Wahoos Fall To Birmingham
July 31, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos center fielder Gabriel Guerrero smacked a line drive over the center field wall to tie the Birmingham Barons in the seventh inning.
But the Barons scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead, 4-2, and overcame the Blue Wahoos in front of 5,399 at Regions Field.
Birmingham catcher Brett Austin scored on a line drive single by shortstop Danny Medrick for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Then, DH Nick Basto singled to left field to drive in Medrick.
Pensacola fell to 18-18 and remain tied with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for first in the Southern League South Division in the second half. Pensacola is 58-48 overall and won the first half title. They are the first Southern League team since the Tennessee Smokies (2009-2011) to win a Southern League record four straight halves.
Birmingham got back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead, 2-1, when center fielder Hunter Jones and left fielder Courtney Hawkins, who both clobbered the ball over the left field wall. It was Jones sixth homer of the season and the seventh for Hawkins.
Pensacola scored first in the fourth inning to go up, 1-0, when Josh VanMeter singled to center and stole second base — his 12th steal in 14 attempts. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored when Blue Wahoos first baseman Brian O’Grady bounced into a force out.
Pensacola starter Keury Mella pitched six innings and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, and he struck out five.
Pensacola reliever Tyler Rainey made his first Double-A appearance and got the loss, giving up two runs, one earned on three hits and struck out one in his one inning of work Sunday.
Birmingham starter Jordan Stephens rebounded from allowing five runs in 5.2 innings in his last start against Chattanooga, to pitch seven innings and give up two runs to Pensacola on six hits and four walks and struck out six. He is 2-3 with a 2.10 ERA this season.
Escambia District Child Care Registration
July 31, 2017
The first day of school in Escambia County this year is August 10. As parents get ready for the kids to return to school, many also need to make their arrangements for after-school child care.
Some of the schools offer their own program on-site, while many others work with Campfire, Childhood Dreams, Creative School Age Child Care, the YMCA, or Angel’s Aftercare.
Registration for all on-site child care begins Wednesday, August 2, 2017.
“Our mission is to assist families by providing affordable, high quality child care on-site,” explained Aisha Adkison the ECSD School-Age Child Care Coordinator. “Our schools’ points of contact, as well as the other agencies who work with us on our campuses, will be available to help families with the registration process starting next week. We all urge parents to make contact as early as possible, to help everyone plan for a smooth transition on the first day of school.”
Contact numbers for each childcare program are listed below.
Escambia County School District School-Age Child Care Registration Information
Mission: Quality, Affordable, On-site, School-Age Child Care
Registration Begins: August 2, 2017
District-Operated Programs (school and POC):
Bellview Elementary School, Joanne Windham, 850-941-6064
Bratt Elementary School, Brandy Pierce, 850-327-6154
Ensley Elementary School, Sylvia Purifoy-Herbert, 850-474-5336
Global Learning Center, Adrienne Green, 850-430-7594
L.D. McArthur Elementary School, Angela James, 850-494-5628
Contracted Sites:
Camp Fire Gulf Winds: 850-476-1760
Longleaf Elementary School and Scenic Heights Elementary School.
Childhood Dreams: 850-572-1131
Brentwood Elementary School, Myrtle Grove Elementary School, and Pleasant Grove Elementary School.
Creative School Age Child Care: 850-479-7814
Jim Allen Elementary School, Beulah Elementary School, Blue Angels Elementary School, Cordova Park Elementary School, Hellen Caro Elementary School, Lipscomb Elementary School, Molino Park Elementary School, Pine Meadow Elementary School, A.K. Suter Elementary School, Ransom Middle School, and N.B. Cook Elementary School.
YMCA: 850-478-1222
Ferry Pass Elementary School, Holm Elementary School, Sherwood Elementary School, Bellview Middle School, Brown Barge Middle School, Ferry Pass Middle School, Woodham Middle School, and Workman Middle School.
