Sparks Crushes Walk-off Homer For The Wahoos
August 2, 2016
Taylor Sparks hit his second solo home run in two games but this time it came in the 11th inning as a pinch hitter to give the Pensacola Blue Wahoos its franchise record ninth walk-off of the season.
Sparks is now 3-3 as a pinch hitter with two homers and a single.
“That’s fun right there,” said Sparks after the game whose seventh homer of the season gave Pensacola a 4-3 victory Monday in front of 3,943 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he “felt very comfortable” with Sparks, who is hitting .198 on the season, pinch hitting with one out.
“I did like Sparks in that situation,” Kelly said. “He’s a good looking player. Obviously, he’s got power. Those (walk-offs) are pretty amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team hit that many.”
Sparks, who is playing his first season in Double-A getting called up June 22, said he goes to the plate with a different approach when he’s pinch hitting.
“I walk up to the plate just trying to smash one,” said Sparks, who hit two homers in his Double-A debut. “It’s tough coming off the bench and swinging it. I waited for a pitch I could hammer. There’s no science to it.”
Pensacola, the first half Southern League South Division, improved its record to 18-19 in the second half and 59-48 overall. Mississippi is now 13 of 17 and leads the South Division in the second half with a 22-15 record and are 56-50 on the season.
Pensacola third baseman Alex Blandino sent the game into extra innings with his solo bomb that tied the score up, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning. His deep fly ball cleared the left field fence just over the outstretched glove of Mississippi left fielder Dustin Peterson.
Mississippi had taken the lead, 3-2, in the seventh inning when catcher Joseph Odom ripped his first home run of the season over the left field wall in the top of the seventh inning to score two runs to tie the game, 2-2. Braves pinch hitter Carlos Franco hit a two-out single to drive in right fielder Stephen Gaylor, giving Mississippi a 3-2 lead.
“These are two pretty good clubs right here,” Kelly said. “They got a hanger and beat us last night and we got a hanger and beat them tonight (Monday).”
Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej, named Southern League Player of the Week earlier in the day, continued his hot hitting Monday. Vincej — batting .444 during his seven game hit streak — hit a chopper that squeezed between the third baseman and shortstop in the fourth inning to drive in left fielder Phillip Ervin, who doubled to start the inning. The run put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 1-0.
Ervin then hit a grounder to shortstop and beat out the throw on a double play attempt by Mississippi, allowing center fielder Jeff Gelalich to score from third in the fifth inning to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0.
Pensacola starting pitcher Rookie Davis cruised through the first six innings against Mississippi, allowing only one hit and retiring 11 in a row.
Mississippi’s best chance to score against Davis came in the sixth inning when center fielder Connor Lien reached third base with two outs and shortstop Dansby Swanson at the plate. Swanson entered the game hitting .360 against Pensacola but Monday was 0-4. Davis, a 22-year-old righty, struck out Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 draft choice, to end the inning.
Davis ended up allowing three runs, though, in the seventh inning to the Braves. He finished the game throwing 6.2 innings, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
In his previous four starts, Davis has allowed three earned runs in 23.1 innings for a 1.16 ERA, while striking out 24. He has won his last three starts and the Blue Wahoos had won all four games that Davis started.
“Rookie (Davis) was terrific,” Kelly said. “He had a one-hitter going into the seventh. I told him real men play in the National League. You have to run the bases and pitch, too.”
Mississippi starting pitcher Jed Bradley had dominated the Pensacola lineup coming into the game going 3-0 in 10 appearances and throwing 15 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
After throwing three scoreless innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts Monday, Pensacola finally broke the lefty’s streak with Ervin’s run in the fourth inning.
Mississippi’s Bradley ended up lasting 5.2 innings giving up two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high eight batters.
The Braves gave up two runs on two hits both solo homers by Sparks and Blandino. Despite that, they have now allowed nine runs in 65.1 innings dating back to July 11.
