Escambia County Seeks Residents To Serve On Library Committee
August 31, 2012
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents to serve on a Blue Ribbon Task Force to develop the blueprint for library operations for 2013 until 2018. The plan will include the goals and objectives that will guide library services for the West Florida Library System.
The committee will envision, evaluate and assess community needs with distinctive programs and services for library operations. The committee will have the potential to revamp and streamline the processes that enable libraries to respond quickly to rapidly changing environments of providing library services.
The final document produced as a result of this committee will provide a future plan for the West Florida Library System. The committee is expected to meet for approximately six months in order to complete this task.
The Board of County Commissioners will select five members for the Task Force, one representing each district. If you are interested in serving on the task force, or for more information, contact Marilyn Wesley, Community Affairs Department Director, at (850) 595-3130.
Resumes can be emailed to mdwesley@myescambia.com, or mailed to:
Marilyn Wesley
Department of Community Affairs
221 Palafox Place
Pensacola, FL 32502
Please include contact information and what county district you live in on the resume. The deadline for resumes is Friday, September 7, 2012.
Isaac Damage Could Close Beach Road For Months
August 31, 2012
As the waters from Hurricane Isaac recede, the damage done is becoming evident along the coast.
State Road 399, which connects Pensacola Beach to Navarre, is expected to be closed for months. Asphalt is washed away and buckled; the National Park Service says the damage is from water washing up the sand from underneath the roadbed.
Pictured: Damage along SR 399 between Pensacola Beach and Navarre. Photo by Anthony Pura, WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hunter Safety Course Offered
August 31, 2012
Hunter safety training lead by Florida Fish and Wildlife trained volunteers will be offered next month at the Langley Bell 4-H Center.
Classes will be held from 6-9 p.m. September 11, 13, 18 and 20 with the shooting range portion of the course on September 20. Participants must be 12 or older; anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Preregistration is required. To register or for more information, click here or call Libbie Johnson at Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu.
Gas Prices Jump In Wake Of Hurricane Isaac
August 31, 2012
Gas prices jumped again Thursday in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, meaning drivers will be faced with the idea of costly fill-ups as they take a final summer spin for Labor Day weekend.
According to AAA, gas prices jumped a couple of cents per gallon to a national seasonal record of $3.82. That gallon of gas was also up a nickel on Wednesday as Isaac pounded the Gulf Coast. AAA predicts the price will rise through the weekend before moderating or falling as oil companies restart their operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida’s average price per gallon for regular unleaded was $3.78 Thursday, while the Pensacola area was at an average of $3.67, up from $3.57 one year ago.
Pictured top: A gallon of regular unleaded was was $3.64 Thursday afternoon in Molino, just below the Pensacola metro average of $3.67. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tonight’s Prep Football Schedule
August 31, 2012
Here is tonight’s high school football schedule from across the North Escambia area.
Headed to a game? Share your photos — email them to news@northescambia.com tonight!
Florida
- John Paul II Catholic at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Rocky Bayou, 7 p.m. (at Destin Middle)
- Tate at St. Charles (LA), canceled
- West Florida at Escambia, 7:30 p.m.
- Catholic at Choctaw, 7 p.m.
- Washington at Navarre, 7:30 p.m.
- Arnold at Pace, 7:30 p.m.
- Milton at Crestview, 7:30 p.m.
Alabama
- Monroeville at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Escambia County (Atmore), 7 p.m.
- Escambia Academy at Hooper Academy, 7 p.m.
- Holtville at W.S. Neal, 7 p.m.
Domestic Violence Incident Leads To Meth Lab Discovery, Arrests
August 31, 2012
Four people were arrested after deputies responding to a domestic violence call near Atmore located a suspected meth lab Thursday.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in reference to a male and female fighting in the yard of a home at 89 Bell Fork Road, just off Highway 21. As deputies were responding to the home, they received a second 911 call from a female, 34-year old Dana Bullin of Atmore, at the Creek Smoke Shop near Highway 21 and I-65. She was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital for treatment of injuries allegedly received during the altercation.
