Appeals Court Mulls Florida Prison Privatization
June 28, 2012
With a prison-privatization plan all but dead, an appeals court Wednesday appeared hesitant to decide a constitutional fight about whether lawmakers improperly used the state budget to approve the plan.
Jonathan Glogau, representing Attorney General Pam Bondi, acknowledged to the 1st District Court of Appeal that there is virtually no chance that the state will go ahead with the plan to contract with private companies to run prisons across the southern part of the state.
That is because lawmakers included the plan in budget fine print, known as proviso language, that expires at the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
A Leon County circuit judge ruled last year that lawmakers violated the state Constitution in using proviso language to approve the plan, prompting an appeal by Bondi.
By The News Service of Florida
U.S. Marshals Task Force Busts Two Wanted Fugitives
June 28, 2012
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested two wanted fugitives in Escambia County Wednesday.
Willie Earl Thompson
The Task Force arrested Willie Earl Thompson, 56, on outstanding weapons charge warrants. While Task Force officers were at Thompson’s resident, deputies found 11 long guns and two handguns, all of which were possessed illegally, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The firearms were seized, and deputies say Thompson will face additional charges.
Thompson was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $13,000 on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a short barrel gun and alter an identification number of a firearm.
Christopher T. Dasinger
U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force also arrested Christopher T. Dasinger, 29, of Pensacola Wednesday morning. Dasinger was wanted on sex offender violation charges. Dasinger is a registered sex offender and failed to register, register his new address, and report he had vacated an address after moving, all of these are required by law for anyone who is a registered sex offender, authorities said.
Dasinger was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
He was convicted in 2008 on a charge of unlawful sexual activity with certain minors 16-17 years old, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.
It’s Only Getting Hotter
June 28, 2012
It’s going to be downright hot the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. A ridge of high pressure will build over the area, pushing temperatures up near 100 and heat index values as high as 110.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 10 mph.
- Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Independence Day: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
- Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Traffic Watch: Lane Closures On State Road 89
June 28, 2012
Motorists can expect lane closures on State Road 89 in Santa Rosa County starting around 6 a.m. each day.
The work will be performed from the Jay city limits to County Road 178. Work on this section is expected to last until mid July, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
There will be no work Sunday, July 1 or Wednesday, July 4. Workers will continue to place erosion control measures and clear trees and shrubs to prepare the area for upcoming construction activities. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the construction zone, according to FDOT.
Three Arrested For Vehicle Burglaries
June 28, 2012
Three Santa Rosa County residents, including two minors, have been arrested for burglarizing several vehicles.
Cody Hayden, 19, was caught in the act of breaking in to a vehicle on Galt City Road, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy found him hiding behind a car at a private residence. On Hayden’s person, deputies reported finding cash, CD’s, headphones, electronic cords and a remote control allegedly taken from the vehicle. Hayden (pictured) was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on charges of burglary and petit theft. Bond was set at $10,500.
In a separate case, two juveniles were arrested after allegedly committing multiple vehicle burglaries. Deputies said the duo, ages 13 and 14, went through a neighborhood checking for unlocked cars to burglarize. Both were taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice on multiple burglary, grand theft and petit theft charges. Deputies said more charges are pending against the boys.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Beat Jackson
June 28, 2012
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Tony Cingrani struck out a franchise record 15 batters, including 10 of the first 11 hitters he faced, and did not allow a hit until the seventh in a dominating eight inning performance to lead Pensacola to a 5-0 shutout win over the Jackson Generals on Wednesday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The victory evens the Fish’s record back to an even 38-38 record overall this year, in addition to a 4-3 mark in the second half. Jackson dropped to a 46-31 tally overall in 2012 and 4-3 in the second half.
The Blue Wahoos southpaw set the tone early on by striking out the side in order in the first, hinting at the gem that was to come. Cingrani also fanned the side in the third, in addition to punching out two opposing hitters in each of the second, fourth and sixth innings and was untouchable until the seventh inning when 3B Leury Bonilla ended the 22-year-old’s no-hit bid by lacing a hard single to left. Bonilla later in the frame would be caught attempting to steal second, as Cingrani faced the minimum through seven.
Cingrani (8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 15 SO) improved to 2-1 this year, and ended the night yielding just three hits and two walks in his eight frames, while reliever Curtis Partch (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) came on in relief to toss a scoreless ninth and preserve Pensacola’s seventh shutout win of the season. Generals starting pitcher Forrest Snow (4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 in 2012 after yielding two earned runs on three hits in his 4.2 innings pitched.