Property Taxes Hiked In Century Due To Tornado Destruction
August 2, 2016
Property taxes in Century are going up to offset revenue lost when hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed during an EF-3 tornado.
The Century Town Council voted Monday to hike the ad valorem millage rate from 0.9005 to 0.9732 for the next fiscal year. That’s equal to a $3.63 tax increase on a $50,000 property.
The town lost $404,593 in taxable property to the February tornado, according to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office.
New Law Allows School Bells To Ring Next Week
August 2, 2016
Tens of thousands of Florida school children will return to their classrooms next week as districts take advantage of a state law that allows schools to start as early as Aug. 10.
Forty of the 67 public school districts are opening next Wednesday under a 2015 law that decoupled the school start from Labor Day, according to the state Department of Education. A prior law required districts to open schools no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.
Escambia County schools will open on August 10, while students will return August 15 in Santa Rosa County.
Last year, less than a dozen districts used the Aug. 10 start, but this year a majority of the districts have opted to start in the second week of August, which also means those districts will end their 2016-17 school year well before Memorial Day.
The state’s two largest districts, Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which have more than 600,000 students, will be among the last to open on Aug. 22.
This is the earliest opening date for a majority of the districts since the 2006-07 school year, when most opened in the first week of August, with Seminole County starting on July 31.
The early opening dates resulted in a backlash from parents and tourism groups, prompting the Legislature to tie the start of school to Labor Day.
But Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who sponsored the 2015 law, said the primary reason for the legislation was to allow the 67 school districts to decide for themselves on the opening date.
“I believe those decisions need to be made at the local level by local elected school boards and the superintendents who get direct input from the parents,” said Montford, who is head of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
Montford, a former Leon County superintendent, said districts get plenty of input on the annual school calendar from parents, students and others who sit on school and district advisory councils.
Although he has heard questions about why schools do not start closer to Labor Day, Montford said a variety of factors make the earlier starting times more logical, including having high-school students take their first semester exams before the winter holiday break.
“You don’t want to come back after two weeks off after the winter break and then take semester exams,” Montford said. “It’s not good for the students, and it’s not good for the teachers.”
Another factor is the number of vacation days built into the annual school calendar, including winter and spring breaks as well as time off for Thanksgiving.
“If we take all these days off during the year you still have to put in 180 days,” Montford said. “You either have to start earlier or go later.”
Montford said many districts prefer an earlier starting date to give teachers and students more time to prepare for the annual state assessment tests in the spring, which are linked to student progress and school grades.
“Some districts tried to get in as many days as they could before the state assessments,” Montford said, noting the annual tests come early in the spring and not at the end of the school year.
Opposition to early school starts has come from some parents who complain that an early August start puts Florida out of sync with other states and complicates summer vacation plans. Groups tied to Florida’s tourism industry have opposed early starts, noting the law linking the start to Labor Day boosted their industry.
“This is the time of year that many families take an in-state vacation before the school year starts. We hope that all Floridians have an opportunity to enjoy everything our great state offers over the summer, especially in areas that are economically dependent upon a traditional summer season,” said Carol Dover, president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
“They make a very good argument for the tourist industry,” Montford said. “But school superintendents and school board members and parents and others make a doggone good argument that what’s really important is the child’s learning.”
Montford said the current law gives districts the ability to set school opening dates closer to Labor Day or even after the holiday.
“Those decisions should be made at the local level,” he said.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Five People Injured In Cantonment Hwy 29 Crash
August 1, 2016
Five people, including two children, were injured in two-vehicle crash Sunday evening in Cantonment.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 21-year old Troy Jackson of Cantonment was stopped in his 1995 Chevrolet Silverado facing east on Neal Road when he pulled into the direct path of a 2007 Ford F150 driven by 26-year old Raven Kendrick of Molino. The force of the collision cause the Silverado to overturn.