Angel’s Aftercare: 850-288-5356
Navy Point Elementary School
Preteen Dies From Sunday Morning House Fire
July 30, 2017
Update: De’Anah East, 12, has passed away as the result of house fire Sunday morning, according to family members. She was said to be the only person home Sunday morning at the time of the fire.
A preteen was hospitalized after a house fire this morning in Escambia County.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the home in the 6600 block of Westmont Street about 7 a.m. Sunday after 911 received multiple calls reporting a structure fire with flames and smoke showing.
The first crew arrived on scene at 7:05 a.m. to find flames coming from the single family home. Crews from Ensley, Bellview, Brent, Ferry Pass, Cantonment, Osceola and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire REscue responded. The fire was extinguished at 8:22 a.m. The home was a total loss with four residents displaced.
A preteen female was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital. An update on her condition was not available.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Fire officials found no evidence of a working smoke detector in the home. If you do not have a smoke detector in your home and need assistance, both the county and the city have programs to help. For more information, contact Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376). Residents within city of Pensacola limits may call 850-436-5200 for smoke detector installation assistance.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: Suspect Captured After Crashing Into Alabama Deputy
July 30, 2017
UPDATE: This suspect has surrendered to Baldwin County authorities.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a suspect they say intentionally crashed into a deputy following a chase early Saturday morning.
About 1 a.m. a deputy watched as a white Ford truck ran a four-way stop at County Roads 32 and 87. A chase ensued with the suspect wrecking just north of Highway 98.
“As the Deputy approached the vehicle attempted to head north and then rammed the Deputy head on. The suspect jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot,” a press release stated. The deputy was treated and released at South Baldwin Hospital for head and shoulder injuries.
The suspect has been identified as 21-year old Dennis Coburn. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.
Motorcyclist Ejected On To Utility Trailer In Crash
July 30, 2017
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash Saturday on Highway 95 at East Roberts Road.
The motorcyclist apparently collided with a pickup and utility trailer. He was ejected from his motorcycle and came to rest on the utility trailer, according to witnesses. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital as a possible “trauma alert”.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Receive Free Schools Supplies In Century, Atmore
July 30, 2017
Free back to school supplies were distributed in Atmore and Century on Saturday.
In Century, free school supplies were given to residents, along with free food, face painting and more. The event was sponsored in part by Century Mayor Henry Hawkins.
Grace Fellowship in Atmore hosted their annual Unity In The Community event with a kid’s carnival, food and entertainment. School supplies and school uniforms were given to students in need.
Coming up next weekend, Victory Assembly of God will host their annual Day of Hope back to school drive on Saturday, August 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Free backpacks, school supplies, grocery items and free professional haircuts will be available. For more information visit victorycan.org or call (850) 587-2295. The church is located on Highway 29 just south of Barrineau Park Rd. Children must be present to receive supplies.
Pictured above and immediately below: School supply giveaway in Century. Bottom two photos: United in the Community in Atmore. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Registration Event Scheduled For Danceworks Classes
July 30, 2017
Registration is underway for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks, and a registration event will be held Monday.
The registration will be from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday at the Byrneville Community Center.
Ballet, tap, pointe, hip hop and jazz classes will be taught by Heather Leonard beginning the week of August 14 for girls ages 3 and up. Classes for ages 3-8 will be based on age, while classes for dancers age 9 and over will be based upon level. Leonard has taught dance to hundreds of girls from North Escambia and surrounding areas.
For the class schedule, click here. For a registration form, click here. For further information or questions email hldanceworks@gmail.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cold Front: Sunny And Dry (But Not Cold) For Sunday
July 30, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Tax Collector Employees Graduate From Public Manager Program
July 30, 2017
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office has announced the graduation of four employees from Florida’s Certified Public Manager program. The graduates are among hundreds of individuals statewide who completed the program.
