Second Human West Nile Case Confirmed In Escambia County
August 18, 2012
The second human case of the West Nile virus was confirmed Friday in Escambia County, days after health officials issued a “Mosquito Borne Illness Advisory” for the entire county.
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 either infected person resides.
“A second human case of West Nile Virus underscores the very high risk of additional persons becoming infected with the virus. As school starts, and evening outdoor sporting events resume, it is especially important to make every effort to protect yourself and those you love from mosquito bites,” said Dr. Susan Turner, associate director for the Escambia County Health Department.
Escambia County on Friday issued the following tips:
- Remove standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
- Cover skin with clothing or repellent—
- Stay indoors when mosquitoes are active
- Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET(N,N-diethyl-mtoluamide), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house
- Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
- Keep doors and windows closed if screens are not present.
- Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent.
- Some repellents are not suitable for children.
- Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended.
- Other US Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents contain Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. These products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look for active ingredients to be listed on the product label.
- 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.
- If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing.
Deputies Seek Woman Preying On Elderly Females
August 18, 2012
Two weeks after similar incidents in the Cantonment and Molino areas, authorities in Santa Rosa County are attempting to identify a female suspect that has been targeting elderly females.
At least four times this month, the subject has either taken an elderly female purse when the victim was outside working, or has stopped at an elderly female’s residence, stating that her “puppy is lost”, asking for a drink of water, and engaging in conversation before grabbing and running with a purse. She then immediately uses the credit cards inside the purse at a local convenience store or retail business, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman is described as being between 23 and 35 years old, about 5-foot-five inches tall and weighing about 130 to 160 pounds. She has an unknown tattoo on her right ankle. She was driving a silver late model Dodge Dakota 2-door truck with a toolbox on the back.
Anyone with information on the woman is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1100 or Santa Rosa Crime Stoppers at (850) 437-STOP. The Sheriff’s Office is also asking citizens to be aware of the these tactics and spread the word to others, especially elderly females.
Early this month, a woman with a similar description and vehicle talked her way into the home of elderly female residents in the Molino and Cantonment areas. It is not known if it is the same suspect. For more the Escambia County incidents, click here.
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