Tate Beats Pensacola High
April 13, 2012
The Tate Aggies defeated Pensacola High School Thursday, with wins for both the varsity and junior varsity.
In junior varsity action, Tate beat Pensacola 18-0.
In varsity play, the Aggies beat PHS 10-8. With the win the Aggies improved to 19-1 overall, 12-1 in the district. Winning pitcher for Tate was Blake Edgar, while Peterson took the loss for PHS.
Pensacola Hitters:
Jonathan Bennett 4-4, 3 2B’s, 4 RBI
Jimmy Threat 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Brandon Harigel 1-4, 2B, RBI
Tate Hitters:
Austin Quina 1-4, 2B, RBI
David Moorhead 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
JT Granat 2-2, 2 RBI
Andrew Mack 2-3
Cody Palmer 2-4
Tate will host Milton on Friday. The junior varsity plays at 4:30, followed by the varsity at 7 p.m.
Commission: No Libraries To Close; Funding Solution Unknown
April 13, 2012
About 200 people wearing red attended an Escambia County Commission meeting Thursday morning to protest cuts to the county’s library system as commissioners tentatively agreed not to close any library branches.
“We are not going to do a massive cut to the libraries to the point where one have to close,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson said. Robertson sported a large button that proclaimed “Library” on his jacket during the meeting.
Commissioners, however, did not rule out trimming the library budget or the budget of any other county department as they work to solve a projected multi-million dollar shortfall next fiscal year.
And commissioners made no decision on how to continuing funding the libraries — including the Century Branch Library and the under-construction Molino Library.
Commissioners discussed numerous ways to make up a projected $9.5 million across the board deficit, most of which is due to a new Medicaid law signed by Gov. Rick Scott. That law will force the county to pay $6.2 million to the state for disputed Medicaid bills that have been adding up for about a decade. County Administrator Randy Oliver had identified the library as one possible source toward solving their impending budget crisis.
The problem, commissioners agreed, was state mandates, not local budget management.
“I find it ridiculous that those jackasses in Tallahassee can use local governments to balance their budgets,” an obviously agitated Commissioner Kevin White said. “It just blows my mind.”
Commissioner reaction was mixed on how to solve the budget problems — from Marie Young and Whitesuggesting a .5 mils property tax increase to Gene Valentino saying the county should first find ways to trim the bottom line before considering a tax increase.
“Five-tenths of a mil would solve all of our problems,” Young said. “What’s the big deal about raising taxes? That’s not a big deal—Ohhh, somebody’s going to take that and run with it.”
“We cannot provide the current level of services on the current revenues,” County Administrator Randy Oliver said.
The commission will schedule budge workshops in the coming to weeks to iron out how to save the $9.5 million.
Pictured above: Library supporters wearing red packed an Escambia County Commission meeting Thursday morning. Pictured below: After the commission chambers filed, library supporters gathered in the atrium of the governmental complex to watch the meeting on a television feed. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Perfect Property Audits At Byrneville, Jim Allen And Northview
April 13, 2012
Routine property inventories at three North Escambia schools found that the schools could property account for 1,235 items worth $1.8 million dollars.
No Escambia County School District assets were missing from Byrneville Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary or Northview High School.
According to Jim Allen Principal Rachel Watts the non-working computer was labeled for discard and may have been accidentally placed in a dumpster by a custodian rather than being returned to the district’s surplus department.
At Byrneville, auditors located 78 district owned items worth $114,774.49 . All of Jim Allen’s 553 items with an original cost of $742,812.52 were located, as were all of the 604 inventory items with an original cost of $980,535.75 at Northview High School.
The Escambia County School District routinely audits property at schools in the county.
Century Correctional Inmates To Graduate Next Week
April 13, 2012
Six Century Correctional Institution inmates will receive their GED diplomas next week.
The inmates obtained their GED diplomas by passing a five-part test consisting of reading/language and writing (including an essay), math, social studies and science.
In addition, 11 inmates will also be receiving their Florida Ready to Work certificates. Florida Ready to Work is an innovative state-funded workforce education and economic development program that provides student/jobseekers with a standard credential that certifies their workplace readiness and ability to succeed on the job.
The number of Florida inmates earning GED certificates has nearly doubled in three years, increasing from 1,313 in fiscal year 2006-07 to 2,603 awarded in fiscal year 2009-10.
Pictured: A GED graduation for six Century Correctional Institution inmates will be held next week in the prison’s chapel. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
On The Menu: ‘Fresh Kittens Here’
April 13, 2012
A menu board type sign in Cantonment caught a little bit of attention Thursday. The”Fresh Kittens Here, Ask to See” signs had drivers looking twice along Highway 29 while sign photos made the rounds on Facebook.
