Scores: Evergreen 2012 All Star District Tourney
June 17, 2012
Here are scores from the 2012 All Star District Tournament in Evergreen, AL, on Saturday:
Brewton 10, Atmore 9
Flomaton 7, Tri-County 6
Opp 12, Northwest Escambia 1
Atmore 13, Evergreen 3
Tournament play continues on Sunday.
(Going to the tournament? Email photos and scores to news@northescambia.com)
Pictured: Action as Northwest Escambia faced Opp Saturday afternoon in Evergreen, AL, in the 2012 All Star District Tournament. Photos by Michelle Thomas for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
List: Vacation Bible Schools
June 17, 2012
Vacation Bible Schools will continue this week at churches in the North Escambia area.
To add a VBS to this list, email news@northescambia.com
VBS Cottage Hill UMC
Vacation Bible School at Cottage Hill United Methodist Church, June 18-22 from 6-8 p.m. For grades K-9. Supper provided.
VBS First Baptist Atmore
Vacation Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Atmore, June 18-22 from 5:30 until 8:00 nightly. Preschool to 5th grade.
Farm Hill UMC VBS
Farm Hill United Methodist Church will hold VBS June 18-20 from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
Berrydale Baptist VBS
Berrydale Baptist Church “Amazing Wonders Aviation” Vacation Bible School, June 18-22 from 9 a.m. until noon. 6730 Hwy 4, Jay.
Walnut Hill Baptist VBS
Walnut Hill Baptist Church “Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS” will be held June 25-29 from 6 until 8:30 p.m. for children through the eighth grade. A VBS celebration will be held after the worship service on Sunday, July 1.
Highland Baptist VBS – Molino
Highland Baptist Church in Molino will hold “Sky” VBS July 9-13 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. for ages three years through fifth grade.
Faith Bible Baptist VBS
Faith Bible Baptist Church “Sonlight Express: Jesus & Me” VBS will take place July 16-20 from 6 until 8:30 p.m. for ages 5-12. The church is located at 5801 North. Century Blvd. For more information or transportation
Little Escambia Baptist VBS – Flomaton
Little Escambia Baptist Church in Flomaton will host VBS July 16-20 from 8:30 a.m. until noon, for ages four years through sixth grade. For more information call (251) 296-2777.
Mt Carmel VBS – Jay
Mt Carmel UMC, located on Mt Carmel Church Road in Jay will have VBS July 16-21 from 5 pm until 8 pm.
Jay UMC VBS
Jay United Methodist Church “Shake It Up Café: Where Kids Carry Out God’s Recipe” VBS will be held June 18-22 from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. For ages four through 12.
Ray’s Chapel VBS
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church “IncrediWorld Amazement Park” VBS will be held July 23-27 from 6 until 8:30 pm for kids Kindergarten through fifth grade. A kickoff/registration party will be held Saturday, July 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The church is located at 170 W. Bogia Road in McDavid. For more information call (850) 256-3422.
Family Worship Center VBS
Family Worship Center’s “Quest for Truth” VBS will be held July 23-27 from 9 a.m. until noon for kids ages five through 12. Family Worship Center is located at 1251 West Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. (850) 723-2644.
First Baptist Cantonment VBS
First Baptist Church of Cantonment “Amazing Wonders Aviation VBS 2012″ will be held June 25th-29th from 8:30 a.m. until noon for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade. The church is located at 118 Morris Avenue in Cantonment. For more information call (850) 968-9135 or visit www.fbccfl.com.
Allen Memorial UMC VBS – Cantonment
Allen Memorial United Methodist Church “Operation Overboard” VBS will be held July 16-20 from 9 a.m. until noon for children kindergarten through fifth grade. 206 Pace Pkwy in Cantonment. (850) 968-6213.
Victory Assembly VBS
Victory Assembly of God, Highway 29, will hold “Operation Overboard” VBS June 25-29 from 9 a.m. until noon daily. Kindergarten to fifth grade.
Charity Baptist VBS – Cantonment
Charity Baptist Church of Cantonment will hold VBS June 25-29 from 6 until 8 p.m. with Fun Day on Saturday, June 30 from 10 a.m. until noon. Visit www.charitybaptistchurch.org for info.
Aldersgate UMC Molino VBS
“Operation Overboard” Vacation Bible School at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino, July 30-August 3. Daily activities 5:30-8:30 p.m. for ages 3 to rising fifth graders. Preregister now at www.aumcmolino.org. For more info, contact Sandra at (850) 587-2489.
Volunteers Needed For Escambia County Committees, Boards
June 17, 2012
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking volunteers for the Escambia County Health Facilities Authority, the Escambia County Investment Advisory Committee, the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission and the Escambia County Value Adjustment Board.
The Escambia County Health Facilities Authority was established by Florida law. The purpose of the authority is to assist health facilities in acquisition, construction, financing and refinancing of projects. Knowledge of finance and/or health care administration is required to sit on this authority. Authority members serve a four-year term of office.
