Molino teen, while two other teens have entered into a pre-trial diversion program on underage alcohol and drug charges.
Charges were dropped or dismissed against former Northview quarterback Brandon Lee Sheets, age 18 of Century, and Taylor Christiane McCurry, age 18 of Molino.
Two others — 18-year old John Everette of Atmore and 18-year old Dakota Ray Smith of Molino — entered into a pre-trial diversion program on charges of possession of alcohol under 21 years of age, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In May, an Escambia County deputy reported finding the teens in the area of 7200 Plantation Way, behind the former University Mall. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the deputy reported finding two small baggies containing marijuana, a brown plastic marijuana cigarette, a “rolling device”, rolling papers, a homemade smoking device made from a Keystone beer can and a bottle of Southern Comfort that was about half full. The deputy also reported finding a small portable air compressor in the vehicle that he believed to be used in conjunction with the smoking device, according to arrest reports.
All four were originally charged, the arrest report states, because one baggie of the marijuana and the rolling papers were in plain view in the center area of the vehicle.
Human Case Of West Nile Confirmed In Escambia County, Advisory Issued
August 16, 2012
A human case of the West Nile virus has been reported in Escambia County, prompting health officials to issue a “Mosquito Borne Illness Advisory”.
The reported case means “there is an imminent risk of additional persons becoming infected,” according to the Escambia County Health Department. The health department has not said where in the county the infected person resides.
“Citizens need to treat this threat seriously and take personal precautions to protect themselves,” said Escambia Mosquito Control Division Manager Bob Betts.
Symptoms of infection can range from mild to severe, including development of diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. Those most at risk for the infection are the elderly, young children and those who spend a lot of time outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Individuals who are immune compromised may be at higher risk of the most severe form of the infection.
The Escambia County Health Department recommends that residents follow the Five D’s of mosquito control:
- Dusk – avoid when mosquitoes are most active.
- Dawn – avoid the next most active period.
- DEET – use personal chemical protection to ward off mosquitoes.
- Dress – cover exposed skin to block mosquito access.
- Drain – remove standing water in pots, pet dishes, gutters and other retainers.
The health department also recommends these precautions:
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
- In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is age-appropriate.
- According to the CDC, mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. DEET is not recommended on children younger than two months old.
- Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child’s skin and clothing.
Linebacker With Local Ties Signs With Miami Dolphins
August 16, 2012
A linebacker with local ties signed Wednesday with the Miami Dolphins.
Josh Linam, son of Atmore resident Kevin Linam, joins Miami after being released by the San Diego Chargers on an injury waiver. He had sprained his ankle and bruised a bone during training in Orlando.
Tampa Bay called a few days into rehab, Kevin Linam said. Then Tuesday he received the call from Miami and worked out just three hours with the Dolphins before being signed on Wednesday.
Linam will wear number 89 and play middle linebacker for the Dolphins. He will join Miami against the Carolina Panthers Friday at 7 p.m. CDT.
He originally was signed by San Diego on April 30, 2012, as an undrafted free agent from the University of Central Florida. He played in 50 career games in college, finishing with 165 tackles, three sacks, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three interceptions. Linam attended Tavares High School, where he earned four letters in football.
Photo courtesy Miami Dolphins for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Receives Gold, Bronze National Solid Waste Awards
August 16, 2012
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority received a couple of awards during WASTECON 2012 conference sponsored by the Solid Waste Association of North America.
ECUA District 1 board member Elizabeth Campbell was in Washington to receive the 2012 SWANA Gold Award for public education and the 2012 SWANA bronze award in the collections systems category.
The gold award honors the public education campaign created by ECUA to promote the beginning and enhancements to a curbside recycling program. The bronze award recognizes ECUA’s automated collection program that serves 74,000 residential and 1,100 commercial customers.
US Rolls Out Illegal Immigrant Relief Program
August 16, 2012
Young illegal immigrants in the United States are lining up to register for a new program that could keep them from being deported.
The government’s so-called Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program took effect on Wednesday.
The program allows young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents to temporarily remain in the country, without fear of deportation, if they meet certain requirements.
Those requirements include being a student or serving in the military, and posing no criminal or security threat.
Also, applicants must be under the age of 31 and must have arrived in the U.S. before turning 16.
The Migration Policy Institute estimates as many as 1.8 million immigrants may be eligible. But group spokeswoman Michelle Mittelstadt said some potential applicants are worried about revealing their status.
