Self Wins ARCA Pensacola 200 At Five Flags
March 10, 2019
After a short night in the season opener at Daytona, Michael Self (No. 25 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota) rebounded in the second race of the ARCA Menards Series season with a dominant win in the ARCA Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway.
Self led 39 laps midway through the race and retook the lead from Kaden Honeycutt (No. 38 Kaden Honeycutt Racing Ford) with 29 laps remaining to score his fourth career series win and his first ever series short track victory.
“This is a big deal for me,” Self said. “A short track in ARCA has eluded me. Even though I don’t think I am a great short track racer, I have had some success in the K&N Series on short tracks. For some reason is just hasn’t translated over here. Maybe this will kick start it.
“I had a lot of confidence in our car. The Venturini Motorsports team as a whole is really good. Whenever we go to one of these short tracks the rest of the year we should be in good shape. I wouldn’t want to be racing against them right now because I am not sure I would be able to beat them.”
Self finished ahead of Ty Gibbs (No. 18 Monster Energy/ORCA Coolers/Advance Auto Parts Toyota), who finished second in his ARCA Menards Series debut. He passed Christian Eckes (No. 15 JBL Audio Toyota) for the second position in the final turn of the final lap.
“I am really happy with finishing second in my first race, but I really think we had the car to beat,” Gibbs said. “I let the car roll off the jack a little on the last stop and it cost us a little time on pit road. I think that cost us the race, but we learned a lot and I am ready to get to the next race at Salem.”
Eckes held on for third, albeit with damage to the nose of his racecar.
“It happened early in the race and I didn’t think it really effected the way the car ran then, but looking at it now I am not so sure,” Eckes said. “It would have been nice to hold Ty off for second but we’ll take third. I think we come out of here with the points lead so it’s a great night for the Venturini team.”
Chandler Smith (No. 20 Craftsman/828 Logistics Toyota) led the first 38 laps after starting from the General Tire Pole. He crossed the line in fourth, just in front of Corey Heim (No. 22 Speedway Children’s Charities Ford) who finished fifth in his series debut.
The race was only slowed twice by caution flags, each for debris. The race took just one hour, 12 minutes, and 23 seconds and was completed at an average speed of 82.802 miles per hour, a record pace for a 200-lap race at Five Flags. The previous record, 75.205 miles per hour, was set by Gary Bradberry in 1994.
Self’s official margin of victory was 1.506 seconds over Gibbs.
Unoffically, Eckes leads the ARCA Menards Series championship standings with 435 points. Travis Braden (No. 27 MatrixCare/Consonus Healthcare/Liberty Village Ford), who finished tenth, sits second at 370, sixth place finisher Bret Holmes (No. 23 Holmes II Excavation/Southern States Bank Chevrolet) is third with 340, Self is fourth with 315, and eleventh-place finisher Joe Graf, Jr. (No. 77 EatSleepRace.com Ford) is fifth with 300.
The next race for the ARCA Menards Series is the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at Salem Speedway on April 14.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: And They’re Off
March 10, 2019
The days run away like wild horses over the hills.
Perhaps it’s more than a tad misogynistic to invoke poet Charles Bukowski on International Women’s Day to capture the essence of this week’s kickoff of the 2019 legislative session.
But for many Capitol insiders, by Friday morning, the flowers and pageantry of Tuesday’s opening-day ceremonies already were forgotten and the 60-day countdown to the session’s conclusion had commenced.
Apart from the pomp and circumstance, opening day also set the stage for Gov. Ron DeSantis to make his debut State of the State speech to the House and Senate, as well as to the citizens of Florida.
First Lady Casey DeSantis, a former television news-show host, looked on from the fifth-floor gallery as her hubbie made his remarks from the podium in the House chamber.
In a departure from her predecessors, the First Lady has played a major role in the DeSantis administration since the governor was sworn into office in January.
And DeSantis took note of his other half’s contribution during his 34-minute talk on Tuesday.
“She has been by my side as we have toured the state and has also blazed her own trail on issues like education, disaster relief and freedom for the people of Venezuela. She has worked so hard and I think one thing is clear: the state of Florida has a great First Lady,” he said, as his wife patted the area near her heart. “I’m convinced this whole governor thing for me is just a way for the people of Florida to have Casey as their First Lady.”