The Escambia County Investment Advisory Committee was established under a County ordinance. The duty of the Investment Advisory Committee is to review and recommend changes regarding the investment practices of Escambia County. The Committee shall review the County’s portfolio activity for compliance with the Escambia County Investment Policy. Documented expertise in finance and investments is required for this appointment. Appointed members shall not be employed by any office of County government and shall be residents of Escambia County. Appointed members may not engage in any private financial dealings with the County during their tenure on the Committee and for a period of two years thereafter. Committee members serve a three-year term of office.
The Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission was established through Florida law. The Commission’s duties are to actively seek new industry for the area and promote expansion of existing industries. The Commission is also responsible for promoting and developing industrial parks and promoting tourism and convention activities for the Escambia County area. Commission members serve a two-year term of office.
The Escambia County Value Adjustment Board was established in accordance with Florida Statutes. The Value Adjustment Board provides for the hearing of all petitions, complaints, appeals and disputes concerning taxable assessment of properties. The Board membership shall consist of two Commissioners, one of whom shall be elected chairman; one citizen appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), two members of the District School Board, as elected from the membership of that body; and one citizen appointed by the School Board. The citizen Board members must own homesteaded property in Escambia County, cannot be a member or employee of any taxing authority and cannot be a person that represents property owners in any administrative or judicial review of property taxes. Board members serve a one-year term of office.
If interested in serving on any of the commissions or authorities listed above, contact Judy Witterstaeter at (850) 595-4917 to submit a résumé before Wednesday, June 27.
Pensacola Beats BayBears 6-0 In Wahoos’ First No Hitter
June 17, 2012
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Daniel Corcino and reliever Wilkin De La Rosa combined to toss the first no hitter in team history, with Corcino going the first eight frames while De La Rosa pitched the ninth in a 6-0 victory over the Mobile BayBears in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory improves the Fish’s record to an even 33-33 mark this season, while the defeat dropped Mobile to a 39-30 record in 2012. The no-no came a year to the date Montgomery Biscuits LHP Matt Moore held the BayBears hitless. The sellout crowd was the 22nd Pensacola has hosted this year at the bayfront stadium.
Corcino (8.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO) in his eight frames yielded just three walks while striking out nine, including five of the final six batters he faced. The right-hander threw 110 pitches, 68 of which were for strikes, and also induced nine groundouts and six flyouts. The win improves Corcino’s record to 3-4 this year. Mobile starter David Holmberg (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 in 2012 after allowing just a lone earned run on six hits in his five frames.
De La Rosa (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) came on in the ninth to finish off the BayBears, and struck out the side in addition to walking one, retiring the final batter LF Marc Krauss on a called third strike to cue the celebration near the mound. The two closest moments for a BayBears hit were in the second and fifth frames. Krauss tapped a soft grounder to the right side of the infield in the third, with Corcino racing off the mound to throw out Kruass, while Blue Wahoos 3B David Vidal barehanded a slow ground ball in the fifth and set down RF Alfredo Marte.
Both teams were held quiet on the scoreboard until the fifth, when Pensacola struck with their first score. SS Didi Gregorius laced a triple down the right field line before he was brought in on a clutch two run-scoring single to right by 1B Joel Guzman to give the Fish all they would need.
Vidal launched his first home run at the Double-A level over the left field wall in the seventh, a two-run blast, to push Pensacola ahead 3-0, while pinch hitter Josh Fellhauer singled home RF Andrew Means in the eighth to move the lead to 4-0. The Fish would then take advantage of a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch to complete the scoring in the frame.
Gregorius (2-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 BB) and LF P.J. Phillips (2-5) each collected multi-hit efforts for Pensacola in the victory, while Corcino helped his own cause in the third, recording a base knock to left field.
By Andrew Green
After clinching the five-game series with the win, Pensacola and Mobile will face off again on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 2:00 pm. The Blue Wahoos are scheduled to send RHP Kyle Lotzkar to the hill, while the BayBears are expected to counter with RHP Chase Anderson.
Picture: Daniel Corcino fired the first eight innings of the first no hitter in Blue Wahoos’ history Saturday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ethics Panel Zeroes In On Legislative Changes
June 17, 2012
Tired of being what one member described as a “paper tiger” in getting laws passed, the state ethics commission said Friday it will try to more narrowly focus its lobbying efforts during the 2013 legislative session.
The Commission on Ethics will particularly focus on trying to get lawmakers to increase its power to collect fines from state and local officials who fail to file required financial-disclosure reports. That could include seeking approval to place liens on the scofflaws’ property.
Commissioner Matt Carlucci, who will help lead the lobbying efforts, said such disclosure forms are needed to make public any potential conflicts of interests. He said Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, has agreed to file a bill that would increase the commission’s enforcement powers.