“There also is a concern among some that if they come forward and identify themselves to the government as being here illegally and they have to provide things like their names and their address, that they are potentially exposing themselves and risking exposing themselves for deportation and removal down the road,” said Mittelstadt.
Opponents of the policy say it amounts to amnesty. Jack Martin of the Federation for American Immigration Reform also says program recipients could wind up taking jobs from U.S. citizens at a time when the economy has not fully recovered.
“That is a special issue of concern with an estimated 1.8 million individuals who may be receiving work permits at a time when we have many millions of Americans who are unemployed,” said Martin.
Illegal immigration is a controversial issue in the U.S. Some opponents say illegal immigration forces the government to spend money on social programs for aliens that otherwise could be used to help U.S. citizens.
[VOA]
Obama, Romney Race Gets Uglier
August 16, 2012
The U.S. presidential election campaign has become bit nastier over the last 24 hours, with the two sides exchanging a series of accusations targeting their respective opponents personally.
Presumptive Republican candidate Mitt Romney charged Wednesday that President Barack Obama’s campaign is “all about division and attack and hatred.” Speaking to the CBS television network, the Republican challenger also accused Obama of “running just to hang on to power” and being willing to “do anything” to win re-election.
Romney’s remarks came after Vice President Joe Biden, speaking Tuesday at a campaign rally in the southeastern state of Virginia that included hundreds of African Americans, said Romney’s call for fewer regulations on the financial industry would put voters “back in chains.”
The Romney campaign strongly criticized Biden’s remarks, accusing Obama of running a campaign of “hate.”
For its part, the Obama campaign said Wednesday that Romney’s latest comments seemed “unhinged.” Romney responded by saying that “unhinged” characterizes “what we’ve seen from the president’s campaign.” He added that the president’s “personal attacks” are “demeaning to the office of the White House.”
The Republican National Convention takes place the last week of August in Tampa, Florida. The Democratic National Convention will be held the following week in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pictured: Vice President Joe Biden speaks to a crowd on the campaign trail in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
[VOA]
Late Runs Sink Wahoos 4-2
August 16, 2012
The Mobile BayBears came from behind on Wednesday night to beat the Blue Wahoos 4-2 at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The BayBears plated four runs in the eighth inning to overcome the Blue Wahoos 2-0 advantage. With a win by Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos are now three games back in the Southern League South.
Tony Cingrani worked five scoreless innings in the start for the Blue Wahoos. He struck out 10 without issuing a walk while allowing just five hits. He lowered his full-season MiLB-best ERA to 1.45. He also chipped in offensively with a pair of hits and a run scored.
Billy Hamilton helped produce the game’s first run. He led off the game with a walk and stole second and third base which allowed him to score on a groundout by Josh Fellhauer. Those were his only stolen bases of the game giving him 141 on the season. He is now four steals shy of tying the record.
Cingrani scored the second run in the third inning. He scored from second on a Ryan LaMarre single giving Pensacola a 2-0 lead.
The game stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth. Chris Owings singled on an 0-2 pitch with runners at first and second to plate the BayBears first run of the game. Alfredo Marte followed with a double on the next pitch driving home Owings to tie the game. Marte later scored on a base hit from Ryan Strieby for the go-ahead and winning run. The final run scored on a throwing error to make it a 4-2 advantage. Three of the four runs were charged to Brian Pearl (1-3) who took the loss for the Blue Wahoos after one inning of work.
Eury De La Rosa worked a perfect ninth for the save out of the BayBears bullpen. Eric Smith (3-1) worked two scoreless innings for the win in relief.
LaMarre (2-for-4) had the only multi-hit game for the Blue Wahoos.
The series continues on Thursday when RHP Kyle Lotzkar (4-5) takes the mound against RHP Brett Tomko (No Record) who will make his BayBears debut. First pitch is set for 7:05.
By Tommy Thrall
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gun Fired During Ensley Altercation
August 15, 2012
A shots fired disturbance this morning in Ensley is under investigation.
About 8:50 a.m., two females and a male got into an argument over money at the Red Baron Lounge and Package in the 8900 block of Pensacola Boulevard. The male struck one of the females with his fist during the argument and later retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The male fired the gun, but deputies said no one was struck. During the disturbance, one female sustained minor scraps and was treated on scene by Escambia County EMS.
The incident remains under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Gun Response Team. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.