Locals Safe At Boston Marathon; North Escambia Pastor Recounts Experience
April 16, 2013
Rusty Branch, pastor of the Dogwood Park Baptist Church on Highway 97, had finished the Boston Marathon Monday in a respectable time just under three hours.
He had pickup up his medal, joined wife Melanie and headed toward the airport on the train. It had been a good run, a good day.
But then the news starting coming in. An explosion at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. By the time they reached the airport, the extent of Boston’s nightmare was becoming more apparent, with deaths and scores of injuries reported.
“It was Patriots Day, a holiday, in Boston,” Branch said from the Boston Airport. “At the start of the race, there were crowds everywhere, college kids out of the day. All the way to the finish line, it was packed with people. The number of people at the finish line really concerned me about the explosions. I’m surprised there were not more hurt.”
“I remember seeing this person wearing a t-shirt before the race started. It said ‘I had open heart surgery 10 months ago’, and there was one that said ‘I Beat Cancer’. These are the people that never got to finish the race; they were all turned away, the race was over, after the explosions. For these people, the marathon was celebration of life the never got to finish.
“Things could have been much worse for us. We were blessed,” he said.
Security at the airport was much higher Monday afternoon for the return trip, he said, with a no-fly zone over a portion of Boston delaying flights because of problems with incoming planes. But despite the delays, Branch and his wife were back in Pensacola by 10:30 Monday night.
Branch was among about a dozen North Escambia area residents that ran the Boston Marathon Monday. The local runners included Pensacola city councilman Brian Spencer and several other people with Paul Epstein, owner of Running Wild in Pensacola.
Mark Rice, administrator of the Atmore Vision Center, also ran today’s Boston Marathon and has checked in with friends and family.
Matt Dobson of Jay, who frequently runs the Boston Marathon, did not participate this year. He qualified and was registered, but chose not to participate due to schedule conflicts and a lack of long runs. In 2004, Dobson finished the Boston Marathon 49th overall as the 16th fastest American.
The following North Escambia/Pensacola area runners were reportedly at the Boston Marathon and have been reported safe:
- Heather Asmar, Pensacola Beach
- Russell “Rusty” Branch, Cantonment
- Nicholas Challen, Milton
- Kristen Corderman, Niceville
- Cherie Epstein, Pensacola
- Paul Epstein, Pensacola
- Steve Harris, Pensacola
- Evan Malone, Gulf Breeze
- Sarah Pritchard, Pensacola
- Stephanie Rafferty, Pensacola
- Mark Rice, Atmore
- Brian Spencer, Pensacola
Pictured top: The “Running Wild” group from Pensacola running the Boston Marathon today are reportedly safe, according to the business. Rusty Branch, pastor of the Dogwood Baptist Church, is on the far right in the photo. They are shown in a photo this morning prior to the race.
Heli-Chopper: Giant Saw, Helicopter Used For Big Trim Job
April 16, 2013
Call it a heli-chopper? Numerous residents spotted a helicopter using a giant saw to trim trees along a high voltage power line in the Walnut Hill and Bratt area Monday.
The giant patented aerial saw — with 10 gas-powered rotating 24-inch blades, hangs beneath a 1980 Hughes 369D helicopter on an 80-foot fixed pole that has swivel points at the copter and at the saw. Weighing in at over 800 pounds, the saw can swing forward and backwards, but not side to side as power line right of ways are trimmed.
Pictured: A helicopter and and a giant patented aerial saw are used to trim along high voltage power lines near Walnut Hill on Monday. Pictured top: The gas powered saw is refueled in a field near the intersection of Lambert Bridge Road and Pine Barren Road. Submitted photos by Gayle Brewton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Daytime Lane Closures On Highway 87 In Santa Rosa County
April 16, 2013
Traffic on State Road 87 from the end of the four lane to the Alabama State in Santa Rosa County will encounter intermittent lane restrictions Wednesday, April 17 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. as crews perform pavement testing.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Motorists are reminded to watch for traffic flaggers, pay attention to the speed limit when traveling through the construction area, and to use caution when driving in work zones, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Explosions Rock Boston Marathon Finish Line, Three Dead, Dozens Injured
April 16, 2013
At least three people were killed and more than 140 injured Monday after two nearly simultaneous bomb blasts went off near crowds of spectators at the finish line of the prestigious Boston Marathon.
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said there was “no specific intelligence” warning of an attack, and authorities said there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The FBI is leading a multi-agency probe into the bombings.
Television footage showed scenes of confusion, streets littered with debris and blood, paramedics carrying stretchers, and damage to nearby buildings.
Bloody spectators, including some with severed limbs, were carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners from the race.
The Boston Globe, citing two law enforcement sources, reported that the dead included an eight-year-old boy. A number of victims suffered amputations.
The blasts occurred about two hours after the first of the race’s more than 23,000 runners had crossed the finish line.
About 17,600 participants finished before the explosions. The competition was halted after the bombs went off, as was subway service to the area.
For a related story about local residents at the Boston Marathon, click here.
President Barack Obama said in televised remarks that the United States will find out who was responsible and hold them accountable.
