Pedestrian Struck And Killed On Davis Highway
May 27, 2014
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Davis Highway Sunday night.
The pedestrian was crossing Davis Highway north of Atwood Drive when he stepped into the path of a 2009 Dodge Challenger driven by 59-year old Stanley Wallace of Reserve, LA. Wallace swerved but was unable to avoid hitting the pedestrian, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The pedestrian was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased from his injuries. His name has not been released by FHP pending notification of next of kin.
Wallace and his passenger were not injured. No charges were filed in the crash.
Unpaid Property Taxes Must Be Paid By Friday
May 27, 2014
All 2013 unpaid real estate taxes must be paid to avoid a tax certificate being issued, which is a first lien against the property, by May 30 Over 10,000 accounts totaling $11 million remain unpaid, according to Tax Collector Janet Holley.
Payments must be received and processed by close of business on Friday, May 30:
- in person at one of three branch offices;
- online at www.escambiataxcollector.com; or
- through the phone service center (850) 438-6500 ext. 3252.
Late payments will be returned for additional fees.
Drive thru service and drop box are available at all locations. The Warrington office on Navy Boulevard remains closed due to flooding damage. All tax collector offices are closed Monday, May 26 due to the Memorial Day holiday.
Taxpayers may check the status of their taxes online at www.escambiataxcollector.com or call (850) 438-6500 ext. 3252 for more information.
Several Homeless After Apartment Fire
May 27, 2014
A four-family apartment complex was heavily damaged by fire late Monday night on Tumbleweed Trail at the Fowler Place Apartments, leaving at least seven adults and a teenager homeless.
The fire in the 700 block of Tumbleweed Trail, just south of Nine Mile Road off Fowler Avenue, was reported just before midnight. One person reportedly suffered from smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries reported.
The American Red Cross was called to assist residents displaced by the fire.
The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Pictured: Fire rips through an apartment complex on Tumbleweed Trail late Monday night. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Chances Increasing
May 27, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tuesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Wednesday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Wednesday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight
- Thursday Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Thursday Night A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
- Sunday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Monday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Herring Awarded Gandy Memorial Scholarship
May 27, 2014
Austin Ray Herring has been named the winner of this year’s Gandy Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship was founded in 2008 at Poplar Dell Baptist Church by family members who wanted to honor their loved ones who had dedicated so much of their time and efforts at the church and for their community. Since that year, the committee has chosen local seniors who have been active in the church as well as their school.
Herring is an honor and dual-enrollment student at Jay High School. He is in the National Beta Club, the National Honor Society, the Spanish club and the Tri-Music Honor Society. He has been a member of the Jay High Royal Pride Band for seven years and has been awarded Best Brass two years in a row. His senior year he served as band captain. At Poplar Dell he has participated in the youth group, the puppet ministry and serves as an usher.
Herring is the son of Mitch and Tabitha Herring of Jay.
Pictured top: (L-R) Vicki Gandy Baggett, Bill Gandy, scholarship winner Austin Herring and John Gandy. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
TaxWatch Urges Scott To Veto $121 Million In ‘Turkeys’ – $3 Million For Local Projects
May 27, 2014
There are $121 million in budget projects that Florida TaxWatch says Gov. Rick Scott needs to strike with his line-item veto. In releasing its annual list of budget “turkeys”, TaxWatch officials urged Scott to veto 107 projects from a 431-page, $77.1 billion fiscal plan that lawmakers approved early this month.
In Escambia County, TaxWatch says Scott should veto $500,00 for a Smart Horizons online career education program and $2 million allocated to ARC Gateway for a job placement program.
In Santa Rosa County, TaxWatch targeted a half million dollar Andrews Institute Foundation Eagle Fund.
Scott has until June 4 to act on the budget, which will take effect with the start of the new fiscal year July 1.
“Florida TaxWatch has once again shown,” Senate President Don Gaetz said in a release, “that it is possible to be absent all year long from any engagement in the budget process, do no research into the merits of any appropriation, utter not one word of testimony on any proposal or alternative and still convince well-meaning people to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep a well-paid staff employed to absolutely no positive effect other than to get mentioned in one news cycle.”
Kurt Wenner, TaxWatch’s vice president for tax research, said the projects on the list aren’t being questioned on their merits, but rather for failing to go through the normal budget process.
“There were an awful lot of member projects in the budget this year,” Wenner said. “I think everybody knew there were going to be, there was more money. The Legislature did do a pretty good job of getting a lot of them in the budget early.”
Wenner said the budget would never get done if there wasn’t backroom dealing. But the group is opposed to new projects being introduced during those talks.
The business-backed organization uses two main criteria to select turkeys: first, whether the project was inserted into the budget during the final negotiations between the House and the Senate; and second, whether the spending was requested by a state agency.
Last year, TaxWatch recommended $106 million in cuts through 107 separate line items. Scott vetoed 71 of the items, worth $71.1 million, as part of his $368 million in cuts from the budget.
