Thousands Attend Mayfest (With Photo Gallery)
May 7, 2017
From beautiful babies, cute dogs, arts and crafts, entertainment and plenty of fun, Mayfest 2017 had a little bit of something for everyone Saturday at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore as thousands attended the annual event.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Quintette Community Center Holds Annual May Day Event
May 7, 2017
The annual Quintette Community Center May Day was held Saturday. The event features arts, crafts, food, entertainment and more. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Brush Fire Consumes One Acre
May 7, 2017
Escambia Fire Rescue battled a small bush fire in Molino Saturday afternoon off Highway 29 near Jimmy’s Grill. The fire consumed about one acre. There were no injuries reported and no word of any structural damage. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Top 10 Big Issues Of The 2017 Florida Legislative Session
May 7, 2017
Florida lawmakers will gather Monday at the Capitol to pass a new state budget. But for the most part, the annual legislative session ended Friday night when the House and Senate adjourned after a final round of negotiating and maneuvering.
As always, the Legislature considered hundreds of bills during the session, with many passing, many dying quietly and others flaming out because of disagreements between the House and Senate.
Here is a quick look at 10 big issues:
BUDGET: House and Senate leaders struggled to reach agreement on a spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1, with the sometimes-contentious process forcing them to extend the session through Monday. Lawmakers will vote on an $82.4 billion budget, though that figure does not include some costs tucked away in other bills. The budget will provide a modest increase for the main formula for school funding, give state employees their first raise since 2013 and take into account a package of tax cuts.
DEATH PENALTY: Florida’s death penalty has been on hold since January 2016 because of rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court. But lawmakers moved quickly during the session to address one key legal issue. They passed a measure that requires unanimous jury recommendations before defendants can be sentenced to death. The Florida Supreme Court last year struck down a law that required only 10 of 12 jurors to agree on recommending death sentences.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Gov. Rick Scott spent the final days of the legislative session traveling the state in a last-ditch effort to pressure lawmakers on the issues of funding economic-development agency Enterprise Florida and tourism-marketer Visit Florida. But Scott, who battled throughout the session with House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, about the programs, got little of what he wanted. That has led to widespread speculation that Scott could go so far as to veto the budget.
EDUCATION: Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, had two different sets of education priorities — but both largely got what they wanted. Lawmakers will vote Monday on what is known as a budget conforming bill that includes Corcoran priorities such as the “schools of hope” program, which will encourage charter schools to open near academically struggling traditional public schools. Negron, meanwhile, focused on bolstering the university system and got agreement on issues such as expanding the Bright Futures scholarships program and requiring universities to offer block tuition, which involves students paying a flat fee per semester rather than a credit-hour charge.
GAMBLING: With the incentive of trying to reach a new gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the House and Senate worked on plans that could have revamped the state’s gambling industry. But the efforts collapsed early in the final week of the session, with House and Senate negotiators unable to reach a compromise. Among the key differences was the Senate’s support for allowing slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities in eight counties where voters have approved the machines in referendums — an issue opposed by the House, which wanted to take a more status-quo approach to gambling.
GUNS: Second Amendment supporters got a win late Friday when lawmakers approved a plan to shift a key burden of proof in “stand your ground” self-defense cases, an issue backed by groups including the National Rifle Association. But other high-profile gun issues got bottled up in the Senate early in the session and did not pass. Those issues included a proposal to allow people with concealed-weapons license to carry firearms on college and university campuses and a proposal to allow license holders to openly carry firearms in public.
HEALTH CARE: Corcoran and other House Republican leaders pushed for easing health-industry regulations, arguing a more free-market approach would help improve access to care. But the Senate scuttled high-profile House proposals such as eliminating what is known as the “certificate of need” approval process for building hospitals. Similarly, the Senate never took up a House proposal that would have changed criteria for the addition of hospital trauma centers, long a contentious issue in the hospital industry.
INSURANCE: After regulators last year approved a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates, lawmakers faced pressure from business groups to make changes that would hold down rates. But the House and Senate could not agree on a plan, with the differences largely focused on proposals to limit fees for injured workers’ attorneys. Lawmakers also did not move forward with a proposal to repeal the state’s no-fault auto insurance system and could not reach agreement on an issue known as “assignment of benefits,” which property insurers blame for increased homeowners’ rates.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA: The House and Senate adjourned Friday night without approving a plan to carry out a November constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana in the state. Negotiations about the issue continued through the final days of the session, but the failure to agree on a bill will leave implementation of the voter-approved amendment to state health officials. A key difference between the House and Senate centered on how many marijuana dispensaries the state should have.
WATER: Along with pushing for changes in the university system, Negron made a top priority of building a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. The issue hit home for Negron: Polluted discharges from the lake have fouled waterways in Stuart’s Treasure Coast district, and the reservoir could help alleviate the problem. Negron’s proposal initially drew heavy opposition from farmers, including the sugar industry, and some community leaders south of the lake, but the Senate and House ultimately agreed on reservoir plan after Negron made changes.
Photos: Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show
May 7, 2017
The annual Branden Penegar Memorial Car Show was held Saturday at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church on Pauline Street in Cantonment. Penegar, the “Gentle Giant” was a 2011 graduate of Tate High School, an assistant coach for the freshman Aggies’ football program and varsity tennis team, and a member of the Tate High School Student Hall of Fame. He passed away in March 2013 at the age of 20.