“We still do not know who did this or why. And people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts. But, make no mistake, we will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this, we will find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”
While Obama did not call the explosions an attack, a White House official said any event with multiple explosive devices “is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror.”
Cities worldwide stepped up security following the explosions.
In Britain, police said they are reviewing security plans for Sunday’s London Marathon, the next major international marathon.
New York City officials said police have increased security around landmarks in Manhattan, including near prominent hotels, in response to the blast. Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles also are on a heightened state of alert.
Officials in Boston said an electrical fire that broke out at the John F. Kennedy Library a few kilometers from the marathon’s finish line was not related to the bombings.
Shortly after the explosions, the U.S. Secret Service shut down Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House, cordoning off the area with yellow police tape. But the White House is not on lockdown.
President Obama called Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and told them his administration will provide whatever assistance is necessary in the investigation and response.
“Running the race, it was such an amazing experience. The joy of the people is what helped me keep going when I was so tired and how everyone was out, the entire state of Massachusetts was out. Little kids — even if they weren’t part of the marathon staff — little kids hanging around with Dixie cups and people who baked cookies for us, and people were handing out food and telling us to keep going and giving us handshakes as we were running. It was just such a joyful day, and to turn such a joyful day into massacre like this, just can’t help you but feel anything but anger,” said Azeem Khan, a Pakistani-American who was three miles from the race finish at the time of the explosions.
[VOA News]
Do you know anyone from the North Escambia or Pensacola area in Boston today for the marathon? Email news@northescambia.com
Pictured top and inset: Twitter photo from user Boston_to_a_T shows one of the explosions that rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. Pictured below: The “Running Wild” group from Pensacola running the Boston Marathon today are reportedly OK, according to the business. They are shown in a photo this morning prior to the race. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Attempted Murder
April 16, 2013
An Escambia County man as been charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting that occurred February 26 in Pensacola.
Brantley J. Gardner, 22, was charged with shooting 28-year old Terrell Johnson once in the leg in the 6200 block of San Monica Road. Police said, “Johnson died briefly in the emergency room but was revived” due to a wound to his femoral artery.
Pensacola Police Detective Bradley said Gardner shot Johnson through the side/carport door window of the residence. Johnson then dialed 911. Johnson told police several people were at his home the night of the shooting, and that two of the men got into an argument over a female. Shortly after Johnson told the people to leave, Gardner returned to the residence and shot him.
Gardner is being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set a $500,000.
Shooting Lawsuit Filed Against Sheriff, Deputies
April 16, 2013
A woman shot five times by Escambia County deputies has filed suit against Sheriff David Morgan and four deputies.
Jackie Rosenbloom was taken hostage by Philip Monier, a former boyfriend, in her home in 2010. He used her as a shield when deputies opened fire; she was hit five times in the neck and legs. Monier was not seriously injured, shot only in the hand.
And now Rosenbloom is suing in federal court, claiming excessive force was used and that Morgran failed to provide proper training.
Three deputies were also shot in the incident, including Jeremy Cassady who was critically injured.
The State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was determined to be justified after a lengthy investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is not commenting on the pending litigation.
Stephen Grant Jogan
April 16, 2013
Stephen Grant Jogan, Captain, United States Navy, Retired, age 70, passed away at his Barrineau Park home on Wednesday, April 10, 2013.
Captain Jogan was born September 8, 1942, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He graduated from Monmouth University in 1964 with a BA in Political Science. During his 27- year career as a Naval Flight Officer, he earned the following awards and decorations: Defense Superior Service Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (2), Humanitarian Service Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Navy “E” Ribbon; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one Bronze Star. He has over 250 combat support hours (Vietnam) and more than 250 carrier landings.
Captain Jogan proudly served his country aboard various naval facilities and ships: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, NAS North Island (CA), NS Quonset Point (RI), NAS Pensacola (FL), Naval Station Jacksonville, (FL), NAS Norfolk, (VA) (twice), NS Dam Neck (VA), NAS Miramar(CA) ; USS Kearsarge (CVS 33), USS Wasp (CVS-18), USS Intrepid (CVS-11), USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42), and the USS America (CV-66). In 1981, he took command of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117 which deployed aboard the USS Enterprise (CVA-65) from San Diego, CA. In 1985, Captain Jogan served as the Director, Joint Naval Applications Directorate (HQ USAFE/DON) and as the Officer in Charge, CINCUSNAVEUR Detachment, Ramstein AB, Germany. Captain Jogan retired in August of 1991.
After his retirement, Captain Jogan volunteered his time at the Barrineau Park Historical Society and Community Center, the Barrineau Park Elementary School, and served as lector at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church and held several offices on the Parish Council.
Captain Jogan was preceded in death by his parents, Helen (Borkowski) and Stephen Jogan. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gina (Venettozzi) Jogan; two children, Christina (Alvin) Joseph and John (Stephanie) Jogan; five grandchildren Ashley Jogan, Ryan Joseph, Madison Jogan, Grant Jogan, Milo Jogan, and great grand-son, Reese Jogan; his sister, Brenda Jogan and brother Robert (Doreen) Jogan and eight nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday April 17, 2013, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church (Hwy 196-W Barrineau Park Rd). Internment, with military honors, will be at 2 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard NAS Pensacola. Trahan Family Funeral Home, 430 Beverly Parkway is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice or to the Barrineau Park Historical Society Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 508, Molino, FL 32577).
