Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In The Area
June 24, 2013
A winning Fantasy 5 ticket sold in in the area for Sunday’s night drawing is worth $88,113.47.
The winning ticket, with numbers 05-07-12-24-35 — was sold at the Kangaroo Express at 3225 West Nine Mile Road at the I-10 intercange. It was one of two winning tickets sold in the state. The other winning ticket was sold in Pembroke Pines.
There were also 326 tickets with four correct numbers worth $87 each, and 8,962 5 with three of five numbers worth $8.50 each.
Louis Street Railroad Crossing Closed Today
June 24, 2013
Louis Street between Muscogee Road and Washington Street will be closed for railroad crossing repairs untip 4 p.m. Tuesday. An easy detour is Webb Street to Booker Street. The crossing was the site of a minor low speed train derailment last week.
Pictured top: A low speed train derailment last week at Louis Street in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Investigators: Three Arrests End Two County Robbery String
June 24, 2013
Investigators believe a string of convenience store robberies has come to an end with the arrests of three people early Sunday morning.
Just before 4 a.m. Sunday, the Circle K in the 3400 block of Barrancas Avenue was robbed. Deputies arrived as the suspects fled from the store; the trio was taken into custody without incident.
Damascus Isaiah Williams, 20, Maurice Pettus, II, 35, and Julius Lamar Scott, 35, were booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, grand theft and possession of firearm by a convicted felon. Additional charges are pending, investigators said.
Bond for Williams and Pettus was initially set at $190,000. Scott is being held with no bond due to an outstanding probation violation warrant.
Escambia and Santa Rosa Sheriff’s investigators believe the suspects were involved in multiple prior armed robberies in both counties in recent weeks.
Pictured below: A recent Circle K robbery in Santa Rosa County. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Faces Pressure From Gun-Rights Groups Over Bill
June 24, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott is being flooded with calls and emails about a bill that would stop some gun sales, and whichever course he chooses could be risky as he runs for re-election.
The measure (HB 1355) would block gun sales to some people who voluntarily admit themselves for mental-health treatment. It’s backed by the National Rifle Association’s Marion Hammer, one of the best-known gun-rights advocates in the country – which made her all the more effective at helping to pass the measure.
Hammer said she was recruited by Judge Steve Leifman of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, who chairs the Florida Supreme Court’s task force on mental health. She also said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation were at the table, as were conservative and liberal legislators. The bill passed the Legislature with just one dissenting vote.
But since then, the bill has been under fire from two out-of-state groups, the Colorado-based National Association for Gun Rights and the Gun Owners of America in Virginia.
As of Thursday, 3,940 people had contacted Scott’s office about the bill, with 3,914 asking him to veto it.
Hammer began pushing back with an e-mail alert on Wednesday, and said she hadn’t expected so much opposition.
“But there are times when people who have motives that differ from honest motives, there ends up being a battle,” she said. “There are groups – a lot of people call them fringe groups – who like to attack NRA and NRA’s work as a fundraising mechanism. And they spin people who are well-meaning and think that if you have an organization – or pretend to have an organization – that you know what you’re talking about.”
Danielle Thompson, press secretary for the National Association for Gun Rights, said hers is the fastest-growing gun rights group in the country, with more than two million members.
Thompson said HB 1355 would strip the rights of people who haven’t been charged with a crime.
“The NRA supports a bill that will result in about 100,000 law-abiding Floridians losing the right to bear arms,” she said. “And the NAGR will never support a bill that infringes on a citizen’s right to bear arms.”
Critics of the bill also say it would discourage people with mental illnesses from seeking treatment.
Signing the measure would expose Scott to another round of recriminations from Second Amendment die-hards. Many are already livid that he suspended Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch after FDLE investigators said Finch destroyed documents tied to the arrest of a man charged with illegally carrying a concealed firearm.
But vetoing the bill could alienate independents and women – constituencies where Scott is already facing low approval ratings.
“I would think it would be very difficult for the governor to veto a bill that is designed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people with mental illnesses,” said Hammer, who added that 91 percent of NRA members support legislation to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.
Political scientist Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida doesn’t expect Scott to veto the measure.
