Portion Of Hecker Road Closed
July 25, 2012
Hecker Road in Century is closed between Lodge Road and Alger Road for repairs.
The roadway is expected to remain closed until Thursday, according to the Town of Century. Motorists are advised to use Front Street as an alternative route.
Northview Mini Cheerleading Camp Begins Today
July 25, 2012
The Northview High School cheerleaders will host a mini cheerleading camp for children age 4 through the eighth grade.
The camp will be held from 3 until 5 p.m. on July 25, July 26 and August 2.
The cost will be $30 for camp and $10 for a shirt. The shirts will be slightly different than last year’s, but will not be required. Registration begins at 2:30 on July 25.
Camp attendees will learn chants, cheers, stunts and a dance. Refreshments will be be provided. Parents are invited to see their child’s performance on August 2, and they will also perform at the first home Northview Chiefs football game. A review session date will be scheduled prior to the football game performance.
For more information, contact Megan or Tammy at (850) 327-6681 or any Northview cheerleader.
Pictured: Northview High mini cheerleaders perform last football season. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Wife Waking Husband Leads To Pillow Fight, Felony Arrest
July 25, 2012
A Cantonment man allegedly became upset that his wife disturbed his sleep, leading to pillow fight and his arrest on a felony charge.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that Dwayne Lanier Johnson, 50, became upset when she disturbed his sleep while getting ready for bed. She said Johnson began to hit her with a pillow and then grabbed her around the neck and choked her, and then threw her to the floor and choked her again.
Johnson told deputies that he did become upset when his wife disturbed his sleep. According to an arrest report, he admitted to throwing a pillow at her and then grabbing her in a bear hug and walking her toward the door.
Johnson was charged with felony domestic battery by strangulation. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $500 bond.
Local Twirler Places Second In National Baton Competition
July 25, 2012
Colbi Kendall of Flomaton recently took part in the National Baton Twirling Competition on the campus of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana.
She placed second in the 2-baton 12-year old division, missing the title by one-tenth of a point. She competed against 33 girls from across the U.S. and Canada.
“Twirling is my life, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t twirl,” Kendall said.
Kendall is the daughter of Keith and Alissa Lodge. She twirls with the Santa Rosa and Escambia Twirlers under the instruction of Melissa Majors.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Huntsville Downs Wahoos 6-1
July 25, 2012
Huntsville starting pitcher Hiram Burgos tossed a nine-inning complete game, while left fielder Khris Davis and and first baseman Hunter Morris each blasted two-run homers, as the Stars defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory improved the Stars’ record in the second half to 14-17, while the loss dropped the Fish to an 18-13 mark since the league’s All-Star Break. The capacity crowd was the 32nd of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 50th home opening of the season. Before the game, the Blue Wahoos and Cincinnati Reds announced a four-year extension to their Player Development Contract, meaning Pensacola will be affiliated with the Reds through the 2016 season.
The lone hiccup for Burgos (9.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) came in the opening frame, when he gave up a solo home run to left off the bat of CF Ryan LaMarre, the outfielder’s second roundtripper in a three game span. It was also the fifth longball of the season for LaMarre.
From that point on, the Stars’ hurler did not allow a runner past second, giving up the lone earned run on eight hits while fanning one in his nine frames. It was also the first complete game in Burgos’ professional career, who improved to 6-1 on the year.
Pensacola starting pitcher Tony Cingrani (5.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) suffered the loss, snapping his four-game winning streak that dated back to June 27. Relievers Brian Pearl (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO), Mark Serrano (1.0 IP) and Chris Manno (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) all combined to give up just one hit in the final 3.2 scoreless frames.
Huntsville took the lead they would not give back in the fourth, with the first of their two big flies. With two outs, 2B Scooter Gennett doubled to right, before Davis deposited the first pitch he saw over the right field line to move the Stars ahead 2-1.
They would then plate two tallies in the next two innings to extend the margin to five. RF Kentrail Davis doubled and C Anderson De La Rosa walked in the fifth, before CF Josh Prince sent both home with a triple to right center. Morris in the following frame then mashed his 16thh homer of the year to right to end the scoring for Huntsville.
Kentrail Davis (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B) and Khris Davis (2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory for the Stars, while LaMarre (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and LF Donald Lutz (2-4) both accumulated two hits. 1B Beau Mills reached base with a single to extend his on-base streak to 27, as well as his hit streak to seven.
With Huntsville leading the series 1-0, the two clubs will meet Wednesday night for the second game of the five-game set, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is expected to get the nod for the Blue Wahoos, while the Stars are scheduled to counter with RHP Josh Stinson.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Andrew Green for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Prison Privatization Appeal Rejected
July 25, 2012
An appeals court Tuesday ruled against Attorney General Pam Bondi in a long-running battle about the Legislature’s attempt last year to privatize prisons across southern Florida.
