Last Night: Tate High Drama Presents ‘The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy’
February 7, 2015
Tonight is the final production of the the Tate High School Drama Department’s “The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy” on the school cafetorium stage. The final show is at 7:00.
The creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether “ooky” Addams Family story brings the characters of Gomez Addams, Morticia Addams, Uncle Fester, Wednesday Addams, Pugsley Addams, Grandma, Lurch and others onto the stage in an original story with Wednesday falling in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.
The Tate Drama Department will also be conducting a silent auction to help raise funds for the state competition. Tickets are $10 for the reserved section and $7 for general admission.
Pictured: The Tate Drama Department’s “The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Improve To 2-0; West Florida Lady Jags Open With Win
February 7, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies improved to 2-0 on the season Friday night in Cantonment with a 2-0 win over the Pace Patriots. Tori Perkins allowed one hit, walking two and striking out 14. She was 1-3 with an RBI at the plate. Savannah Ulrich was 1-1 with an RBI, and Casey McCrackin was 2-3. The Lady Aggies will host Crestview on Tuesday with junior varsity leading it off at 4:30 followed by the varsity at 6:30.
The 4A West Florida Lady Jaguars beat the 6A Escambia Gators 10-9 in eight innings in their season opener at home Friday night. The Lady Jags will host Gulf Breeze Tuesday with the JV starting at 5:00 and the varsity at 7:00.
Teen Shot At Home Near 10 Mile Road
February 6, 2015
One teen was shot at a home near 10 Mile Road late Thursday night.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls of shots fired in the 1200 block of Tiffany Drive about 11 p.m. They arrived on scene to find a male gunshot victim located in the front yard of the residence. The victim was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”.
Additional deputies arrived and made contact with several subjects inside the residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A K-9 was used to search a wooded area and was successful in locating the handgun used in the incident.
The name of the victim was not released. The investigation is continuing by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Tiffany Drive is located north of 10 Mile Road, near the Gulf Power Crist Plant.
End In Sight For Florida Enterprise Zones; Leaders Push For Program Extension
February 6, 2015
Florida’s leading economic development, business and taxpayer groups gathered at the Capitol in Tallahassee Wednesday to highlight the importance of Enterprise Zones to communities across Florida. Enterprise Zones exist in economically depressed and blighted areas throughout the state to encourage business investment and job growth. Without action from the legislature, Florida’s Enterprise Zone program is set to sunset at the end of 2015.
“Bringing jobs to our communities requires the collaboration between many partners and the use of many tools. Ensuring the ongoing use of Enterprise Zones allows counties to focus on revitalization and ensure that businesses have access to incentives to help them grow,” said Grover Robinson, Escambia County commissioner. Enterprise Zone exist in certain areas of Pensacola, Escambia County and in the entire Town of Century.
“The Enterprise Zone program is one of the few economic development tools that allow cities to partner with the state to accomplish the task of rebounding Florida’s economy. The Florida League of Cities supports legislation which reauthorizes, modernizes and improves the Enterprise Zone program in order to maximize the taxpayers return on investment. The loss of this program would place local communities and the state at a disadvantage in attracting new businesses to Florida, as we compete with states that have an Enterprise Zone program,” said David Cruz, assistant general counsel, Florida League of Cities.
The Florida Enterprise Zone Program offers an assortment of tax incentives to businesses that choose to create employment within an enterprise zone, which is a specific geographic area targeted for economic revitalization. Tax incentives include a sales and use tax credit, tax refund for business machinery and equipment used in an enterprise zone, sales tax refund for building materials used in an Enterprise Zone, and a sales tax exemption for electrical energy used in an enterprise zone. Local governments can provide additional incentives for a zone located within their boundaries.
“Enterprise Zones across the state have helped curb a shortage of investment, in both local community support and in private capital, experienced by the state’s deteriorating areas. Our comprehensive analysis of Florida’s Enterprise Zones calls for substantial legislative reforms that will increase the program’s efficacy and value to taxpayers and each of the communities they were established to serve,” said Dominic M. Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.
Pictured top and inset: The former Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company site in Century is located in an Enterprise Zone. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century’s Showalter, Molino’s Sutton Honored At Pensacola’s City Of Champions Event
February 6, 2015
The City of Champions event in Pensacola Thursday night honored two special guests — both from the North Escambia area.
The event top guests were Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton.
Showalter, the 2014 AL Manager of the Year, is former resident of Century. Showalter’s family moved to Century in the late 1950’s. His father served as a teacher, coach and principal at Century High School for 23 years. Buck Showalter played Little League ball in a thriving program in Century, and he graduated from Century High School. Century’s modern day Showalter Park is named after him.
Sutton, also known for his broadcasting skills, is a former resident of Molino. He attended Tate High School where played several sports and led the Aggies baseball teams to two state championship games, one ending with a win. He was the Tate High Class of 1963’s “Most Likely to Succeed”. During his career as a right-handed pitcher, he won 324 games, including 58 shutouts and earned the seventh place spot on baseball’s all-time strikeout list with 3,574. Sutton played over a decade with the LA Dodgers, and also played for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s and California Angels before returning for one last season with the Dodgers. The Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino is named in his honor.
During the event, local businessman Quint Studer announced a $5,000 donation to Tate High School in Sutton’s name and a $5,000 donation in Showalter’s named to be used toward GED education in Century.
