Blue Wahoos Bounce Back With 9-3 Win Over Jacksonville
April 27, 2012
The Blue Wahoos got the bats going on Thursday night pounding out 12 hits in the 9-3 win over the Jacksonville Suns to even the five-game set at a game apiece at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Pensacola struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Henry Rodriguez, one of four hits for the Blue Wahoos third baseman on the night. Joel Guzman followed with the Blue Wahoos only extra-base hit of the game, an RBI double, to put Pensacola up 2-0.
With a 2-1 Pensacola advantage, the Suns got to Wahoos starter Tim Gusafson for a pair of runs in the third. Gustafson walked two in the inning, and both came home on Russell Mitchell’s two-out double to put Jacksonville in front 3-2. The Wahoos quickly responded with their biggest inning of the night, a three-run fourth. Josh Fellhauer, Mark Fleury and Mark Serrano all scored in the inning on individual plays to put Pensacola in front for good. They went on to add a pair of runs in each the sixth and seventh innings on their way to victory.
Rodriguez and Guzman led the offensive charge with four hits each. Gustafson didn’t get a decision after working just three innings. Serrano (W, 2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen after going three innings and striking out a season-high six batters. Four fish pitchers combined to allowed just four hits in the game.
Suns starter Bryan Evans (L, 0-2) took the loss for Jacksonville. He was tagged for five runs, two earned, on five hits over 3.2 innings.
The two teams continue the series on Friday night. Right-hander Daniel Corcino (0-1, 4.12) will go to the mound for Pensacola against Suns lefty Zach Neal (2-1, 1.42). First pitch is set for 6:05 CT from the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Joel Guzman collected four hits, including the Blue Wahoos only extra-base hit, Thursday night at Jacksonville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Citizens Insurance Backs Off Proposed Premium Hikes
April 27, 2012
Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will explore charging new customers potentially much higher rates but backed away from final approval Thursday following pushback from consumers, lawmakers and state officials.
Following debate and public testimony, Citizens’ board of governors, meeting in Tampa, directed staff to work up a package of proposed rates for 2013 that includes allowing the state-backed insurer to charge new customer premiums that more closely meet actuarially sound rates.
The board had initially been slated to vote on a proposal to allow the company after Jan. 1 to charge new customers rates that were more than 10 percent higher than existing rates that in some cases.
Under whatever scenario the company moves forward, existing policyholders will continue to be protected by a 10 percent cap on premium increases.
But new policies should be higher, the company says.
“In plain language, a new policy is not subject to the cap,” said Citizens Chairman Carlos Lacasa.
Dan Sumner, Citizens general counsel, defended the insurer’s proposal, saying the Legislature’s underlying intent was for Citizens to become less a player in the property insurance market, which cannot happen as long as the rates remain artificially low – because industry officials say private insurers are less willing to enter the market.
Sumner said residential rates are 43 percent of what they should be. Commercial rates are even less adequate, falling about 75 percent short.
“The threshold guidance from the Legislature is that Citizens is to have actually sound rates,” Sumner said. “There is, in fact, what we call the glide path, a specified exception to the mandate for actuarially sound rates.”
Critics contend the state-backed insurer is “the only game in town” for its nearly 1.5 million policyholders.
To subject new customers to potentially much higher rates would not only hurt new home buyers but existing homeowners who get cancelled by their private insurer.
“You can get all the rhetoric that you want, but the private companies are not coming back to some areas of this state, they’re just not,” said Sen. Mike Fasano said, R-New Port Richey. “Study or no study, if this is pushed or approved you will hurt our economy.”
Lawmakers in 2006 froze Citizens rates following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, which prompted a surge in claims and led some companies to leave the state, pushing more customers into Citizens.
In 2010, the Legislature, under the leadership of Senate President Jeff Atwater, agreed to cap premium hikes at 10 percent, a level far below what industry officials said was necessary to bring the rates up to private competitors.
In a letter to the board, Atwater said the recommendation went beyond the scope of the 2010 legislation. OIR also said it would look closely at any request, but has yet to see a formal rate request.
Thursday’s action brought applause from Sean Shaw, a former Florida insurance consumer advocate who now works with a law firm that represents homeowners.