During their investigation, deputies said they determined Bullin had entered the residence on Bell Ford Road and allegedly assaulted Larry Paul and Jamey Bullin before taking Jamey’ Bullin’s wallet.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence, where they discovered what they believed to be illegal narcotics, including crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, hashish and prescription medications. Deputies and narcotics agents also recovered items typically used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Dana Bullin was charged with theft of property second degree and domestic violence assault third degree.
Jamey Bullin, age 35 of Stockton, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance second degree, first degree unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Larry Paul, Jr., age 36 of Atmore, was charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance, unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance second degree, unlawful possession of marijuana first degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Robert Mayo, age 21 of By Minette, was charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance, unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance second degree, unlawful possession of marijuana first degree and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
All four were booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton to await a bond hearing.
Averette Maxwell “Buck” Wyse, Jr.
August 31, 2012
Mr. Averette Maxwell “Buck” Wyse, Jr., 83, passed away Thursday, August 23, 2012, in Mocksville, NC.
He was born December 30, 1928, in Pensacola to the late Averette Maxwell Wyse, Sr. and Cora Beatrice Hart Wyse. Mr. Wyse was retired from Monsanto 750 Bldg.. with 30 years of service, and with 20 years of perfect attendance. He enjoyed his job working on the machines. Mr. Wyse was a veteran of the U.S. Army. While working at Monsanto, he also enjoyed his time working at the family businesses, Molino Service Center and Family Florist. He volunteered for 35 years with ESAR (Escambia Search and Rescue) as boat commander and was a volunteer firefighter with Molino Fire Department Station 18. Mr. Wyse had logged in over 60 years of volunteer service to his community. He was a member of the Pensacola Treasure Hunting Club.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Marty Tharpe for being such a great friend and family member. Mr. Wyse enjoyed spending time hunting and mullet fishing with his best friend, Randy Powell. Most of all, he loved helping people and loved his family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Inez Lindsay Wyse; and a daughter, Holly Wyse Martire.
Survivors include a daughter, Malysa (Melissa) Wyse; a son, Dennis Wyse; three granddaughters, Danielle “Dani” Martire, Susan Wright and Alicia Bridwell (Derek); and a great-granddaughter, Lyndzi Wright.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 1, 2012, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, Hwy 29, Cantonment, with Brother Ed Cotton officiating. Interment will follow in Gonzalez United Methodist Church Cemetery, Cantonment, with military graveside rites conducted by the U.S. Army. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home. The family requests that memorials be considered for Molino Fire Dept., 1459 Molino Road, Molino, FL 32577.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium Named Ballpark Of The Year
August 31, 2012
Pensacola’s Bayfront Stadium has been recognized as the top new stadium in all of professional baseball according to Baseballparks.com, a popular website that annually reviews baseball stadiums all over the country. Baseballparks.com site mater, Joe Mock made the announcement in a press release early on Thursday that Pensacola Bayfront Stadium was the recipient of the 13th annual Ballpark of the Year.
This distinction is just another in a long list of memorable moments that have made the Blue Wahoos inaugural season a resounding success. The Blue Angels flyover on opening day, visits from Masters Champion Bubba Watson and National Champion running back Trent Richardson, a no-hitter, Billy Hamilton’s stolen base record and now baseball’s best new stadium have all molded a lasting impression of Minor League Baseball on fans in the Pensacola community.
“We are very grateful for the high praise from Baseballparks.com,” said Blue Wahoos’ president Bruce Baldwin. “Considering the other stadiums that have opened this season, we are thrilled to receive this award. It is truly an honor. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication to this project by our owners Quint and Rishy Studer and the confidence and support of this stadium and the vision by the Community Maritime Park Associates, the City of Pensacola and its citizens. I don’t consider this an award for the Blue Wahoos, but one for all of Pensacola and Northwest Florida.”
Mock visited the park in May and provided a review of the stadium on his site following the trip. Other stadiums in consideration for the award included Marlins Park in Miami and the Boston Red Sox spring training facility in Lee County, Fla.