Jackson and his passenger, 19-year old Brianna Chavis of Cantonment, received minor injuries and were both transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. Kendrick and his passengers, 8-year old Bailey Herrington and 5-year old Tessa Kendrick of Molino, all received minor injuries and were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Jackson was cited for violation of right of way at stop intersection by the FHP.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
August Begins With A Slightly Higher Rain Chance
August 1, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Operation Blue Spaghetti: Firefighters Show Support For Law Enforcement
August 1, 2016
The crew of Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 4 in Cantonment joined other fire stations in Escambia County for “Operation Blue Spaghetti” on Sunday.
Firefighters cooked spaghetti and invited and invited on-duty law enforcement to stop by a fire station have join them for lunch.
“This is our way of saying thank you, we support you, and we’ve got your back,” firefighter Tim Najim said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Bratt Church Honors Law Enforcement Officers With Special Service
August 1, 2016
Shiloh Freewill Baptist Church in Bratt held a special service Sunday morning to show their appreciation for law enforcement officers and their families and to recognize other first responders.
Among those recognized were Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies David Bashore and James Gilman, and Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department members Diann Stewart and David Johnson.
“We appreciate all that our law enforcement does and the sacrifices they make,” said Shiloh Pastor Kevin Stott. “May God bless all…LEO’s and their families.”
The deputies were also present with New Testaments by Gideon member James Deloney of Molino.
Family Issues Last Minute Plea To Keep Murderers In Prison
August 1, 2016
PAROLE DENIED. Click here for an update.
A North Escambia family has issued a last minute plea for area residents to help stop the parole of two Nokomis men behind bars for the 1993 murder of a woman and 12-year old girl.
Shannon Dean Barlow, 38, and Franklin Lee Barlow, Jr., 42, are both serving life sentences with the possibility of parole for the murders of Kathy Victor Hall Barlow and Angel Marie Hall.
On October 10, 1993, the Barlow brothers went out with Albert Ganoe “Rocky” Beasley, consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana. They then went to the home of Kathy Barlow in Perdido, Ala., shooting her in the head with a .410-gauge shotgun when she opened the door. According to testimony, he then went to the room of Angel Hall, 12, raped her and shot her in the face.
“The reason why Shannon and Frankie Barlow doesn’t deserve parole is because they viciously murdered my aunt and cousin. They blew my aunt’s head off with a shotgun. They raped, stabbed, strangled, and beat my cousin till her body finally died. There should be no reason in the world why they should be let out. They possess a spirit inside of them that society cannot handle,” Masha Maher of Century said.
Shannon Barlow was sentenced to three consecutive life terms, and Franklin Barlow was sentenced to two life sentences. Both are now eligible for parole from the Limestone Correction Facility in Alabama. Beasley remains behind bars, sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
The Barlows will have a parole hearing set for Tuesday. The family of the victims is encouraging the public to speak out against parole for the Barlow brothers. Personal protests can be emailed to debra.bonds@paroles.alabama.gov and petitions can be faxed to (334) 353-7701. An online petition can be signed here.
Pictured: This undated photograph shows murder victims Kathy Barlow and 12-year old Angel Hall. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Football, Cheer Begin Practice Tonight
August 1, 2016
Northwest Escambia football and cheer will begin practice for the 2016 football season at 6:00 tonight at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. NWE will continue to register football players during practice. Football registration is $50 with NWE providing all equipment and uniforms, except cleats. For more information, call (251) 234-4716.
Florida Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Set
August 1, 2016
Florida families will save on clothing, footwear, and school supplies during the three-day Back-to-School Sales Tax holiday this upcoming weekend.
During those three days, August 5-7, Florida law directs that no sales tax or local option tax will be collected on purchases of:
- Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
- Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
The holiday does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing selling for more than $60
- Any school supply item selling for more than $15
- Books not otherwise exempt
- Personal computers and computer-related accessories
- Rentals or leases of any of these items
- Repairs or alterations of any of these items
- Sales of clothing or school supplies in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport