Pensacola Blue Wahoos Double Up On The M-Braves 10-5
June 29, 2018
The Blue Wahoos had to fend off an hour rain delay and several Mississippi comeback attempts but ultimately won Thursday’s series opener by a 10-5 final.
The Wahoos struck early with a pair of runs in the first two innings of the game. Shed Long unloaded an opposite field two-run shot off Bryse Wilson to make it 2-0. After Mississippi tied it up with two runs of their own, the Wahoos took the lead again after Taylor Sparks tripled home Aristides Aquino and then Chris Okey singled home Sparks.
Daniel Wright cruised through the first four innings of the game allowing one hit and two runs (zero earned runs). In the bottom of the fourth, the rains came down and the tarp was put on the field. After a 1:18 delay, play was resumed with both starting pitchers lifted from the game.
Robinson Leyer (W, 4-2) took the mound for the Wahoos. The Southern League All-Star struggled over his two innings by allowing three runs including a two-run go-ahead home run to Luis Marte in the sixth. However, Pensacola responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead. After back-to-back singles to open the inning, Sparks delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 5-5. Okay followed with another RBI single before Brian O’Grady’s pinch-hit single made it 7-5.
In the end, there was simply no slowing down Pensacola’s offense. For the third time this week, the Wahoos scored at least 10 runs and tonight the club finished with 14 hits. Every Wahoo in the starting lineup-with the exception of the starting pitcher-recorded at least one base hit. With the lead safely intact, Jesus Reyes and Rafael De Paula closed out the final three innings in scoreless fashion to preserve the 10-5 final score.
The series continues tomorrow night when RHP Wyatt Strahan (5-7, 6.75) toes the rubber for the hosts against RHP Bruce Zimmerman, who will be making his Double-A debut.
New Florida Budget Year Brings Boost In Spending
June 29, 2018
Florida’s new $88.7 billion budget will take effect Sunday, but that doesn’t tell the whole story about spending on education, health care, transportation and other state programs in the new fiscal year.
Projected spending in 2018-2019 is greater than the budget bottom line because lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott approved 16 bills during the 2018 legislative session that included additional funding totaling nearly $610 million.
The $89.3 billion in spending is $4.36 billion higher than the 2017-2018 budget year that ends Saturday, representing more than a 5 percent increase. It is more than $20 billion higher than the $69 billion 2011-2012 spending plan, which was the first under Scott, who leaves office in January because of term limits.
The state’s largest expenditures in 2018-2019 will be on human services, which include Medicaid and other health-care programs, accounting for 43.3 percent of the spending. Education will be the second largest component at 28.5 percent.
Among the bills was legislation (SB 4) making permanent an expansion of the Bright Futures scholarship program, including covering 75 percent of the tuition and fees in the new academic year for students who are “medallion scholars.” The $123.5 million in spending will also let those students use their scholarships for summer classes in 2019.
An additional $53.6 million will be spent on dealing with Florida’s ongoing opioid crisis through another bill (HB 21).
The largest spending outside the main budget is $400 million for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB 7026), which passed after the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 people at the Broward County school.
The legislation includes $69 million for mental-health programs in school districts, a $97 million increase to hire more school resource officers, a $98 million grant program for improving school security and $67 million for an initiative that would allow school personnel to be trained as armed “guardians” on school campuses.
The increased safety spending is reflected in a $485 million increase in the funding formula for the 67 school districts in 2018-2019. But since much of the $101.50 increase in per-student funding is earmarked for the safety programs, the school districts will only see a statewide average increase of 47 cents in the “base student allocation,” the primary source for general operations.
State employees will not receive a general pay raise in the new budget, which was approved by lawmakers in March. But there will be targeted increases.
The seven state Supreme Court justices will see their annual pay rise to $220,600, a 24 percent increase.
State law enforcement officers could get a raise up to 10 percent if they have 10 or more years of experience. Department of Juvenile Justice probation and detention officers will get a 10 percent increase.
