Veterans Honored On 25th Anniversary Of Wall South
November 12, 2017
Crowds gathered Saturday in Pensacola to observe Veterans Day and the 25th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Wall South Vietnam Memorial.l.
Mayor Hayward will formally recognize the dedicated community members that made its construction possible.
Following the Veterans Day Parade, Vice Admiral Jerry Unruh, USNRet. delivered his remarks as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
The Pensacola Children’s Chorus also participated in the ceremony, performing patriotic favorites.
New granite plaques commemorating the key operations of the Vietnam War were also unveiled at the Wall South.
Prizes were also awarded to local area students who wrote essays on the subject “Why it is important for a community like Pensacola to have a park dedicated to honoring all veterans’ that made the ultimate sacrifice?”. They include four Northview High School NJROTC students — first place Rebekah Amerson and Katlin Roach’e and honorable mentions Crystalyn Daly and Savannah Steadham (pictured bottom).
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Is Deadline For Farmers, Ranchers To Apply For EQIP Funds
November 12, 2017
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Nov. 17th for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2017 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year.
Through EQIP, agricultural landowners may receive financial and technical assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals and related resources. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland and other farm or ranch lands. The application deadline also applies to the following EQIP-funded initiatives:
- Organic Producer Initiative
- Seasonal High Tunnels
- Energy Initiative
- Pollinator Initiative
- Longleaf Pine Initiative
- National Water Quality Initiative
- Working Lands for Wildlife
- Gulf of Mexico Initiative
Applicants can begin by visiting the local NRCS field office. The Escambia County Field Office is located at 151 Highway 97 in Molino (in the Escambia County Farm Bureau Building) For more information, call (850) 587-5404 ext 3, or visit www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
November 12, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16 as crews perform construction activities.
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- Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound and U.S. 29 north and southbound.
- Intermittent closure of the U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp and the U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound ramp. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
- Intermittent closure of the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 south ramp (Exit 10A). Traffic will be detoured to Exit 10B.
- Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound to U.S. 29 north ramp (Exit 10B).
- I-10 Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge- The on-ramp from Scenic Highway to I-10 westbound will be closed from 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 to 6:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13. Traffic will be detoured on I-10 eastbound to Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) to access I-10 westbound. In addition, drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound near Scenic Highway from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Thursday, Nov. 16 as crews perform paving operations.
· U.S. 29 Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Saturday, Nov. 18 as follows:
· Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: The nightly eastbound traffic shift onto the westbound inside travel lane continue as crews prepare the area for construction of the support column for the new center bridge deck. Lane restrictions are Sundays, through Thursdays.
· U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drivers may experience alternating lane closures as crews perform drainage operations.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on U.S. 98 near the Pensacola Bay Bridge the week of Sunday, Nov. 12.
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- U.S. 98 (Bayfront Parkway) east and westbound alternating lane closures, between 14th Avenue and the bridge, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Saturday, Nov. 18 as crews perform striping work and place temporary curb.
- U.S. 98 eastbound near 14th Avenue will be shifted to the left for utility work. Two lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction.
· S.R. 742 (Creighton Road) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway– Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Davis Highway and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 16 continue as crews perform milling and paving operations, curb replacement, sidewalk repairs, and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Alternating lane closures on Untreiner Avenue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 17 as crews perform jack and bore operations.
· I-110 North and Southbound Routine Bridge Maintenance-There will be north and southbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance at various locations.
· I-10 Routine Maintenance between I-110 and Davis Highway- There will be alternating east and westbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 through Thursday, Nov. 16 as crews replace lights on overhead lights and signs.
Santa Rosa County
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22)- Roadway widening and reconstruction work continues on I-10 and Avalon Boulevard. There will be alternating lane closures on I-10 from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 through Friday, Nov. 17. In addition, drivers can expect alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is complete.
- U.S. 90 Pavement Testing from Glover lane to Stewart Street (S.R. 87N)- Drivers can expect alternating restrictions from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 to 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17 as crews perform pavement testing.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather
Photo: Yellow Gold And White
November 12, 2017
Pictured: The yellow gold sky and white cotton crop seen during Saturday afternoon’s sunset on Gobbler Road in Oak Grove. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
UWF Stuns Nationally Ranked West Georgia 34-29
November 12, 2017
The UWF football team knew facing a nationally-ranked West Georgia squad that had won its last six home games and was playing for a potential playoff home game would be a tall order. But they also had played with the best in the Gulf South Conference and were up to the task themselves.
UWF (7-3, 5-3) scored 24 unanswered and got an outstanding effort from its defense over the final 45 minutes to end the regular-season tied for second in the final league standings. UWF’s 395 yards of total offense was its third-highest this season and helped the squad finish 4-1 on the road in 2017.
Freshman Mike Beaudry threw for 236 yards on 19-of-35 with four touchdowns against the top-rated defense in the league which was seventh nationally allowing just 268.8 yards per game. The Argonauts also rushed for 159 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry.
Sophomore Chris Schwarz had a career-best 94 yards on 17 rushes, while senior Leroy Wilson and freshman Anthony Johnson, Jr. combined for 55 yards on 15 plays.
Senior tight end Austin Blake-Smith had a great game, hauling in five catches for 32 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, UWF was in the UWG backfield 14 times on the 62 plays with five sacks and nine additional tackles for loss. The defense held the Wolves to minus-2 yards rushing over the final three quarters.
UWG (8-3, 5-3) had 398 yards of total offense but just 199 after the first quarter. Willie Candler completed 19 passes for 295 yards, with scoring plays of 72 and 41 yards.
Things got off to a rough start as UWG scored on its first play from scrimmage when Candler connected with DeNiko Carter for a 72-yard pass and catch. The point after was missed as the Wolves led 6-0 just 19 seconds into the game. Trey Wiggins made a 20-yard field goal and Mikell Lands-Davis found the end zone on a 22-yard run that put UWG up 16-0 at the end of the first.
After managing just 30 yards in the opening 15 minutes, the Argos’ offense started to get into a rhythm in the second. UWF outgained the home squad 139-19 in the second frame, pulling to within 16-14 at the break.
UWF secured its first score when Beaudry found Ka’Ron Ashley from 12 yards at the midway point, before Rodney Coates made the catch of the year, grabbing a corner route ball with one hand fully extended with 12 seconds to play.
After punting on its first possession of the second half, UWF sophomore Trent Archie forced and recovered a Candler fumble. Beaudry and company needed just 57 seconds to score, this time a pass that bounced off a defender’s hands and another player’s foot right to Blake-Smith in the end zone.
UWF got another big stop on the ensuing possession, snuffing out a UWF fake punt near midfield for a turnover on downs. Sophomore Austin Williams made a 26-yard field goal for a 24-16 lead. The Wolves answered when Shaq Roland broke a number of tackles down the sideline for a 41-yard score.
The Argos had a response for that, scoring the next 10 points – getting a 30-yard field goal from Williams and an 8-yard Beaudry-to-Blake-Smith pass that the senior tight end waltzed in after the catch. UWF led 34-23 with just over 10 minutes to play at that point.
Once again, UWG battled back and made it a 5-point game on a Candler-to-Taylor Turner pass from seven yards. But the 2-point conversion failed and UWF led 34-29 with 2:24 remaining.
The Argos ran seven plays while the Wolves burned through all three timeouts. UWF punted to UWG with 15 seconds left. Candler’s pass attempts on two plays fell incomplete, including a Hail Mary as time expired.
UWF outgained West Georgia 365-199 over the final three quarters.
UWF was ranked No. 10 in the most recent NCAA Super Region 2 Rankings and will see if the win over the Wolves – ranked No. 4 themselves – was enough to sway the regional advisory committee and award the Argos one of the seven NCAA regional berths.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Session Clock Ticks Amid Latvala Probe
November 12, 2017
With the 2018 legislative session now less than two months away, the Florida Capitol has an odd vibe.
House and Senate committees met this week and will be back for more starting Monday. But at times, it almost feels like people are going through the motions.
Leaders are teeing up priorities for quick votes after the session starts in January. Committees are studying issues such as the opioid epidemic and the state’s response to Hurricane Irma. And lawmakers and lobbyists are eyeing what is expected to be a tight budget.
But much of the chatter in the Capitol isn’t about policy. It’s about the sexual harassment probe in the Senate that this week led to the removal of Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala from his perch as chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
The most-immediate question focuses on how the Latvala investigation will play out. But speculation also continues about whether other lawmakers will face similar allegations.
`VERY CHALLENGING TIME’
Latvala has long been considered one of the Capitol’s cagiest, if sometimes difficult, figures. He served in the Senate from 1994 to 2002, left because of term limits, and then returned in 2010. Faced with term limits again next year, he has launched a campaign for governor.
But Latvala’s political hopes, not to mention his reputation, were put in jeopardy last Friday when Politico Florida published a story that said six unidentified women accused Latvala of groping them or making unwelcome comments about their bodies.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, launched an investigation that will be handled by Lewis Jackson, a national employment law firm. It remains unclear how long that probe will take — and what it will find. But at least in the short term, the allegations spurred Negron to remove Latvala as appropriations chairman and replace him with Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island.
In announcing the hiring of the Lewis Jackson firm, Negron said the “Senate has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, sexual assault, or misconduct of any kind.”
Since the allegations emerged, some lawmakers and other critics have called for Latvala to leave the Senate.
But in a lengthy interview Thursday with The News Service of Florida, Latvala maintained that he’s never groped the unidentified women — or others — and accused political enemies of masterminding the allegations. He also has hired Steve Andrews, a Tallahassee attorney who’s no stranger to scorched-earth politics.
Latvala did not dispute some of the allegations in the Politico story, which included accusations that he had made remarks to women about their bodies.
“Do I let my mouth overload my good sense every now and then and maybe say, `You’re looking good today? You’ve lost weight? You’re looking hot today?’ Yeah. But I haven’t touched anybody against their will,” he said.
The normally gruff senator paused when asked during the interview about the impact of the allegations and the ensuing scrutiny.
“I don’t want to use the word I want to use because you can’t print it. But it’s a very challenging time. Very challenging time. You really find out who your friends are at times like this,” he said.
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES
House and Senate committees are slowly taking up bills in advance of the 2018 session, which starts Jan. 9.
But it’s not hard to spot the priorities of Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes. In part, that’s because those issues look a lot like priorities from the 2017 session.
House committees this week, for example, moved forward with ethics legislation and a bill targeting so-called “sanctuary cities” — both priorities of Corcoran during the 2017 session. The sanctuary cities bill (HB 9) passed its only committee and is poised for a House floor vote in January.
The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, would require state and local agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and would bar sanctuary policies. It drew quick praise from Corcoran after getting approval from the House Judiciary Committee.
“Sanctuary cities are a direct assault on the rule of law,” Corcoran said in a prepared statement. “Any elected official that puts his or her hand on the Bible and swears to uphold the law and still supports sanctuary cities should be removed from office.”
But the proposal has drawn fierce opposition from immigrant-advocacy groups — and didn’t get through the Senate during the 2017 session. Critics argue, in part, that the bill would lead to racial profiling by authorities.
“Are we going to create a hostile environment with racial profiling against the black and brown people?” asked Rep. John Cortes, D-Kissimmee.
Negron, meanwhile, has made clear that one of his top priorities for the session is a bill that would make a series of changes in the university system, including expanding Bright Futures scholarships. Similar changes were part of a broad higher-education bill that Gov. Rick Scott vetoed after the 2017 session.
The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee this week approved the new version (SB 4) after little discussion.
“Florida has some of the brightest students in the nation,” Negron said after the panel’s vote. “Senate Bill 4 sends a strong message that if students work hard to earn the privilege to attend one of our great state colleges or universities, financial insecurities will not stand in the way of their dream of pursuing a higher education.”
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES, PART TWO
Like legislative leaders, Scott is going back to a familiar playbook for the 2018 session.
For Scott this week, that meant proposing nearly $180 million in tax and fee cuts.
Scott has made a priority throughout his two terms of cutting taxes. He also is widely expected to run for U.S. Senate in 2018 and almost certainly would like to campaign on a fresh round of tax cuts.
The proposed package includes a 10-day back-to-school sales tax “holiday” on clothes and school supplies and three week-long disaster preparedness tax “holidays” in May, June and July. It also includes rolling back fees on driver’s licenses.
In announcing the proposal, Scott pointed to improvements in the state’s economy since he was first elected in 2010.
“Cutting taxes works, and the rest of the nation needs to follow Florida’s lead,” he said.
If the past is an indicator, lawmakers will approve an election-year tax package, though it might differ from Scott’s proposal. Lawmakers are grappling with a tight budget that became more stretched after Hurricane Irma hit the state in September.
Bradley, the new Senate appropriations chairman, said lawmakers will look carefully at Scott’s proposal.
“We also need to make sure that what we consider to be the basic needs, fundamental needs of the state government are financed appropriately,” Bradley said. He added, “We’ve always been supportive of tax cuts. Whether the number ends up at $180 (million) or something less, that remains to be seen.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: The Senate moved forward with an investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala, who was removed from his post as appropriations chairman.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s very difficult when you see a baby in the NICU, screaming and crying because they didn’t have a choice to be born addicted. It’s just very difficult to hear that high-pitched scream and to know that we’re doing everything we can and to also know that this is not the end. …There are years of trauma that come behind this.” — Faye Johnson, CEO of the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, testifying at the House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee about babies whose mothers are addicted to opioids.
by Jim Saunders. News Service senior writer Dara Kam and staff writer Jim Turner contributed to this report.
Blue Angels Wow Hometown Crowd (With Gallery)
November 11, 2017
The Blue Angels wowed a hometown crowd of thousands Friday onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola during the first day of their Homecoming Air Show.
Tentatively scheduled for both days will be extraordinary aerobatics by performers such as the Vertigo Air Shows Jet Glider, the world’s only jet-launched sail plane, flown by Bob Carlton; an A-4 Skyhawk flown by Paul Wood; the Mig-17 piloted by Randy Ball; the Super Stearman flown by Greg Shelton with Wing Walker Ashley Shelton; and John Klatt will fly the Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco. The Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team will jump in to the show and Chris Darnell will drive the 300+ mile per hour Shockwave Jet Truck plus many more acts.
Along with incredible flying demonstrations, dozens of military and civilian aircraft will be on display. These static displays will include a variety of aircraft ranging from the present-day, state-of- the-art fighters to aircraft from the 1930s..
For more photos from Friday’s show, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell/Jays and Jets Photography, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Heads To State Championship Game (With Gallery)
November 11, 2017
Escambia Academy beat Macon-East Academy 50-13 Friday night to advance for the second consecutive year to the AISA’s AA Championship.
EA quarterback Jabe Daw had 101-yards in the air, threw a touchdown to MJ Jones and had a 6-yard rushing touchdown. Louis Turner had rushing touchdowns of 45 and 25 yards, while Fred Flavors added a score when he returned an interception 36 yards.
On just two attempts, Patrick McGhee had 70-yards for the Cougars for two touchdowns.
The Escambia Academy Cougars (11-1) will take on Autauga Academy (12-0) in the state championship game next Friday afternoon at 3:30 at Troy University.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
West Florida Beats Rikards To Advance To Round Two (With Gallery)
November 11, 2017
In the past six years, the West Florida Jaguars have lost during the first two rounds of the playoffs, with five of those losses coming against teams from Tallahassee. For the past two seasons, it was Rickards that beat them, including a narrow 33-30 win last year.
But this year, the tables were turned in the first round as the West Florida Jaguars beat Tallahassee Rikards 42-19 on the Jag’s home turf at Woodham Middle School.
Early in the game 16 Abrams put the Jaguars on the board from 31-yards out for a 7-0 lead. With a blocked punt, Rickards recovered the ball inside the 10-yard line. Consecutive Rickard’s field goals cut West Florida’s lead to 7-6.
Trevor Jordan to KO Burrell 17 14-6. Rickards answered with an interception returned for a touchdown, 14-12.
Bryant Johnecheck added a Jags touchdown to make it 21-12 headed into the half.
In the second half, Rikards added seven, cutting their deficit to 21-19.
In a 21-point fourth quarter, West Florida scored with a short run from senior Malik Jenkins to make it 28-19; a touchdown from senior Johnecheck, 35-19; and junior Keyshawn Swanson picked off a Rickards pass and brought it all the way home to expand West Florida’s lead to 42-19.
Wakulla will be at West Florida Friday night in round two of the 5A playoff series.
Photos by Bailey Seibert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Health And Rehab Honors Veterans
November 11, 2017
Veterans were honored Friday during a ceremony at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. CHRC and Covenant Care honored the veterans with a ceremony, cake and ice. The Northview High School NJROTC Color Guard presented the colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Residents honored were:
- Samuel Davis -six years, Alabama National Guard.
- Allen (Ray) McCullough – United States Army 1969-74
- Billy Parker – United States Navy, four years, served on the U.S. Oriskany.
- Louis Odom – United States Army, four years, Drafted in 1949, served in the Korean Conflict.
- Johnny Tolbert – United States Army, 18 years. Recieved an honorable discharge after being wounded.
Pictured top: (seated L-R) Billy Parker, Louis Odom and Johnny Tolbert. Pictured below: Samuel Davis and Allen (Ray) McCullough. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
