Sports Briefs: Northview Baseball Senior Night; Free Sports Physicals
April 12, 2012
Northview High School baseball’s Senior Night will be this Friday at 6 p.m. All parents, family and friends are invited to attend the presentation prior to a home game against W.S. Neal.
Free sports physicals for Northview athletes will be provided Saturday free of charge by Baptist Health Care. The physicals will take place at 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the Baptist Medical Park at the corner of Nine Mile Road and University Parkway. Paperwork, available in the Northview office, should be completed prior to the physicals. A parent’s signature is required.
Mobile BayBears Beat Pensacola Wahoos
April 12, 2012
Mobile catcher Ed Easley hit a sacrifice fly to foul territory in right field to score center fielder Adam Eaton from third to push the BayBears to a 3-2 defeat of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium.
After Eaton drew a lead-off free pass and second baseman David Nick reached on a fielder’s choice, third baseman Matt Davidson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Following a strikeout by reliever Drew Hayes, Easley lifted the 1-2 pitch into foul territory down the right field line to Josh Fellhauer, whose throw home was just a split-second late as Eaton tagged up and scored from third to win the contest.
Mobile took a 2-0 lead behind an RBI double from first baseman Kyle Greene in the fourth and Easley’s run-scoring single in the fifth. The Blue Wahoos however, tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning with a two-run home run from third baseman Mike Costanzo.
BayBears reliever Matt Gorgen (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned his first victory of the season after yielding just one hit in the final frame, while Hayes (0.2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss after giving up a run in the ninth.
The two teams will play again tomorrow night at 7:05 pm, with Pensacola scheduled to give the ball to RHP Daniel Corcino. He is set to be opposed by RHP Derek Eitel.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Cody Puckett recorded his fourth multi-hit game in five contests Wednesday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Garden Festival This Weekend
April 12, 2012
Thousands are expected to attend the 15th Annual Emerald Coast Flower and Garden Festival this weekend in Milton.
The weekend-long festival features dozens of commercial plant vendors, craftsmen and artisans selling outdoor art and garden items, landscape professionals, area garden clubs and local chapters of national plant societies, exhibits and much more.
Hours are noon to 5 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The event will take place at the Milton Campus of Pensacola State College, 5998 Highway 90 West.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For Battery
April 12, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to prison Tuesday in a 2010 aggravated battery case.
Terrence Scott was sentenced by Circuit Judge Scott Duncan to 15 years is state prison for his role in an aggravated battery with a firearm. Scott was also sentenced after a plea to charges of fleeing to elude law enforcement and battery on a law enforcement officer.
On August 4, 2010, Michael Campbell was riding his bike down Market Street just north of Fairfield Drive when a car driven by defendant turned onto Market Street and tried to run Campbell off the road, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
The passenger of Terrence Scott’s car then exited the vehicle, demanded money from Campbell, and then shot Campbell in the back after discovering he had no money. The passenger then jumped back into the car and Scott sped off.
Approximately 45 minutes later Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies located Scott’s vehicle and began a pursuit. Scott led deputies on a car chase that culminated with Scott crashing into a gas main in a Mayfair neighborhood, causing an evacuation. Scott was apprehended after a brief foot chase whereas the passenger was able to escape.
Scott is already serving a 20 year state prison sentence for the July 24, 2010, armed robbery of a cab driver and a 10 year federal sentence for an August 2, 2010 carjacking.
All sentences, both state and federal, are being served consecutively.
16-Year Seriously Injured In Walnut Hill ATV Accident
April 11, 2012
A 16-year old was seriously injured in an ATV accident Wednesday afternoon in Walnut Hill. The male was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with a reported back injury.
He was riding the ATV at a residence on Velor Road in Walnut Hill when it overturned on top of him about 5:30 p.m., according to initial reports.
Further details have not been released.
Pictured: A 16-year old was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after an ATV accident in Walnut Hill Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Airlifted After Hitting Tree In Century
April 11, 2012
A 20-year old Flomaton man was serious injured in a single vehicle accident in Century Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Steven Wingate was traveling west on East Highway 4 near Freedom Road when he he lost control for an unknown reason and struck an oak tree. The passenger side door of the vehicle struck the tree, pushing the door in toward the driver’s side of the vehicle in the 3 p.m. accident.
Wingate was airlifted by LifeFlight as a “trauma alert” to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola where he was listed in serious condition Wednesday night.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured: A 20-year old Flomaton man was seriously injured in a single vehicle crash in Century Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
100 Rally In Support Of Century Library
April 11, 2012
About 100 people from across the North Escambia area gathered Tuesday afternoon to show their support for the Century Branch Library.
“This is the place I can read my books,” Maille Kilcrase, age 8, of Bryneville said. “In the library we can learn facts about stuff. And it can take us on journeys in books without going there.”
“Save Our Library”, “Don’t Close Our Library” — were a few of the signs held by people of all ages and backgrounds as they stood outside the library that could be closed by the start of the next fiscal year. The county may pull its contribution to the library system under a plan proposed by County Administrator Randy Oliver, closing the Century Branch Library and never opening the currently under-construction Molino Library.
Century brothers William and Charles Joyner can often been seen along North Century Boulevard, riding their scooters to the Century Branch Library. “The library is a life saver for us,” William Joyner said. “It allows us to get movies. I don’t know how they can close it.”
“This is the place were I go to study,” 18-year old Northview High School student Matt Watson said. “There are too many distractions at home.”
For more photos from the rally, click here.
The county is facing a $9.5 million budget shortfall, most of which is due to a new Medicaid law signed by Gov. Rick Scott. That law will force the county to pay $6.2 million to the state for disputed Medicaid bills that have been adding up for about a decade.