Legislative leaders largely congratulated the governor on his premiere legislative oratory, in which he repeatedly used the word “bold” to describe his agenda and to urge lawmakers to follow his lead.
But DeSantis drew some pushback from Senate President Bill Galvano, who repeated what he’s said before: Don’t expect the Senate to be a “rubber stamp” for the governor.
BE BOLD
DeSantis focused heavily on now-familiar priorities such as the environment and education during Tuesday’s time at the podium.
The governor touted issues that he has discussed during appearances across the state since taking office Jan. 8. They included efforts to improve water quality, expand school choice and prevent so-called sanctuary cities.
“Let’s fight the good fight, let’s finish the race, let’s keep the faith so that when Floridians look back on the fruits of this session, they will see it as one of our state’s finest hours,” he said in the address, the traditional start to the legislative session.
Some of DeSantis’ actions, such as an initiative to improve water quality, have generally received bipartisan support. That initiative came after parts of Southeast Florida and Southwest Florida were plagued by red tide and toxic algae last year. DeSantis quickly focused on the environmental efforts during the State of the State.
“Florida is blessed with some of the nation’s finest natural resources,” he said. “We’re the fishing and boating capital of the United States. Our beaches bring millions of tourists to our state each and every year. The state’s unique natural environment is central to our economy, our quality of life and our identity as Floridians. I’m proud to have taken swift and bold action to protect our natural resources and improve Florida’s water quality.”
DeSantis also used part of his speech to tout his decision to suspend Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, who was harshly criticized for how his office handled the deadly mass shooting last year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. DeSantis replaced Israel with Gregory Tony, but Israel has appealed his suspension to the Senate, which has the power to reinstate or remove elected officials, and is fighting the ouster in court.
DeSantis noted that Israel’s suspension will come before the Senate soon.
“Why any senator would want to thumb his nose at the Parkland families and to eject Sheriff Tony, who is doing a great job and has made history as the first African-American sheriff in Broward history, is beyond me,” the governor said.
But Galvano, who appointed former Rep. Dudley Goodlette as a special master to oversee Israel’s appeal and to make recommendations, wasn’t comfortable with the governor’s comment about the Israel case.
“Look, he has every right to suspend him and has his reasons for doing so. But the Senate also has a role, and we’re going to do it right. We’re going to have due process and we’re going to vet through the suspension and we’ll make a decision,” Galvano said, adding he’s asked senators “not to prejudge” Israel’s case. “I’ve said this before. We’re not just going to be a rubber stamp for the governor.”
PUT IT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT
The Senate might not give DeSantis an automatic seal of approval on every issue, but the upper chamber bowed to the governor two days after the session began, overwhelmingly approving a measure that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana if doctors deem it the proper treatment. The House is expected to take up the bill (SB 182) on Wednesday.
Under the proposal, patients could buy up to 2.5 ounces of medical pot during a 35-day period and would be able to possess up to 4 ounces of cannabis at any given time. Smoking of medical cannabis — which would have to be purchased from state-authorized operators — would be banned in public places. And patients under age 18 would be allowed to smoke the treatment only if they are terminally ill and have a second opinion from a board-certified pediatrician.
The quick legislative action comes in response to an ultimatum delivered by DeSantis days after he moved into the governor’s mansion. DeSantis gave the Legislature until March 15 to address the smoking ban. If they don’t act, DeSantis threatened to drop the state’s appeal of a court decision that found the prohibition violates a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana.
The smoking ban was included in a 2017 law aimed at carrying out the amendment, approved by more than 71 percent of voters in 2016.
Several Republican lawmakers, however, bristled at the idea of legalizing smokable pot. Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, said that doing away with the ban defies common sense because of the well-known negative health effects of smoking.
But Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who has been instrumental in passage of the state’s medical marijuana laws, argued the legislation erects “reasonable guiderails” that would be lacking if the governor drops the court appeal.