“The architects at Populous should be very proud of their facilities that opened this year,” said Mock. “They designed the incredibly impressive spring-training park and complex in Lee County, Florida for the Red Sox. They were also the architects for one of the most ambitious sports facilities ever built, Marlins Park. But even though it was the smallest of their three projects, I think Pensacola’s ballpark is the best.”
The selection of Populous as the stadium’s architecture firm is indicative of the commitment to the project by the City of Pensacola and the CMPA. Fans have been flocking to the stadium all summer long. The bayfront stadium has been sold out 37 times in 2012 and the Blue Wahoos boast an overall attendance of 303,744 averaging 4,821 fans per game.
“Over the past five months, thousands of people have enjoyed the great atmosphere and gorgeous view at Pensacola’s new bayfront stadium,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “This latest accolade is another testament to the Blue Wahoos’ fanastic first season and the hard work of so many over the past six years. This stadium has been an amazing addition to our vibrant downtown and growing waterfront and another reason that Pensacola is the Upside of Florida.”
Mock credited the design, fan amenities and site selection as contributing factors for the award. Past recipients of this award include AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and last year’s winner Salt River Field in Arizona
Smokies Power Past Pensacola 4-2
August 31, 2012
The Smokies smacked three home runs to account for all four of their scores, with shortstop Logan Watkins, second baseman Matt Cerda and first baseman Justin Bour all leaving the yard to power Tennessee to a 4-2 series-opening victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The loss combined with a Montgomery victory means the Blue Wahoos are now 2.5 games behind the Biscuits for first place in the Southern League’s South Division with four games remaining. The win pushed the Smokies to a 34-32 record in the second half, while the Fish are 33-32 since the league’s midpoint.
The Smokies’ surge began in the opening frame, with Watkins leaving the yard with a solo shot. It was the eighth longball of the season for Watkins, which pushed Tennessee to an early 1-0 advantage.
Pensacola however, countered with two tallies of their own in the third. CF Ryan LaMarre reached on a single and then stole second, prior to coming home when 1B Beau Mills reached on a Smokies error. Mills would then move to third on LF Donald Lutz’s double and eventually come plateward on a 3B David Vidal’s RBI groundout.
Three innings later, Tennessee would grab the lead for good with their second longball of the evening. After the first two hitters were retired, LF Rubi Silva kept the sixth alive with a free pass before Cerda clobbered the 1-1 pitch to left for his third roundtripper of 2012. The Smokies added an insurance run in the in the eighth when Bour blasted a solo big fly to left, increasing the margin to 4-2.
Blue Wahoos 2B Brodie Greene (2-4, 2 2B) recorded a multi-hit effort in his first game back since being activated from the Disabled List, while Lutz (2-4, 1 2B) also collected two base knocks. No Tennessee hitters tallied more than one hit in the contest.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two runs, one of which was earned, on four hits in five frames. Three Smokies relievers would reinforce Beeler by combining to yield just three base knocks in the final four frames. LHP Casey Harman (1.0 IP, 1 H) and RHP Trey McNutt (1.0 IP, 3 SO) each collected holds, while RHP Brian Schlitter (2.0 IP, 2 H, 4 SO) notched his sixth save. Pensacola starter Wirfin Obispo (6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 SO) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up just three earned runs on three hits, adding five strikeouts in six innings.
With the Smokies leading the series 1-0, both teams return to action Friday night with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is scheduled to give the nod to RHP Daniel Corcino (8-7, 3.06), while Tennessee is expected to counter with RHP Nick Struck (13-10, 3.30).
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Brodie Greene recorded two hits in his first game back from the disabled list Thursday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Visits Escambia County To Promote Post-Isaac Labor Day Business
August 31, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott visited Pensacola and Pensacola Beach Thursday morning to spread the word that Florida is open for business this Labor Day weekend despite Hurricane Isaac.
Scott met with local leaders representing business, education, government and tourism to talk about plans to bring tourists back.
“I like the food here, the beaches, the people. So I’m going to do everything I can to make sure this part of the state stays busy,” Scott said.
Pictured: Gov. Rick Scott at the Hilton on Pensacola Beach Thursday morning. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.