Dorothy Caraway Henderson
April 8, 2017
Mrs. Dorothy Caraway Henderson, 68, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Mobile, Alabama.
Mrs. Henderson was a native and lifelong resident of Atmore, AL area and was a member of the Cross Point Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Maurene Caraway and her husband, Donald Jay Henderson.
She is survived by her daughter, Connie Harrelson (Mitch) of Atmore, AL; three brothers, Bob Caraway, Jimmy Ray Caraway (Shona), Johnny Dale Caraway (Tracy) all of Atmore, AL; three sisters, Rebie Lou Blanton (Calvin) of Pensacola, FL, Earnestine Brantley, of Wedowee, AL, and Maureen Searcy of Atmore, AL; three grandchildren, Reagan, Aiden and Rileigh Harrelson of Atmore, AL; best friends, Mary Ridgeway and Eleanor Flowers; and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. J.T. Guyton officiating.
Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Cantonment Man Charged With Stealing Mowers Worth $30K
April 7, 2017
A Cantonment man has been charged with stealing over $30,000 worth of mowers and other items from a Highway 29 dealer.
Christopher Shane Milstead, 38, was charged with grand theft, burglary of a structure, dealing in stolen property and felony criminal mischief. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $22,500 bond.
On March 13, Kingline Equipment on Highway 29 reported that someone cut their fence and drove away with two mowers while leaving third one outside the fence. The total value of the mowers was $26,197. The mower last seen by the business on March 10.
Kingline later reported that the business had discovered and additional mower valued at $3,999 and a set of ramps value at $125 missing…for a total of $30,321 in stolen merchandise.
About a week later, a Pensacola Police Department detective had contact with a man who attempted to sell him a high-end mower for what a very low price. A check of the serial number revealed it was one of the mowers stolen from Kingline. The individual told investigators that he had paid $2,800 for the mower, and it was surrendered to police. The individual identified Milstead as the person that sold him the mower, according to an arrest report.
Deputies reported finding the second missing mower at Milstead’s residence. and it was returned to Kingline Equipment.
Deputies Seek Armed 9 Mile Road Robber
April 7, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man that held up the Dodge’s Store on 9 Mile Road at gunpoint. On 3:30 a.m. on April 2, the white male walked into the store, pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or ECSO investigators at (850) 436-9620.
Tate High Drama Presents ‘Stealing Home’
April 7, 2017
The Tate High School Drama Department will present the Pat Cook comedy “Stealing Home” at 7:00 Friday night.
Tickets will be available at the door of the Tate cafetorium for $7.
Cecil, and his partner in crime, Pug, are caught in a funeral home in the middle of the night, where they hope to heist a few trinkets. What neither expected was Beulah Meadows, the owner of the place, showing up and recognizing Cecil as her long-lost son, Jimmy, who vanished from an amusement park some 25 years earlier. This, of course, comes as a tragic shock to Beulah’s daughters, who were just about to sell the funeral home for quite a bundle.
Before you know it, the place is overrun with other-worldly sisters, whining lawyers, policemen, psychiatrists and nuns! Is Cecil really there to help out his would-be mother?
Or is he sticking around because he has a crush on Joan, the mortician? And is Cecil really Beulah’s long-lost son? Find out in this frantic farce when two con men set out to lift a few pieces of silverware and end up Stealing Home.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
House Pursues Property Tax Cut
April 7, 2017
Voters next year could be asked to expand Florida’s homestead property-tax exemption, under a measure introduced Wednesday in the House that quickly drew objections from local governments.
As a companion to a nearly $300 million tax-cut package, the House Ways & Means Committee voted 13-6 to approve a proposal (PCB WMC 17-04) that would ask voters in November 2018 to expand by $25,000 the non-school homestead exemption.
Rep. Mike La Rosa, a St. Cloud Republican and real-estate developer who is handling the bill for the committee, said it is about making homeownership more affordable. The Senate does not have a version of the bill.
“At minimum, this constitutional amendment gives the ability of homeowners and non-homeowners to make a decision if they want to lower their costs of owning a home and achieve that American dream,” La Rosa said.
The state Revenue Estimating Conference projected that, if approved by voters, local governments collectively would see non-school property-tax revenue drop by $752.7 million annually starting in the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Committee Chairman Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, had estimated the change would save property owners an average of about $170 a year.
Voting against the proposal, Rep. Don Hahnfeldt, R-The Villages, asked if it was unreasonable to force local governments to “sharpen their pencils” to enact further budget cuts that will be felt most by those who need local services.
“This is an idea that is great in intention, but is at best a feel-good for legislators and it’s going to be devastating for our communities,” Hahnfeldt said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Al Jacquet, D-Lantana, voted for the measure after briefly proposing an amendment that would have boosted the exemption to cover up to $150,000 of a property’s assessed value.
“Let’s put our people first,” Jacquet said. “I did not hear from one taxpayer in my district who said this is a bad idea.”
Yet, local officials from across the state told lawmakers that the proposed constitutional amendment would put more of the tax burden on fewer people and force county and municipal governments to decide if they would cut services or increase taxes.
The savings for homeowners would cut Seminole County revenue by more than $16.5 million, Orange County would see a revenue reduction of $35.3 million, and Leon County about $9 million, according to local officials. Palm Beach County could see a revenue drop by $29 million.
Edward G. Labrador, a lobbyist for Broward County, estimated the homestead change would result in a $38 million reduction in revenue for Broward, more than “what we fund countywide for parks and recreation.”
Nancy Detert, a former state lawmaker now on the Sarasota County Commission, told the committee that solving road gridlock and improving quality of life are concerns for her local government, where the measure would cut revenue by $7.7 million.
“It’s well intentioned,” Detert said of the proposal. “I think we have different problems, and those different problems require funding.”
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, also a former state lawmaker, said her county could be out $76.8 million in revenue if voters approve the change, requiring a $17.5 million cut just to fire-rescue services.
“If this legislation is really about tax relief for our citizens of Florida, let’s not punish the local governments who are delivering services, sometimes underfunded, to all of our citizenry,” Heyman said.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Gaetz Introduces Legislation To Reschedule Marijuana
April 7, 2017
Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has introduced legislation on the House floor that would remove marijuana from the list of Schedule I controlled substances.
Gaetz joined Democratic Congressman Darren Soto on the bipartisan bill, which hd said would make it easier for ill-patients and scientific and medical researchers to obtain marijuana.
The proposed legislation, “to provide for the rescheduling of marijuana into schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act”, is aimed at rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug, on par with heroin and LSD, to a Schedule III drug, on par with anabolic steroids.
The majority of states have already taken steps towards marijuana legalization. Currently, 28 states including Guam, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, have all passed laws legalizing marijuana to some extent under broad support. Recent polling suggest 93% of Americans support legalizing doctor-prescribed medical marijuana. Rescheduling makes it easier to conduct research into marijuana’s medical uses with lighter regulation. The benefits of rescheduling marijuana would benefit local economies. Small businesses in the marijuana industry would finally have the legal ability to meet the needs of patients. Legal status would lead to more businesses receiving loans and banking services from financial institutions.
“This drug should not be in the same category as heroin and LSD, and we do not need to continue with a policy that turns thousands of young people into felons every year. Nor do we need to punish the millions of people who are sick and seeking medical help – from pain, from muscle wasting, from chemotherapy-induced nausea” said Gaetz.
“Floridians have spoken and Medical Marijuana is the law of the land. It’s now time for the federal government to recognize this emerging law and the well-known medical benefits of marijuana” said Soto.
Pictured: Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz on the floor of the house on Thursday. Image courtesy CSPAN for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
About 70 Today; Upper 30’s Tonight
April 7, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 38. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light east wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Herrington Pitches No-Hitter In Chiefs Win; Tate Wins At Kissimmee; Tate Baseball Beats Washington
April 7, 2017
SOFTBALL
Northview 8, Freeport 0
Tori Herrington pitched a no-hitter as the Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 8-0 Thursday night in Bratt.
Herrington pitched seven, walked one and struck out nine for the Chiefs.
For Northview: Jamia Newton 3-4, R, 2 RBI; Aubrey Love 1, 4; R; Peighton Dortch R; Alana Brown 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Valen Shelly2-2, R, 2 RBI; Lydia Smith R.
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Jay 9, W.S. Neal 1
Tate 7, Lake City Columbia 3
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Lake City Columbia 7-3 in the Kissimmee Klassic Thursday.
Up next: The Tate Lady Aggies will play Lake Howell at 3 p.m. Friday in Kissimmee.
BASEBALL
Tate 13, Washington 2
The Tate Aggies beat Washington 13-2 Thursday night.
Gabe Castro earned the win for the Aggies. He went for five and a third inings, allowing two runs, four hits and striking out four.
WP: Castro 5 1/3, 2 R, 4 H, 4 K.
Reid Halfacre 3-5, 2B 2 RBI, Logan McGuffey 4-4, R; Logan Blackmon 2-3, 3 R, RBI; Kyler Hultgren 4-5, 3 RBI; Hunter NeSmith 1-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI; Mason Land, 1-5, R; Corben Young 2R; Ryan Greene R; Jesse Sherrill 1-4, R, RBI.
Washington will be at Tate Friday night at 7:00.
Washington 17, Tate 7 (JV)
Gulf Breeze 6, Tate 5 (9th)
Wahoos Open Season With Win Over Smokies
April 7, 2017
Tyler Mahle said he pitched his worst in his four-year professional career with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the end of the 2016 season.
The 22-year-old righty won only one of his final eight starts and posted a 7.17 ERA.
But given the honor of pitching the Blue Wahoos season opener Thursday, Mahle pitched 4.1 perfect innings and third baseman Taylor Sparks and first baseman Eric Jagielo both launched homers to right field to propel Pensacola to a, 4-1, victory over the Tennessee Smokies. Pensacola, which played in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038, improved to 5-1 in its season openers in franchise history.
Mahle looked sharp, retiring the first 13 Tennessee batters, while striking out five.
“It was a good one, especially on opening day,” Mahle said. “My first starts of the season haven’t been good.”
The Smokies finally got their first hit off Mahle, who threw a no-hitter for High-A Daytona last season, in the fifth inning when he smacked a line drive to center field. Tennessee then scored a run to tie the game, 1-1, when Tennessee center fielder Trey Martin singled to right field with two outs to drive in right fielder Jeffrey Baez.
Mahle, who was called up to the Blue Wahoos mid-season last year, said he felt fresh starting out the new season. Last year, he won five of his first six starts and posted a 2.41 ERA before his bad stretch.
Mahle posted a combined 14-6 record with a 3.64 ERA over 27 starts in both High-A Daytona and Double-A Pensacola. His 14 wins tied for the most among Reds’ farmhands. Mahle was lifted for Pensacola reliever Ismael Guillon after giving up his first walk of the game and throwing 86 pitches.
Mahle’s first start in Pensacola comes after a strong performance in the Futures game in which he allowed one run on seven hits, walked one, hit one batter and struck out three in five innings. Mahle allowed hits to the first four batters he faced before settling down in the game that ended in a 1-1 tie.
“It was good to get sent down and then pitch against them again,” he said. “I did really well. It keeps in their minds that I can possibly pitch up there (for Cincinnati).”
Guillon, who replaced Mahle, promptly struck out four and walked one. For the game, Blue Wahoos pitchers combined to strike out 13 Smokies.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly praised Mahle for his strong performance.
“I thought he was marvelous,” Kelly said. “That’s the way he pitched all spring. Last year, he just kind of ran out of gas down the stretch and into the playoffs.”
Tennessee’s lead was short lived when in the bottom of the fifth inning, Blue Wahoos third baseman Taylor Sparks launched the ball over the right center field wall to put Pensacola back on top, 2-1.
Sparks hit 14 homers last year between High-A and Pensacola but hit just .179.
“There are many things I’m working on like plate discipline,” said Sparks, who scored twice. “I was just as pumped up to get a walk as hitting a bomb.”
Pensacola scored first when it got three singles in a row off Tennessee season opening starter Zach Hedges. Pensacola shortstop beat out the throw on a swinging bunt and then Devin Mesoraco hit a line drive that fell in front of Smokies center fielder Trey Martin and advanced Trahan to third. Mesoraco, an All-Star in 2014, is doing his rehabilitation with the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola right fielder Aristedes Aquino, the Reds’ Minor League Player of the Year last season, then hit a ground ball back up the middle to drive in Trahan and put the Blue Wahoos up, 1-0.
Tennessee reliever Daniel Corcino, who a Blue Wahoos pitcher for parts of three seasons, put Pensacola ahead, 3-1, in the seventh inning when with the bases loaded and two outs he walked Blue Wahoos catcher Adrian Nieto to score Sparks.
First baseman Eric Jagielo, who was 2-3 on the night capped the scoring for Pensacola by hitting a bullet over the right field wall for a solo homer in the eighth inning.
Zach Hedges was tapped for the start for Tennessee, after being a bright spot in the Smokies rotation last year posting eight starts and going 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA. He finished the game allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out three in five innings.
The Top Of The Class Of 2017 Honored
April 7, 2017
The top of the Class of 2017 from Escambia County’s high schools were recognized Thursday as the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation hosted the 2017 Senior Academic Awards program.
Honorees included the top five students in each graduating class (listed in alphabetical order), as well as a student from each of the following disciplines: Career & Technology, English, Foreign Language, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
Honorees from Tate and Northview were as follows:
Northview High School (pictured top): TOP FIVE: Ellie Amerson, Alyssa Borelli, Brandon Korinchak, Kaitlyn Pugh and David Weber. DISCIPLINES: Mitchell Singleton, Career & Technical; Alyssa Bell, English; Jessica Stacey, Foreign Language; Jasmine Elliott, Math; Zachary C. Sheldon, Science; Raychell M. Baker, Social Studies.
Tate High School (pictured below): TOP FIVE: Taylor Best, Samantha E. Brown, Raymond A. Freeman, Megan E. Gulsby and Carmen E. McCrackin. DISCIPLINES: Ethan C. Sutley, Career & Technical; Venkatesh V. Charya, English; Brine D. Bennett, Foreign Language; Hayden M. Aiken, Math; Kathryn R. Orren, Science; Zyreshia A. Jackson, Social Studies.
Photos by Gary Amerson and Kim Stefansson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