Pensacola struck early in the contest, plating a pair of tallies in the first. CF Ryan LaMarre led off with a single and then stole second before he was sent in on LF Josh Fellhauer’s RBI double to right to push ahead 1-0. Fellhauer would then move to third on a base knock by 1B Beau Mills being coming across on DH Yordanys Perez’s sacrifice fly to center to up the margin to two.
The Blue Wahoos would be held in check until the seventh, when the club doubled their advantage with a two-out rally. 2B Miguel Rojas began the scoring spurt with a single and subsequently scored on LaMarre’s triple to left-center, while LaMarre was plated two batters later on a run-scoring single from Fellhauer. A sacrifice fly from C Mark Fleury in the eighth provided the final insurances run of the evening for the Fish.
LaMarre (2-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI) and Fellhauer (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) each collected a pair of base hits for the Blue Wahoos in the victory, while no Generals hitters tallied a multi-hit effort.
With the series even at 1-1, Pensacola and Jackson are scheduled to meet again Thursday evening, with first pitch set for 7:05 pm at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is slated to take the mound for the Blue Wahoos, while Jackson is expected to send LHP Anthony Fernandez to toe the rubber.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: ony Cingrani struck out a team-record 15 batters in the Fish’s 5-0 win Wednesday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP: Highway 29 Crash May Have Been Alcohol Related
June 27, 2012
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 in Ensley Wednesday afternoon that troopers said may have been caused by alcohol.
The accident happened about 12:35 p.m. at Highway 29 and Barber Street, about two blocks south of Walmart.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 17-year old David Hicks of Pensacola was northbound on Highway 29 when his 1999 GMC pickup crossed over the grassy median, went airborne and struck a 2012 Dodge Voyager. The driver of the Dodge, 67-year old James Benson, Jr., of Gulf Breeze was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Hicks was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash may have been alcohol related and charges against Hicks are pending blood test results.
Pictured top: The truck driven by a 17-year in an accident on Highway 29 at Barber Street early Wednesday afternoon. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Final Salute: Funeral Service Held For First Responder Nathan Berry
June 27, 2012
Young first responder Nathan Berry was given a hero’s farewell as he was laid to rest Tuesday. He was 22.
Berry, a certified firefighter and paramedic, dedicated his life to serving the public in emergency services. He was a former employee of Atmore Ambulance and was currently a supervisor for Lifeguard EMS in Santa Rosa County. He was a volunteer member of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department near Flomaton, and was a firefighter for Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Century Station.
Berry was killed in an off-duty traffic accident south of Jay last week.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at the Flomaton High School Auditorium. He received a full first responder’s funeral, with a procession of fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles leading the funeral to the Pleasant Home Cemetery. Along the route, countless first responders and law enforcement officers stood at attention.
The procession entered the cemetery under a giant flag flown between ladder trucks from Century and Pace. A fireman’s bell tolled in his honor as friends and family said goodbye. A LifeFlight helicopter approached the funeral service from the horizon. The front of the helicopter “dipped” and bowed in respect before flying away.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Ladder trucks from Pace and Century fly a giant American flag over the funeral procession for firefighter and paramedic Nathan Berry Tuesday afternoon. Pictured inset: Chief Tommy Wilkerson of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Departments offers a final salute to Berry. Pictured below: Deputies from the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office stand at attention as the funeral procession passes. Aerial photos by Steve Stanton, ground level photos by Katie Fowler for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Arrested On Drug Charges After Wrong Way Trip
June 27, 2012
A Century man was arrested on drug charges after driving the wrong way on Ten Mile Road in Pensacola.
Escambia County deputies conducted a traffic stop on Gregory Mark Benauer, 53. He told them that he must have driven in the wrong lane because he was tired and was lighting a cigarette, according to an arrest report.
On Benauer’s person, deputies reporting finding drug paraphernalia, including a syringes, and a pill bottle with Oyxcodone that was not prescribed in his name. Benauer first told deputies that the syringes were used to inject horses, but he later recanted that story and admitted to injecting Oxycodone, the arrest report states.
Benauer was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond.
Man Claims $1.6 Million Lottery Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
June 27, 2012
An Alabama man has cashed in his $1.6 million Mega Money lottery ticket purchased on Nine Mile Road.
Kenneth Lind, age 69 of Spanish Fort, claimed the prize at Florida Lottery headquarters. Lind chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option for his winnings, in the amount of $1,331,811.03.
The Tom Thumb at 1405 E. Nine Mile Road received a bonus commission of $1,000 for selling the jackpot-winning quick-pick ticket.