Wahoos Skim Past Barons 4-3
August 5, 2013
Pensacola overcame an early 3-0 deficit, tying the game at three and eventually taking the lead with a two-out rally in the sixth to knock off the Birmingham Barons on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. The Blue Wahoos have now won two of the first three games in the series.
Birmingham jumped out to a quick three-run lead in the last of the first against Pensacola starter Tim Crabbe. Brandon Jacobs brought home a run with a sacrifice fly and Cody Puckett drove home a pair with a two-out double to open up the three-run advantage. That was all Crabbe would allow, though, over 6.2 innings. The right-hander allowed just four more baserunners throughout his outing, allowing a total three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks to improve to 5-8 on the year.
The Pensacola offense responded immediately to the trio of tallies from Birmingham with three runs of their own in the top of the second. The first two batters reached on singles before Tucker Barnhart doubled off the right field wall to score a run and make it 3-1. Corey Wimberly notched an RBI with a groundout to short while Theo Bowe completed the rally with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Barnhart and tying the game.
The game remained knotted at two until the sixth inning when Pensacola mounted a two-out rally. Bowe tripled to the gap in left-center and scored on Devin Lohman’s ground rule double to make it 4-3. Lohman was 3-for-4 on the night, his third three-hit game in the last four contests.
All four runs came off Birmingham starter Michael Nix, who fell to 3-4 on the year. Nix allowed four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings.
Parker Frazier and Trevor Bell combined to retire the final seven Barons they faced over 2.1 innings to shut the door. For Bell, the perfect ninth was his 11th save in as many chances for Pensacola.
The Wahoos will look for a series win at Regions Field on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Josh Smith (8-8, 3.90) will get the ball for Pensacola opposite Birmingham’s Chris Bassitt (2-1, 3.18).
story by Kevin Burke
Joe Patti Memorial Reef Deployed In Gulf of Mexico
August 5, 2013
Escambia County Marine Resources and the Patti family have deployed the Joe Patti Memorial Reef, following a blessing ceremony at Joe Patti’s Seafood. The 175-foot barge now sits in 50 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, four miles southeast of Pensacola Pass.
“By building an artificial reef closer to shore, individuals have an opportunity to explore an ecosystem not otherwise easily accessible,” said Robert Turpin, Escambia County Marine Resources division manager, “Escambia County looks forward to the addition to our artificial reef system, which was recent assessed, showing a great economic impact to our area.”
All reef and deployment costs have been donated by the Patti Family and the reef is now open to the public.
Pictured: The Joe Patti Reef prior to sinking in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola Pass. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beatrice Singleton
August 5, 2013
Mrs. Beatrice Singleton, 89, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2013, in Molino.
Mrs. Singleton was a native and resident of Bratt for most of her life. She had resided in Molino for the past four years. She never had any children of her own, but helped raise five generations of family and other children. Her parents, Owen & Minnie Singleton; three brothers, Perry, Curtis and Clark Singleton; and three sisters, Inolia Avery, Lillian James and Ethel Louise Suarez precede her in death.
Survivors include her four nieces, Helen Chavers of Cantonment, Shirley Jordan of Pace, Arletha McKinney of Mt. Pleasant, TX and Debbie Barlow of Pineville; two nephews, Ralph James of Newton, MS and Lane Singleton of Atmore; special great niece and family, Charity (Russell) Sheldt and Heath and Brandon Sheldt of Molino and numerous other great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Brian Calhoun officiating.
Burial will follow at the Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, August 7, 2013, from 9 a.m. until funeral time at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jason Barlow, Jerry Barlow, Olan Barlow, Slick Roley, Chad Giddins and Patrick McKinney.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, is in charge of all arrangements.
Karen Judy Hill
August 5, 2013
Mrs. Karen Judy Hill, age 58 of Brewton, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2013, at her residence.