The four CPM graduates are:
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector
Richard Stone, Chief Operations Officer
Brenda Chestnutt, Chief Financial Officer
Kimson Nobles, Senior Manager
The CPM program is a nationally-recognized leadership development program currently offered in 38 states and by the federal government. Its purpose is to develop more effective public managers, thereby improving services to taxpayers. Graduates complete a rigorous two-year program, consisting of 32 days of classroom instruction, supplemented by comprehensive homework assignments and exams.
Florida has one of the largest CPM programs in the country, with approximately 5,900 graduates from more than 100 agencies – including city, county, state and constitutional offices. The Florida Cabinet has recognized the program as a “preferred management development program.” The CPM program is administered by the Florida Center for Public Management at Florida State University, which is part of the Reubin O’Donovan Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.
In honor of the new graduates, Florida Governor Rick Scott designated the week of July 24-30 as “Certified Public Manager Recognition Week.”
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Running Early
July 30, 2017
Everyone seems to be running early in Florida politics nowadays.
Thanks to a chain reaction of resignations, a pair of Miami-Dade legislative races that wouldn’t have taken place until at least next year were part of a slate of special elections. Some of the outcomes were relatively predictable, but another indicated that the establishment isn’t quite what it used to be in the new American politics.
Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott revealed a portion of his budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Even though the current spending plan just took effect earlier this month, an early legislative session next year has accelerated the timeline for his piece-by-piece rollout.
Only one thing seemed a little late: Pete Antonacci, who had already been named the head of Enterprise Florida, officially got the nod to take over at the economic development agency.
THE RESULTS ARE IN
For once, election results from Miami-Dade County rolled in pretty quickly, and in the case of a special vote in Senate District 40, the results played out pretty much as expected.
On the Republican side, outgoing Rep. Jose Felix Diaz beat former Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla and lawyer Lorenzo Palomares to advance to the general election. Diaz will face off with Annette Taddeo, who was the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014. Taddeo, who was chosen for the ticket three years ago by party-changing former Gov. Charlie Crist, beat another former Republican, Ana Rivas Logan, in the Senate primary.
The conclusion of the fierce primary contests set the stage for what could be an even more brutal general election on Sept. 26 — especially given the rough-and-tumble politics of South Florida.
“Thank you to all my friends, family, and constituents for their support. Congrats to @AlexDLP40 and @palolaw2 on a hard fought race #SD40,” Diaz tweeted about 45 minutes after the polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
In a statement following her victory, Taddeo zeroed in on what could be a weakness for Diaz, an early supporter of President Donald Trump who appeared on Trump’s television show, “The Apprentice.”
“Our campaign is ready to take our people powered message to every voter in our district so we can bring change to Tallahassee. It’s time our community rejects the special interests and their lobbyist, Jose Felix Diaz, and elect a champion who will fight for our public schools, take on traffic gridlock and enhance our health care system,” Taddeo said. “With tonight’s decisive victory, we can, and will, send a loud message in September that the politics of division coming from President Trump and Washington, D.C. will not be tolerated in South Florida. Together, we will make history by electing the first Hispanic Democratic woman to the Florida Senate and a champion for our families.”
Republicans are seeking to hold on to a seat vacated by former Sen. Frank Artiles, who stepped down after a racially charged and expletive-tinged rant at a private club near the Capitol midway through the legislative session.
To run for the Senate, Diaz had to resign from his House seat, which in turn prompted a special election in House District 116.
Jose Mallea, who managed U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s first campaign, had rounded up much of the establishment support typically needed for an offseason House race. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, former House Speaker Will Weatherford and some business groups backed Mallea.
But he lost by nearly ten points anyway, to political newcomer Daniel Perez.
Perez will face Gabriela Mayaudon, a Democrat and former Venezuelan legislator, in the general election.
“Congrats Daniel Perez on your hard fought victory tonight,” tweeted Rep. Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican slated to become House speaker after the 2020 elections. “FL House Republicans stand ready to see you across the finish line. On to victory.”
