Power Back On At Jail; A/C Repairs To Total $2.55 Million
June 26, 2012
The price tag is in at $2.55 million for repairs to the air conditioning systems at the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Center that were destroyed during a June 9 flood.
Power has been restored to the facility, but it air conditioning continues to be provided by chiller units mounted on 18-wheelers outside the facility.
The total price tag is $2,548,861 to restore the mechanical systems that serve the Central Booking and Detention and the Central Energy Plant, which also provides chilled water for the cooling systems at Sheriff’s administration building, the jail complex and Juvenile Justice Center.
A portion of the total cost — $392,210 — was an initial purchase order to provide the emergency services and rental equipment necessary to restore services on a temporary basis.
The proposal by Engineered Cooling Services is expected to be approved Thursday by the Escambia County Commission. The BOCC will not accept bids on the project; the no-bid purchases are allowed under state law because Escambia County was under a state of emergency when the losses occurred.
Pictured: Flooding June 9 at the Escambia County Jail. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Burglarizing 27 Storage Units
June 26, 2012
An Escambia County man was charged with burglarizing 27 storage units after he was caught by a citizen.
Elvis James Jordan, 49, was charged with 27 counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, petit theft, three counts of criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
A citizen that had rented a storage unit at Affordable Mini Storage at 7054 North Palafox Street was driving past the business when he noticed Jordan inside his unit. The citizen confronted Jordan and detained him until deputies arrived.
Deputies found that 27 units had been burglarized, and they also found Jordan in possession of numerous burglary tools and property belonging to Adams.
NWE Defeats Tri-County To Take 12U Title (With Other Tourney Scores)
June 26, 2012
Northwest Escambia slipped past Tri-County 9-8 Monday night to take the Cal Ripken 12U All Star District 7 Tournament in Atmore. With the win, NWE earned a spot in the state playoffs on July 6 in Alexander City, AL.
In other tournament action, Tri-County defeated Atmore 9-1 Friday night. Tri-County had 12 hits and no errors. Jackson Moore pitched a two-hitter, five inning game with six strikeouts and no walks. Nathan Archer closed it with three straight strikeouts to shut down Atmore.
On Saturday, Tri-County lost to NWE 5-2. Tri-County recorded five errors, and their only hits came late in the game in the fifth and sixth innings. Preston Milstead took the win for NWE, walking one and striking out five. NWE had seven hits with two errors. For Tri-County, Nathan Archer gave up four hits and struck out five, while Seth Killam allowed two hits and struck out three.
Pictured: The NWE 12U 2012 All Star team (front row) Dawson Brown, Jackson Bonner, Chase Gifford, Preston Milstead, Daniel Mascaro, Samuel Stott, Coach PJ Gifford, (second row) Adrian King, Beau Bryan, Jason Fischer, Trey Holder, Teddy Nelson, Jacob McCullough, (back row) Coach Jerry Fischer, Jr., Coach Gil Bonner. (Ramona Fischer photo). Pictured inset and below: NWE takes on Tri-County Monday afternoon in Atmore (Michelle Thomas photos). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Parents Should Pick Up Elementary FCAT Reports
June 26, 2012
Individual elementary school student FCAT scores are available for parents to pick up as follows:
Bratt Elementary — The time limit for picking up reports has passed; fifth grade reports not picked up will be sent to the appropriate middle school. Third and fourth grade reports not picked up will be available to parents in the fall.
Byrneville Elementary – Third, fourth and fifth grade Parent/Student FCAT reports are available to be picked up at the school.
Molino Park Elementary — Parents can pick up the Parent/Student FCAT reports on Wednesday, June 27 or Thursday, June 28 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fifth grade reports not picked up will be sent to the appropriate middle school. Third and fourth grade reports not picked up will be available to parents in the fall. Parents should be prepared to show a photo identification when signing for the report.
Murder Trial Delayed For Man Charged With Shooting Woman In Her Bedroom
June 26, 2012
Trial has been delayed for an Atmore man facing capital murder charges in Escambia County, Ala.
The jury trial of Cedric Jerome Floyd was expected to get underway this week, but a continuance has been granted in the case.
Floyd is accused of shooting Tina Roshell Jones, 43, inside her 5th Avenue residence in Atmore. Jones called 911 at 12:46 Sunday morning, January 2 to report that Floyd was breaking into her home. Two minutes later, Atmore Police officers arrived and found Jones lying in the floor of the home with what appeared to be several gunshot wounds, according to Atmore Police. She was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
“Witnesses at the scene said they were asleep, but were waken by Floyd demanding keys to a vehicle. After several moments, Floyd fled the scene on foot,” said Jason Dean, Atmore Police chief, said shortly after the crime.
“While officers were at the residence, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Cedric Jerome Floyd, 28 years of age, the boyfriend of Jones, stating he wanted to turn himself in. Deputies responded to Freemanville Drive where Floyd met officers. Floyd was then taken into custody,” said Dean.
Police said Floyd made forcible entry into the home through Jones’ bedroom window in the rear of the home.
Tate Grad Jayce Boyd Signs With The NY Mets
June 26, 2012
Tate High School grad Jayce Boyd signed Monday evening with the New York Met’s Class A Brooklyn Cyclones.
Boyd, the sixth-round draft pick for the Mets, will receive a $150,000 bonus for the signing the contract at his family’s Cantonment home.
He is leaving the Florida State Seminoles early. For the Noles, he had a .349 career batting average, and a .395 this season.
Boyd was a four-sport star at Tate High School, playing four years of baseball and football, two years of basketball and a year of golf. He is the son of David and Cyndi Boyd.
Photo Gallery: Tropical Storm Debby’s Surf At Pensacola Beach
June 26, 2012
Tropical Storm Debby pounded Pensacola Beach with heavy surf. For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Pensacola Beach on Sunday as Tropical Story Debby churned in the Gulf of Mexico. Photos by DonaJean Heist for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputies Seek Burglary, Credit Card Fraud Suspect
June 26, 2012
Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying a woman that used a credit card stolen during a vehicle burglary.
The vehicle burglary happened May 18 in the parking lot of the Lowe’s on Highway 90 in Pace. The suspect stole the victim’s wallet, credit cards and an iPhone. The suspect then made purchases at a Raceway gas station on Pensacola Boulevard and a Shell Oil on W Street in Pensacola.
The suspect later attempted to use the victim’s debit card twice at Pen Air Credit Union in Pace, but the transactions were denied due to an improper PIN code.
The suspect’s vehicle was described as an older four-door car, unknown make or model.
Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP.
Chattanooga Edges Blue Wahoos 3-2 In Series Finale
June 26, 2012
Chattanooga right fielder Blake Smith blasted what turned out to the game-winning home run in the fourth and also threw out a pair of Blue Wahoos base runners at the plate in the seventh, while Pensacola right fielder Josh Fellhauer recorded four hits, as the Lookouts won the series finale 3-2 on Monday night at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Despite the loss, the Fish won the series thanks to their 8-7 series-clinching victory on Sunday afternoon, though Monday’s defeat drops their overall record this year to an even 37-37. The victory improved Chattanooga to a 34-39 record overall in 2012 and also snapped Pensacola’s three-game winning streak.
Chattanooga started the scoring in the second frame, plating a tally without recording a hit. SS Jake Lemmerman drew a two-out walk and then advanced to second and third on free passes, before coming across on a wild pitch to give the Lookouts the early 1-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos would counter in the fourth to draw the game even at 1-1, when 1B Beau Mills reached base on a single and then was brought home on an RBI double to center by C Brian Peacock. The home team however, would then grab the lead back in the following frame with the longball. After CF Nick Buss drew a base-on-balls, Smith subsequently homered over the right-center field wall for his eighth big fly of the year.
Pensacola then narrowed the margin to one in the seventh, though they were left desiring more in the frame. Peacock began the inning with a base knock, moved all the way to third on an error and tagged up on LF Andrew Means’ fly ball to right, but was thrown out at the plate by the right fielder Smith to keep the Fish off the board at that time.
Fellhauer would follow with a single and pinch hitter Stephen Hunt drew a free pass before a base hit by CF Ryan LaMarre loaded the bases for SS Didi Gregorius, who drove a single to right to score Fellhauer. Hunt also tried to score on the play, but Smith again foiled the Blue Wahoos by throwing out Hunt at home for his second outfield assist of the inning.
It was the second time this month Fellhauer (4-4, 1 R, 1 2B) recorded four hits in a game, while Peacock (2-4, 1 RBI) and LaMarre (2-5) also recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory. Peacock extended his hitting streak with the Blue Wahoos to nine straight games dating back to April 25, which has been paused and then continued twice due to stints with Triple-A Louisville.
Chattanooga reliever Wes Roemer (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) earned the win after giving up just one earned run on three hits in his three frames, while Lookouts closer Steve Ames (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) notched his fifth save of the season. Pensacola starter J.C. Sulbaran (5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 8 BB, 7 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 5-5 in 2012 after struggling with his command at times, yielding eight walks along with three earned runs on two hits, though he did fan seven in the defeat.
The Blue Wahoos now return to Pensacola to host the Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in their first homestand of the second half, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Generals are expected to send RHP Steve Garrison to the mound, while RHP Tim Crabbe is slated to toe the rubber for the Fish.
TS Debby: Gulf Power Crews To Help Restore Power In St. Pete
June 26, 2012
This morning, 69 Gulf Power personnel left Pensacola Tuesday for the St. Petersburg area to help restore power after Tropical Storm Debby. The 51 linemen and 18 support personnel will assist Progress Energy crews for up to a week. Afterwards, they may be moved to other areas as power is restored across Progress Energy’s service territory. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.