Special thanks to Shari Rousch, R.N. and Emerald Coast Hospice.
Florida House Health Plan Divides And Passes
April 16, 2013
To House Republicans, it’s a plan to transform health care along the lines of Amazon.com. To Democrats, it’s a missed opportunity, or in the words of one, a “dog and pony show.”
But a GOP-dominated select committee Monday left little doubt that it is behind Speaker Will Weatherford in pursuing what is being touted as a free-market alternative to expanding Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act.
On a party-line vote, the select committee approved a bill that would offer $2,000 subsidies to targeted groups of uninsured low-income people, who would buy coverage through a long-discussed health marketplace. The plan would reject using more than $50 billion in federal funding that would otherwise flow to the state during the next decade for Medicaid expansion.
Also, the select committee rejected a Senate proposal that would use federal money to help low-income people buy private health insurance as an alternative to expanding Medicaid.
Select committee Chairman Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said House Republicans want to make dynamic changes to the health-care system that will allow people to get services they need and help reduce costs. Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Corcoran unveiled the plan last week.
“We’re trying to build an Amazon.com of health care,” Corcoran said.
Democrats, however, blasted the GOP for proposing a plan that would provide far less money and serve fewer people than the Medicaid expansion or the Senate private-insurance alternative. They also repeatedly said Florida residents have paid federal tax dollars that could flow to other states if lawmakers turn down the Medicaid money.
“We need to treat as many people as we can,” said Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. “We have paid our taxes. It’s our damn money.”
The select committee, which has been studying the Affordable Care Act for months, voted 11-6 to approve the bill (PCB SPPACA 13-03), after voting by the same margin to reject the Senate proposal. One of the House bill’s key architects, Orange Park Republican Travis Cummings, said the bill could go to the House Appropriations Committee on Friday.
The bill would target people whose incomes are at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty and have children or who are disabled and eligible for the federal Supplemental Security Income program. It would offer $2,000 annual subsidies for them to buy insurance and other health services through the Florida Health Choices program — an online health-care marketplace that lawmakers created in 2008 but has not started operating.
Eventually, the plan is estimated to serve about 116,000 people, at a cost to the state of nearly $239 million a year, according to a House staff analysis. Participants also would have to chip in $25 a month and could use the subsidies, for example, to buy high-deductible insurance coverage. The plan is dubbed the “Florida Health Choices Plus Program.”
Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act or the Senate private-insurance alternative would offer coverage to roughly 1 million uninsured people whose income is up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Both would include offering coverage to childless adults, a group that is now largely shut out of Florida’s Medicaid program and also would not be part of the House subsidies.
House leaders, however, say their plan takes into account people between 100 percent and 138 percent of the poverty level, because those people would be able to get subsidized coverage through a separate federal health-insurance exchange. As measuring sticks, a family of three with an income of $19,530 would be at 100 percent of the poverty level, while a family of three with an income of $26,951 would be at 138 percent of the poverty level.
Democrats raised repeated questions Monday about details of the House plan, such as questioning how extremely low-income people could afford high deductibles that would go along with the health coverage. At one point, Rep. Elaine Schwartz, D-Hollywood, said it was unfortunate this “dog and pony show is taking place.”
But Republicans said they did not want to depend on the deficit-laden federal government to pay for the Medicaid expansion in the future. Also, some GOP lawmakers reiterated their longstanding criticism of Medicaid’s growing costs.
“This program is totally, absolutely unsustainable,” said Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven.
With the annual legislative session scheduled to end May 3, it remains unclear how — or if — the House, Senate and Gov. Rick Scott will be able to reach agreement on a health plan. The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (SB 1816) that would use federal money to offer private insurance and another bill (SB 1844) that is somewhat similar to the House plan.
But backers of Medicaid expansion tried to increase pressure on lawmakers Monday, holding a news conference and then going to Weatherford’s office to seek a meeting with him. The speaker met briefly with members of the group.
“This is the 100 percent speaking, not just the tea party,” said Wilson Barnes, 72, a Tallahassee resident who served as a spokesman for the group.
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
New Dollar Tree Store Opening In Atmore
April 16, 2013
Dollar Tree, the discount retailer popular for its everything is $1 or less operating model, is opening a store in Atmore. The store will be located in Adam’s Plaza next to the Alabama Wing House. A grand opening date has not yet been set.
Dollar Tree, a Fortune 500 company, operates more than 4,450 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces. For employment information, click here.
Pictured: Work is underway to ready a new Dollar Tree store in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Honors Volunteers With Appreciation Party
April 16, 2013
Century Care Center recently held a party to honor scores of volunteers that lend a hand at the facility.
About 50 volunteers were on hand for the party — including members of church groups, singers, sewing groups, “Elvis”, a clown, general helpers and individuals.
“We are blessed to have such a large number of devoted souls. We live in a caring and giving community,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center’s activities director.
Pictured: A volunteer appreciation party held Sunday at the Century Care Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