“Citizens thought they could slide this outrageous rate hike through without policyholders or lawmakers noticing – and they were wrong,” Shaw said.
By The News Service of Florida
Weapons Investigation Turned Over To Federal ATF; Guns Seized
April 26, 2012
[Updated 2:15 p.m.] The vehicle stopped yesterday in Flomaton, Ala., with an arsenal of weapons was stopped again Wednesday morning on New Warrington Road, about a mile from Warrington Middle School — the destination two men in the vehicle gave officers late Wednesday afternoon. But this time, the men drove away without their weapons.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office stopped the Chevrolet Suburban this morning before 9 a.m. Once weapons were located in the vehicle, the investigation was turned over to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to Sgt. Mike Ward, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
ATF reportedly seized all of the weapons from the two men, including multiple firearms and ammunition. No charges were filed against the men; they were release by ATF.
For more on Wednesday’s traffic stop in Flomaton, click here.
Pictured: A white Chevrolet Suburban found to have an cache of weapons and ammunition stopped yesterday in Flomaton, Ala., was stopped this morning on New Warrington Road by the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office and the investigation turned over to the ATF. Photos by Joe Douglas, WEAR, for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Thomas: Schools Are Safe, On Alert After Traffic Stop With Weapons Cache
April 26, 2012
Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Thursday morning that all Escambia County Schools will be on the alert today following a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon at the Alabama/Florida line in Flomaton. Two men were found with a cache of weapons and $8,400 cash, telling police that they were headed to Warrington Middle School Thursday morning to tutor students.
“There are no assemblies, no activities involving these individuals and no tutoring planned at Warrington Middle School or any other school today. It’s still FCAT testing,” Thomas said. “We will be stepping up our security and our awareness today to make sure today is a safe day in Escambia County Schools.”
The two men – found in possession multiple handguns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, multiple ammunition clips, tasers, handcuffs, brass knuckles and “suspicious” solid black clothing and hoodies — told officers from two states that they worked for a New Jersey educational tutoring company. The men were not charged with any crime.
For the complete story on the traffic stop and a photo gallery, click here.
When NorthEscambia.com provided the name of that tutoring company to Thomas, he said the company is not contracted with the Escambia County School District to provide any services whatsoever.
“I know nothing about it,” he said. “You don’t just walk into school building and tutor students. There are complete background checks for anyone working on a school campus. And, of course, there are no firearms allowed on a school campus.”
Thomas said he believes the men may have mentioned Warrington Middle School when question by officers only because they had heard of the school before or knew someone that attends. “They might have just pulled it out of the hat,” he said.
“It will be a safe day in the Escambia County School District,” Thomas repeated.
Pictured top: Weapons and cash found during a traffic stop in Flomaton, Ala., Wednesday afternoon. Pictured below: Officers from Alabama and Florida spent about two hours on their investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Traffic Stop Uncovers Arsenal Of Weapons And Cash; Men Headed To An Escambia Middle School
April 26, 2012
A traffic stop at the Alabama/Florida line Wednesday afternoon turned up an arsenal of a weapons and thousands of dollars in cash with two men that said they were simply tutors headed to a Pensacola middle school.
An officer with the Flomaton Police Department conducted a routine traffic stop about 5 p.m. after observing the driver of a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban make an improper lane change on Highway 29. He stopped the vehicle just over the bridge between Flomaton and Century, still inside Alabama but only a few yards from Florida.
For more photos from the traffic stop, click here.
Update: The vehicle in this story was stopped again Thursday morning on New Warrington Road in Pensacola. Click here for the update.
After finding several guns in the vehicle, the Flomaton officer immediately called for backup from the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.
A search of the vehicle by the Flomaton Police Department uncovered multiple handguns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, multiple ammunition clips, tasers, handcuffs, brass knuckles and “suspicious” solid black clothing and hoodies. Officers also located a paper bag containing $8,400 in $100 bills inside the vehicle.
The vehicle was also searched for drugs by an Escambia County (Fla.) K-9, but no illegal drugs were located.