Northview’s Solari Is State Finalist For FFA Officer Award
May 27, 2014
Florida FFA has announced that one of the finalists for the 2014 Ryan Rimmer Outstanding District Officer Award is Courtney Solari of the Northview High School FFA.
This award is selected by application from the 24 district officers throughout the state and is given to the district officer who excels in their service to Florida FFA. The state winner will be announced during the 6th General Session of the 86th Florida FFA State Convention on July 3rd at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.
Pictured: Courtney Solari. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Braves’ Five Run Eighth Sinks Wahoos In Series Opener
May 27, 2014
Daniel Corcino dominated the Braves over six innings for the Wahoos on Monday night at Trustmark Park in the series opener between the Blue Wahoos and the Mississippi Braves, but a late rally against the bullpen propelled Mississippi to a 6-3 win over Pensacola. Mississippi plated five runs and sent 10 batters to the plate against three separate relievers in the eighth inning to come from behind for the win.
Corcino held the Braves at bay after allowing a run in the bottom of the first inning. He surrendered a leadoff double in the second and didn’t allow another hit until Matt Kennelly hit a one-out double in the sixth. Corcino gave up just the 1R/ER over 6.0 innings and allowed only three hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Travis Mattair gave the Wahoos a 3-1 advantage with a two-run home run in the third inning, his fourth homer of the year. The game stayed that way until the eighth.
The inning started with a bunt single, but four hits, a hit by pitch and an error later, the Braves had scored five times against three Blue Wahoos relievers to take a comfortable 6-3 lead to the ninth inning. Fabian Williamson (L, 0-4) entered the game with one on and nobody out and he left with one out, a run in and the bases loaded. Justin Freeman tried to pitch out of the jam, but all three runners came home and one of his own before the dust settled on the frame.
Shea Simmons (S, 14) retired the Wahoos 1-2-3 in the ninth to close it out and earn the save. Williams Perez logged seven innings in the start for the Braves. He gave up 3R/ER on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts, matching his season high. Despite the strong outing, the Braves starter didn’t record a decision. James Hoyt (W, 2-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth out of the bullpen.
The Blue Wahoos will look to rebound on Tuesday night against the Braves. Reds No. 1 prospect RHP Robert Stephenson (2-4, 3.48) will start against Braves RHP Ryan Weber (1-0, 3.23). First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. at Trustmark Park.
by Tommy Thrall
Franklin Delano Matta
May 27, 2014
Franklin Delano Matta, age 71, of Jenkinsburg, GA , formerly of Jay, passed away on May 23, 2014, in Griffin, GA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Sosieta Matta and Ruby Loucille Key; one sister and one daughter.
He is survived by his daughter, Mitzy P. Aden; son, Franklin Dennis Matta; brother, Dallas Matta; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other
relatives.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Pine Level Baptist Church cemetery with Dr. Roger Davis.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
John “JD” William Davis
May 27, 2014
My love of 20 years left this earth to chart his last journey in the seas of Heaven. His grand fight against cancer ended Thursday, May 22, 2014. Most know him as ‘JD’ and most know that his life was a myriad of cities, careers, cars and boats and most of all stories. There were so many stories and he never tired of telling them. From hiking, hunting guide, ice climber, rescue skier, pilot, crop duster, bartender, stockbroker, consultant, sailor, his golf business Hang 5, his backpack business Kletterwerks and his trucking business, Double Diamond Transport there were too many to count. But my favorite story was him telling me that his life really began when we met and in one day, November 9, 1996, he became a husband, a step-father and a grandfather in one day for the very first time and two years ago became a great-grandfather. He always said he loved us ‘hard’. He gave us everything we could ever need. I am grateful he is free of the pain cancer gave him but will miss him forever.
Johnny was born in Ware Shoals, South Carolina and spent most of his school years in Brewton. He graduated from T. R. Miller High School and attended the University of Alabama.
He is predeceased by his parents, Henry Thomas (Bill) Davis and Violet Marie Davis; brother, Timothy Davis; and step-son, Todd Rodgers.
He leaves behind his brother, Hank Davis; sisters, Pam (David) Satores and Toni (Martin) Coe; wife, Karen; step-son, Jay Myers; granddaughters, Amy Clark, Samantha Rodgers and Kelsey Rodgers; and great-granddaughter, Devyn Anne Clark.
Great appreciation to Dr Thomas Sunnenberg and the Sacred Heart Cancer Center employees who care deeply for all they serve and to all the nurses and technicians at Sacred Heart Hospital.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Sacred Heart Cancer facility for the purchase of snacks and beverages for all the chemotherapy patients they serve.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 4 p.m. at Pine Terrace Baptist Church at 6212 Pine Blossom Road in Milton with Dr. Michael Wiggins officiating.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until service time.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton is directing.
Knowing Johnny like I do, please dress comfortably. Sail on my Love………..