To make up the shortfall, Escambia County is looking to cut 100 percent of its funding for branch libraries — all $3.7 million. Escambia County funds about 75 percent of the current library system, while the City of Pensacola funds about 25 percent. Libraries in the city will not be closed.
“Closing this library will hurt our kids,” said Crystal Criswell of Walnut Hill, mother of three children under 10. “It’s going to hurt FCAT scores. The library provides and promotes literacy for our kids here. A lot of people don’t have the means to go to Pensacola.”
On Thursday, Escambia County Commissioners will consider at least three options to keep the libraries open — an August referendum in which voters could approve a property tax levy; a property tax levy imposed by the county without referendum; a yearly user fee — $50 per person has been suggested — imposed on every Escambia County resident that uses the library.
“We love this library,” said Michelle Driscoll of Byrneville. She frequently uses the library with her children, ages 5 and 6. “The children on this end of the county need this library, deserve this library. To close it would be an injustice.”
Bette Hooton, president of the library’s board of directors agrees. ““It shocking, absolutely shocking, to consider that Escambia might be the only county in the state without a library system.”
“The library provides a lifeline to the internet,” said Liana Lambeth of Century, mother of two. “Some people have no internet or computer at home. The library provides perfect internet plus books for our kids.
“We are here at least one or two times per week,” said Theresa Lambeth, who has five grandchildren that use the library. “When you are trying to keep food on the table, the library provides books and internet.”
Escambia County owns the building and property of the Century Branch Library and owns the under construction Molino Library property. However, all of the books and other materials are owned by the City of Pensacola, including about 11,000 items in the Century library.
The West Florida Public Library Board voted unanimously last week to request the Escambia County Commission directly levy a property tax increase to keep public libraries open in the county.
With a vote of three of five commissioners, the commission can levy the .35 mils tax increase — about $35 on a $100,000 home. But if commissioners do not approve the tax increase, the issue could go to the voters as a referendum on the August ballot.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the issue at its Committee of the Whole meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday. Wooton and the Friends of the Library are asking residents to attend the meeting, wearing red, to show their support for the county’s libraries.
For more photos from the rally, click here.
Pictured: North Escambia residents rally in support of the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon. Pictured top inset: Andrew, age 3, expresses sadness at the thought of closing the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Should Consumers Pay Up Front To Build Nuclear Plants?
April 11, 2012
With legislative leaders rejecting possible changes, a fight is building in the Florida Supreme Court about a law that allows utilities to pass along hundreds of millions of dollars in costs to customers for nuclear-power projects.
Four lawmakers this week filed a brief in support of an effort by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to nix the law, which is controversial in part because customers are getting billed for projects that might never be built.
The Florida Public Service Commission recently refused to allow Gulf Power Company to recoup money for land it bought in North Escambia near McDavid for a possible future nuclear power plant. The PSC denied the request because the utility has not taken an initial step — known as getting a determination of need — for such a project.
Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida — the two utilities that are definitely planning nuclear projects — have hired former Supreme Court justices to represent them in fighting the case.
Reps. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, and Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, and Sens. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, filed the brief this week challenging the constitutionality of the 2006 nuclear-cost law.
Rehwinkel Vasilinda and Fasano have been outspoken critics of the law and filed bills this year to try to repeal it, but the bills were not heard in legislative committees. The brief argues that the law unconstitutionally gives too much power to the Florida Public Service Commission to decide whether to approve the nuclear costs.
“The … process has become little more than a pro forma session allowing the PSC to agree to the utilities’ requests for more funds,” the brief says. “The process amounts to issuing a blank check to (Progress and FPL) allowing them to remain in a perpetual state of preconstruction.”
Legislative leaders have stood behind the law, arguing that utilities need to be able to collect money to offset at least parts of the upfront costs of the multibillion-dollar projects.
During a Fasano-prompted discussion in February, Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Chairman Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said customers likely would wind up paying more if the utilities waited to recoup costs until after the plants start operating.
“If we believe in diversifying electricity in this state, there has to be options,” Gardiner said at the time.
Progress plans to build two nuclear reactors in Levy County, while FPL has moved forward with a similar project in Miami-Dade County. Neither site would start producing electricity for at least another decade and are not guaranteed to ever be built.
Each year, the utilities go before the PSC with proposals to recover costs from customers. The commission has approved allowing Progress to collect $86 million from customers this year and FPL to collect $196 million — though much of the FPL money will go toward upgrading current nuclear plants instead of the planned project.
By The News Service Florida
Pictured top: One of many house that now sit abandoned near McDavid where Gulf Power has purchased thousands of acres for a possible nuclear power plant. One of many Gulf Power “Posted” signs that line the roads in the area of the potential plant. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
James Russell McCurdy
April 11, 2012
James Russell McCurdy age 71 of Jay FL passed away, Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Brewton.
Mr. McCudy was a life- long resident of Jay. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict and was the owner and operator of the McCurdy’s Auto Garage for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Ida Lee McCurdy He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Paula Sue McCurdy; son, Keith McCurdy; and brothers Glen (Judy) McCurdy, Douglas McCurdy and Eugene “Shorty” (Carol) McCurdy.
A visitation was held Tuesday April 10, 2012, at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at Jay Funeral Home. Graveside services followed at Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors.
Jay Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Two Escambia Men Indicted For Drug Related Murder
April 11, 2012
Two Escambia County men have been indicted with first degree murder for the drug related shooting death of Frederick Ortiz last month. An Escambia County grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday against Rico Roberson and Bryan Hines.
Ortiz was shot in the chest and killed during the course of a drug transaction on Hayworth Avenue in the Ensley area on March 20.
Judge Michael Allen accepted the indictments and ordered that both men remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond. Both Roberson and Hines will be arraigned on Thursday.