The driver and passenger, both adult males, said they were on their way from the Birmingham area to tutor students Thursday at Warrington Middle School. One of the men was dressed in a t-shirt with a tutoring company’s logo on the front and the words “Free Tutoring” on the back. They produced business cards and other items from a tutoring company in New Jersey.
The men said they had the arsenal of weapons for their own protection because they sometimes tutor students in “bad areas”.
Officers spent about two hours searching the vehicle, questioning the men as they stood handcuffed by a police car and running various computer records checks on the vehicle, the firearms and the men. All of the weapons were legally possessed, according to officers.
Both men were released without any criminal charges or traffic citations. Their names were not released since they were not charged with any crime.
Officers said all school resource officers in the Escambia County, Florida, area would be alerted to the situation prior to the start of school on Thursday as a precaution.
Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said security would be stepped up today. For his reaction and more about the tutoring company, click here.
For more photos from the traffic stop, click here.
Pictured top: Guns, ammunition and $8,400 in cash discovered during a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon on the Alabama/Florida state line. Pictured bottom inset: Officers from Alabama and Florida took part in a two-hour investigation. Pictured below: The driver and passenger were questioned. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Editor’s note: The identity of the driver and passenger has been obscured in these photographs because they released without being charged with any crime.
Hundreds Spend Wednesday Night In The Dark After Accident
April 26, 2012
About 200 Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers near Walnut Hill were without power over three hours Wednesday night after an 18-wheeler pulled down a power pole and lines.
The accident happened about 6:30 p.m. on South Highway 99 at Tungoil Road when an auger on a piece of farm equipment being hauled by a truck was left extended too high and pulled down a service line and broke a pole. The downed lines then sparked a small brush fire.
According to EREC, crews worked from about 6:30 until 10 p.m. to rebuild the lines and restore power.
There were no injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
Pictured: A collision with farm equipment being hauled by an 18-wheeler downed power lines in Walnut Hill Wednesday evening, leaving about 200 customers without power. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Northview Players Sign Football Scholarships
April 26, 2012
Three Northview High School Chiefs signed football scholarships Wednesday during a ceremony at the school.
Sean Knight signed with Tyler Junior College in Tyler, TX; while Austin Albritton signed with Birmingham Southern. Brian Ross signed with Furman University in Greenville, SC.
Sean Knight recorded 122 tackles at Northview, with 33.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks. He was named first team all-state by the Associated Press and named to several all-star teams. Knight chose Tyler Junior College over offers from Southern Mississippi, Western Michagan, FIU, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio) and others.
Brian Ross had 54 total tackles in just one year as a Northview Chief, including 15.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. He was named second team all-state by the Associated Press and to a local all-star team. Ross also received offers from Mercer, Carson Newman, Millsaps and Birmingham Southern.
Austin Albritton had total 27 tackles for Northview, including four tackles for a loss and two interceptions. He also had 11 receptions for 262 yards and five touchdowns for the Chiefs. He was named second team all-state by the Associated Press and to a local all-star team. He also received offers from Millsaps and Louisiana College.
Pictured top: Northview Chiefs Sean Knight, Brian Ross and Austin Albritton signed college football scholarships Wednesday afternoon during a ceremony at the school. Pictured below: The three scholarship recipients with their families and NHS Coach Sid Wheatley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Police Warn Of Lottery Scams
April 26, 2012
Authorities are warning the public to be aware of fraudulent lottery and fraudulent lottery and inheritance claims after complaints were received by the Pensacola Police Department.
“As with other scams, people are being mailed a check and a letter promising them more money if they cash the check and send money to a specific address,” said Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons.
Simmons said legitimate letters from companies, attorneys or other sources will not ask people to provide money before they receive winnings and/or inheritances. Scams such as this occur throughout the year, and people need to be wary of requests for money they receive in the mail, over the internet or by telephone, he said.
“This is especially true for people who haven’t entered a particular contest or lottery,” Simmons added.
If someone receives that they believe to be a fraudulent letter, they are asked to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Chiefs Honor Track Stars
April 26, 2012
The Northview High School girls track team held their annual banquet this week and recognized several outstanding team members.
Receiving awards were:
- Senior awards- Charleigh McPherson,Cheyanne Garnett
- Hurdles-Tierra Floyd, junior
- Jumping Events- Tierra Floyd, junior
- Long Distance – Jazzlyn Franklin, junior
- Sprint -Angeligue Brown, freshman
- Middle Distance -Zacarra Davis, sophomore
- Throwing Events- Elayzha Bates, freshman
- “Do It For the Team” Award – Alisha Grice, junior
- Most Improved Award – Annie Bobo, freshman
- Coaches’ Award – Ashley Joiner, junior
Tierra Floyd was also recognized for representing Northview in the Regional Track Meet at Jacksonville and placed 10th in the 100 hurdles with a personal record of 16.9.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Enterprise Florida Faulted For Secrecy
April 26, 2012
A new government watchdog group says taxpayers should be getting more information about how their money is spent by Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development arm, which spends millions of dollars to create jobs.
Integrity Florida on Wednesday released a report charging that tax breaks and incentive grants went to corporations that paid to be on the public-private partnership’s board of directors – and that not enough jobs were being created.
Integrity Florida executive director Dan Krassner said corporate seats on Enterprise Florida’s board are available for $50,000 and alleged board members get tax incentives and vendor contracts from the public-private partnership.
He also said Enterprise Florida doesn’t give adequate notice of its meetings and uses code-names such as “Project Bacon,” “Project Snake Eyes” and “Project Mae West” to maintain its secrecy.
“We don’t want to hurt the deals. We don’t want to hurt the jobs – we need the jobs,” said Krassner. “But it’s important the public knows, if our government is committing our tax dollars and going under contract, even if it’s with Project Bacon, we don’t have to know the company name, but we need to know how much of our money is going to be spent, how much are we on the hook for.
“We need to know how many jobs is that secret company going to create, and by when,” Krassner said.
Enterprise Florida spokesman Stuart Doyle said taxpayers have never been kept in the dark about how their money is spent for economic development projects.
“I think we’ve always been transparent in the way we do business, and unfortunately, this report does not reflect that,” said Doyle. “We notice our meetings in accordance with state policy and we’ve always been as transparent as possible.”
Doyle said Krassner had met with Enterprise Florida president and CEO Gray Swoope last week.
“It’s rather surprising that a report like this comes out,” he added, “because we walked through each of their points with them.”
Enterprise Florida was created in 1996, when the state Department of Commerce was abolished. Doyle said 20 percent of its funding comes from the private sector and 80 percent from the state.
He said the board is likewise a combination of private and public interests, including lawmakers and state officials, “and it was designed that way.”
“Rather than have the state or the public sector decide how to do job development, why not have the companies – the people who are out there creating the jobs every day – have the input into the state’s economic growth?” he said.
According to the watchdog group’s report, Enterprise Florida awarded contracts worth nearly $6 million last year to companies that were “confidential.” Publix Super Markets, Embraer Aircraft and Lockheed Martin Corporation – all Enterprise Florida board members – received tax breaks or incentives. Ernst & Young, the firm charged with calculating Enterprise Florida’s return on investments, also got a grant.
Doyle said there is no conflict of interest involving Ernst & Young because the firm has been working for Enterprise Florida for more than a dozen years.
“They did receive incentives a few years ago, but one thing has nothing to do with the other,” Doyle said, adding that most of Florida’s incentives are performance based and that companies get the money “only after they have produced the jobs.”
But Krassner said jobs aren’t coming fast enough or in sufficient quantities for the investment.
“We have more than 800,000 out-of-work Floridians,” he said. “And it would take nearly 42 years to put all those Floridians back to work at the current jobs goal of Enterprise Florida.”
Krassner said he’d learned in a conference call that Enterprise Florida had set a goal of retaining or creating 20,000 jobs for the last year. He’s calling for an independent calculator of Enterprise Florida’s return on investments – not Ernst & Young.
He also wants Enterprise Florida to release details about tax incentives as soon as it signs a contract.
Asked about the transparency issue Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott, a member of Enterprise Florida’s board, called it a “trade-off” with competitiveness.
“We’ve got to make sure we can compete with these other states, but we’ve got to make sure [taxpayers] know how their dollars are spent,” Scott said. “You’ve got to compete confidentially, but as soon as you can, you’ve got to provide the information.”
By The News Service of Florida