She pointed to a Rasmussen poll released on Dec. 19, 2012, the week after 20 children and six adults were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
The poll found that 48 percent of Americans believed more action to treat mental health issues would do the most to prevent such shootings, with 27 percent saying stricter gun control laws would do the most and 15 percent saying curbs on violent movies and video games would do the most. Ten percent were undecided.
“Florida is a pro-gun state,” MacManus said. “But pro-gun means the ability to buy guns and ammunition…Are these people who are avidly pro-Second Amendment going to vote for Charlie Crist? Or are they going to stay home in a close race? That’s always a danger.”
Some observers say that after Newtown, the more mainstream gun-rights advocates agreed to go along with some limits on the sale of guns to the mentally ill rather than face a more stringent law, such as an assault weapons ban or universal background check.
“Republicans take (the) Rasmussen (poll) very seriously,” wrote David Weigel in Slate the day the poll came out. “….They cited ‘mental health’ as an issue to look at long before they cited gun laws – if they cited gun laws at all. …This is a safe prediction: Gun rights advocates will work, carefully, to shift the conversation to mental health and media violence, and away from gun laws.”
Hammer said she expected to talk to Scott after he returned from a week-long trade mission to Paris.
“People with mental illnesses through no fault of their own simply can’t be trusted with guns until they’ve had treatment and are well, and this bill tries to address that,” she said. “We worked hard to protect the rights of the mentally ill, and we worked hard to protect the rights of the people who could potentially be victims of those folks.”
As Scott arrived in Tallahassee Friday afternoon, he said only that he’s reviewing the bill. He has until July 2 to decide.
By Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Solari, Wainwright Elected To District FFA Posts
June 24, 2013
Courtney Solari, president of the Northview High FFA Chapter, was recently elected at the 85th Florida FFA State Convention to serve as the 2013-2014 District I president. Logan Wainwright, 2012-2013 president of the Milton High FFA Chapter and former Northview student, was elected to serve as District I secretary.
Florida FFA District I includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington counties.
Pictured top: Florida FFA District 1 President Courtney Solari (left) and District I Secretary Logan Wainwright (right). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment 14U Pony Team Wins GCYBA District Allstars Championship
June 24, 2013
The Cantonment 14U Pony team brought home their second straight GCYBA District Allstars Championship Sunday. Cantonment beat Myrtle Grove 8-2 in Navarre to remain undefeated in the tourney to win the championship.
Team members are Clay Ryland, Corey Ryland , Money Purifoy , Josh Neese , Corey Grim, Quentin Sampson , Nickey Johnson, Travis Delacruz , Rod Smith and Chris Geoghagan. Coaches are Chris Ryland, Mike Neese, Wonder Purifoy , Barry Gunter and Ritchie Grim.
Pictured: Cantonment 14U Pony team celebrates their GCYBA District Allstars Championship win. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 14-Inning Marathon 4-3 Over Montgomery
June 24, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos battled for nearly five hours and set a new season-high with 14 innings played before knocking off the Montgomery Biscuits 4-3 in the rubber match of the five-game set.
With the score tied at three entering the 14th, Ryan LaMarre smoked a double to left on the first pitch he saw to set the stage. Luis Durango then laid down a sacrifice bunt that the pitcher Neil Schenk (1-2) threw away into right field. LaMarre raced home to score, what proved to be, the winning run.
Wilkin De La Rosa walked two batters in the last of the 14th inning but got Keith Castillo to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the contest while stranding to tying run at second base. De La Rosa (2-4) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and walking a pair.
Montgomery had a chance to win the game in the last of the 11th as they put runners on first and third with just one out. Chris Manno countered the threat by striking out Mikie Mahtook and Cameron Seitzer to keep the game alive. Manno struck out six in three frames as the Pensacola bullpen combined to allow just one run on five hits in nine innings of relief with 11 strikeouts.
The Wahoos jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Montgomery starter Jake Floethe. In the second inning, Pensacola loaded the bases on a double and two walks before Floethe walked Durango to force in the game’s first run. Floethe was able to escape without further damage by getting Corey Wimberly to fly out.
In the fourth inning, Pensacola again loaded the bases with one out and Floethe’s lack of control contributed to two runs. LaMarre scampered home on a wild pitch before Devin Lohman drove home the Wahoos’ third run with a sacrifice fly to score Durango.
Montgomery came back with a pair of runs in the fifth inning against Pensacola starter Josh Smith. The Wahoos righty issued three walks to load the bases with two outs for Todd Glaesmann, who slammed a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Smith made it through five innings but settled for a no-decision as he allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
Josh Ravin relieved Smith and allowed the tying run in the seventh as Robby Price led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild offering from Ravin.
Pensacola now returns home for the first of five games with the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Blue Wahoos have yet to announce their starting pitcher while the Braves will go with Mitch Atkins (1-1, 4.67).
Lillian Mildred McCurdy
June 24, 2013
On June 22, 2013, we lost a very special lady, Lillian Mildred McCurdy. On that day in Heaven, she met her great-granddaughter, Grayton, who passed away on the same day in 2009.
Mrs. McCurdy was a native of Geneva, AL, but resided in the Century community since 1943, and was previously from Jay. She retired from Sheltex Corp. with 57 years of service. Mrs. McCurdy was a member of the Century Church of Christ. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Jean McCurdy Grantham and grand-daughter, Grayton Karleigh Creekbaum, as well as, sisters, Eloise Burdick Linzy, Louise Burdick Gentry; brother, Joseph Floyd Burdick and niece, Betty Burdick Gatwood.
She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Leonard McCurdy of Century; daughter, Ginger (Charles) McCurdy Rumbley of Pensacola Beach; grandchildren, Leigh (Travis) Rumbley Creekbaum of Birmingham and Lauren Alexandria Grantham, of Fort Walton Beach; great-grandchildren, Gray Kennedy Creekbaum and Jayce Daniel Nisewonger; son-in-law, Bill Grantham of McDavid; niece, Linda (Jack) Linzy Carden of Jay; nephews, Bruce Ray (Mary Jim) Linzy and Joe Max (Elaine) Linzy both of Jay.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at the Century Church of Christ at 11 a.m. with Minister Jesse Claunch officiating.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until service time.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Brougham, Jack Carden, Travis Creekbaum, Bill Grantham, Bruce Linzy, Joe Max Linzy.
Interment will be at Ray’s Chapel Cemetery in Bogia.
Flomaton Funeral Home is directing.
Blue Angels At Storytime At Libraries This Week
June 24, 2013
During West Florida Public Library’s Summer Reading Program next week, a member of the Blue Angels team will visit each library branch to read about flying, airplanes, and blue skies.
The Blue Angels will read to the children and share their stories about what it is like to be a part of this elite service group. These special story times began Monday in Molino and will continue as follows:
- Wednesday, June 26 at 10:30 A.M.,: Main Library, 239 N. Spring St.
- Wednesday, June 26 at 2:30 P.M.,: Century Branch, 7991 N. Century Blvd.
- Thursday, June 27 at 10:30 A.M.,: Tryon Branch, 1200 Langley Ave.
- Saturday, June 29 at 2:30 P.M.,: Westside Branch, 1580 W. Cervantes St.
- Tuesday, July 2 at 10:30 A.M.,: Southwest Branch, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy.
Groups of 20 or less are invited to contact their favorite library to inquire if seating is available for attendance at this very special Blue Angels storytime event.
Gerald C. Bradley
June 24, 2013
Mr. Gerald C. Bradley, 81, passed away on Friday, June 21, 2013, in Crestview
Mr. Bradley was a native of Canoe, AL, former resident of Pensacola and has resided in Holt, FL for the past eight years. Mr. Bradley was a Veteran of the Korean War, hardworker, and drywall hanger for 40 years, and went above and beyond on his work and was friendly. His wife, Lucy Bradley; parents, C.L. Bradley and Nell Bradley; two brothers, Jimmy Bradley and Gene Bradley; and one sister, Clara Lissenby, precede him in death.
He is survived by one son, Jerry Bradley of Robertsdale; two daughters, Cheryl Shipp of Holt, FL and Becky Brett of Spanish Fort; one brother, Fred Bradley of Baker, FL; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Monday, June 24, 2013, at the Canoe Freewill Cemetery with the Rev. George Farnell and Rev. Justin Manning officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC, was in charge of all arrangements.