“It’s time to move this discussion from Tallahassee to doctors’ offices around the state of Florida,” he said.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF RELIEF
Northwest Florida lawmakers Thursday promoted a $315 million proposal that would make loans available to local governments still reeling from Hurricane Michael and would set up a task force to determine additional state assistance for the storm-battered region.
The wide-ranging Senate bill (SB 1610) came after numerous other proposals have been filed in the House and Senate to provide relief following the deadly Oct. 10 storm that left a path of devastation after making landfall in Mexico Beach and roaring north into Georgia.
Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who represents some of the hardest-hit areas, said the intent is to make sure the region is “not forgotten.” So far, about $1.2 billion has been spent by the state to help with cleanup efforts, and local communities have burned through their budgets.
“The people of North Florida are self-sufficient, they’re independent, but there comes a time when government, rightfully so, should step in and help those who work hard,” Montford said.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Florida’s 60-day legislative session kicked off Tuesday, with the usual flowers, pageantry and speeches.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Make sure when you make your decisions with your patients that you do so in their health, in their best interest, and not turn this into some kind of joke.” — Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, speaking about a move to allow patients to smoke medical marijuana if their doctors deem the treatment is necessary.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Milburn Andrew Seabolt
March 10, 2019
Milburn Andrew Seabolt, called Andy by family and friends, was the youngest of seven children born to Reva (née Jones) and Milburn E. Seabolt. After losing his father at four years old, he was raised by his mom and his stepfather, Richard Hahn. From his earliest years Andy was marked a generosity to family and friends and a deep love for his country. He met the love of his life, Saori Sasaki while stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. They married March 12, 1995. Andy always loved children and doted on his many nieces and nephews. Although Saori and Andy have no children, Andy served as a father figure for many young adults during his 20 year military career in the Navy. Helping them to rise in rank, pass tests, achieve awards and grow into mature citizens in many countries all over the world and in multiple U.S. locations. Andy was especially noted for helping young men develop positive attitudes toward their duties and achieve success through positive life choices, he was a man who led by example. His military career was outstanding and without fault. While stationed in San Diego after losing his brother Mike, Andy became acutely aware of God’s realness and presence during an evening service at his church. He struggled to show himself approved of God the rest of his life. Finally resting in the fact only God could save him, he couldn’t save himself.
After retiring he worked for the federal government as a Federal Special Agent until his death on March 6, 2019. He gained leadership skills through a natural ability to articulate ideas and concepts and a life long love of learning, reading and adult education. He was an avid history master of the civil war, WWII, and the life of Winston Churchill among other subjects. He earned his BA while working full time. Above all Andy loved his family and always wanted to be there for them. We are proud he was our husband, son, brother, and uncle.
He was proceeded in death by his mother, Reva Hahn; his brothers Thomas, Dewey, and Michael; and his nephew, Benjamin Bedel.
Survivors are his wife, Saori Seabolt; father, Richard Hahn; sisters, Mary Barnard and Jackie Bedel; brother, Steven Seabolt; brother-in-law, Kousei Sasaki; his nephews, Amos Seabolt, Yancy Seabolt Schaf, Wesley Barnard, Kakeru Sasaki; and nieces, Hinata Sasaki, Jennifer Johnson, Cary Fuller, Erin Mayes, and Maria Barnard.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 12, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Funeral Services will follow at 11 a.m. Jeff Pollard will be officiating.
Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South has been entrusted with arrangements.
Edward Hicks
March 10, 2019
Edward Hicks passed away unexpectedly at home on March 3, 2019, at the age of 69. He was born March 10, 1949, in Pensacola, FL to Earl and Carrie Hicks. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of eight at Woodlawn Baptist Church. He has been a faithful member of Olive Baptist Church since 1976. He spent 33 years teaching 10th grade Sunday school, and in these last five years, has taught in the children’s ministry. He was actively serving on the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Team. He was a Vietnam veteran in the Air Force and achieved the ranking of Staff Sergeant. The training he received in the Air Force prepared him for his life long career as an Electrical and Instrumentation Tech. He retired in 2015 after 22 years at International Paper. He was an avid hunter/outdoorsman and golfer.
