Escambia Waste Services Tech Named Safety Professional Of Year
July 10, 2017
Escambia County Waste Services Safety Technician Stanley Gray, OHST CET COSS, was selected as the “Safety Professional of the Year” by the Pensacola Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers. The award is conveyed annually to recognize a safety professional who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the safety field.
Nominations Needed For Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
July 10, 2017
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the class of 2018. The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made lasting contributions to Florida agriculture. More information, nomination forms and a list of past inductees are available at FloridaAgHallofFame.org. Nominations must be submitted by September 1, 2017.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partners with the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation each year to recognize outstanding individuals nominated by Florida’s agricultural community. Inductees will be honored at the annual banquet during the Florida State Fair in February.
Nominations should be mailed to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame at 100 South Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, Fla. 33594; Phone 813-230-1918.
Blue Wahoos Drop to Chattanooga, 5-1
July 10, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to 1-10 this season against its nemesis, the Chattanooga Lookouts, which has the best record in the Southern League.
Chattanooga padded its lead in the eighth inning with two runs on a bases-loaded walk and bases-loaded wild pitch to continue its domination of Pensacola, winning, 5-1, in the opener of the four-game series Sunday in front of 3,778 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Lookouts improved to 14-3 in the second half in the North Division and 56-31 on the season, both of which lead the Southern League.
Pensacola dropped to 8-9 in the second half in the South Division and 48-39 overall.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Deck McGuire’s scoreless inning streak ended at 23.1 innings when Chattanooga first baseman Andy Wilkins doubled over the head of Blue Wahoos left fielder Tyler Goeddel in the third inning to drive in center fielder LaMonte Wade. The Lookouts took a 2-0 lead when third baseman T.J. White grounded out to shortstop, allowing DH Jonathan Rodriguez to score from third base.
Blue Wahoos McGuire gave up a double on a one hopper off the right field wall to Wade and a sizzling line drive single to center field to Rodriguez in the fifth inning. But the 6-foot-6 righty then got a strikeout and two fly outs to leave the Chattanooga runners stranded at second and third.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he liked that McGuire kept Chattanooga from scoring.
“I thought he battled,” Kelly said. “He didn’t have his best stuff. He gave up a lot of extra-base hits. But he kept them off the board and gave us a chance.”
McGuire earned the loss and is 8-6 this season with a 2.78 ERA. He gave up two runs on nine hits, including four doubles, and walked one.
Pensacola second baseman Shed Long drilled a line drive down the right field line for a triple that drove in DH Nick Longhi to cut Chattanooga’s lead to, 2-1, in the fifth inning.
But Chattanooga scored two runs in the eighth inning to go ahead, 4-1. The Lookouts White scored when Pensacola reliever Alex Powers walked No. 9 hitter, catcher Dan Rohlfing. The second run scored when Pensacola reliever Brennan Bernardino struck out shortstop Ryan Walker for the third out but the strikeout pitch skirted by Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Hudson, who had no play, allowing right fielder Max Murphy to score.
Kelly said that Chattanooga has just given Pensacola fits, sweeping them in the first five-game series.
“They are a really good team,” he said. “They have strong pitching, speed, power in the middle of the lineup. They got about everything you could want.”
Chattanooga Kohl Stewart, the Minnesota Twins first round selection in 2013, has not had a losing decision since April 24. He worked six innings Sunday, giving up one run on three hits and a walk and striking out six. At one point, he retired 10 Blue Wahoos in a row.
“He had good stuff,” Kelly said of the Minnesota Twins eighth ranked prospect. “He had late action on his fastball. We weren’t getting good swings on him.”
Mega Crowd Wowed By The Blue Angels (With Photo Gallery)
July 9, 2017
One of the largest crowds ever packed onto Pensacola Beach Saturday for the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring the Blue Angels. Official attendance numbers were not available by Sunday morning, but officials said people were arriving on the beach by the hundreds, and by the thousands, by daylight Saturday. The main parking lot at Casino Beach was full by 5:50 a.m., according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ditto Gorme, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
July 9, 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
· Creighton Road (State Road (S.R.) 742) Construction Improvement Project from east of Davis Highway to Scenic Highway– Intermittent and alternating lane closures between 9th Avenue and Scenic Highway from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. continues as crews perform sidewalk repairs and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades. The following changes in traffic patterns will take place on Creighton Road Sunday, July 9 and will remain in effect through multiple phases of the project.
· Creighton Road: The westbound, outside lane will be closed from east of the 9th Avenue intersection to the traffic signal at the entrance to Walmart.
· Creighton Road: The eastbound, inside lane will become a left-turn/through lane and the current bi-directional/dedicated left-turn lane will be closed.
· Interstate 10 (I-10)/U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I- Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange (Exits 10A and 10B) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 9 through Thursday, July 13 as crews perform paving work.
· Alternating lane closures on I-10 east and westbound.
· The U.S. 29 south to I-10 eastbound ramp will be closed. Traffic will be detoured south to make a U-turn at Diamond Dairy Road to access I-10 eastbound.
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway (S.R.) 291) to the Escambia Bay Bridge- Alternating east and westbound lane closures between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (Exit 17) from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of Sunday, July 9 as crews shift traffic to the outside travel lanes and work on the inside lanes.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Alternating east and westbound lane closures between Avenue and the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Saturday, July 15. On Tuesday, July 11, lane closures will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be demolishing existing curb, clearing and grubbing in the state owned right-of-way, and placing temporary pavement.
· Arthur Brown Road (County Road 99A) Bridge Replacement over Boggy Creek- Activities are underway. Crews will begin clearing trees and shrubs the week of Monday, July 9 in preparation to construct a temporary road and bridge. The new bridge will consist of 11-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders, and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge replacement project is estimated to take eight months, weather permitting.
· U.S. 29 (S.R. 95) Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Alternating lane closures continue from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road and on Nine Mile Road near the U.S. 29/ Nine Mile Road overpass as crews perform drainage and bridge operations.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29- Jack and bore operations continue on Untreiner Avenue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures
Santa Rosa County
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating east and westbound lane closures on the Gulf Breeze approaches to the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, July 10 through Saturday, July 15. Tuesday, July 11, lane restrictions will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be demolishing existing curb, clearing and grubbing in the state owned right-of-way, and placing temporary pavement.
· I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 28/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures from the Escambia Bay Bridge to just east of S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, July 9 through Thursday, July 13 as crews continue widening work. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard near the I-10 interchange as crews reconstruct the Avalon Boulevard overpass.
· S.R. 4 Routine Bridge Maintenance over West Coldwater Creek- Alternating lane restrictions three miles east of S.R. 89 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 11 and Wednesday, July 12 as crews perform bridge maintenance activities.
· S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFT Boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary is restricted to loads under 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place through the completion of the project.
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.
Hundreds Spend Saturday Afternoon With No Power
July 9, 2017
About 1,135 Gulf Power customers lost power in Cantonment Saturday afternoon due a tree that fell onto power lines (pictured). The outage was along and to the north and south of Muscogee Road (map below). About half of those impacted had power restored within two hours; the remaining 500 plus customers spent several more hours without power. Reader submitted photo by Bryan Benbow for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hit And Run Crash Claims Life Of 21-Year Old Pedestrian
July 9, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a hit and run driver that struck and killed a young Pensacola woman late Friday night.
According to the FHP, a dark colored SUV or minivan hit 21-year old Rebecca Simmons as she was in the outside southbound lane of Davis Highway near Brewster Street about 11:10 p.m. Video surveillance from a nearby business shows Simmons was in front of Chancie’s Bar and had either fallen or laid down in the highway.
The unknown vehicle continued south on Davis Highway after striking Simmons. She was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was pronounced deceased a short time later.
Anyone with information on this crash is asked to call Cpl. E. Diaz or Sgt. Padgett at (850) 471-6921.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Revenge Of History
July 9, 2017
The Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano once said: “History never really says goodbye. It says, ‘See you later.’ ”
In Florida this week, history made good on any promises to return. The state found itself facing a likely lawsuit over a controversial new law on public schools. Another court struck down a recent change to the state’s self-defense laws.
The machinery of death creaked back to life after an 18-month legal hiatus, with Gov. Rick Scott issuing a warrant that will almost certainly revive a battle over drugs the state uses in lethal injections.
A gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe that seemed to be frozen suddenly lurched back into the spotlight, with Scott and the tribe announcing a deal that lawmakers regarded warily.
The week’s news environment included one slightly new element, as Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner weighed a request from a presidential commission to turn over potentially sensitive information about Florida voters. But with Democrats already gearing up for a fight over the commission’s findings, that too might be a bit of history that returns later.
CAN I HAVE YOUR NUMBER?
By the time Detzner announced Thursday that the state would provide some of the information requested by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, a line of Democrats had demanded he not do so.
All three of the party’s candidates for governor in 2018 bashed the commission — which Democrats see as a precursor to a round of voter suppression — and every day seemed to bring a new letter from a lawmaker or party official calling on the state to say no.
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, running against former Congresswoman Gwen Graham and Winter Park businessman Chris King in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, went a step further. Gillum used an open-records request to challenge Detzner to reveal any proof of the voter fraud that Republican President Donald Trump has claimed occurred in 2016.
“Not only does this (federal voter information) request violate the privacy and security of Floridians, but it is founded on baseless claims of widespread voter fraud,” Gillum said in a statement. “If he fails to produce any evidence — which I suspect he will — then he should break his public silence and formally deny the Trump Commission’s request for Floridians’ personal data.”
Detzner did break his silence — though state officials had pointed out that Florida had until July 14 to respond — by saying he would give the commission any information available to the public.
“Driver’s license information and Social Security numbers are not, and cannot be provided,” Detzner wrote to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is vice chairman of the federal commission. “We will also not release any information that is exempt or confidential under Florida law, including certain information regarding law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and victims of stalking and domestic violence.”
Information such as voters’ names, addresses, dates of birth, party affiliations and voting histories is already available under Florida’s public-records law and will be provided to the commission.
That wasn’t enough of a rejection for some Democrats, despite the fact that commission officials likely could have compelled the state to turn over the same information with an open-records request of their own.
“Secretary Ken Detzner should not be fulfilling any part of Donald Trump’s request. … It is grossly irresponsible for Secretary Detzner to even entertain a request from a commission that is propagating a blatant lie — widespread voter fraud does not exist,” Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said.
DEAL US IN
Despite failing to pass a gambling package in this year’s legislative session, lawmakers left Tallahassee figuring they would return to the issue later. But a court agreement between the Scott administration and the Seminole Tribe submitted to a federal judge Wednesday could change that expectation, at least to some extent.
The agreement focuses on a portion of a 20-year gambling deal, called a “compact,” that expired in 2015. That portion of the deal involves banked card games such as blackjack. Under the deal, approved in 2010, the tribe guaranteed $1 billion in payments to the state for the exclusive rights to offer the banked card games for five years.
The tribe sued the state when the banked-card portion of the deal expired, accusing state gambling officials of breaching the compact by allowing what are known as “designated player” card games at horse and dog tracks and jai alai frontons.
In the agreement released Wednesday, the state agreed to drop its appeal of the federal court decision and to take “aggressive enforcement action” against pari-mutuels operating banked card games that violate state law.
The deal also frees up at least $200 million in payments to the state, something leaders — including Scott — are eager to tap into as Florida’s budget outlook worsens.
Even so, Scott’s settlement with the Seminoles took legislative leaders by surprise.
“At first blush, I’m not sure that the stipulated settlement agreement does anything more than make it more difficult for us going forward to negotiate gaming with the Seminole Tribe,” said Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who’s been in charge of gambling negotiations. “It’s almost as if we’re guaranteeing for the tribe that the status quo will continue for the balance of the compact.”
LAW SCHOOL
Not that the Scott administration is likely to get out of court anytime soon. On the same day that the gambling settlement was announced, the Broward County School Board voted unanimously to move forward with a lawsuit challenging a sweeping new education law.