Mrs. Hill was born in Atmore and was a long time resident of Brewton, coming from Pascagoula, MS. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Hill is survived by her husband, Mr. George L. Hill, Jr. of Brewton; three sons, Michael (Natalie) Higginbotham and Robert (Jennifer) Higginbotham, both of La Follette, TN, and David (Miki) Higginbotham of Japan; one daughter, Tracy (Jason) Cook of Laurel, MS; brothers, Joseph Hugh “Hootie” Westbrook of Atmore, Frank Lloyd of Slidell, LA, Thomas Jeffords of New Orleans, LA, Sam Jeffords of Pascagoula, MS, and Curley Davis of Jay; sisters, Patsy Kirkland of Pace, Patty Ann King of Paris, TN, Dorothy Baker of Tennessee, and Joanie Bishop of Galveston, TX; and seven grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Green Acres Memorial Gardens with Rev. Jeff Edwards officiating.
Visitation will be held at Craver’s Funeral Home on Thursday, August 8, 2013, from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.
Escambia Man Arrested For Dollar General Armed Robbery
August 4, 2013
An Escambia man wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a local business earlier this week has been arrested.
Christopher Clark McWilliams, 24, was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with armed robbery and grand theft.
McWilliams was wanted for an armed robbery that occurred just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dollar General on West Cervantes Street. A 19-year-old female employee told police the suspect entered the store, walked around and acted as if he was talking on his phone. She said he also approached the checkout line and let other people ahead of him until there was no one else in line.
At that point, the suspect approached the register, handed her a bag and pulled up his shirt. He then pointed a gun at her and demanded money. The store employee complied, and McWilliams fled the scene.
Barry To Hold District 5 Town Hall Meeting In Century
August 4, 2013
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will hold a town hall meeting late this month in Century.
The open forum public meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26, at the Century Town Hall located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
For more information, contact Barry’s office at (850) 595-4950.
Mass Killer To Be Executed Monday
August 4, 2013
An execution is scheduled for Monday evening in Florida.
John Errol Ferguson, who was convicted of murdering eight people in the 1970s in Miami-Dade County, is scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. Ferguson, now 65, was sentenced to death for the 1977 murders of six Carol City residents who were killed execution style following a drug-related robbery.
Six months later, Ferguson abducted and killed a pair of high school students on their way to meet friends at an ice cream shop in Hialeah.
A stay of execution was imposed last October for Ferguson by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; that stay expires Monday. The court has ruled that while he suffers from mental illness, he still holds a rational understanding of the crimes he committed and why he will be executed. The Florida Supreme Court had previously reached the same conclusion.
Final Day: Sales Tax Holiday In Florida And Alabama
August 4, 2013
Today is the final day of back to school sales tax holidays in Florida and Alabama, and this year the holiday in both states includes the chance to save sales tax on computer purchases.
FLORIDA
Clothes, shoes, wallets, bags, and backpacks costing $75 or less and school supplies costing $15 or less are covered by the tax holiday. Clothing does not include watches, watch bands, jewelery, umbrellas, handkerchiefs or sporting equipment.
Personal computers and related accessories costing $750 or less, as long as they’re not used for commercial purposes, are also covered, as are digital readers, tablets, and items like keyboards or monitors – as long as they don’t include a TV tuner. Cell phones, video game consoles, digital media receivers or devices that are not primarily designed to process data are not included.
Books are not exempt from tax during the 2013 Sales Tax Holiday.
The tax break, as has been in the case in previous years, won’t apply in theme parks or at airports or hotel gift shops.
State economists have estimated the impact of the proposed three-day holiday at $28.3 million to the state and $6.4 million to local governments – though some economic studies have shown that people are induced to buy more uncovered items during the sales tax holiday, meaning tax collections could increase.
Florida’s sales tax holiday ends at midnight. For complete details, click here for a pdf.
ALABAMA
Until midnight Sunday, Alabama’s four-percent sales tax is waived throughout the state while sales taxes levied by 274 cities and counties also will be waived on clothing priced at $100 or less; school supplies valued at $50 or less; books that cost $30 or less; and computers and computer equipment with a selling price of $750 or less.
Atmore, Brewton, and Escambia County, Ala., will not participate and waive local taxes. Other towns, including Flomaton, Bay Minette, Foley, Gulf Shores and Mobile will take part.
For complete details, click here for a pdf.
Florida House To Hold Hearing On ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law
August 4, 2013
A House subcommittee will look into the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law, but its chairman said he doesn’t intend to support any changes.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, has directed Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chairman Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, to hold a hearing on the law during a committee week this fall.
“Our evaluation of its effectiveness should be guided by objective information, not by political expediency,” Weatherford wrote in an opinion piece published Friday in The Tampa Tribune. “Does the law keep the innocent safer? Is it being applied fairly? Are there ways we can make this law clearer and more understandable?”
Gaetz said the hearing will provide a platform for anyone to comment on the law, and members of the subcommittee can offer proposals about the self-defense measure.
Just don’t expect him to back any proposed change.
“I don’t intend to move one damn comma on the ’stand your ground’ law,” Gaetz said. “I’m fully supportive of the law as it’s written. I think any aberrational circumstances that have resulted are due to errors at the trial court level.”
House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who on Thursday formally requested a special session on the state’s self-defense laws, would still like a broader review of Florida’s criminal-justice laws and policies.
“He’s concerned about the size and make-up of juries, especially in felony jury cases, and he would like a legislative review of criminal-justice polices beyond ’stand your ground,’ ” said Mark Holls, a spokesman for House Democrats.
The prospect of a hearing also hasn’t placated the Dream Defenders, a group that has staged a sit-in outside Gov. Rick Scott’s Capitol office to demand a special legislative session to consider changes to the state’s self-defense laws, initiatives to stop racial profiling and an end to zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools.
“Ultimately you’re still ignoring the root of the issue, at least in terms of the Zimmerman verdict, and that is the criminalization of our youth, the way that young people are looked at in Florida, black, white and brown, and that’s due to the school-to-prison pipeline and racial profiling that’s perpetuated throughout law enforcement,” Dream Defenders Political Director Ciara Taylor said.
The protesters were spurred to action by the July 13 acquittal of George Zimmerman in the 2012 shooting of teen Trayvon Martin. The law was not used as part of Zimmerman’s defense, but has become associated with the incident.
Weatherford wrote that he requested the hearing because of the “diverse” comments state representatives are receiving about the law.
He had told the Tribune’s editorial board on Tuesday that he is willing to consider changes to the 2005 law if law enforcement clearly outlines that any changes are needed.
Gaetz said the format and schedule for the hearing have yet to be set, and he is working on the process with Rep. Kionne McGhee, a Miami Democrat who has served on the subcommittee.
“We’ll work out a process to have people come forward and offer testimony he (McGhee) believes will flavor the issue,” Gaetz said.
Weatherford’s opinion piece comes as the protesters are in their third week in the Capitol and have undertaken their own “people’s session” in the lobby of Scott’s office, intending to create a report they can give to lawmakers.
“I was not in the Florida Legislature when the (“stand your ground”) bill became law with bipartisan support, but as the current speaker of the House, I have been asked to repeal it,” Weatherford wrote. ” ‘Asked’ is a generous term considering the threats of boycotts, union-sponsored protesters overtaking the governor’s office and Hollywood elites disparaging our state and threatening the livelihood of hard-working Floridians.”
Scott and Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, the House subcommittee chairman’s father, have both maintained their support for the law and have expressed no interest in calling a special session to review it.
Weatherford wrote that he supports the law, stating that it’s critical Floridians be allowed to defend themselves.
“Demands for a special session to repeal the law disregard the very foundation of our representative democracy by presuming that a law passed by the majority of a constitutional body should be reversed by the objections of a few,” Weatherford wrote.
by The News Service of Florida
E. Coli Scare Prompts Winn Dixie Ground Beef Recall
August 4, 2013
Winn-Dixie has announced a voluntary recall of its Fresh 93% Lean Ground Beef due to possible E. coli contamination. The voluntary recall comes on the heels of a larger recall put into motion by the National Beef Packing Company.
“E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure,” according to a Winn Dixie media release. “The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.”
The Winn Dixie Fresh 93% Lean Ground Beef was sold in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi with UPC codes 20167100000 and 24370700000. All package sizes and sell by dates are included in the recall. The potentially contaminated meat was shipped to Winn-Dixie stores after July 18.
“We encourage customers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled item and to immediately discard the product or bring it back to their store,” said Brian Wright, Winn-Dixie’s corporate communications senior director. “Customers who purchased the product may visit their neighborhood Winn-Dixie to request a full refund, no questions asked.”
To receive the refund, customers may present proof of purchase through a receipt or the product packaging label.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.
Customers with questions about the recalled products may contact the Winn-Dixie Customer Call Center toll free at 866-946-6349, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. EDT and Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. EDT.