About 20 other area baseball players and others with close ties to the sport were also honored Thursday night, including Tate gradate Travis Fryman of Molino who played for Detroit and Cleveland; Tate’s Scotti Madison who played for Cincinnati, the Kansas City Royals and Detroit; and Brad Salmon of Tate who played for Cincinnatti.
The annual City of Champions events raises funds for a local non-profit committed to opening the Pensacola Sports Museum.
Pictured: Former Century resident Buck Showalter was among the honorees Thursday night at the City of Champions dinner in Pensacola. Photo by Brent Lane for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Doug Baldwin Officially Announces Candidacy For Escambia Sheriff
February 6, 2015
Republican Douglas DeWayne Baldwin, Sr. has become the second candidate to officially announced his candidacy for Escambia County Sheriff. Incumbent two-term Republican Sheriff David Morgan filed back on January 13.
Baldwin’s background includes 35 years with the Pensacola Police Department. He holds a master’s degree in international relations and a bachelor’s in criminal justice. His work with Florida’s Domestic Security Task Force includes several on several state oversight committees responsible for coordinating funding, training and equipment throughout the state.
“This race is for the people of Escambia County. I love my community and look forward to continuing my law enforcement service as sheriff,” Baldwin said in a written release.
Baldwin’s son, Doug Baldwin, Jr., is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.
Pictured: Doug Baldwin upon his retirement from the Pensacola Police Department in 2013.
Smile: Pensacola Police Now Wearing Body Cameras
February 6, 2015
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced Thursday that Pensacola Police officers would begin wearing body cameras as part of their regular duty gear.
“Pensacola is fortunate to have what I believe is one of the finest police departments in the country, but we are always looking for ways that we can be better,” Hayward said. “It’s important to me that we be transparent in everything we do as a city government, and I believe these cameras will reinforce public trust in our police department while safeguarding both our citizens and our police officers.”
The deployment of body cameras comes after nearly a year of planning, testing, and training by the Pensacola Police Department. The department has used in-car cameras for approximately 18 years, but until now, there has not been a way to capture on video any incidents which occur away from police vehicles. The new body cameras will be activated anytime an officer is conducting police business. Departmental policy will allow for officer discretion in order to protect the privacy of victims and witnesses.
“We have been looking at getting body cameras for some time,” said Chief Chip W. Simmons. “We believe this is another effort we can take to improve the quality of service we offer to the public.”
The police department purchased 55 body cameras and supporting software last fall with $95,000 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which includes money from seizures and forfeitures. Ten officers have been trained on how to use the cameras and were the first to use them on patrol Thrusday. Other officers will be trained over the next four months on the use of the remaining cameras.
“This gives us an opportunity to collect better, more complete evidence and believe it will also help in reducing complaints against officers,” said Sgt. Bruce Martin, video system administrator for the department.
The cameras measure about 1½ by 2½ inches, will be worn in the center of an officer’s chest, and are capable of continuously recording for approximately eight hours. Throughout their shifts, officers can download video from their vehicles to a server, and once the video is downloaded, the recording space becomes available again.
Stock photo.
FWC Eyes Bear Hunts, But Says Trash Is Real Culprit
February 6, 2015
Florida wildlife officials will propose a draft rule in April for allowing limited hunting of bears but say problems with bears in suburban areas stem from homeowners and businesses not properly taking care of garbage.
Thomas Eason, a division director with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told reporters Thursday during a conference call that bears are attracted to suburban neighborhoods because of easy access to food.
The commission on Wednesday directed its staff to move forward with plans to address dangerous interactions between humans and black bears. That includes proposing a draft rule in April that would allow hunting of bears, possibly as soon as this fall.
The prospect of bear hunts has stirred opposition from groups such as the Humane Society of the United States, which argue in part that killing bears in the woods will not solve the problems in suburban areas. During Thursday’s conference call, Eason said wildlife officials are taking a “conservative” approach that likely will include proposing a short hunting season and preventing the use of dogs in bear hunts. But Eason said hunting is only part of the effort to address the bear issue. He and commission Chairman Dick Corbett said bears are attracted to populated areas because of food that is available in unsecured garbage cans and Dumpsters.
Eason said hunting will not directly solve most of the conflicts between humans and bears but that it can help manage bear numbers.
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured: A black bear at the Wild Oak Farms Apartments in Cantonment in 2012. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Softball: Northview Opens With Pace; Tate Shuts Out FWB
February 6, 2015
The Northview Lady Chiefs dropped their first softball game of the season to the Pace Patriots Thursday night, while the Tate Lady Aggies opened their season with a shutout victory over Fort Walton Beach.
Despite a Northview rally in the final inning, Pace defeated the Chiefs 8-4. The Patriots were out to a 4-0 lead a the end of three, and up 6-0 going into the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, the Patriots expanded their lead to 8-0, and the Chiefs cut that lead in half 8-4 in the seventh. The Lady Chiefs will travel to Chipley on February 12 before their next home game on February 17 as they host Catholic.
The Tate Lady Aggies went on the road and beat Fort Walton Beach 16-0. The Lady Aggies will be home Friday against Pace, with the JV playing at 4:30 and the varsity taking the field at 6:30.
For more photos from Pace at Northview, click here.
Pictured: Pace at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Wind Ensemble Performs At Troy State Band Clinic
February 6, 2015
The Tate High School Wind Ensemble performed Thursday night at the the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands on the campus of Troy University in Troy, AL. The ensemble was selected from a pool of applicants from across the Southeast and was one just four bands invited to participate. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