The 1st District Court of Appeal rejected Bondi’s appeal of a circuit-court ruling that blocked the privatization plan from going forward. A three-judge panel ruled against Bondi on a procedural issue — saying she did not have the authority to file the appeal after the original state party in the case, the Department of Corrections, declined to do so.
“The secretary of the Department of Corrections, against whom the final declaratory and injunctive judgment was actually entered (in circuit court), has not appealed,” Tuesday’s opinion said. “Like any other non-party in the trial court, the attorney general lacks standing to initiate an appeal on her own.”
The decision was a victory for the Florida Police Benevolent Association, which filed the lawsuit last year after lawmakers included the privatization plan in budget fine print, known as “proviso language.” Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled that it was unconstitutional to use proviso language to direct the changes, which would have privatized 29 prison facilities.
“This ruling (Tuesday) reaffirmed our argument that the attorney general did not have the authority to appeal the lower court’s decision,” Matt Puckett, the Florida PBA’s executive director, said in a prepared statement. “This was never more than the Legislature’s last-second attempt to privatize public prisons in South Florida.”
A spokeswoman for Bondi said the attorney general filed the appeal at the request of the Legislature.
“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision to dismiss the appeal,” said the spokeswoman, Jenn Meale.
Regardless of the appeals-court ruling, the privatization plan was already all but dead. The proviso language expired June 30 with the end of the state’s 2011-12 fiscal year; lawmakers also failed in a separate attempt to pass a privatization plan during this year’s legislative session.
In a concurring opinion Tuesday, Judge Ronald Swanson cautioned that the decision did not resolve the broader question of whether lawmakers could make such policy changes in proviso language. Also, he wrote that the decision should not be construed as a limit on Bondi’s power to represent the state in lawsuits.
“This case does not serve as a precedent to limit or curtail the power of the attorney general,” Swanson wrote. “It is a well-settled principle of common law — a principle embodied by statutes — that the attorney general has broad authority to represent the people of Florida. Nonetheless, the attorney general has to follow the procedural rules; something she failed to do here.”
Bondi’s office represented the Department of Corrections in the circuit-court case, but the department declined to challenge Fulford’s ruling. The attorney general nevertheless moved forward with the appeal, which her office said at the time was done at the request of the Legislature.
Bondi’s office did not seek approval from the circuit court to formally intervene in the case, a move that the appeals court focused on during arguments in June.
“Not having moved to intervene as a party below, the attorney general lacked authority to initiate an appeal,” appeals-court Chief Judge Robert T. Benton wrote for the panel. “We are therefore without jurisdiction to review the trial court’s judgment, and the appeal must be dismissed.”
By The News Service of Florida
Former Band Director Speaks Out About Termination, Gun At School
July 25, 2012
The Flomaton High School band director fired Monday by the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education is speaking out through his attorney.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon from Brewton attorney Charles E. Johns, Jr., Lambert fired back at the BOE and their decision to terminate him for having a gun locked in a band room office while he and the band were on a school sponsored trip to Atlanta.
Johns said Lambert did not break any state or federal laws but was alleged to have violated a school board policy that provides that teachers or employees may be suspended or terminated for having a firearm on school property. He said the policy is different than the “zero tolerance policy” for students.
Lambert admitted to an “inadvertent” violation of the weapons policy and agreed to a 30 day suspension without pay to resolve the matter.
“The board was not flexible nor was it willing to discuss any sanction other than termination. The board chose to disregard Mr. Lambert’s 30 plus years of service and flawless personnel record and chose the politically expedient course of action which was termination,” Johns said.
Johns said it was unfortunate that the board of eduction chose to terminate Lambert, disregarding a public outcry to the contrary due to Lambert’s lengthy, 30-year plus career as an educator.
“I will consult with my client in the upcoming days and I would anticipate that we will appeal the unfortunate and misguided decision which we believe ignored both state and constitutional law,” Johns said on behalf of his client. “Additionally, we also believe the policy itself was legally flawed in its construction. The children of this county were not served by this decision. Rather than preparing for the upcoming marching season Mr. Lambert will be preparing for his appeal.”
The Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education’s decision to fire Lambert was not unanimous. The termination recommendation from Superintendent Randall Little passed 5-1, with board member Cindy Jackson casting the dissenting vote.
Pictured: Former Flomaton High School Band Director John Lambert marches with the Hurricane Band in the 2011 Flomaton Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Get Deal Extension With The Cincinnati Reds
July 25, 2012
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos joined with executives of the Cincinnati Reds organization today to announce the signing of a four-year extension of the Blue Wahoos’ player development contract with the Reds.