“It (the requirement to file financial disclosures) is there for a purpose,” said Carlucci, a former Jacksonville City Council president. “It’s there for a reason.”
Also, the commission likely will push to increase maximum penalties for ethics violations from $10,000 to $25,000. In the past, the commission has called for maximum penalties of $100,000, but Carlucci said he did not think lawmakers would go along with that idea.
The discussion of a legislative agenda came during a meeting in which the commission also elected a new chairwoman, Fort Lauderdale attorney Susan Maurer. She replaces Tallahassee attorney Robert Sniffen in leading the appointed panel.
Commissioners expressed frustrations at being unable to persuade lawmakers in recent years to change ethics laws. Edwin Scales III, a Key West attorney, suggested focusing on one or two priorities and offered the “paper tiger” description in getting legislation approved.
“We have not been successful in having the Legislature adopt any of our recommendations,” Scales said.
The commission in the past has sought at least limited power to initiate investigations without having to receive complaints. Commissioner Linda Robison, a Pompano Beach attorney, said she thinks such additional power is important, but Carlucci and Scales said they would rather focus on the issues of collecting fines and increasing potential penalties.
Commissioners hammered the fine issue during the meeting, with panel member Morgan Bentley even reading off a list of officials from throughout the state who owed tens of thousands of dollars for failing to file financial disclosures. Florida has a four-year statute of limitations on such fines, but the commission Friday refused to write off fines that have gone uncollected beyond that time period.
By The News Service of Florida
NWE Adult 8-on-8 Flag Football Tourney Planned
June 17, 2012
An adult eight team 8-on-8 adult flag football tournament to benefit the Northwest Escambia Youth Football League will be held at the Ernest Ward Football field on Saturday, July 28.
The entry fee per team is $125 with registration and seeding beginning at 8 a.m. The first eight teams to reserve a spot will be taken. Call (850) 281-5146 for more information.
Florida Court: Cops Can Search Cell Phone
June 17, 2012
A state appeals court Friday ruled that police could search the cell phone of a man arrested on drug charges, but it also called on the Florida Supreme Court to take up the issue.
The 5th District Court of Appeal overturned a Brevard County circuit judge’s ruling that tossed out evidence found in text messages on the phone. Police did not obtain a search warrant before searching the phone of Ricardo Glasco, who was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, possession of cannabis and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the ruling.
Police officers searched the cell phone while Glasco was being processed into jail.
“Text messages retrieved from the cell phone revealed that Glasco had cocaine he intended to sell,” the ruling said.
The three-judge panel relied heavily on similar rulings in the 1st District Court of Appeal that said evidence obtained in cell phones should not be suppressed.
By The News Service of Florida
Unemployment Rate Up
June 16, 2012
The latest job numbers released Friday showed an increase in unemployment in the three-county North Escambia area — as Florida’s employment rate was down a full two percentage points from one year ago.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate increase from 8.1 percent in April to 8.4 percent in May. There were 627 more reported unemployed during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 11,573 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 9.7 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment held steady from April to May at 7.6 percent. Santa Rosa County had a total of 5,449 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 8.5 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment jumped from 7.8 percent in April to 9.0 percent. That represented 1,342 people unemployed in the county during the month. The year-ago rate was 10.5 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 in May fell to 8.6 percent, down 0.1 percent from April and 2.0 percent lower than a year ago, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported Friday. The U.S. rate remained unchanged from April and remained at 8.2 percent.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 7.4 percent in May, was up from April’s rate of 7.2 percent and was below the year-ago rate of 9.3 percent.
Sunny Skies, No Rain
June 16, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
1,200 Elderly Or Disabled Adults Reported Abused In Escambia, Santa Rosa
June 16, 2012
Over 1,200 elderly or disabled adults were reported to be abused last fiscal year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, elder abuse is an often under-recognized and unreported problem. Research indicates that more than one in ten elders may experience some type of abuse, but only one in five cases or fewer are reported. Many times the elderly are abused by people they trust. Elders can be reluctant to report their abuse and often go without the help they need.
With 941 reported cases, Escambia County led the Florida Panhandle in the case of abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly or disabled adults last fiscal year. There were 263 cases reported in Santa Rosa County.
“Every day, hundreds of elderly or disabled adults are being mistreated physically, emotionally or financially,” said DCF Secretary David Wilkins. “Please take time to check on your family members, friends and neighbors to make sure that the needs of these vulnerable members of our community are being met.”
DCF offers the following ways you can help prevent abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults:
- If you suspect an elderly or disabled adult is being victimized, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
- Keep in contact with older friends, neighbors and relatives. It might be their only chance to talk to someone about any problems they might be experiencing.
- Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to identify programs and support, such as Meals on Wheels. These programs help seniors maintain health, well-being and independence.
- Volunteer at a local program that helps vulnerable adults.
Friday was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day