Penegar was a active member of the Gonzalez United Methodist Church and youth program.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Lose To The Lookouts
May 7, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped Saturday’s game, 5-1, to the Chattanooga Lookouts and now have lost 10 of their last 12 games.
The team’s slump includes three straight losses to Chattanooga at AT&T Field. Pensacola’s losses come after winning a franchise record eight in a row.
Pensacola is now 15-13 and just one game ahead of the Mississippi Braves, who are 14-14, in the Southern League South Division.
Part of the reason for the losses are a lack of hitting. Pensacola’s one run Saturday came on just three hits.
Blue Wahoos second baseman Josh VanMeter was 1-4, DH Angelo Gumbs was 1-4, and first baseman Brian O’Grady was 1-3. Pensacola’s only run came when third baseman Alex Blandino, who was 0-2, smacked a fly ball to left field that scored Gabriel Guerrero, who reached first on an error by Chattanooga second baseman Nick Gordon. Gumbs singled Guerrero to third.
Chattanooga went up 5-0 in the first four innings. They scored twice in the second inning when Gordon singled to right field and drove in both DH LaMonte Wade and left fielder Travis Harrison.
In the fourth inning, Chattanooga’s right fielder Edgar Corcino doubled to centerfield scoring center fielder Tanner English and shortstop Engelb Vielma. The Lookouts tagged on another run when first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez singled to left field to score Corcino to go ahead 5-0.
Chattanooga starter Matt Tracy allowed all three Blue Wahoos’ hits in his six innings of work. He allowed one unearned run, didn’t allow a walk and struck out four. He improved to 2-2 with 2.60 ERA.
Meanwhile, Keury Mella allowed all five Chattanooga runs in 3.2 innings. He allowed six hits, walked five and struck out two. He fell to 0-3 on the season with a 4.76 ERA.
Pensacola’s bullpen – Ismael Guillon, Ariel Hernandez and Jimmy Herget – shutout Chattanooga the final 4.1 innings on two hits, four walks and nine strikeouts.
Marcia Rice Knowles
May 7, 2017
Marcia Rice Knowles, age 74, of Century, was called home May 6, 2017, with her family at her side. She was born in Ventura, California on April 19, 1943, to the late Marc and Mildred Rice of Hialeah, Florida. Marcia was an entrepreneur and owned a tax preparation and bookkeeping practice for many years in Robertsdale, Alabama. She was known for her devotion to her family and dedication to her husband. Marcia is preceded in death by her parents and several friends.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, William “Kenny” Knowles; children, James Hovark of Encino, CA, Daniel Hovark of Gulf Shores, AL, Katherine Hovark and Kim (Orvel) Schroeder; step-children, Sylvia (Randy) Straley, of Melbourne, FL, and Cindy (Quinn) Hemme, of Loxley, AL; grandchildren, Kelsey Plant and Elizabeth Hemme; and many nieces, nephews and cherished friends.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Pastor Al Bethea will officiate.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
John Calvin Davis, Sr.
May 7, 2017
John Calvin Davis, Sr. 91 of Davisville, FL, passed away Friday, May 5, 2017, at his residence. He retired after 38 years of service from St. Regis-Champion Paper Mill. He served in the U. S. Navy during WWII, was a Mason for over 50 years, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite, and a member of Pine Barren Baptist Church. Mr. John loved his family dearly.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Homer J. and Nellie Dove Davis; two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Mrs. Jean Eloise Steadham Davis of Davisville, FL; two sons, John C. (Lynn) Davis, Jr of Atmore, AL and Benjamin E. Davis (Dottie) of Walnut Hill, FL; four grandchildren, “Little John” Calvin (Sandy) Davis, III of Atmore, AL, Anna Davis (Christopher) Barry of Cantonment, FL, Lacey Davis (Travis) Suits of Orange City, FL and Clinton E. Davis of Cantonment, FL; four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Jimmy Douglas (Sharon) Davis of Davisville, FL.
Services will be Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 2 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mike Harper officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery with full Military Honors. Active pallbearers will be “Little John” Davis, Clint Davis, Travis Suits, Chris Barry, Oscar Davis and Brian Davis.
Honorary pallbearers will be his Sunday School class, Raymond Norris, Ralph Darby, Marcus Ferguson, Branson Holt, James Calvin Bolton, Mickey Peterson, Edward Hudson, Bernie Edwards and Daryl Andress.
Family will receive friends Monday, May 8, 2017, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Century Receives $700K Housing Grant
May 6, 2017
The Town of Century has received a $700,000 housing grant, bringing the total housing grants received this year to $1.3 million.
The $700,000 Community Development Block Grant is for housing rehabilitation and replacement. Funds can be used to repair or replace housing damaged in the February 2016 EF-3 tornado, but the funds are not limited to storm recovery.
The Department of Economic Opportunity administers the State Program in Florida through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. This is a competitive grant program that awards funds to units of local government in small urban and rural areas. The program provides an opportunity for communities to obtain funds for projects that they cannot otherwise afford, including rehabilitation of substandard housing.
The application process for $700,000 in housing rehab and replacement funding has not yet been announced.
Recently the town also received $600,483 in emergency funding from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for tornado recovery. The application period for residents closed on May 3; recipients have not yet been announced.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
A Perfect May Day
May 6, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 54. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 59. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.