The agreement extends the existing one year contract because of the overwhelming success of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos organization, according to Reds management. Typically, PDC’s are extended for two or four years at a time, and in some cases, not at all. The four-year extension is seen as a sign of the confidence the Reds have in the Blue Wahoos ownership and organization, as well as the community support for the team.
“We have been very extremely impressed with the operation in Pensacola, from the terrific new facility to the first-class treatment of our players by Quint Studer, Bruce Baldwin and their entire front office and gameday staffs. We appreciate that they are as interested as we are in extending our agreement for at least 4 more years, because our relationship is a very good one,” said Walt Jocketty, Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward welcomed the news as further evidence of the community’s progress.
“Throughout this season, we have built a great relationship with the Reds and the city of Cincinnati,” said Hayward. “The Blue Wahoos have quickly become another reason why Pensacola is a great place to live, work, and play, and this exciting announcement is the latest win in a very successful debut season. I want to thank Reds owner Bob Castellini and his front office for their confidence and investment in Pensacola and our Blue Wahoos.”
Wahoos owners Quint and Rishy Studer said the contract agreement is a win-win for the fans, the city of Pensacola, the Cincinnati Reds and the Wahoos.
“We are excited to build upon the success of this first year,” said Quint. “Rishy and I have always worked hard in our business and philanthropy efforts to improve the community, and we are happy that the Reds see this endeavor in the same light. We are grateful to the Reds’ organization for this extension, and they were a joy to work with. Our negotiations were open, never contentious and we achieved a win-win for everyone. The Reds are a great program to be a part of, and we really appreciated their collegial, upfront, and forthright approach,” said Studer.
The Reds organization commended the Wahoos organization for its positive effect on the community, the support of the fans selling out numerous home games, and the quality players on the team, some who have been called upon to compete in the Major League.
Currently the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are in a tight race with the Montgomery Biscuits and the Mobile BayBears for first place within the Southern League South Division Double-A league. The playoffs will begin in September.
Pictured: Reds owner Bob Castellini speaks at Tuesday’s press conference. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Up, Economists Predict Tourist Lull, Slow Growth
July 25, 2012
Gas prices in the Escambia County area are up about 10 cents during the past week; that ’s about 15 cents over a month ago.
In the short term, economists believe the rising fuel prices will serve to curb those last minute summer vacation trips to Florida, including Escambia County and the local beaches.
Meeting this week to recalibrate earlier estimates on a host of indices from housing starts to unemployment, economists from the Legislature and the governor’s office made only minor changes to a forecast last revised in December.
The bigger economic picture remains largely unchanged, said Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research. Florida is expected to avoid another recession, but the climb back remains slow.
“We are not expecting any dramatic changes in our previous forecast,” Baker said. “We are making some minor adjustments, but that’s about it.”
Compounding Florida’ recovery will be the situation in Europe, which is embroiled in debate over the structure and make-up of the European Union. The union is experiencing significant financial instability as it decides the fate of Greece and looks at other struggling countries that have become a drag on the economy.
Florida’s tourism industry may suffer as a result. European travelers have helped buoy the state’s multibillion-dollar market in recent years as favorable exchange rates have led many visitors to Florida’s shores. Such exuberance may ebb as economic uncertainty and a rising U.S. dollar make traveling more expensive.
Overseas tourism may drop by up to 2 percent over the next 12 months, before picking up again in 2014. It will not return to robust year-to-year growth until 2015.
“I’m seeing a decline through 2013 as Europe experiences the brunt of their recession,” said Clyde Diao, an economist in Gov. Rick Scott’s office.
One bright exception is Canada. Taking advantage of lower gas prices, the flow of Canadians to Florida would increase by nearly 6 percent by the end of 2013. The rebound would be welcome. Canadian tourism dropped 11.4 percent during the first three months of 2012, a drop largely due to high gas prices.
Job growth will remain sluggish as the state continues to claw its way back following a real estate and housing crash that began in 2007. Even the most optimistic projection has Florida’s unemployment rate above 6 percent until 2016.
Unemployment will gradually decrease over the next few years, fueled in part by a reduction in housing inventory and slowly rising home prices.
Sales and median prices of existing homes will continue to be soft, with another wave of foreclosures expected to temper the rising prices. Still, new home starts are up and point to a modest recovery in the construction sector, which has jettisoned nearly 25,000 jobs in the past 12 months.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured: The price of a gallon of regular unleaded was at $3.35 Tuesday morning in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Open House Held At Molino Tax Collector, Property Appraiser Offices
July 24, 2012
An open house was held Tuesday morning for the new Escambia County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser offices in Molino. The newly constructed new 7,000 square foot building has been open since July 2 at 6440 Highway 95A, next to the old Molino School.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: Customers are helped during an open house Tuesday morning at the new Escambia County Tax Collector Office in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
