Florida Chamber Recognizes Doug Broxson As Distinguished Advocate
June 26, 2019
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has recognized Senator Doug Broxson as a 2019 Distinguished Advocate for his work during the 2019 Legislative Session.
The Florida Chamber’s Distinguished Advocate award recognizes lawmakers who fought tirelessly for the passage of pro-business legislation and advocated for the Florida Chamber’s goals of securing Florida’s future and commitment to Florida’s business community through job creation, economic development and free enterprise.
“Senator Broxson successfully passed assignment of benefits legislation, carrying a six-year Florida Chamber-led effort to protect homeowners from unscrupulous vendors across the finish line,” said Frank Walker, vice president of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Chamber.
This award is designed to honor legislators who prioritize the priority business community’s legislative goals.
“It took six years to finally pass meaningful AOB reform and I was proud to champion an end to this fraud and abuse. Thank you to the Florida Chamber for working alongside me on these reforms and for their recognition as a Distinguished Advocate,” said Broxson.
Couple Sentenced In $5.8 Million Bingo Scheme
June 26, 2019
Two Escambia County residents have been sentenced in a $5.8 million bingo scheme.
Larry L. Masino, 69, of Santa Rosa County, and Dixie L. Masino, 66, of Escambia County, a were both found guilty by a jury of conspiracy and money laundering charges related to their ownership and operation of Racetrack Bingo in Fort Walton Beach.
The Masinos, through Racetrack Bingo, illegally conducted bingo games by keeping a substantial amount of the bingo proceeds for themselves rather than returning all proceeds to players in the form of prizes, as required by law. The Masinos received and laundered $5,813,584 in profit between 2006 and 2015.
Larry Masino, the original orchestrator of the illegal bingo scheme, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. His ex-wife Dixie Masino, who took over as the face of the operation in 2010 after Larry was prosecuted in Tallahassee for running illegal bingo games there, was sentenced to four months of house arrest as a part of a five-year probation term.
In addition to receiving sentences of incarceration, house arrest, and probation, the Masinos were jointly ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $5,813,584. The government has already seized more than $1.5 million from the Masinos’ bank accounts and forfeited three properties, the proceeds of which will be applied toward the court-ordered money judgment.
FHSAA Announces Reclassifications For Spring Sports Based On Enrollment
June 26, 2019
The Florida High School Athletic Association has announced new classifications for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons for baseball, flag football, lacrosse, tennis, track & field, boys volleyball, water polo and boys weightlifting. As requested by membership, the classifications were determined solely based on each member school’s enrollment size.
Baseball
1-6A – Tate, Navarre, Pace, Crestview, Niceville
1-5A – Pine Forest, Washington, Escambia, Gulf Breeze
2-5A – Milton, Mosley, Fort Walton Beach, Choctaw
1-4A – West Florida, Arnold, Rickards, Wakulla, Pensacola, Godby
1-3A – Pensacola Catholic, Rutherford, North Bay Haven, South Walton, Bay, Walton
1-1A – Northview, Jay, Central, Baker, Laurel Hill
Softball
1-6A – Tate, Navarre, Crestview, Niceville
1-5A – Pine Forest, Washington, Escambia, Gulf Breeze
2-5A – Choctaw, Fort Walton Beach, Milton, Pace, Mosley
1-4A – West Florida, Pensacola, Wakulla, Arnold, Godby, Rickards
1-3A – Pensacola Catholic, Rutherford, North Bay Haven, South Walton, Bay, Walton
1-1A – Northview, Jay, Central, Baker, Laurel Hill, Paxton
Boys Track and Field
1-4A – Tate, Niceville, Crestview, West Port, Navarre, Buchholz, Forest, Chiles, Niceville
1-3A – Pine Forest, Washington, Escambia, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton Beach, Choctaw
1-2A – Northview, West Florida, Pensacola, Pensacola Catholic, South Walton, Walton, Bay, North Bay Haven, Rutherford, Bozeman
1-1A – Jay, Central, Rocky Bayou, Pensacola Christian, Baker, Freeport, Cottondale, Central, Paxton, Rocky Bayou, Graceville, Vernon
Girls Track and Field
1-4A – Tate, Navarre, Niceville, Chiles, Crestview, Forest, Bucholz, West Port
1-3A – Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace, Choctaw, Fort Walton Beach
1-2A – Northview, Pensacola Catholic, West Florida, Pensacola, Bozeman, Walton, Rutherford, North Bay Haven, South Walton, Bay,
1-1A – Jay, Central, Rocky Bayou, Pensacola Christian, Baker, Freeport, Paxton, Cottondale, Vernon, Graceville
Boys Weightlifting
1-2A – Tate, Pine Forest, Escambia, Washington, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Pace, Navarre
1-1A – Northview, Jay, Pensacola Catholic, West Florida, Pensacola, Rocky Bayou, Vernon, Baker, Holmes County
Girls Tennis
1-3A – Tate, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Washington, Escambia
1-2A – Pine Forest, Arnold, Pensacola, West Florida, Bay, South Walton, North Bay Haven, Rutherford
Boys Tennis
1-3A – Tate, Navarre, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Washington, Escambia
1-2A – Pine Forest, Arnold, Pensacola, West Florida, Bay, North Bay Haven, Rutherford, South Walton,
1-1A – Pensacola Catholic, Freeport, Vernon, Jay, Rocky Bayou, Maclay, North Florida, Community
Flag Football
1-2A – Tate, Navarre, Crestview, Chiles, Niceville, Leon, Lincoln, Pace
1-1A – Northview, Pine Forest, Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Washington, Escambia, Fort Walton Beach, Choctaw
Democrat Goins Pre-files For The District 5 Commission Seat
June 26, 2019
There’s a new candidate for the Escambia County Commission.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office said Barbara Goins pre-filed Tuesday as a Democrat for the District 5 seat in the 2020 election.