He was lovingly referred to as “rough, tough, cream puff”, “the Epitome of Greatness” and “BUFF” (big ugly friendly fellow). His life was full of great humor and he was the king of “dad” jokes. Everyone he encountered loved and respected him for the life he lived. He was faithfully devoted to the Lord and his family. He spent his life sharing the love of the Lord with everyone who met him.
He is preceded in death by his father, Earl Hicks and mother, Carrie Hicks.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, June Hicks; his son Grant Hicks (Meghan); his daughter, Christina Neeper (David); his brothers, Charles and Glenn Hicks; grandchildren, Ethan Hicks, Ellyse Hicks and Kyle Neeper. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 9, 2019, at Olive Baptist Church.
Burial was at Pensacola Memorial Gardens on Pine Forest Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to The Ministry Village at Olive Baptist Church, 1836 Olive Rd, Pensacola, FL 32514.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Rosa Lee Seymour
March 10, 2019
On Thursday, February 28, 2019, Rosa Seymour passed away. She was a native of Thomasville, Georgia and lived in Pensacola since 1965.
Rosa had a passion to help people and fulfilled that mission tirelessly. She was a member of Olive Baptist Church where she served as Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) Director for many years. Rosa was a charter and organizing member of the Three Rivers Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and served in various offices. She loved researching genealogies!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elzie Albert Baxter and Laura Baxter Miles; and by her loving husband, James T. Seymour.
Rosa is survived by a loving son, Mike (Lynette) Seymour of Pensacola; a beloved daughter, Cindy, of Evans, Georgia; three wonderful granddaughters, Amanda and Amelia Wolfe of Evans, Georgia; Kelley (Adam) Meister of Pace; an adorable great-grandson, Jackson Meister of Pace; a brother, Jimmy Baxter of Americus, Georgia, and a loving extended family.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 4, 2019, at Olive Baptist Church with Dr. Jerry Passmore officiating.
Burial was at Bayview Memorial Park on Scenic Highway.
Pallbearers were Rusty Goble, George Goble, Jr., Adam Meister, and Alan Holden.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Driver Injured In Jacks Branch Road Crash
March 10, 2019
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
The vehicle left Jacks Branch Road near River Annex Road and struck a fence. It traveled along and destroyed about 200 feet before coming to rest.
The driver was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with injuries that were not considered serious.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded, and the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alice Ruth Masters
March 10, 2019
Alice Ruth Masters passed away at home on March 1, 2019, at the age of 93, surrounded by her family. She was born May 6, 1925, in Elsanor, Alabama to Ephraim and Lottie Taylor.
She accepted Christ on July 23, 1950, at Pensacola Baptist Temple. She has been a faithful member of Olive Baptist Church since 1985.
It was in Pensacola that she met and married her husband, Walter Masters. They were blessed with 77 years of marriage.
She worked for the J.C. Penney Company for 36 years as an Operations Manager.
Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Walter Masters; her parents; brothers, Charles Taylor, Alonzo Taylor, Ed Taylor, and Herman Taylor; sisters, Louise Calhoun and Hazel Gonzalez.
She is survived by her daughters, Charlotte Ruth Shaylor, Pensacola; Betty Jean Manes, Pompano Beach; son-in-law, Roger Manes, Pompano Beach; brother, Robert Taylor, Pensacola; grandchildren, Greg Shaylor, Milton; Shannon (Mike) Horsley, Blue Springs, MO; Roger Manes, Jr., Pompano Beach; Ambassador Jean E. Manes (Hector Cerpa), Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; great-grandchildren, Devyn Horsley, Cameron Horsley, Constanza Cerpa, Candela Cerpa, and Jaden Aldrich; and many nieces and nephews.
Alice loved God, her church, and her family. She touched so many lives with her service to others and kind heart.
Services were held Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South.
A private burial was held in Bayview Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Olive Baptist Church / Charis House Ministry, 1836 E. Olive Road, Pensacola, FL 32514.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home South is entrusted with arrangements.
Donald Eugene Terry
March 10, 2019
Donald Eugene Terry, born March 14, 1938, passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, February 25, 2019. Donald was born in Mobile, AL and at the age of one week, he and his family moved to Molino, FL where he resided until his death.
