Tennessee Town Dedicates Monument To Fallen Blue Angels Pilot
June 10, 2018
Saturday, a memorial honoring Blue Angels Pilot Jeff Kuss was officially dedicated in Smyrna, TN.
Tennessee
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jeff Kuss, a native of Durango, Colorado, was a decorated pilot who joined the Blue Angels in 2014. Prior to the Blue Angels, he served in Afghanistan and had accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and 175 landings on aircraft carriers.
On June 2, 2016, at the age of 32, Kuss tragically lost his life when his jet crashed a day before the Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna. A Blue Angel F/A-18C Hornet similar to the jet flown by Captain Kuss and on loan from the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola is on permanent display as part of the Captain Jeff Kuss Memorial. He is survived by his wife Christina, children Calvin and Sloane, parents Janet and Michael, and brother Eric.
Pictured top: The Capt. Jeff Kuss Blue Angel Memorial in Smyrna, TN. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highland Baptist Presents ‘Acorns To Oaks’
June 10, 2018
Highland Baptist Church wrapped up their summer music camp Sunday night with a performance of “Acorns to Oaks.
Photos courtesy Samantha Lundy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gaetz, DeSantis Hold Political Rally
June 10, 2018
Congressman Matt Gaetz and Ron DeSantis appeared at a political rally in downtown Pensacola Saturday morning.
Gaetz has endorsed DeSantis in the race to be Florida’s next governor, stating that they share the same priorities.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino 14U Wins All-Star Championship
June 10, 2018
Molino 14U recently won the GCYB All-Star championship in Navarre. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Braves Best The Wahoos
June 10, 2018
Mississippi Braves starting pitcher, Touki Toussaint (W, 3-6), got it done on the mound, but did serious damage at the plate with two hits and three RBI in the M-Braves 12-4 win over the Blue Wahoos Saturday night at Trustmark Park.
The Braves struck first against Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (L, 2-4) with a pair of runs in the second inning on Toussaint’s two-run single. He would strike again with two outs in the fourth. Toussaint ripped a double to left-center field driving home Connor Lien to put the M-Braves back on top 4-3.
Pensacola took the lead briefly in the top of the fourth. Brian O’Grady doubled home Nick Longhi to cut the deficit to 2-1. With two outs, Chris Okey singled home O’Grady and Luis Gonzalez to put the Wahoos up 3-2. The Braves piled on after taking the lead with a four-run fourth inning.
The Braves knockout punch came in the sixth inning. Already leading 9-3, Lien launched a drive to left field, Daniel Sweet made a leaping attempt into the fence, but he couldn’t hold on. Three runs scored on the two-out triple. Pensacola got a run back in the seventh on Narciso Crook’s first double-a home run to make it 12-4.
Wright lasted four innings and was charged with six runs on five hits with four walks in the losing effort. On the mound, Toussaint earned the win with 5.2 innings and three runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, Shed Long led the way with his second-straight two-hit contest.
The Blue Wahoos will look to bounce back behind All-Star RHP Keury Mella (4-3, 3.56). The Braves will counter with RHP Bryce Wilson (1-2, 7.43).
Police Release Photos Of Dodge Challenger Involved In Deadly Hit And Run
June 9, 2018
Saturday night, Pensacola Police released photos of the actual Dodge Challenger believed to have killed an 8-month old and a woman in a hit and run last Wednesday night. For the first time, we learned the vehicle has a sunroof.
Earlier Story:
Two people, including an 8 month old child, were killed in a hit and run Wednesday night in Pensacola.
The Pensacola ice Department 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 being treated at Baptist Hospital
Police confirmed Thursday based upon evidence at the scene that the vehicle was a white 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, not a Charger. The vehicle is missing the driver’s side mirror.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call 911, the Pensacola Police Department, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Escambia, Santa Rosa FWC Law Enforcement Report
June 9, 2018
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending May 24 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Manning received information that an individual caught a large oversized red drum and put it in his vehicle at the Fort Pickens Pier. Officer Manning got a detailed vehicle description and contacted a ranger with the National Park Service. The ranger stopped the individual while he was trying to exit the park. Officer Manning arrived and the individual was found in possession of a 35-inch red drum. The legal slot size is from 18 to 27 inches. The individual was issued a notice to appear citation for the violation.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Ramos, along with U.S. Coast Guard and a Pensacola Fire Rescue vessel, responded to a single vessel boating accident in Pensacola Bay. A family of four attempted to cross the rough bay in a small 14-foot boat when a large wave swamped the boat, sinking it. The two adults, four-year old, and nine-month old entered the extremely choppy water. Approximately 25 minutes later, a Good Samaritan saw the distressed swimmers and maneuvered his catamaran to rescue the family. He, along with guests onboard, retrieved the four persons from the water. The two children were wearing Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s), the 9-month-old was not breathing when taken out of the water. The Good Samaritan administered CPR on the infant and placed a distress call on his marine radio. A recovery vessel assisted by getting the distressed swimmers from the catamaran to a nearby dock where several EMS crews were standing by. The mother and baby were admitted to the hospital and released a few hours later.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Ribbon Cut On New VT Mae Facility
June 9, 2018
A ribbon cutting was held Friday for VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering’s new hangar at the Pensacola International Airport. The brand new maintenance and engineering facility will employ about 400.
“This project is a prime example of the great things happening in the Panhandle. Our economy is booming, our tourism industry is growing and companies keep bringing their businesses here. Congratulations to VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering on making a great choice by investing in Pensacola and our military mission,” Congressman Matt Gaetz said.
As a global organization, I know that this company had many locations to choose from for this project. I am thrilled that VT MAE chose to invest in Escambia County, and look forward to seeing the continued growth of their new facility at Pensacola International Airport,” Sen. Doug Broxson said.
Florida Representative Frank White said, “This project is a big win for Pensacola. I am excited to see VT MAE grow here and bring 400 jobs to this community.”
Mr. Lim Serh Ghee, President of ST Engineering’s Aerospace sector, said, “We are thankful for the tremendous support from the State of Florida and Pensacola City governments, which have enabled us to set up the new facility on schedule and commence operations quickly. Pensacola serves as an excellent base for us to serve the MRO needs of the North America region given its rich pool of highly trained engineering and aviation talent. We are happy to have United Parcel Service as our launch customer at the new facility, and we look forward to welcoming more customers and supporting them with the same high level of quality and on-schedule redeliveries regardless of where our hangar is located, time and again.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Applying For Citizen Volunteer Response Grants
June 9, 2018
The Town of Century hopes to receive up to $20,000 for citizen emergency response and disaster response training.
Greg Strader, director of BRACE – the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies, will apply for grants a $10,000 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) grant and a $10,000 Citizen Corps grant from Volunteer Florida.
If grant money is awarded, Town Planner Debbie Nickles will serve as grant manager.
The Citizen Corps program was created to coordinate volunteer activities that will make local communities safer. stronger. and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. Citizen Corps Councils focus on emergency planning and education that will enhance community post-disaster resiliency.
The CERT program is a training program that allows citizens to receive training in basic disaster response skills which allow these volunteers to provide critical support. giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene.
Pictured: CERT disaster training in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Putnam Draws Fire After Background Checks Report
June 9, 2018
Democrats and gun-control advocates took aim Friday at Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam after the Tampa Bay Times reported that a former employee of Putnam’s agency failed for more than a year to conduct national background checks on applications for concealed weapons licenses.
An Office of Inspector General report from June 2017 — obtained by the Times in a public records request — said that between February 2016 and March 2017, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services didn’t access an FBI crime database called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System because an employee was unable to log into the system.
Putnam’s office told the Times that the employee was “immediately terminated” after another employee discovered the situation and that every application potentially impacted was “thoroughly reviewed.”
In a statement Friday night, Putnam, who is running for governor, said “a criminal background investigation was completed on every single application.”
“Upon discovery of this former employee’s negligence in not conducting the further review required on 365 applications, we immediately completed full background checks on those 365 applications, which resulted in 291 revocations,” Putnam said in the statement. “The former employee was both deceitful and negligent, and we immediately launched an investigation and implemented safeguards to ensure this never happens again.”
As of May 31, there were more than 1.9 million concealed-weapons licenses issued by the state.
The Times noted 245,000 applications were made in 2016 and 275,000 were made in 2017.
The newspaper report touched off a political outcry Friday from Democrats. The governor’s race has included heavy debate about gun issues, particularly after the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.
The Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, a national LGBTQ political organization focused on gun violence, expressed concern that while the background checks weren’t made, the state may have issued concealed-weapons licenses “to drug addicts, people with mental illness, and others who should be barred from owning a gun.”
“It’s inconceivable Putnam’s office could be so negligent, especially because the Pulse massacre in Orlando occurred during the same timeframe,” Jason Lindsay, executive director of the Pride Fund, said in a statement.
A gunman killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates rushed Friday to condemn Putnam, with Chris King and Jeff Greene, for example, calling for the agriculture commissioner to resign.
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham urged Putnam to “drop out now” from the contest.
Meanwhile, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, another Democrat in the governor’s race, labeled the report a sign of “dangerous incompetence” by Putnam. And Philip Levine, a former Miami Beach mayor, called for an investigation and said Putnam has forfeited “any moral right to lead.”
But Marion Hammer, the National Rifle Association’s longtime lobbyist in Florida, pointed to political motivations in the outcry from Democrats.
“Democrats are having political seizures for the media again,” Hammer said in an email to The News Service of Florida.
Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, however, called the lack of background checks an “example of gross neglect” and cited part of the Times story that said the now-fired employee had been promoted from the mailroom to be in charge of database checks.
“Why only one mailroom employee would be left to handle a job that is critical to the safety of all citizens is jaw-dropping,” said Brigham, whose group backs gun-control measures.
— by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida with contribution from senior NSF writer Dara Kam