Incumbent Republican Steven Barry has pre-filed for a third term.
Storms Downs Trees, Power Lines Across Molino; Hundreds Left Without Power
June 25, 2019
A fast-moving thunderstorm downed trees and power line in scattered locations in the Molino area Tuesday afternoon.
Trees and power line were reported down on or in the area of Molino Road (pictured above), Schaag Road (pictured below), on Sunshine Hill Road, Chestnut Road, Crabtree Church Road and other locations across Molino. Multiple roads were closed due to the downed trees and lines.
Gulf Power was reporting about 850 customers without power across Molino immediately after the storm. Escambia River Electric Cooperative was reporting about 431 customers without power.
There were no injuries reported and no immediate reports of any structural damage.
There was a severe thunderstorm warning in effect at the time.
Pictured above: A tree down across the 900 block of Molino Road. Pictured below: A tree down on Schaag Road. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Crossing Palafox Street Struck and Killed
June 25, 2019
A pedestrian was struck and killed early Tuesday morning in Escambia County.
Ollie Jenkins, 52, was traveling south at 12:15 a.m. on Palafox Street near Tower Drive in a Cadillac Escalade and was unable to see 37-year old Reginald Wilson crossing the street due to poor lighting in the area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Wilson was transported Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Jenkins was not injured.
Any charges are pending the outcome of a FHP investigation.
File photo.
Overall Crime Rate Falls in Escambia County
June 25, 2019
The total crime rate in Escambia County dropped last year, according to a report released Monday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The overall crime rate dropped by 6.2 percent from 2017 to 2018, according to the report, and the number of crimes solved increased from 29.7 to 31.9 percent. The number of murders dropped from 19 to 12. In the other major crime categories the total numbers dropped for robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and larceny. The number of rapes and motor vehicle thefts increased.
The countywide report covers crimes investigated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and other agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol, FDLE, University of West Florida Police and the Pensacola State College Police Department.
The statewide crime rate in Florida fell by 9 percent, according to the 2018 Annual Uniform Crime Report, marking the 48th consecutive year Florida has seen a drop in its crime rate. The report also shows a 7.4 percent decrease of total index crimes, with 45,154 fewer reported offenses compared to 2017.
Cantonment Man Gets Seven Years For Trafficking Meth
June 25, 2019
A Cantonment man stopped by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies for a window tint violation has been sentenced to state prison for drug trafficking.
Dalan Lamar Beasley, 29 Beasley pleaded no contest to trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to seven years in state prison and received $100,000 fine plus various court costs and fees. He was immediately remanded into custody following his conviction.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies in an unmarked vehicle conducted a traffic stop January 18 on a Dodge Dart driven by a female on West Hope Drive, near I-10 and Highway 29, due to the dark window tint on the vehicle.
When Beasley exited the passenger side of the vehicle, he did not comply with multiple orders from the deputies, according to an arrest report. Instead, he struggled against deputies and placed his hand down his pants. As he continued to “violently resist” he was tased before being taken into custody.
During a search, deputies found a bag containing methamphetamine in Beasley’s groin area. Inside they car, they found a marijuana cigarette.
The female driver received warnings for a window tint violation and improperly wearing a seat belt.
Century Cuts Splash Pad Hours Due To Programming Mistake
June 25, 2019
The Town of Century has cut hours for their splash pad due to a mistake, and it will be closed Tuesday due to a water leak.
On Saturday, NorthEscambia.com reported that when checked on Friday, the first day of summer, the splash pad was not working shortly after 5 p.m., and numerous readers reported it had been shutting off two hours early for weeks. The water would stop flowing daily at 5 p.m. instead of the 7 p.m. advertised by the town.
On Monday, the town said that “due to unexpected programming errors” the splash pad will now be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Pictured: The Century splash pad on a very hot Friday, the first day of summer, at about 5:30 p.m. The splash pad was not working. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate JV, Freshmen Cheerleaders Place At FSU Camp
June 25, 2019
The Tate High School junior varsity and freshmen cheerleading squads won several awards at the Universal Cheerleaders Association Camp this past weekend at Florida State University.
The JV squad earned straight superiors on their evaluations. They were first place in Cheer and Rally Routine and second place in the open division for Overall Game Day Performance.
The freshmen squad finished the weekend with straight superiors, fourth place for Cheer and third place in Overall Game Day and Rally Routine. They were were the only freshmen team competing against all JV teams in their division.
McKenzie Alfred, Kaleigh Chism, Jada Floyd, Autumn Johnson and Kainey Patrick, were named “Pin It Forward” recipients.
Alfred, Chism, Floyd, Patrick, Paige Foxworth and Karigan Kowal were also selected as UCA All-American Cheerleaders.
The Tate cheer program also earned the Leadership Award, which is voted on by the athletes at the camp. This award recognizes teams who inspire leadership on and off the field. Teams voted for one team that they would want to be a part of as a cheerleader.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
