Free School Supplies Available At Several Local Events
July 28, 2017
Free school supplies and other back to school essentials will be available to North Escambia area residents as follows:
Century
Free school supplies will be given out to Century residents only while supplies last on Saturday, July 29, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Showalter Park in Century. There will also be free food, family fun and face painting. The event is sponsored by Mayor Henry Hawkins.
Atmore Area
Grace Fellowship in Atmore will host Unity In The Community on Saturday, July 29, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be a kid’s carnival, food and entertainment. School supplies and school uniforms will be given to students in need in the community. Adults must accompany their children. Admission is free and everyone is invited. The church is located at 1412 E Nashville Avenue in Atmore.
Molino/Cantonment
Victory Assembly of God will host their annual Day of Hope back to school drive on Saturday, August 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Free backpacks, school supplies, grocery items and free professional haircuts will be available. For more information visit victorycan.org or call (850) 587-2295. The church is located on Highway 29 just south of Barrineau Park Rd. Children must be present to receive supplies.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Eight Facing Federal Pot Charges
July 28, 2017
A federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging eight defendants with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, four of whom were charged with being involved with 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Additionally, seven of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The defendants are:
• Charles Zachariah Sindylek, 31, Pensacola, Florida;
• Brandon Craig Remeyer, 34, Mission Viejo, California;
• Sanford Eugene Johnson III, 31, Pensacola, Florida;
• William Brett Brownell, 26, Milton, Florida;
• William Ezra Brownell (Brett’s father), 60, Mobile, Alabama;
• David Delgiacco, 55, Lake Forest, California;
• Andrew Paul Marcelonis, 31, Pensacola, Florida; and
• Steven Ryan Michael Sholly, 30, Pensacola, Florida.
The indictment alleges that, between January 2014 and June 2017, the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. It specifically alleges Sindylek, Remeyer, Johnson, and William Brett Brownell were responsible for involving 100 kilograms or more of marijuana in the conspiracy. The indictment also alleges that during the same time period, Sindylek, Remeyer, Johnson, both Brownells, Delgiacco, and Marcelonis conspired to launder money by transferring cash proceeds of the drug trafficking conspiracy through financial institutions. The trial is scheduled for August 28 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.
Pictured top: Charles Sindylek, Steven Sholly, William Brett Brownwell and Sanford Johnson III. Other mugshots were not immediately available.
Fire Heavily Damages Molino Home
July 28, 2017
Fire heavily damaged a home on Chance Road in Molino Thursday night.
The fire was reported just before 8 p.m All occupants were able to escape without injury.
The fire reportedly started with as a vehicle fire in a garage containing fuel and medical oxygen tanks.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Top Shuckers
July 28, 2017
Little did Biloxi know that the first inning solo homer by Blake Allemand would be the last hit and last run the Shuckers would earn off Pensacola Blue Wahoos starter Deck McGuire in his seven innings of work.
Behind McGuire’s right arm and right fielder Aristides Aquino’s two-run homer, Pensacola defeated Biloxi, 5-1, Thursday in front of 4,000 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Blue Wahoos, whose game was delayed by rain Thursday for one hour, 40 minutes, leads the series, 2-1,
McGuire has now allowed six runs, five earned in 46 innings for a 0.98 ERA over his last seven starts since his June 24 outing against Chattanooga.
The 6-foot-6 former 2010 first round pick worked seven innings, allowing one run on one hit, gave up four walks and struck out three to improve his record to 9-7 with a 2.58 ERA.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said the 28-year-old minor league journeyman stepped up to take on the mantle of the Blue Wahoos with the loss of Tyler Mahle and Austin Ross.
“He just stepped up and took on the number one role on our staff,” Kelly said. “There are a lot of scouts here and a lot of places you can pitch. The opportunity is there. He’s opening some eyes.”
McGuire credited his battery mate and defense for his performance Thursday.
For McGuire, who has bounced around with five organizations in his seven seasons, he just wants to keep playing somewhere and hopefully one day impress his toddler. With a 4.58 ERA for his minor league career, he is having one of his best seasons with Pensacola. At the end of this season, he will have pitched in all 30 Double-A ballparks.
“The most important thing for me is keeping a jersey, keeping a job,” McGuire said. “I want to make (my son) proud. Hopefully, I’ll play long enough that he’ll understand, ‘Hey, dad has a pretty great job’.”
The Blue Wahoos lineup, which had only scored 12 runs over McGuire’s last six starts, broke out for five runs for him Thursday.
Pensacola didn’t wait to score on Biloxi. Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino went 65 at bats between his ninth and 10th home run but just five at bats until he blasted his team-leading 11th over the wall in left center. The two-run homer, his second in three games, in the second inning gave the Blue Wahoos a, 2-1, lead.
Kelly credited Aquino for continually trying to improve his swing. He worked with Cincinnati Reds roving instructors — Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, former Red Eric Davis and Milt Thompson — this year to make adjustments at the plate.
“He may be (frustrated) inside but he never shows it on the outside,” said Kelly of the No. 6 prospect in the Reds organization who is batting .214 but leads the team with 11 homers and is tied for the lead with 41 RBIs. “He is one of the most confident kids I have ever seen.”
Pensacola scored two more runs in the inning when shortstop Blake Trahan smacked a deep fly ball to the left center gap that both the left fielder and center fielder dived for but missed, allowing Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson to make it a, 3-1, game. Blue Wahoos center fielder Gabriel Guerrero hit a sizzling grounder into left field that drove in Trahan to put Pensacola ahead, 4-1.
Aquino, who was 3-4 and scored twice Thursday, also showed off his ability to slap a single to the opposite field when the Biloxi infield shifted left, playing him to pull the ball.
The 22-year-old then stole second and took third on the Biloxi catcher Jacob Nottingham’s throwing error trying to nail him. Aquino scored on a wild pitch by Shuckers reliever Hiram Burgos to put Pensacola ahead, 5-1 in the third inning. Aquino did all that with two outs and Hudson at bat
Century Chamber Director: ‘I’d Really Like To Talk To The Mayor’
July 27, 2017
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce needs the support of the Escambia County Commission but is missing the support of the town’s mayor — that was the word from the chamber’s executive director during a Wednesday night economic development summit held by the commission.
The major economic development players in the county appeared before the commission — including Florida West, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Improvement Board and United Way — to discus the direction and pace of economic development in Escambia County. The meeting was held in advance of a Thursday meeting in which the commission will discuss their budget to fund several of the groups, including nearly 100 percent of the Century Chamber.
“I want to know about Century. I want to know what I need to be doing differently in the conduct of my job here,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said. “The Century Census tract is on that really need to be focused on…This is an opportunity for the five of us to understand what we can be doing better to fix the social ills, the economic aspect of the social ills in Century.”
“We are the gateway to Alabama and Florida,” Etheridge told commissioners as she stressed the transportation infrastructure service the town such and road and rail. “We are positioned very well to become a hub…areas that we have in Century could easily be pitched to companies that want to have an ‘inland port’ because we are so close to rail and highways.”
Etheridge said Century did take a hit in the January 2016 EF-3 tornado that struck the town.
“We’ve got to find a way to get Century out of poverty. We have so many residents that are in poverty, so many,” she said.
The group discussed possible collaboration efforts between the Century Chamber and the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce.
When asked by Commissioner Steven Barry, Etheridge said she has received assistance from economic development agency FloridaWest, but not from the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce.
“Any issue you bring forward for economic development in Century you’ll find support from me,” Commissioner Luman May told Barry and Etheridge.
Etheridge told commissioners that what she most needs is support from Century Mayor Henry Hawkins.
“What I could use from the county is for the county to touch base with the new mayor. He’s a member of the chamber, but he’s not attended any of the chamber meetings except for one that I know of,” she said. “We would like to see more participation from our mayor. I’ve reached out to him, but he’s not returned my phone calls.”
“I’m going to call the mayor of Pensacola and see if I can get him to city council meetings, and see if I can get the mayor of Century to go to the chamber meeting,” May said with laugh. “I don’t know if I’m going to be successful, but I will try both of them.”
“I’m not trying to be a tattle-tale,” Etheridge said. “I’d really like to talk to the mayor.’
Pictured Century Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Etheridge addresses the Escambia County Commission Wednesday night in Pensacola. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lightning Strike Sparks House Fire
July 27, 2017
A lightning strike sparked a house fire Wednesday night in Cantonment.
Residents of the home on El Camino Drive reported that their home was struck by lighting and that they thought the fire was out. But the first firefighters on scene from the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue found that there was a small working fire in the attic.
The fire was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
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Northview JV Cheerleaders Earn All American Status
July 27, 2017
Northview High School’s junior varsity cheerleading squad recently participated in a home cheer camp. Abigail Nelson (pictured left) and Emily Stabler, both upcoming freshmen, tried out and were chosen as All American Cheerleaders. They will have the opportunity to participate in the Thanksgiving Parade at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County In Alabama Lands 300 New Tech Jobs
July 27, 2017
A multi-million deal will bring hundreds of jobs to Escambia County in Alabama.
The Brewton City Council has finalized a $6.5 million deal with Provalus and its parent company Optomi, LLC that will mean about 300 jobs for Brewton.
Optomi, LLC, a tech-staffing firm, will construct three buildings totaling 60,000 square fet on about 10 acres at the former Dogwood Hills Golf Course. Construction on the first building will begin once the company hires 50 employees.
Brewton will become Optomi’s ‘flagship U.S. facility’, according to Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero.
“What sold us on Brewton was its people,” Ruggiero said. “The first person I met was Mayor Yank Lovelace of Brewton and he represented the city very well. We have so much gratitude towards Mayor Lovelace for helping us along in this journey.”
The project will include $1.5 million from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s discretionary fund.
“Gov. Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” Lovelace said. “This project was a culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”
Applications are currently being accepted in the company’s current location in the former Cracked Pot on Belleville Avenue.
Most of the current IT jobs have been outsourced to other counties such has India, but Ruggiero said his company is on a mission to bring those jobs back to the United States.
“Provalus is on a mission to bring these jobs back,” he said. “And specifically we want to bring these jobs back to rural areas like Brewton.”
Ruggiero said Brewton was tops on the company’s list after an extensive search in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas.”
Pictured top: Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero addresses the Brewton City Council (pictured below). Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Pitches Law Enforcement Pay Raises
July 27, 2017
As he eyes a run for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday unveiled the first piece of his pending election-year budget proposal: a $30 million pay raise for state law-enforcement officers.
The initiative would provide the boost in the budget year that begins in July 2018. It would come on top of a 5 percent increase for law enforcement officers in the current budget year.
Speaking at a Florida Highway Patrol office in Jacksonville, the governor said that many law enforcement officers were grateful for the latest salary bump.
“But we cannot stop there,” Scott said. “The brave men and women who serve Florida as members of our state law-enforcement community work every day to keep Florida communities safe. And while I was proud of this important achievement, it’s clear that we must continue to build on this year’s pay raise.”
The next budget Scott proposes will be the last before he leaves office because of term limits in January 2019. At the same time, he is ramping up an expected challenge to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, an incumbent Democrat up for re-election in 2018.
In the meantime, the governor has been sprinting across the state and highlighting politically popular measures like the recent raise for law enforcement officers.
Heads of the state’s major law-enforcement agencies, on hand for Wednesday’s announcement, said the proposed raises would help them hire and keep employees that they now sometimes lose to local police forces.
“We can’t afford to continue to train these highly qualified young men and women to go out and defend the streets and the public safety for the state of Florida, only to lose them to other states, other agencies within the very near future just because they’re not making enough money,” said Col. Gene Spaulding, director of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen said the increases could help him hire the more experienced personnel that his agency seeks.
“It’s getting more and more difficult to recruit those seasoned investigators when local agencies are paying more than the state investigative agency,” Swearingen said.
Scott’s office said the state’s law-enforcement agencies would work out the details of how the $30 million would be distributed. And the Legislature would still have to approve Scott’s plan in its annual session, which begins in January.
It is likely to have at least some politically powerful allies. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose agency employs law-enforcement officers and who is running to succeed Scott in 2018, applauded the plan.
“Our state law-enforcement officers deserve all the support we can give them, as they’ve achieved a 46-year crime low and face unprecedented challenges, such as the current opioid crisis,” he said. “Our 240 law enforcement officers with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and their peers at other state law enforcement agencies deserve a raise.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Deputy Offers Look At Law Enforcement To Kids At Carver Park
July 27, 2017
From blue lights to badges, Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy Neil Tipton took the time to explain law enforcement to a group of children at Carver Park in Cantonment. A summer feeding program is available weekdays at Carver Park on Webb Street for children under 18. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
