Thursday Is Aggie Day; Orientation, Schedule Pickup Set
July 26, 2017
Tate students and parents — mark your calendars. Here are some upcoming important dates for Aggie Day, Orientation, and schedule pickup for Tate High School.
Thursday, July 27 – AGGIE DAY
Aggie Day is a Welcome to Tate workshop led by Tate’s leadership students. Incoming 9th graders and new students are invited to take a few hours to learn about Tate High School. At 9 a.m., students will be split into groups in the Fryman Gym. Our leadership students will lead their group in a series of workshops to learn about activities, sports, clubs, and what makes Tate a great place to attend. Schedules will not be handed out at this event, and guidance counselors and administrators will not be present. This is a for-students, by-students event.
Drop Off: New Gym, 9:00 am
Pick Up: New Gym, 12:00 pm
Friday, August 4 – Freshmen/New Student Orientation, 9:00 am-10:30 am
Our more formal, assembly-style orientation will be at 9:00 am in the Fryman Gym. You will meet our administrators, deans, and 9th grade guidance counselor, Chuck Stanhope. Also, coaches and club sponsors will be available to answer any questions. At 10:30 am, 9th grade schedules will be available (in the gym). Tate leadership students will be present to assist in learning where classes are located. At 11:00, any schedules not picked up will return to the front office.
Friday, August 4 – Upperclassmen Schedule Pickup
10th-12th Schedules will be available for pick up from 1:00-3:00 in the Cafeteria.
Wahoos Rally Falls A Run Short
July 26, 2017
Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson came to the plate with runners on first and third and two outs with the Blue Wahoos trailing by one run in the ninth inning.
But a five-run rally by Pensacola to tie the game fell one run short when Hudson smoked a line drive back at Biloxi Shuckers relief pitcher Jorge Lopez, who stuck his glove out and caught it.
The Shuckers escaped with a, 5-4, victory over the Blue Wahoos to win the opener of the five-game series and tie the head-to-head battle between the two teams this season at 8-8.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly thought Hudson had smacked a game-tying hit.
“That ball caught him,” Kelly said. “Sometimes the game is not fair. It was nice to see us come back.”
For most of the game, the Milwaukee Brewers top pitching prospect cruised by keeping the Pensacola hitters off balance with his off-speed pitches. He shut out the Blue Wahoos lineup through seven innings of work on two hits and season-high seven Ks.
But Ortiz, who improved to 4-5 with a 3.57 ERA, had his 13-inning scoreless streak end in the eighth inning when Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino belted a homer to left center. It was Aquino’s team-leading 10th homer of the season and first since his solo shot July 1 against the Montgomery Biscuits. Ortiz was then chased from the game, when Pensacola second baseman Shed Long followed with a zinger up the middle.
Lopez, who pitched two innings for the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season, entered the game in the ninth inning with a, 5-1, Biloxi lead and almost gave the game away.
Gabriel Guerrero smashed his first home run at Blue Wahoos Stadium on in front of 4,019 fans on Tuesday. He launched his third homer of the season just right of center field into the Hill-Kelly Dodge berm with Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan on base. It pulled Pensacola within, 5-3, with no outs.
“It feels great,” Guerrero said. “We just keep fighting. We never give up. We almost came back.”
The rally continued when Pensacola first baseman Gavin LaValley singled with one out and then was singled in by Long’s liner to center field to make it a one-run game, 5-4.
With runners on first and third and two outs, Hudson stepped to the plate. The 23-year-old Guerrero, who was selected to the Southern League All-Star game, was surprised Hudson’s line drive was the last out of the game. Hudson had one of the first two hits off Ortiz when he doubled in the sixth inning.
“I thought the ball was going to go through,” Guerrero said. “(Lopez) threw his glove out there and caught it.”
Biloxi went ahead, 5-0, thanks in part to right fielder Clint Coulter whohad both RBIs in his first two at bats of Tuesday’s game for the Shuckers. The 23-year-old, who was selected 27th overall in the 2012 draft, grounded out to shortstop in the second inning, allowing first baseman Dustin DeMuth to score from third base and put Biloxi up, 1-0.
Coulter then launched his 12th homer of the season to the left center gap to lead off the fifth inning, giving Biloxi a 2-0 lead. Coulter has the team lead in both homers and RBIs with 39 this season.
In the sixth inning, it looked like Pensacola second baseman Shed Long had turned a double play when DeMuth hit a grounder up the middle that Long fielded, stepped on second base and whipped the ball to first. But the umpire ruled he missed the bag allowing Biloxi second baseman Blake Allemand to stay at second base. He would come around to score on shortstop Gabriel Noriega’s sharp single to centerfield to put the Shuckers ahead, 3-0.
Biloxi left fielder Angel Ortega then smacked a two-run homer, his seventh of the season, to left field in the seventh inning to put the Shuckers seemingly out of reach with a, 5-0, lead.
The Blue Wahoos fell to 15-16 in the second half and 55-46 overall. Biloxi, which has lost four consecutive series and 13 of their past 19 games, improved to 13-18 and 49-51 overall.
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
July 25, 2017
One person was injured in a two vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Cantonment.
One driver was transported to a local hospital by Escambia County EMS, while the second driver was uninjured and refused medical at the scene of the crash on Highway 29 at Neal Road.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Northescambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Multiple Pets Perish, Many Saved In Cantonment House Fire
July 25, 2017
Multiple family pets died during a house fire in Cantonment Monday afternoon, while firefighters and EMS were able to save several animals.
There were 14 family pets in the house — one rabbit, four dogs and nine cats. The rabbit and five cats survived the fire as firemen and EMS using pet oxygen masks to help save them.
Two people, an adult woman and her adult son, were not in the home at the time of the blaze on Deerfoot Lane.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Same Shower And Thunderstorm Pattern Continues
July 25, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Prison Sentence For Two-County Crime Spree
July 25, 2017
Joseph Morgan committed a crime spree in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and was convicted of four counts of principal to robbery with a deadly weapon, one count of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, and two counts of grand theft. Morgan was sentenced to a total of 25 years in state prison.
Escambia County Cases:
Morgan, age 22, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Jan Shackelford to 25 years in state prison. Morgan pled to the charges of two counts of Principal to Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance, and two counts of Grand Theft. The Escambia County cases were:
On January 27, 2016, Joseph Morgan and his co-defendant Lonnie Locks made arrangements to purchase a PlayStation 4 gaming package on Craigslist. Locks met the victim at Zaxby’s restaurant located at 2640 Creighton Road. He pulled what appeared to be a small black gun from his waist and demanded the game package, wallet and phone from the victim. Locks then fled on foot but was later identified in a photo lineup. The packaging of the stolen property was recovered in the home of Morgan and Locks and Morgan’s fingerprints were on the packaging.
On January 30, 2016, co-defendant, Lonnie Locks, age 19, made arrangements to purchase a cell phone on Craigslist. He met the victim at the Circle K located at 2350 W. Michigan Avenue. Instead of retrieving his wallet to pay for the phone, he displayed what appeared to be a firearm in his waistband and began shouting at the victim demanding his phone. Locks chased the victim back to his car and began beating on the windows, but the victim was able to escape unharmed.
Locks fled on foot from the crime scene above at the Circle K and then proceeded to the Dollar General Store located at 4940 Saufley Field Road. While dressed all in black and wearing a mask, Locks indicated to the clerk that he had a gun in his coat pocket and made off with $273 in cash. Morgan picked up Locks following the two robberies aiding his escape.
On February 1, 2016, Locks stole car keys from a locker at the downtown YMCA, formerly located at 410 N. Palafox St. Afterwards, Joseph Morgan drove Locks around the parking lot using the key fob to locate the victim’s vehicle. Locks then entered the vehicle using the victim’s keys and stole his wallet, cell phone and prescription glasses. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
Morgan also had two Santa Rosa County cases:
On May 5, 2017, Morgan was convicted by a Santa Rosa County Jury for principal to robbery with a deadly weapon, as a result of the following facts:
On January 21, 2016, co-defendant, Locks, entered the Tom Thumb at 2695 Hwy 87S in Navarre just after midnight. He was dressed in all black, wearing a mask and forced the clerk from the back room to the register where he took $268 in cash, over $500 in cigarettes and the clerk’s cell phone. Morgan waited down the street and drove Locks from the scene of the crime.
Deputies Seek Circle K Theft Suspect
July 25, 2017
At about 3:45 last Saturday morning, the suspect took items from the Circle K at 2200 Highway 29 in Cantonment. A citizen in the store observed the theft and followed the suspect, who was in a small black sedan headed eastbound on Roberts Road.
A short time later, and after making several short stops in an effort to “taunt” the citizen, the suspect jumped out of the vehicle in the area of East Roberts Road and La Lar Lane. The suspect then struck the citizen with a pry bar, got back into the vehicle and drove off.
If you recognize the man in these photos, call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Mother Now Charged In Child Sex Trafficking Case
July 25, 2017
The mother of the 13-year old girl involved in an Atmore sex trafficking case has now been arrested.
Melissa Deann Stoker, 37, is charged with first-degree human trafficking, endangering the welfare of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
She is being held in the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton on a $1 million bond, as are 66-year old Lue Daw, 66, and 87-year-old Charles Clarence Stacey.
Court documents show Daw accepted money from Stacey in exchange for allowing him to have sex with her 13-year-old granddaughter.
Stacey persuaded the 13-year-old girl to come into a back bedroom and have sex with him for money, according to those court documents. Both are charged with human trafficking and rape.
Stacey is also charged with promoting prostitution and enticing a child for immoral purposes.
Appeals Court Backs New Trial In Escambia Smoking Case
July 25, 2017
An appeals court Monday said the family of a dead Escambia County smoker should receive a new trial on pain-and-suffering damages in a case against cigarette maker Philip Morris USA.
But a panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected arguments that the family of Norman Lamar Danielson should also receive a new trial on punitive damages.
The Escambia County case is one of thousands filed against the tobacco industry in Florida.
The cases — known as Engle progeny cases — stem from a 2006 Florida Supreme Court ruling that established critical findings about a series of issues including the dangers of smoking and misrepresentation by cigarette makers.
In the Danielson case, a jury awarded $25,000 in economic damages to Danielson’s wife, zero pain-and-suffering damages and $325,000 in punitive damages, Monday’s ruling said. It also awarded $100,000 each to Danielson’s three children for pain and suffering — a type of damages more formally known as “non-economic” damages. After the trial, the family’s attorney sought changes in the verdict, in part because the parties had agreed that the economic damage amount should total $2.3 million.
The circuit judge approved the higher amount of economic damages, which typically involve such things as lost wages, and ordered a new trial on the amounts of non-economic damages and punitive damages. The judge pointed to issues in the case that indicated possible jury prejudice against Danielson’s wife. A three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld the judge’s decision to grant a new trial on pain-and-suffering damages.
“The trial court granted a new trial on non-economic damages because it found the jury’s verdict both inadequate and against the manifest weight of the evidence,” said Monday’s ruling, written by appeals-court Judge Timothy Osterhaus.
“We see no abuse of discretion here.” But the appeals court, by a 2-1 margin, rejected a new trial on punitive damages. Osterhaus and Judge Thomas Winokur were in the majority on the punitive-damages issue, while Judge Ross Bilbrey argued that a new trial should be held on punitive damages.
by The News Service of Florida
State Faces Legal Tab In ‘Docs Vs. Glocks’ Fight
July 25, 2017
Florida will pay $1.1 million in legal fees to attorneys who challenged a controversial state law that sought to prevent doctors from asking patients about guns, a group representing opponents said Monday.
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence announced the legal-fees agreement more than five months after a federal appeals court sided with doctors and medical groups in striking down key parts of the 2011 law — which became known as the “docs vs. glocks” law. The state did not appeal the Feb. 16 decision by the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
A copy of the legal-fees agreement had not been posted in an online court file Monday morning. But documents indicate the state and the law’s opponents had been in mediation on the fees.
The law, which was backed by groups such as the National Rifle Association, included a series of restrictions on doctors and health providers. For example, it sought to prevent physicians from entering information about gun ownership into medical records if the physicians knew the information was not “relevant” to patients’ medical care or safety or to the safety of other people.
Also, the law said doctors should refrain from asking about gun ownership by patients or family members unless the doctors believed in “good faith” that the information was relevant to medical care or safety. Also, the law sought to prevent doctors from discriminating against patients or “harassing” them because of owning firearms.
Opponents argued, in part, that the law violated free-speech rights. The full appeals court found that the record-keeping, inquiry and anti-harassment parts of the law were unconstitutional, but upheld the portion of the law that bars doctors from discriminating against patients who have guns.
“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 and an attorney in the case, said in a prepared statement Monday. “Thankfully, in this case justice prevailed and the court recognized that doctors have a First Amendment right to tell the truth about guns, and the risks they can pose to children and families.”
When asked for comment Monday about the legal fees, John Tupps, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott, said in an email that Scott signed the 2011 law after it “was approved by a large, bipartisan majority in the Florida Legislature.”
“Governor Scott is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” Tupps said. “Much of this law was either never challenged or upheld in court. This (legal fees) settlement is in accordance with Florida law and a recommendation from the Department of Financial Services.”
The challenge to the law was filed in June 2011 and played out over nearly six years. A U.S. District Court judge blocked the law from taking effect, but a three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld the law in three rulings before the full appeals court agreed to take up the case.
Supporters of the law said it was necessary to prevent doctors, such as pediatricians, from harassing and discriminating against patients and parents about gun ownership. The also described the law, formally known as the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act, as a Second Amendment issue.
But Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, an attorney with the firm Ropes & Gray, who argued the case for the plaintiffs, said in a prepared statement Monday that the case allows doctors to “go back to giving their best advice to patients when it comes to gun safety.”
“From day one in bringing this case, our commitment has been to protect doctors’ First Amendment rights to ensure the safety of individuals, families and communities in Florida,” Hallward-Driemeier said. “The successful resolution of the litigation and subsequent fees and costs award are both critical to furthering that goal.”
by The News Service of Florida