Volunteers Sought For West Florida Public Library Board of Governance
June 30, 2016
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering to fill a vacancy on the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance.The duties of the board include establishing policy and overseeing the management of Escambia County library services and to make recommendations to the BCC regarding the annual budget according to the purposes and authority set forth in resolutions, interlocal agreements and other agreements, as well as state and federal laws. These duties also include establishing an annual plan of service and the long-range strategic planning of library services.
West Florida Public Libraries provides service to all of Escambia County, with the board typically meeting on the fourth Monday of the month from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Tuesday, July 5. Resumes should be submitted to Todd J. Humble, Director, West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola, FL, 32502 or by email to tjhumble@mywfpl.com.
State Regulators Issue Warning On Vacation Scams
June 30, 2016
State financial regulators have issued a warning to Floridians and tourists to be on guard for vacation and travel scams. The Office of Financial Regulation posted the “consumer alert” regarding vacation rental, sweepstakes and social-media vacation scams that seek large upfront deposits, request personal information or ask for fees to be paid by a wire transfer or prepaid debt card. The state office advises people making vacation or travel plans to be wary of the word “free,” check the company’s direct website and verify a company’s license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Shutout Chattanooga
June 30, 2016
Someone forgot to tell Tyler Mahle that the hitters in Double-A are better than the ones he dominated in Single-A.
Seemingly without a hitch, Mahle has made the mid-season jump to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos from the High-A Daytona Tortugas, so far.
In his Blue Wahoos Stadium debut, the 21-year-old Mahle showed he belongs here by throwing five scoreless innings, striking out eight, including four in a row, and pitching his way out of two bases-loaded jams.
His poise helped Pensacola win the opener of the five game series against Chattanooga, shutting them out, 3-0, in front of the Blue Wahoos 19th sellout crowd of 5,038 Wednesday.
“There’s not a huge difference but they will make you pay if you make a mistake,” Mahle said of Southern League hitters. “They’re a little more selective. They know what they want to hit. I just trust my stuff and throw strikes.”
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly has followed Mahle, who’s ranked the Cincinnati Reds No. 10 prospect and won the Chief Bender Award as the Reds Minor League Player of the Year last season.
“He’s been a real good pitcher. All the way through the minor leagues he has been effective,” Kelly said. “He got into a couple of jams but he did a great of pitching out of them.”
The right hander, selected in round seven of the 2013 draft, struck out four in a row and dug himself out of a two-out, bases loaded jam in the fourth inning by striking out Chattanooga first baseman D.J. Hicks on a 92 mph fastball.
In the fifth inning, the Lookouts loaded the bases with no outs but Mahle then forced leadoff hitter Zach Granite to fly out to right field and struck out both second baseman Ryan Walker and right fielder Daniel Palka, who leads the Southern League in homeruns (19) and is tied for first in RBIs (59).
His strikeout of Palka was a key point in the game. Palka was 5-17 with one home run and three RBIs in the teams’ first meeting in May. He went 1-3 with a walk Wednesday.
“I saw his bat speed and didn’t want him to run into a fastball,” Mahle said. “They had a good idea how to pitch him since he hit us pretty well last time.”
Mahle ended up working five scoreless innings, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out eight. He’s now 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA. In his two starts, Mahle has racked up 16 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched in his two starts for the Blue Wahoos. On the season, he has 92 strikeouts in 89.1 innings this season between Daytona and Pensacola.
In the first half of the 2016 season with Daytona, Mahle dominated hitters, just like he has so far in Pensacola. He allowed opponents to hit just .206 against him for the Tortugas. It included a complete game, no-hitter June 13 against Jupiter Hammerheads. He was 8-3 with a 2.50 ERA and led the Florida State League in strikeouts with 76 and innings pitched with 79.1.
Pensacola scored first when first baseman Ray Chang hit a sharp two-out line drive single to left field and then shortstop Zach Vincej followed with a double down the left field line to score Chang from first to put the Blue Wahoos up, 1-0.
Pensacola scored two more times in the fifth inning to go ahead, 3-0.
Blue Wahoos left fielder Phillip Ervin hit a screamer that went through the shortstop’s legs. Ervin swiped second for his 23 steal of the season and advanced to third when the catcher’s throw rolled into centerfield. He then scored on a wild pitch by Chattanooga starter David Hurlbut to make it a, 2-0, game.
With two outs, Brandon Dixon smacked a line drive single to left field and was driven in by Taylor Sparks triple into the right field corner to increase Pensacola’s lead to 3-0.
Ervin got on base all four times Wednesday on a double, two walks and an error. His pinch hit grand slam in the Southern League All-Star game June 21 has helped increase his confidence at the plate, he said.
“Step one is to get a hit like that to get you back on top,” Ervin said. “It felt good. It was a confidence booster to get on base all four times on hits, walks or errors.”
Pensacola also showed off some spectacular defense. Blue Wahoos center fielder Brandon Dixon chased down a liner by Chattanooga DH Stuart Turner in the right-center gap threw it to second baseman Alex Blandino, who turned and threw a bullet home to catcher Joe Hudson to get Lookouts shortstop Leo Reginatto out at home plate.
Hudson also threw out two Chattanooga base runners trying to steal second base.
“Blandino threw a tremendous relay throw to get the guy out at the plate,” Kelly said. “We depend on our pitching and defense.”
One Serious After Highway 29 Rollover Crash In Cantonment
June 29, 2016
Three people, including a toddler, were injured in a single vehicle rollover Tuesday evening on Highway 29 near Neal Road in Cantonment.
The driver was trapped in the vehicle and extricated by first responders. The toddler was reported to be properly restrained and suffered only minor injuries. One person was transported by Escambia County EMS in serious condition; two others, including the toddler, were taken to the hospital by private vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not yet been released.
Pictured top and below: Firefighters use the Jaws of Life to free a victim in Cantonment crash Tuesday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Scattered Showers and Thunderstorms
June 29, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Independence Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Escambia Man Gets 30 Years For Attempted Murder
June 29, 2016
An Escambia County man is headed to prison for attempted murder.
Roger Marion Lofton was sentenced Tuesday by Circuit Judge Scott Duncan to 30 years in state prison as a habitual felony offender. Has was previously convicted of second degree murder by an Escambia County jury.
On May 17, 2015, Roger Lofton shot Richard Anthony Booth multiple times at a residence on Bayliss Court. Booth suffered gunshot wounds to his chin and his left arm.Lofton fled the area and was arrested two days later in Bonifay.
Ron Paul Endorses North Escambia Native Rebekah Bydlak For Congress
June 29, 2016
North Escambia native Rebekah Johansen Bydlak has been endorsed by former presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul.
“I am pleased to endorse Rebekah Bydlak for Congress,” Paul said, “Rebekah’s commitment to, and experience in advancing, the principles of liberty show that she is the type of leader the GOP, Florida, and the country need.”
“I am thrilled and honored to be endorsed by the godfather of the Tea Party,” Bydlak said, “Ron Paul’s name has become synonymous with the defense of the Constitution and reducing the size of government.”
“For years, he fought the good fight in Washington D.C. against career politicians and unconstitutional government overreach, and I am proud to have his support,” she added.
Bydlak would make history if she is successful in the August 30 Republican primary as the first female to represent Florida’s 1st District and youngest-ever elected woman in Congress.
Bydlak, a Cantonment resident and native of McDavid in North Escambia, is a former Florida state chair of Young Americans for Liberty, the youth organization that began as an outgrowth of Paul’s 2008 presidential bid. She has also served as director of outreach for the Coalition to Reduce Spending, an advocacy organization dedicated to reducing spending and debt.
She is a graduate of Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida. She holds a master’s degree in political science and public administration from UWF.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Opens New Municipal Complex (With Gallery)
June 29, 2016
A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for the new Flomaton Municipal Complex, replacing a city hall building that was overrun with mold.
About two years ago, the then-town hall was closed due to mold, and offices such as the town clerk, police department, and utilities scattered to other locations around town.
“We are extremely proud of this new facility,” Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant said.
The new building is located on Ringold Stret at the site of the old town hall. The modern building cost the town about a half million dollars.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Three Escape Serious Injury In Backwoods Road Crash
June 29, 2016
There were no serious injuries when two vehicles wrecked Tuesday evening on Backwoods Road near Century. A pickup truck and a passenger car collided about 7:10 p.m. in a curve on the dirt road. The driver of the pickup, the driver of the car and a passenger in the car all refused medical treatment.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Details have not been released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
MESS Hall Presents Science In The Summer Programs At The Library
June 29, 2016
The Pensacola MESS Hall presented four weeks of Science in the Summer programs at each branch of the West Florida Library. Student learned about electricity and magnetism through hands-on activities and experiments like building an electrical circuit and observing the affects of magnets on different materials.
The Pensacola MESS Hall is a hands on science museum located in downtown Pensacola. Visitors enjoy exploring math, engineering, science, and stuff with an ever-changing menu of mess kits, activities and exhibits
Pictured: The final Pensacola MESS HALL Science in the Summer program Tuesday evening at the Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.