But not to worry, the sign was not for a restaurant, but for the Companion Animal Clinic, which had several newly arrived kittens up for adoption.
Interested in adopting one of the “Fresh Kittens”? Call the Companion Animal Clinic at (850) 968-0226 or visit them at 470 South Highway 29, in the old Winn Dixie shopping Center.
Pictured: “Fresh Kittens” were available in Cantonment Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pcola Blue Wahoos Snap Skid With 6-3 Win Over Mobile
April 13, 2012
The Blue Wahoos came back to snap back to back losses with a 6-3 win over the Mobile BayBears at Hank Aaron Stadium on Thursday night in Mobile. Didi Gregorius led the way by going 4-for-5 with a couple of runs scored and an RBI as the Blue Wahoos pounded out a season-high 15 hits in the winning effort.
The Blue Wahoos got off to a fast start with a three-run first inning compliments of Mike Costanzo’s league leading third home run of the season, a three-run shot. The BayBears answered with a single tally in the bottom of the first inning against Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Corcino. The BayBears went on to add single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings against the Wahoos starter to even the score at three.
Pensacola reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh when Gregorius scored from third on an RBI groundout by Henry Rodriguez. Two batters later, Cody Puckett tripled off the top of the left field wall scoring Ryan LaMarre from third after he had doubled earlier in the frame. Pensacola added an insurance run in the eighth when Gregorius singled home Josh Fellhauer.
Offensively the Blue Wahoos had four players with multi-hit games. Rodriguez (2-for-5), Brodie Greene (3-for-5) and Josh Fellhauer (2-for-5) all collected multiple hits in addition to Gregorius.
Corcino didn’t record a decision after working five innings and getting charged with two earned runs, three total. Mark Serrano (W, 1-0) earned the win out of the bullpen after working a pair of scoreless innings. Serrano, Clayton Tanner and Donnie Joseph (S, 3) combined to turn in four scoreless innings for the Blue Wahoos in relief. Joseph worked a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.
Bryan Henry (L, 0-1) was saddled with the loss for the BayBears after allowing the go-ahead runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Mobile starter Derek Eitel didn’t record a decision.
The Blue Wahoos look to even the series on Friday night at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. The Blue Wahoos will send right hander Tim Crabbe to the mound against Mobile lefty Patrick Corbin. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
By Tommy Thrall
Man Faces Up To 5 Years For Lying On Bank Loan
April 13, 2012
An Escambia County, Ala., man faces up to five years in federal prison after admitting to making a false statement on a bank loan.
United States Attorney Kenyen Brown said Brewton resident Jack Witherspoon Hines pleaded guilty to charges that he made a false statement pertaining to a bank loan in violation of federal law.
As part of his plea, Hines admitted that he pledged shares of stock as collateral for a loan from the Bank of Brewton when he had already pledged the same stock for a loan from another bank, which maintained the original stock certificate. In so doing, Hines falsely represented that the stock had been pledged as collateral only for the Bank of Brewton loan, according to Brown.
Hines faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, plus a fine of $250,000. His sentencing is set for July 19 before United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) investigated the case.
Man Pleads No Contest In Underage Abuse Case
April 12, 2012
A 48-year old Cantonment man that was accused of molesting a high school student in an off-campus incident has been sentenced to probation on a child abuse charge.
Marcus Eugene Stone was originally charged in December 2011 with lewd or lascivious behavior with a victim age 12-16 and a sex offense against a child over 12. In court this week, those charges were dropped as Stone pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of child abuse.
Judge Terry Terrell withheld adjudication and placed Stone on probation for three years. Stone will be required to successfully complete a sex offender course, and he was ordered to have no contact with the female victim.
Stone was arrested after a juvenile female told investigators that Stone would routinely enter her room and give her back massages in order to wake her up each morning for school. On the morning of her report, said told investigators that back massage progressed with Stone inappropriately touching her.
George Zimmerman Charged With Trayvon Martin Murder
April 12, 2012
The state on Wednesday charged George Zimmerman with second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, and the special prosecutor promised to not only get justice but to find the truth in the case that has rocked Florida and captured the nation’s attention.
Zimmerman was in custody Wednesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest, State Attorney Angela Corey said at a news conference in Jacksonville. She declined to say where Zimmerman was being held, but said he turned himself in.
“We’ve got a long way to go, and we have faith,” said Tracy Martin, the father of the 17-year-old shot Feb. 26 in Sanford, near Orlando.
Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot Martin under disputed circumstances. Police have said Martin was unarmed, but other than that, the facts haven’t fully emerged. Lawyers who represented Zimmerman in the case until the last couple of days have said he acted in self defense when attacked by Martin.
Corey, who works in the circuit around Jacksonville but was assigned to take over the case by Gov. Rick Scott, promised to get to the bottom of those facts.
“We are not only ministers of justice, we are also seekers of the truth,” Corey said. “We will continue to seek the truth throughout this case.”
She declined, however, to specifically discuss any facts of the case.
The case has drawn protests nationwide, and a new look at Florida’s stand your ground law, the self defense statute that says those who feel threatened have no duty to retreat even out in the street – but can fight force with force. It’s also drawn politicians, celebrities and ordinary people nationwide to declare they believe that Martin was the victim in the case. The teen’s family also pushed hard for some sort of law enforcement action.
Corey, however, said facts were what drove the decision to charge.
“We do not prosecute by public pressure, or by petition,” Corey said.
She did, however, make it clear she was sympathetic to Martin’s family, calling him by his first name Trayvon on a number of occasions, and at one point, calling his parents “sweet.”
Corey said prosecutors haven’t decided what penalty to pursue. Technically, a life sentence is possible in a second degree murder case.
“We don’t make that determination at this time,” Corey said. “Once there is a decision then we would concern ourselves with the sentence.”
When – and if – the case comes to trial, it would default to Seminole County, where the shooting occurred, she said. But, she declined to speculate on whether a fair jury could be found there.
National media reported Wednesday that Zimmerman, whose original attorneys dropped him as a client in the last couple of days, had hired a new lawyer, Mark O’Mara of Orlando.
Scott issued a statement urging people to let the case go through the judicial process.
“This matter is now in the hands of the judicial system and I am confident justice will prevail,” Scott said. “As the process continues, it is critical that we be patient and allow the proceedings to move forward in a fair and transparent manner. …. We will all continue to look for answers to the Trayvon Martin tragedy.”
Rev. Al Sharpton appeared at a news conference in Washington with Martin’s parents after Corey’s announcement. Sharpton said he initially didn’t trust Scott, but praised the governor for appointing a special prosecutor in the case and for Corey’s ultimate decision to file charges.
Sharpton said he didn’t think state officials decided to file charges based on public pressure but said that public pressure made it more likely the case would be reviewed, leading to the ultimate decision.
“There is no victory here, there is no winner here – they lost their son,” Sharpton said. “This is about pursuing justice.”
By The News Service of Florida
Investigation: Byrneville Elem. Bus Fire Similiar To North Carolina Blaze
April 12, 2012
A fire on a Byrneville Elementary School bus late last month is not the first time in recent months that particular model of bus has been destroyed by fire, NorthEscambia.com has learned. Meanwhile, the Escambia County School District says the district is continually inspecting buses in an attempt to prevent such incidents.
Moments after the driver and a dozen students escaped without injury from the emergency exit at rear of the bus March 30, the front dash erupted into flames on Thompson Road south of Century. The fire destroyed the dash and driver’s area of the bus and caused heavy smoke and heat damage throughout.
The bus, a 1999 Thomas Built Bus, was on loan as a temporary replacement bus from the Escambia County School District to Byrneville, a charter school that operates its own buses. The fire appeared to be the result of an electrical short circuit in the dash area, firefighters said. It was not an engine fire.
Just last month, a NorthEscambia.com investigation revealed, the state of North Carolina ordered all 1998-1999 Thomas Built Buses inspected after fire destroyed a bus from a Charlotte school.
North Carolina officials found that the North Carolina fire likely started with a heater wire rubbing against a metal valve. Every school district in North Carolina was ordered to inspect “all of the school buses and activity buses in this date range for similar wiring issues”, according to a state memo.
Escambia County only has 22 Thomas Built buses from 1998-1999 still in their fleet, according to Escambia School District Transportation Director Rob Doss. They are all “limited use”, he said, serving as substitute or field/sports trip buses.
“We will investigate the buses more thoroughly,” Doss said after the Thompson Road bus fire. The buses, he said, were inspected for the North Carolina wiring issue after the district became aware of the recall in that state. “We will call North Carolina to see if there’s anything that was not in their report. We want want to know everything they considered.”
“Children’s safety is our first priority,” Doss added.
The official cause of the Escambia County school bus fire remains under investigation.
Pictured: Fire heavily damaged this school bus the morning of March 30 near Century. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