Democrats said they will fight for the House seat. Rep. Kionne McGhee, a Miami Democrat in line to become the party’s House leader after the 2018 elections, issued a statement Tuesday backing Mayaudon, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
“We stand with our candidate in House District 116 as we work every day towards progress for working families in the Florida House,” McGhee said. “The path to taking back the House runs through Miami-Dade County. We also stand firmly with Gabriela and Venezuelan-Americans all across Florida against the cruel deprivation of the people of Venezuela and the erosion of democratic rights there.”
A RAISE IN PAY (AND PROSPECTS?)
There are several advantages to running for another office from the governor’s mansion. One of them is getting to go around the state and unveil popular budget proposals that can help out your cause.
So when Scott on Wednesday announced he wanted to once again spend $30 million to provide a pay raise for state law enforcement officers, it was something that could set the stage for both the looming 2018 session and his run for the U.S. Senate.
The initiative would provide the boost in the budget year that begins in July 2018. It would come on top of a 5 percent increase for law enforcement officers in the current budget year.
Speaking at a Florida Highway Patrol office in Jacksonville, the governor said that many law enforcement officers were grateful for the latest salary bump.
“But we cannot stop there,” Scott said. “The brave men and women who serve Florida as members of our state law-enforcement community work every day to keep Florida communities safe. And while I was proud of this important achievement, it’s clear that we must continue to build on this year’s pay raise.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said the increases could help him hire the more experienced personnel that his agency seeks.
“It’s getting more and more difficult to recruit those seasoned investigators when local agencies are paying more than the state investigative agency,” Swearingen said.
Scott’s office said the state’s law-enforcement agencies would work out the details of how the $30 million would be distributed. And the Legislature would still have to approve Scott’s plan in its annual session, which begins in January.
The governor’s proposed pay hike is likely to have some politically powerful allies. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency employs law-enforcement officers and who is running to succeed Scott in 2018, applauded the plan.
“Our state law-enforcement officers deserve all the support we can give them, as they’ve achieved a 46-year crime low and face unprecedented challenges, such as the current opioid crisis,” Putnam said. “Our 240 law enforcement officers with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and their peers at other state law enforcement agencies deserve a raise.”
THE NEW BOSS
There was no real surprise in Pete Antonacci’s appointment as the president of Enterprise Florida, which recruits businesses to the state, but it became official Monday.
The public-private agency’s board of directors, chaired by Scott, unanimously accepted the recommendation of its executive committee to give the president and CEO job to Antonacci, a water-management district leader and ally to the governor.
Scott, during a teleconference meeting Monday, called Antonacci “unbelievably helpful” as his general counsel.
“In this role, he will be somebody that will work with all of us,” Scott said. “He will clearly help get deals done.”
Antonacci will be paid $165,000 a year, the amount he received when he started at the water management district in 2015. The water management district will have to quickly find a replacement, as Antonacci’s first day on the new job is slated for Aug. 2.
Enterprise Florida has been working under interim director Mike Grissom since March, following the abrupt departure of Chris Hart from the top position. Grissom is expected to remain with Enterprise Florida.
Hart, the former leader of CareerSource Florida, was hired in November as president and CEO of Enterprise Florida but left the post in March.
Hart pointed to a difference of opinions with Scott on the future of the agency at a time when House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, was pushing to eliminate Enterprise Florida.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Voters in Miami-Dade County went to the polls in a special election, putting outgoing Rep. Jose Felix Diaz and former lieutenant governor candidate Annette Taddeo on the ballot for a September election in the state Senate. Daniel Perez won the GOP primary for Diaz’s seat and will face Democrat Gabriela Mayaudon.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Legislators across the country should learn from Florida’s example that if you side with the corporate gun lobby instead of your constituents, you endanger the safety of children and families, impinge upon First Amendment rights of doctors, and force taxpayers to pay millions to unsuccessfully defend unconstitutional laws.” — Jonathan Lowy, director of the Brady Center’s Legal Action Project, following a legal-fees agreement five months after a federal appeals court struck down a 2011 law that sought to prevent doctors from asking patients about guns. The state will pay $1.1 million in fees.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida