Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $700 Million
August 22, 2017
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing has grown to an estimated $700 million; the largest in the nation and second largest in the game’s history.
Jackpot prizes are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize. To receive the cash option of an estimated $443.3 million, jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the drawing.
Players who want the chance to become Florida’s 13th POWERBALL jackpot winner can purchase tickets at any of the more than 13,000 authorized Florida Lottery retailers across the state. Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing will be held at 9:59 p.m. North Escambia time. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. to be eligible for this drawing.
Update: Story updated noon 8/21 to reflect an increase in the jackpot from $650 million to $700 million.
Pictured: The State Line Gift Shop on Highway 97 in Davisville, which sold an $80 million winning Powerball ticket in 2015 to an Alabama woman. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Emergency Bridge Closure Ordered For Crabtree Church Road Bridge
August 22, 2017
The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered an emergency bridge closure on Crabtree Church Road in Molino after structural deficiencies were found during a routine inspection.
The bridge over Alligator Creek, west of Sunshine Hill Road, is closed effectively immediately .
There is currently no recommended detour route from the county. A completion date for repairs is not known as the closure notice was just received by the county.
Lightning Sparks Brush Fire
August 22, 2017
Lightning is believed to have started a brush fire near McDavid Monday afternoon. Firefighters from the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were able to quickly extinguish the fire as it burned in a ditch alongside Highway 168 west of Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bill Would Allow Computer Coding To Count As Foreign Language
August 22, 2017
A Senate Republican filed a proposal Monday that could lead to some high-school students taking computer coding courses to get foreign-language credits. The bill filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, would allow — but not require — high schools to offer two credits in computer coding.
Students who take the coding courses and earn related industry certifications would be able to satisfy two credits of foreign-language instruction.
Florida College System schools and state universities would have to recognize the coding courses as foreign-language credits. But parents and students also would have to sign statements acknowledging that out-of-state colleges and universities might not recognize the coding courses.
The bill, which is filed for the 2018 legislative session, would make the changes effective with the 2020-2021 school year.
by The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Overcome Jackson 3-1
August 22, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos left fielder Josh VanMeter seems automatic with runners in scoring position.
The 22-year-old came to the plate Monday with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning and drilled a ground ball into left field to drive in two runs, giving Pensacola a, 3-1, victory against the Jackson Generals at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
VanMeter’s game-winning single drove in second baseman Arismendy Alcantara and right fielder Gabriel Guerrero. Additionally, he is now 3-for-7 or .429 with the bases loaded with 10 RBIs.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly liked VanMeter’s chances at the plate in that situation.
“I can’t think of a better guy to come up in that situation,” Kelly said. “Even lefty on lefty he got a fastball and pulled it. That was beautiful.”
The win was the first in the five-game series against Jackson and its last 10-games at home.
“Everyone dreams of being in that situation,” VanMeter said. “Those situations are always fun for sure. We know we’re in the playoffs but we’re still competing. We ultimately want to win the second half. Hopefully, we can make it five.”
Pensacola, which won the first half Southern Division crown, and the Tennessee Smokies are the only two teams in Southern League history to win four halves in a row. Tennessee did it between 2009 and 2011.
With Monday’s win, the Blue Wahoos improved to 27-29 in the second half and are 2.5 games out of first place behind the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Jackson fell to 25-31 in the Northern Division.
Pensacola right fielder Gabriel Guerrero crushed a bomb to left field to put the Blue Wahoos on the scoreboard first in the third inning, 1-0. It was his sixth homer this season. Plus, Guerrero went 2-2 with two walks and two runs scored for his 39th multi-hit game of the season.
Jackson tied the score, 1-1, when left fielder Jamie Westbrook, who walked to lead off the fifth inning, scored on a Vladimir Frias sacrifice fly to center field. With two outs, Jackson starting pitcher Joel Payamps hit a long fly ball to the warning track in the right center gap that Pensacola’s Guerrero chased down to prevent Generals right fielder Kelly Dugan from scoring from second.
Meanwhile, in his last five starts, Deck McGuire has chased his career-high 10 wins. But the seven-year minor league veteran left after seven innings Monday with the game tied, 1-1. His record remained stuck at 9-8 with a Southern League leading 2.63 ERA.
“It doesn’t matter as long as we win the game I don’t care who gets the win,” McGuire said.
The 2010 first round draft pick allowed one run on five hits, walked one and struck out six.
This season, McGuire also leads the Southern League in innings pitched with 157.1, is tied for first with 155 strikeouts and second with opponents batting .207 against him. It has led to a resurgence in his professional career.
“The biggest thing for me is being more consistent,” McGuire said. “I’m having a lot of fun. Hopefully, I’ll be in the big leagues one day.”
It also consoles Kelly to know McGuire will pitch every fifth day in Pensacola’s rotation.
“We know every fifth day he’s a guy who is going to get a ton of innings for you,” Kelly said. “He’s going to have 27 or 28 starts for us and he has taken advantage of it.”
Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez got the last three outs for his fifth save in seven opportunities. In his previous three games, he was 0-1 pitching 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks and striking out one.
Jackson starting pitcher Joel Payamps worked six innings and allowed one run on four hits and two walks and struck out five.
Photos courtesy Barrett McClean Photography/Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lockdown Lifted At All Florida Prisons
August 21, 2017
The Florida Department of Corrections announced Monday morning that normal operations have resumed at all prisons, including Century Correctional and Santa Rosa Correctional institutions. The announcement follows a statewide partial lockdown that started last week and cancellation of weekend visitations at all major institutions, work camps and annex facilities.
“We made a planned, strategic decision to take proactive action to uphold our mission to protect public safety and keep our staff and inmates safe. I am confident the measures taken were not only necessary but effective. I am incredibly proud of our team across the Department for joining together to enhance the safety of our facilities and prevent any major disturbances from taking place,” said FDC Secretary Julie Jones.
The lockdown was “in response to credible intelligence indicating that small groups of inmates at several institutions may attempt to disrupt FDC operations and impact safety and security,” according to a department release.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Fannie Road: Naked Woman Delays Drivers In Century
August 21, 2017
A naked woman delayed the morning commute for several drivers in Century Monday morning. The woman was reportedly running around Fannie Road naked. After Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies and firemen from Century and Flomaton were able to catch her, she was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for evaluation. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos by Trina Coburn, click to enlarge.
Highway 4 Delays Tuesday In Century
August 21, 2017
The Florida Department of Transportation says drivers can expect delays Tuesday in Century on East Highway 4.
Crews will perform underground utility work between the CSX railroad crossing and Old Flomaton Road resulting in a westbound lane restriction from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Drivers are reminded to use caution 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.
One Injured In 9 1/2 Mile Road Crash
August 21, 2017
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash early Sunday evening on 9 1/2 Mile Road and Edendale Lane. The driver apparently lost control of their Subaru, ran off the roadway, struck a culvert and overturned. The driver was transport by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment. NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Urban School Districts Helped At Expense Of Rural Districts?
August 21, 2017
Two Republican senators havey requested a study of a long-controversial part of Florida’s school-funding formula, arguing it helps urban school districts at the expense of suburban and rural districts.
Senate Education Chairwoman Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, and Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, sent a letter to Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, seeking a study of what is known as the “district cost differential.”
That part of the school-funding formula takes into account costs of living in different parts of the state and has repeatedly spurred legislative debates over the years. In the letter, Hukill and Hutson said, in part, that the so-called DCD has the effect of reducing money allotted to some school districts while increasing money going to other districts.
They requested that the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability “conduct a study of the DCD and provide recommendations on what factors are used to determine the DCD, what the appropriate formula should be, how allocations should be distributed among the school districts, are there alternatives to the DCD, and whether the DCD should be eliminated.”
by The News Service of Florida