State firefighters will get a $2,500 annual pay raise, while there will be adjustment up to $4,000 a year for assistant state attorneys and public defenders if they have worked more than three years in their offices.
In health care, the new budget has nearly a $900 million increase to account for additional costs in Medicaid, the state-federal health program for poor and disabled people. There is $128.5 million increase in Medicaid payments to nursing homes.
Nursing home patients will benefit from a $16.9 million increase in their “personal needs allowance,” which will increase by $25 a month to $130. It will allow them to pay for personal services and items like hair styling and clothes.
In the environmental arena, in addition to $101 million for the Florida Forever land-acquisition program, there is $64 million for an Everglades-area reservoir project, $50 million for natural springs restoration, $50 million for repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee and $50 million for beach-management grants to local governments.
The new budget has a $9.9 billion “work program” for the Department of Transportation, including $3.9 billion for the construction of highways and bridges and $1.3 billion for resurfacing and maintenance.
More than $454 million is slated to be spent on education construction and maintenance projects in the new academic year. That includes $50 million for maintenance at public schools and $145 million for charter schools.
The budget includes $3.25 billion in reserve funding, including $1 billion in unspent general revenue, $1.48 billion in a budget-stabilization fund and $770 million in the Chiles endowment, which is funded by a settlement with tobacco companies.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Fire Departments Respond To Possible Lightning Strike At Molino Home
June 28, 2018
Firefighters responded to a report of the smell of smoke inside a Molino residence Thursday night, possible from a lightning strike.
They were unable to located any fire and traced the smell of smoke to a clothes dryer inside the home on Molino Road near Barrineau Park School Road. There was no major damage reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Alabama To Offer Pay Hike For Many Correctional Officers
June 28, 2018
A portion of a $30 million supplemental appropriation lawmakers added to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) 2018 budget will give a boost in compensation for many correctional officers, state prison officials announced Wednesday. Correctional officers employed at maximum and medium security prisons will receive a location pay differential effective July 1.
“Our correctional officers and security staff are on the front lines every day keeping the public safe under oftentimes dangerous conditions and they deserve to be adequately compensated for their service,” said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn.
Most security employees assigned to maximum security facilities will receive a four-step, or 10 percent pay differential while those employed at medium security facilities will receive a two-step, or 5 percent pay differential. The location pay differentials will apply to correctional officers, correctional officer trainees, correctional supervisors, canine security staff and wardens.
Dunn said for too long correctional officers have been undercompensated when you compare starting salaries with other state law enforcement agencies. He added that the location pay differentials are designed to attract and retain highly skilled correctional officers and staff at maximum and medium security facilities of which most have staffing levels below 50 percent.
Before the pay differentials, an entry-level correctional officer with a high school diploma earned $28,516.80 compared to the starting salary of $35,589.60 for a state trooper with the same requisite education. The differentials will increase an entry-level correctional officer’s effective rate of pay to $31,368.48 at maximum security prisons and $29,942.64 at medium security facilities, allowing ADOC to offer more competitive effective rates of pay when compared to other state law enforcement agencies.
The location pay differential incentive will help ADOC’s recruitment and retention initiatives for major correctional facilities, leading to higher staffing levels and safer prisons for both employees and inmates.
School Grades Are Out: How Did Your Child’s School Score?
June 28, 2018
The Florida Department of Education released the state’s 2018 school report card Wednesday.
The Escambia County School District improved from a C to a B.
Among North Escambia elementary schools: Molino Park remain an A, Jim Allen improved from a C to B, Bratt and Lipscomb fell from an A to B, Byrneville fell from a B to a C, Pine Meadow remained a B, and McArthur remained a C.
Ramsom Middle School remained at a B, while Ernest Ward remained a C. Tate High school remained a B school, and Northview remained at a C.
Complete grades for Escambia County schools are below:
Man Accusing Of Helping Deadly Hit And Run Suspect Avoid Capture
June 28, 2018
A Pensacola man has been charged with being an accessory after the fact for helping Markquise DeShawn Wallace avoid capture.
Wallace is wanted for a hit and run on June 6 on Cervantes Street that killed an 8-month old infant and a 28-year old woman.
Tadrian Rushing, 20 years of age, has been charged by Pensacola Police with being an accessory after the fact, a second degree felony, for assisting Markquise Wallace avoid capture. Rushing remains in jail with bond set at $605,500.
On June 14, a press conference was held releasing Wallace’s information, the charges against him and the fact he was now driving a gray Lexus 350. The investigation revealed shortly after the press conference Rushing purchased a tarp, parked the Lexus 350 Wallace had been driving, and covered it with a tarp, hiding it from view. The vehicle was found by detectives later that afternoon.
Rushing, who had several active felony warrants of his own, was initially arrested on June 26, after being spotted by Pensacola Police Det. Sgt. Amy Parsons. When patrol units attempted to stop Rushing to arrest him for the felony warrants, he fled in his vehicle. He crashed at Davis Highway and Hart Drive and fled on foot. Off. Jose Matos was able to capture Rushing after a short foot chase and place him under arrest. A large amount of narcotics was found in Rushing’s possession after the arrest resulting in several new charges. In addition to the active warrants, Rushing was charged with fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting and officer without violence, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug equipment.
Investigators are still searching for Wallace, following leads both within the community and out of state. The investigation involving others who have assisted Wallace is continuing with more arrests anticipated, police said.
Three people were crossing Cervantes Street near M Street when they were hit by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Neariaah Ikerria Williams, age 8 months, and a family friend, 28-year-old Nephateria Monique Williams, died. The child’s mother, 27-year-old Quineka Tyon Baldwin, was injured.
Anyone with information on the crash or Wallace is asked to call 911, the Pensacola Police Department, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
County Seeking Applications For Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
June 28, 2018
The Board of County Commissioners is soliciting applications for representatives to the Escambia-Pensacola Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. The committee was established per F.S. 420.9076 for the purpose of reviewing affordable housing incentives available within the county and to make recommendations concerning those incentives to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Pensacola City Council. The committee will also help in the development of the Local Housing Assistance Plan for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program.
The board is seeking to fill six slots from the following specializations, as outlined per Florida Statute:
- One citizen who is actively engaged in the residential home building industry in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage banking industry in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as an advocate for low-income persons in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a for-profit provider of affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing;
- One citizen who is actively engaged as a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing;
- One citizen who resides within the jurisdiction of the local governing body making the appointments;
- One citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction;
- One citizen who actively serves on the local planning agency;
- One citizen who represents essential services personnel, as defined in the local housing assistance plan
The committee will meet monthly during review and development of the affordable housing incentives and the new LHAP and at least quarterly thereafter. Members will serve a three-year term. Positions will be recommended to the board for approval in July and approved through resolution in September.
Citizens interested in serving should download an application online or request one via email at NED@myescambia.com. Completed applications should be forwarded to Neighborhood Enterprise Division/AHAC, 221 Palafox Place, Suite 200, Pensacola, FL 32502. All applications must be received no later than Friday, June 29 for consideration.
Kids Show Off Their Artistic Skills During Library Summer Reading Program
June 28, 2018
Summer Reading Club program participants had a chance to show off their artistic skills Wednesday at the Century Branch Library.
Mike Artell, author of “Petite Rouge The Cajun Red Riding Hood”, visited the library to share his unique talents including cartooning and music.
Artell also appeared Thursday morning at the Molino Branch Library.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inmate Escapes In Escambia County
June 27, 2018
Authorities are searching for an escaped inmate in Escambia County.
Tuesday, Michael Reed, an inmate, walked out of the Department of Corrections on West Fairfield Drive, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday afternoon. He may be driving a red 1994 Jeep Cherokee with Florida tag number H53TSH.
It is believed he could be traveling to New Orleans. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Driver Injured In Jacks Branch Road Rollover Crash
June 27, 2018
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash early Wednesday afternoon on Jack Branch Road near Annie Bell Drive.
The driver lost control about 12:30 p.m., left the roadway and struck a culvert. The vehicle then overturned end over end. The driver was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
