Pensacola’s White Drops $2.77 Million On Attorney General Race
July 4, 2018
Former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody continues to post six-figure contribution totals, while her opponent in the Republican primary for attorney general, state Rep. Frank White, has started to dig into his campaign treasury to pay for ads, new finance reports show.
On the Democratic side of the race to replace term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, Rep. Sean Shaw of Tampa maintains a big lead in the fundraising contest over Ryan Torrens, a lawyer from Hillsborough County.
White, a Pensacola Republican, spent more than $1 million, mostly on advertising, from June 1 to June 22, while raising $84,200, according to campaign finance reports posted on the state Division of Elections website.
White released a pair of commercials last month that are part of a statewide TV ad buy that is expected to run up to the Aug. 28 primary. The first criticizes politicians, liberal judges and elites that “threaten the Constitution and mock our values.” The second ad highlights White’s pro-life stance and support for the National Rifle Association and President Donald Trump.
White, who serves as general counsel and chief financial officer for the chain of Sandy Sansing auto dealerships, has put $2.77 million of his own money into the race.
White had about $2.4 million on hand as of June 22.
Of the $84,200 raised between June 1 and June 22, $39,000 came from other auto dealerships and real estate companies tied to those dealerships.
Braman auto dealerships and real estate companies in South Florida accounted for $24,000.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Walk Off In Stunning Fashion
July 4, 2018
The Wahoos mounted a late-game comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning as they defeated the Mississippi Braves 4-3 in Tuesday night’s ballgame at Blue Wahoos Stadium in front of a sellout crowd.
Pensacola entered the ninth inning trailing Mississippi 3-0. The Braves looked to Adam McCreery to secure the win for them in the inning. McCreery issued a leadoff walk to Gavin LaValley to start the inning. With one out from a Chris Okey fly out to center field, McCreery then threw a wild pitch to Taylor Sparks that put LaValley on second base. Sparks reached on a throwing error by McCreery that moved LaValley to third. McCreery was relieved by Chad Sobotka after he hit TJ Friedl with a pitch, to have the bases loaded for the Wahoos. Jose Siri got the Wahoos on the board with a sac fly to left field that scored LaValley to cut the lead to 3-1. Shed Long came to the plate and smashed a line drive RBI single that plated Taylor Sparks to make it a one-run game. With Mitch Nay batting, Sobotka threw a wild pitch that scored Friedl from third. M-Braves catcher Carlos Martinez tried to throw Friedl out at the plate, but his errant throw went up the first base line and Long scrambled around all the way from first to score the winning run.
Despite not factoring in the decision, Mississippi starter Bryse Wilson had a solid outing for the M-Braves. The Braves prospect pitched seven shutout innings allowing one walk, five hits, and a season-high nine strikeouts.
The Wahoos head to Montgomery Wednesday to battle the Biscuits in a four-game road trip. Daniel Wright (3-5, 4.23) will open the series for Pensacola, and RHP Benton Moss (1-2, 3.42) will take the hill for Montgomery
Unclaimed Lottery Ticket Sold On Chemstrand Road Set To Expire
July 4, 2018
The Florida Lottery today announced that a Fantasy 5 top prize-winning ticket worth $68,629.86 sold on Chemstand Road remains unclaimed. The 180-day deadline to claim the top prize is Tuesday, July 10 at 11 p.m.
The winning Fantasy 5 numbers for the January 11, 2018, drawing were: 02 – 13 – 19 – 27 – 28
The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold at 6 Brothers, located at 8702 Chemstrand Road. Players who may have purchased a Fantasy 5 ticket at this retail location are encouraged to check their tickets from the January 11 drawing.
While any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, the Fantasy 5 top prize must be claimed at a Florida Lottery District Office or at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee.
Man Charged With Impersonating A Police Officer
July 3, 2018
The Pensacola Police Department has arrested a man for impersonating a police officer.
Stephen Williams, 39, was charged for the incident after he contacted people in the area of the Pensacola Village apartments in recent days indicating that he was a detective with the Pensacola Police Department, the agency said. He told the residents that he was investigating a missing persons case.
Pensacola Police said he has never been an employee of the department.
Williams was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
Overnight Drive-by Shooting In Molino Under Investigation
July 3, 2018
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect after a drive-by shooting early Tuesday morning in Molino.
At 1:23 a.m., a resident of Cedartown Road near Allen Circle reported that someone in an unknown type vehicle opened fire at a residential trailer and an unoccupied vehicle, according to Amber Southard, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
She said responding deputies did locate shell casings in the roadway.
There were no injuries reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In 297A Crash
July 3, 2018
Two people were injured in a two vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Highway 297A and Ashbury Lane, just south of County Road 97.. Both were transported to area hospitals by Escambia County EMS.
A third person was not injured in the 8:15 a.m. accident. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Collapse At Molino Bridge Project, Work Halted For FDOT Review; Second Similar Failure Weeks Ago
July 3, 2018
[EXCLUSIVE] There was a collapse at a bridge under construction in Molino on Saturday, the second failure incident in less than a month, and construction has been halted while the bridge’s engineering is reassessed, NorthEscambia.com has learned.
Saturday at the Barrineau Park Road (Hwy. 196) bridge over Jacks Branch, concrete for a bridge deck span was being poured into temporary forms when a rod and temporary truss failed, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. That caused two deck spans of concrete that had not hardened to fall into water below.
“Workers in the area noticed a ‘dip’ as they were pouring the concrete and attempted a repair, but the form system collapsed,” FDOT District 3 Public Information Director Ian Satter told NorthEscambia.com. There were no injuries, and the concrete does not pose an environmental hazard.
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About three weeks ago, crews were attempting to place concrete in another deck form that failed, causing the deck and truss under the form to sag, he said. That section of bridge deck was removed by the contractor (photos at page bottom).
Monday, Satter said construction on the $1.97 million FDOT-funded project was halted after Saturday’s collapse while the entire engineering plan for the bridge is evaluated.
“We are assessing everything out there, and we (FDOT) are doing everything to assure this will not happen again,” Satter said. “There are no construction related activities on the bridge right now. They are cleaning up the site and reassessed engineering plans will be submitted to FDOT.”
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He stressed that an independent team monitors the construction of each bridge for FDOT, and each bridge must pass multiple inspections before being opened to the public. “We will have a safe bridge in place,” he said.
GDB-US Constructors, Inc. of Parish, FL, is the contractor on the project, the lowest of four bidders. Satter said to his knowledge, this is their first bridge project in FDOT District 3, which includes the area from Pensacola to Tallahassee.
The original bridge contract specified a fall completion for the project. So far there is no indication that the two incidents will prevent the bridge from being completed on time, according to FDOT.
Barrineau Park Road at Jacks Branch has been closed since January with traffic detoured via Highway 29, Molino Road (Hwy. 182), and Highway 95A.
Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured below: Sections of concrete bridge deck removed from the bridge after it began to sag three weeks ago can be seen to the right of the bridge.
So This Beaver Heads Down To The Liquor Store On Highway 29…
July 3, 2018
A larger beaver was spotted alongside Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road, right in front of a liquor store, and it’s getting a lot of attention (and a lot of bad puns) on social media. Rick Littlefield said he was surprised to see the beaver, and it retreated into the drainage ditch shortly after these photos. Other local residents say they have seen beavers by the busy highway before. Photos courtesy Rick Littlefield for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 20 Years After Road Rage Incident
July 3, 2018
An Escambia County man is headed to prison after a road rage incident.
Daniel Thomas Fountain,27, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Thomas Dannheisser to 20 years in state prison to include a five-year minimum mandatory. This means the defendant will serve the first five years of his sentence day for day and he will serve at least 85 percent of the remaining 15 years.
A road rage incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on March 5, 2017, when the victim was traveling to work on Rainbow Drive in a residential neighborhood. When he pulled up to a speed bump, he noticed a black Lexus sitting on the opposite side of the road, facing in the opposite direction of his vehicle. The driver’s window of the Lexus was down and the defendant was hanging out of the window. The victim was side by side with Fountain.
When the victim passed Fountain, he looked back and Fountain fired three shots at the victim’s car and sped off. The victim gave law enforcement a detailed description of the suspect and the vehicle.
A few hours later, law enforcement responded to a disturbance involving a firearm at the home of Fountain’s girlfriend. Fountain was present in a black Lexus that matched the description fro the Rainbow Drive shooting. The victim later identified Fountain from a photo lineup.
Learn How To Loom Knit During Cantonment Park Program
July 3, 2018
Learn the basics of how to loom knit hats, scarves, lap blankets and other items at a West Florida Library program Thursday in Cantonment,
Yarn and looms will be provided free of charge during the program at 2 p.m. at Carver Park on Webb Street.
For more information, call (850) 475-5220.