Daily Rain Chances Continue
August 8, 2012
Tuesday brought showers and thunderstorms mostly to the southern half of Escambia County.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast.
- Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 95.
Pictured: Storm clouds at Pensacola Beach Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Andrea Howard for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Back To The Future: Old Main Street Sewer Plant Site Up For Sale
August 8, 2012
Thursday, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority will uncover a “for sale” sign and lay sod to announce the 19-acre downtown site of the former Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant (MSWWTP), is available for redevelopment opportunities.
ECUA board members, directors and other dignitaries will participate in the event that has been dubbed “Back to the Future”.
Originally designed and constructed in 1937, between Main and Government streets, the MSWWTP underwent numerous expansions in the 1970s and mid-1990s. The plant was officially taken off-line, Thursday, April 28, 2011, with waste water operations transferred to a new facility in Cantonment (pictured top).
One year after ceasing operations, “Old Stinky,” the name affectionately given to the facility by local media representatives, emerged as an environmental success story. Reuse of the MSWWTP property included a defined effort to reduce the environmental impact by reusing and recycling materials recovered during the demolition process.
New Century Family Dollar Set To Open Thursday
August 8, 2012
The new Family Dollar store in Century is set to open was work continues on a store in Jay.
The Century store will open on Thursday morning. The Jay store should be open in time for the holidays, according to Josh Braverman, communications director for Family Dollar.
“We look forward to opening our stores in Century and Jay,” Braverman said.
Both the Century and Jay stores will average 8-10 employees. Applications will be accepted online at www.familydollar.com.
Family Dollar currently operates 7,200 stores in 45 states with about 50,000 team members. The small format convenience and value retailer offers a mix of everyday use name brand products including food and paper products, household items, seasonal products, clothing and more.
Pictured: Last minute grand opening preparations were underway Tuesday afternoon at the new Family Dollar store in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Obispo Shines As Pensacola Beats Huntsville Stars 6-1
August 8, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Wirfin Obispo earned his third straight win with seven shutout innings pitched, while catcher Tucker Barnhart and left fielder Donald Lutz each blasted homers to lead Pensacola to a 6-1 victory over the Huntsville Stars in the series finale on Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.
With the win, the Fish improved their second half record to 23-22 to remain within two games of Jacksonville for first place in the South Division of the Southern League. The defeat dropped Huntsville to a 22-23 mark since the league’s All-Star break.
Obispo (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 8 SO) was victorious for the third consecutive outing after yielding just four hits in his seven scoreless innings. Including tonight, the right-hander in his last three starts has accumulated a 1.50 ERA (3 ER in 18.0 IP) and struck out 25 while giving up just eight hits in that span.
Relievers Wilkin De La Rosa (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) and Curtis Partch (1.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 SO) joined forces to fire the final two frames in support of Obispo, holding the Stars to just one run. Huntsville starter Jimmy Nelson (5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year, while RHP R.J. Seidel (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO) kept the Fish off the scoreboard in his three innings of relief for the Stars.
The Blue Wahoos got the game’s scoring started in the fourth, taking an early 1-0 lead. RF Josh Fellhauer drew a leadoff walk and then moved to third on a double to right from 1B Beau Mills, before coming across on a passed ball for the contest’s first score.
Pensacola would then power ahead to a 6-0 advantage in the next two frames to go up 6-0. 2B Brodie Greene began the fifth with a double, before Barnhart left the yard for his first homer at the Double-A level, which made it 3-0. Andrew Means and 3B David Vidal would then each reach on free passes in the next frame, before Lutz brought both in when he launched his third longball for the Blue Wahoos to right.
Huntsville plated their lone tally in the eighth to dash the Blue Wahoos’ shutout hopes. CF Josh Prince doubled to left and would move to third on a groundout, before coming across on 2B Scooter Gennett’s run-scoring single to center.
Greene (2-4, 1 R, 2 2B), Barnhart (2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and CF Ryan LaMarre (2-5) each recorded multi-hit efforts for the Blue Wahoos in the victory, while Gennett (2-4, 1 RBI) collected two hits for the Stars. Greene continued his hot streak at the plate and has now compiled a .533 average (8-15) in his last four games after going hitless in his previous five contests.
The Fish now head back to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium for a five-game series with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. First pitch of the series is set for Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., with RHP Chad Rogers scheduled to get the nod for the Blue Wahoos, while the Lookouts are expected to counter with RHP Matt Magill.
Families Count will be holding a hygiene drive to benefit homeless veterans, and will be collecting new hygiene products such as soap, shaving cream, razors, deodorant and more at the main gate. It’s also Back to School Night at the bayfront stadium, with fans encouraged in addition to bring new school supplies to help “Cram the Van. All items will be donated to area families, while there will also be old fashioned carnival games set up around the concourse.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Wirfin Obispo earned his third straight win Tuesday night for the Blue Wahoos. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Trial Postponed For Former Flomaton Police Chief
August 7, 2012
The former Flomaton, Ala., police chief was back in a Pensacola courtroom Tuesday morning.
A judge granted a request by Geoffrey Ashley McGraw’s attorney Earnest Ray White, to delay his trial so White can review more evidence in the case from the State Attorney’s Office. A new court date of October 22 was set.
McGraw had previously pleaded not guilty in Escambia County (Fla.) Circuit Court to a felony charge of kidnapping/false imprisonment. He remains free from jail on a $5,000 bond.
McGraw’s arrest stemmed from a joint operation by the Florida 1st Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE obtained the warrant for McGraw’s arrest for an August 14, 2011, incident in which Ronald Adam Barrow was arrested by McGraw at a home on Old Flomaton Road in Century — 0.177 miles from the Alabama state line. McGraw, without jurisdiction, allegedly took Barrow into custody in Florida on an outstanding Escambia County (Ala.) failure to appear warrant in a misdemeanor case. Barrow was then transported back across the state line into Alabama.
“He didn’t know where he was at the time, and we’ve got some evidence showing that the GPS showed that he was still in Alabama, in fact,” White said Tuesday morning.
McGraw was placed on leave by the Flomaton Town Council on February 27 and subsequently fired on March 12, just four days after his arrest.
Pictured top: Former Flomaton Police Chief Geoffrey Ashley McGraw appeared in a Escambia County (Fla.) courtroom Tuesday morning. Photo by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Traffic Alert: Delays All Day At I-10, Nine Mile Road
August 7, 2012
Motorists can expect delays throughout the day Tuesday at the intersection of West Nine Mile Road and I-10 due to construction, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Southern Poverty Law Center Files Complaint Against Escambia Schools
August 7, 2012
The Southern Poverty Law Center announced Tuesday morning that it has filed a series of federal civil rights complaints against Florida School Districts, including Escambia County. The complaints alleged that the districts subject African-American students to harsh disciplinary policies at rates that are far higher than for white students.
The complaints, filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, describe how African-American students in the school districts in Escambia, Bay, Okaloosa, Flagler and Suwannee counties are suspended, expelled and arrested at school for relatively minor and non-violent conduct.
“Unforgiving disciplinary policies are cutting short the futures of countless African-American students across Florida and the entire nation,” said Stephanie Langer, a staff attorney for the SPLC’s Florida office. “If school districts truly want to provide a quality education to all of their students, they will reform these discriminatory policies.”
The complaints explain how the school districts have imposed long-term suspensions on children as young as 8 years old for minor rule infractions such as tardiness, inappropriate cell phone usage, talking in class and dress code violations.
The SPLC said in Escambia County Schools, African-American students account for 65 percent of all out-of-school suspensions, but they represent only 36 percent of the student population.
The SPLC alleges that M.C., an African-American student in Escambia County, was suspended and arrested for “trespassing” after purchasing a hot meal at a neighboring high school. Before this incident, M.C. had no history of discipline issues.
Florida has amended its zero-tolerance discipline law to encourage schools to handle minor behavioral problems with in-school discipline rather than harsh policies that decrease a student’s time in the regular classroom, the SPLC stated in a news release.
“Local school districts and state officials must make reforms that improve the effectiveness of school disciplinary policies without forcing children out of the classroom,” said Tania Galloni, managing attorney of the SPLC’s Florida office. “School discipline should never deprive a child of an education, but that is happening in these school districts. What was once considered minor misconduct has become an opportunity to punish or even criminalize a student’s behavior.”
In addition to Escambia County, the complaints target Okaloosa, Bay, Suwannee and Flagler counties.
Woman Charged With Beating Boyfriend With A Golf Club
August 7, 2012
A Jay woman was arrested after she went to her boyfriend’s house, kicked in the door, and beat him with a golf club.
The incident started when 24-year old Tristan Danielle Watson was on the phone with her boyfriend when the conversation became heated. After the victim hung up on her,Watson then proceeded to drive to her boyfriend’s home in Jay, kick in the backdoor, and hit him twice in the face with a golf club, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
He fell to the ground and was able to get the golf club from Watson. Watson continued to punch the victim in the face before taking a few hundred dollars from the victim’s wallet. Watson then left her boyfriend lying on the floor and fled the scene. The victim had bruising and swelling around his eye and forehead, according to deputies.
Deputies recovered a “Kidpower” brand golf club at the scene, according to an arrest report.
Watson was located by deputies at a residence in Pace, and she admitted to attacking her boyfriend with a golf club after entering his home.
Watson was charged with home invasion robbery, burglary, felony battery and petit theft. She remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail Monday without bond.
Watson and the victim have a child together, according to he Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia Parents Can Apply Online Now For Free, Reduced Lunch Benefits
August 7, 2012
School does not start in Escambia County until August 20, but parents and guardians can apply online now for free and reduced prices meals to speed up the approval process.
Online applications for the 2012-2013 school year can be completed at:
http://mealapp.escambia.k12.fl.us/
There are no charges or fees to use the online free and reduced meal application.
To view the income guidelines for the free and reduced price meal program, click here.
New Multi-Agency ‘Gun Response Team’ Formed In Escambia County
August 7, 2012
Law enforcement agencies are teaming up in Escambia County to form the “Gun Response Team” to investigate incidents of gun related crimes in the county.
The multi-agency group will respond to and investigate crimes where a firearm was the weapon of choice. At times, they will support investigations by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office or the Pensacola Police Department. Sometimes the team will be the primary investigative unit.
“The goal of this initiative is the reduction of gun related violence as well as the arrest and successful prosecution of those who commit gun related crimes,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Gun Response Team will respond to crimes including:
- Homicides that are gun related
- Drive by shootings
- Intentional weapon discharges with property damage or injury
- Suspicious firearm wounds and firearm wounds to known criminals
- Persons arrested and charged with a firearm violation (primary and secondary)
- Illegal aliens with firearms
- Narcotic related crimes involving firearms
- Illegal firearms and weapons caches
- Found or recovered firearms (including those with no arrest)
The Gun Response Team consists of members from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office. Also assisting in the venture will be the Florida Department of Probation and Parole, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Marshal’s and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The first day of operation for the new team was Monday.