He is survived by his adoring wife of nearly 55 years, Lurleyne Lamar Terry. Don is also survived by a sister, Fay Terry Fant and husband John of Mobile; a brother, William A. Terry and wife Debbie Taylor of Molino. He is survived also by many nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.
Don was preceded in death by his father and mother, Robert E. and Evelyn Ruth Enfinger Terry; a brother, James Terry (Martha); his father- and mother-in-law, James W. Lamar and Dorothy Lamar Leitch. Also preceding him in death were other members of the Terry, Enfinger, Lamar, and Leitch families.
Don was employed at Chemstand/Monsanto from 1956 until his retirement in 1993. Don was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was an admirer of all nature and of all animals. Some of his happiest times were when he was working and training his bird dogs and breaking and training his beloved Tennessee walking horses. He enjoyed competing against other field trailers in both regional and national championships. Don was a member of the Northwest Florida Field Trial Club and participated as a judge, marshal, or scout, at many regional trials. It is estimated that he won or placed in over 200 trials in the area. Two of Don’s proudest moments were when with his champion pointer, Ace, he won the Amateur Regional Championship Stake in Little Rock, AR, IN 1987 and when he won the National Amateur Walking Shooting Championship in 1993 at Coldwater Creek field trial grounds in Munson, FL. It has been said that Don could train a dog or a horse to do most anything except talk. He was known as “A True Southern Gentlemen,” among his fellow field trailers. He leaves behind many special friends including Kevin Seely, Robert Kennedy, and Bob Bonner. Don made an impact on everyone he met through his kind soul, his love of nature and animals, and his genuine respect for his fellow man. His death has left a hole in our hearts.
A Memorial Service will be held Monday, March 11, 2019, at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 3200 N. 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Christopher’s.
Joyce Moncrief
March 10, 2019
Joyce Moncrief (Graves) passed from this life into the next on March 1, 2019, at the age of 78 surrounded by loving family. Joyce was born in Brewton, Alabama on September 21, 1940, and resided in Pensacola, Florida for the last 30+ years.
Joyce loved spending time with her family (especially “The Girls” as she referred to her loving sisters) and working in her yard. Joyce had a passion for art and spent much of her spare time in the studio creating beautiful oil paintings and charcoal sketches, which will be cherished by her family for many years to come. She also loved to quilt with her sisters and made many quilts for her children and family.
Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Moncrief; brothers, Raymond and Ronnie Graves; sisters, Bama Riddle, Betty Johnson and Caron Quinn.
She is survived by her loving children, Rusty Plenkers (Suzanne), Steve Moncrief (Debbie), Tracy King (Jeff) and Ronda Nelson (Don); along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North in Cantonment, Florida, with Reverend Sharon Jernigan officiating.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Virginia Ann Glascock Hartley
March 10, 2019
Mrs. Virginia Ann Glascock Hartley, age 71, passed away on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at her home in Bay Minette, Alabama.
Mrs. Hartley was a native and former resident of Marshall, VA and had resided in Bay Minette, AL for most of her life. She was a member of the Vision Ministries Church of God. She is preceded in death by her parents, Howard Glascock and Floy Lee Harville; and two sisters, Bobby Green and Joyce Willenberg.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Herman M. Hartley of Bay Minette, AL; four daughters, Tammy (John) Cole of Bay Minette, AL; Kathy (Harold) Wilder of Kimberly, AL, Sherry (Jeremy) Bryars of Bay Minette, AL and Terry (David) Conway of Perdido, AL; nine grandchildren, Samantha Denard, Taylor Cole, Ashton Wilder, Chandler Wilder, Jake Bryars, Haley Bryars, Brian Conway, Chris Conway and Jason Bryars; nine great-grandchildren, Hollis, Marley, Gillian, Gavin, Ashlyn, Bryson, Memphis, Austin and Carter; special aunt, Ann Welch; best friend, Jean Minchew; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at the Vision Ministries Church of God with Rev. Alan Blackmon officiating.
Burial was at Bryars-McGill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Boyette, Jake Bryars, Brian Conway, Chris Conway, Ashton Wilder, Chandler Wilder, Jason Bryars and Harold Wilder.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.