Florida Lawmakers Approve Hemp Industry
May 5, 2019
The Florida Legislature has passed a bill establishing a state hemp program within in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The vote comes after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed prohibitions on industrial hemp in place since 1937 and authorized states to create hemp programs.
“Today’s historic vote is eighty years in the making – Florida is now on the verge of establishing a state hemp program and creating a multi-billion dollar industry. Our farmers have asked for alternative crops. Floridians want access to safe, tested cannabis and CBD. With this bill, our Department can make those goals a reality and transform our economy,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.
The bill require licenses for businesses or people that wish to grow hemp and requires detail information about where it will be grown. Under federal law, it is unlawful to possess any raw or unprocessed hemp, hemp plants, or hemp seed without a license.
The measure passed the Senate 39-0 and the house 112-1.
Alabama recently passed similar legislation and has already issued licenses, including seven in Escambia County, AL. For details, click here.
Remains Of Missing WWII Pilot To Be Returned Home
May 5, 2019
The recently identified remains of Army pilot killed in World War II will be returned home his week for a proper burial.
Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Walter B. Stone of Andalusia, AL, was killed in 1943. Several of his relatives reside in North Escambia.
His remains will be flown into the Pensacola Airport on Thursday and escorted to his hometown for a funeral service on Saturday.
In October 1943, Stone served as a pilot in the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, VIII U.S. Fighter Command. On Oct. 22, 1943, Stone was killed when his P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft crashed in northern France during a bomber escort mission. Because France was enemy-occupied territory at the time of the crash, search and recovery operations were not possible.
In 1990, a French excavation group, called Association Maurice Choron (AMC,) carried out a limited excavation of the site in the forest near La Wattine, France, where Stone was believed to have crashed. Aircraft wreckage that matched Stone’s aircraft was located and a field investigation was recommended.
In April and May 2017, a DPAA Recovery Team excavated a site based on information from a local resident. During the excavation, an identification tag for Stone was located, as well as remains. The remains were sent to the laboratory for identification.
In 2018, in a contract with the University of Wisconsin, the site excavation was completed, with additional remains consolidated with the previously located remains. He was officially accounted for on February 20, 2019.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are 72,731 service members (approximately 26,000 are assessed as possibly-recoverable) still unaccounted for from World War II. Stone’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neupré, Belgium, along with the others missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
Masons Of Florida Award Scholarship To Tate Senior Gracie McNeil
May 5, 2019
The Masons of Florida have a awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Tate High School senior Gracie McNeal. She received their Public Education and Citizenship Scholarship after submitting the winning 1,000 word essay. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sunny Skies Begin The Week
May 5, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A slight chance of showers, otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Large Crowds Attend Century’s Sawmill Day And Car Show (With Photo Galleries)
May 5, 2019
Large crowds attended the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Sawmill Day and Car Show in Century Saturday in Century’s Historic District.
The day included a vintage and custom car show, plus arts and crafts booths, plenty of historic exhibits, food and live entertainment.
For Sawmill Day photos, click here.
For car show photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Biloxi 11-2
May 5, 2019
The Blue Wahoos beat the Biloxi Shuckers 11-2 Saturday night.
The capacity crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium, which included PGA Tour star Bubba Watson and family, along with 1,000 ticket-holders from a youth sports association, got a full night of entertainment.
“A great moment here with the crowd and everything. It’s the best minor league ballpark the Twins have,” said third baseman Miguel Sano, the Minnesota Twins third baseman and 2017 American League All-Star who is spending the weekend in Pensacola on injury rehab assignment. He’s expected to soon return to boost the first-place Twins.
Sano drove in one of the runs for first place Blue Wahoos (19-10) who advanced their best record in the Southern League and first-place lead in the South Division. He also generated a crowd reaction with his first at-bat foul that traveled far out of the ballpark.
He will be the designated hitter in Sunday’s series-deciding finale. The Blue Wahoos have won every series so far this season.
Saturday, the Blue Wahoos won by scoring runs in six of their eight inning at-bats. They blasted a pair of homers into the right-center berm filled with kids, and had every player in the lineup factor into the game box. Some of that due to nine walks issued by four Biloxi pitchers and two infield errors that allowed runs to score.
“We took advantage of the mistakes they made and were able to do some damage,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. “We had really good discipline at the plate. That was one of the best nights we’ve had offensively.”
Luis Arraez and Alex Kirilloff, hitting back-to-back at the top of the order, both had two hits, combined for three RBI and Arraez scored three times.
“I think we really stay focused,” said Arraez, who is batting .330. “We do a good job. We play hard every time. We have a great team.”
In his third game with the Blue Wahoos, Kirilloff delivered his first pair of RBI. It was also the first time in his professional career he’s played first base. He played that position as well as outfield in high school.
“We know he can do that,” Borrego said. “We need to keep working with him, but I like what I see. I like the way he moved.
On the mound, Blue Wahoos’ Randy Dobnak, a former Independent League teammate with Taylor Grzelakowski, made his first start. He worked four innings, allowing two runs and had five strikeouts. Relievers Adam Bray (2 innings) and Tyler Jay (3 innings) were flawless
All West Florida Libraries Closed On Monday
May 5, 2019
All West Florida Public Libraries will be closed Monday, May 6 for staff training. Regular hours and programming will resume on Tuesday, May 7.
Any materials with a due date of May 6 will not accrue fines during the closure.
The Century and Genealogy branches are always closed on Mondays.
Pictured: The Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo.
FHP: 6-Year Old Drove, Crashed In Highway 29 Parking Lot As Mother Shopped In Store
May 4, 2019
An Escambia County mother that left her three children in a vehicle while she shopped in a Highway 29 store was charged after her 6-year old drove and crashed the vehicle in the parking lot.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 27-year Cassidy Nicole Ellis was charged with child neglect and leaving children in a vehicle unattended.
According to the FHP, Ellis left her three children -ages six, four and two – in a Dodge Durango Friday night while she went inside the Dollar Tree on Pensacola Boulevard. Her 6-year old backed the vehicle out of parking space, drove the vehicle forward, and collided with a Dodge Charger before the vehicle came to rest on a tree in the parking lot.
The children were not injured.
Ellis remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set $5,000.
Navy Federal Updates Offer To $4.2 Million, 300 New Jobs For OLF 8 Acreage
May 4, 2019
Navy Federal has submitted an updated offer of just under $4.2 million and is promising 300 new jobs for 96 acres of the OLF 8 property owned by Escambia County on Nine Mile Road.
The $4.192million purchase offer is based upon $47,500 per acre for 88 acres and $1,500 per acre for eight acres of wetlands. The $47,500 per acre is based upon the average of two recent appraisals.
Navy Federal’s non-binding offer expires on July 31.
In January Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County.
The land exchange provided Escambia County with property that can accommodate a wide variety of residential and light industrial development options, that will benefit the citizens and improve the county tax base. In return, the Navy gains a new, fully functional helicopter OLF, that meets current helicopter flight training requirements and is closer to NAS Whiting Field.
Escambia County has received an unsolicited offer of $18 million for about 530 acres of the property not being acquired by Navy Federal and $1.1 million for 15 acres with frontage on Nine Mile Road to construct a commercial center with a mix of retail, small offices and restaurants.
The county would legally required to declare excess acreage as surplus and sell to the highest bidder.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Four Scholarships
May 4, 2019
Friday evening, the Barrineau Park Historical Society presented four deserving high school seniors with college scholarships. The scholarships were presented to Lexxi Baggett, Northview High School; Kaylin Glenn, West Florida High School; Jordana Jernigan, Tate High School; and Brett Fillingim, Tate High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.