Broward County expects to be followed by other districts — including Miami-Dade County — in mounting a challenge to the law.
The legislation (HB 7069), signed by Scott last month, would overhaul a vast swath of state education law. It deals with everything from mandatory recess for elementary school students and standardized testing to charter-school funding and teacher bonuses.
In a memo given to the Broward County board ahead of the meeting, the board’s general counsel outlined five grounds to challenge the 278-page, $419 million measure.
“This is the opportunity for us to start chiseling away at state legislators who don’t put the voter and the children in this state first. … I feel it’s really our time to step up to the bat and say, ‘enough is enough,’ ” said Ann Murray, a member of the board.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican who was a driving force behind the legislation, responded by blasting the board.
“This is another example of the educational bureaucracy putting the adults who administer the schools ahead of the children who attend the schools,” he said. “Not only is it clueless, it is also arguably heartless, to sue to stop school children from getting recess, disabled children from getting funding, poor children from getting out of failure factories and teachers from getting more pay.”
GANJA AND GUNS
Other actions from the legislative session faced court challenges of their own. Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, the virtual godfather of medical marijuana in Florida, challenged a new law carrying out a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized pharmacological pot. The challenge focuses on part of the law that wouldn’t allow patients to smoke the product.
Lawmakers banned smoking marijuana — but allowed patients to vaporize, or “vape,” pot products — in a bill approved during a special session last month. Scott signed the bill, which went into effect last week.
“The people of Florida knew exactly what they were voting on, when they voted. When they were voting on it, the vast majority, if not 100 percent, knew that smoke was included. The fact that we are here today is really unnecessary, but here we go,” Morgan told reporters outside the Leon County Courthouse.
But House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, an Estero Republican who sponsored the legislation and insisted on the smoking ban, defended lawmakers’ actions. Rodrigues said other states that permit smoking of medical marijuana made it clear in proposals that went before voters.
“If you look at those other states, their constitutional amendments declared that it could be smoked and that it could be self-grown. If that’s what John Morgan wanted for Florida, he should have declared it in the amendment,” Rodrigues said.
Another measure passed this year could be in even more danger. A Miami judge on Monday ruled that a change to the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law was unconstitutional. Supporters said the change would better protect the rights of defendants in “stand your ground” cases.
In a 14-page order, Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch wrote that the Legislature overstepped its authority with the change, which involves pre-trial burden of proof.
The change violates Florida’s separation-of-powers doctrine because it amounts to a “procedural” revision, something that must be handled by the Florida Supreme Court, Hirsch wrote.
Supporters of the controversial change predicted an appeal.
“I’d be surprised if this decision wasn’t overturned by the appellate court,” said Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican and former prosecutor who sponsored the legislation.
THE DEATH PENALTY RETURNS
Scott also added another item to the judiciary’s load this week, when he signaled a potential end to the 18-month hiatus for the death penalty by rescheduling the execution of convicted killer Mark James Asay for Aug. 24.
Asay was one of two Death Row inmates whose executions were put on hold by the Florida Supreme Court early last year after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case known as Hurst v. Florida, struck down as unconstitutional the state’s death-penalty sentencing system.
The January 2016 federal court decision set off a string of rulings that have effectively put Florida’s death penalty in limbo for 18 months. In the ensuing legal battle, the court found Asay could be put to death because he was sentenced before a ruling that set the groundwork for Hurst.
Asay also would be the first Death Row inmate executed under a new, untested lethal-injection process adopted by state corrections officials. The changes to the three-drug lethal injection procedure come after previous drugs used by the state to execute prisoners expired.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Despite days of Democratic attacks, Secretary of State Ken Detzner said Florida would partially comply with the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity’s request for data on state voters.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “This is strong-arm robbery. And the weapon is this policy, this legislation. And so we have to stand up and do something about it. We can’t just allow our community, and I’ll say it in this way, to be jacked like this.”—Broward County School Board member Rosalind Osgood, during a meeting in which the board decided to sue over a wide-ranging new state education law.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Biloxi Rallies Over Pensacola
July 9, 2017
The Biloxi Shuckers rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday to overcome the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 11-6, at MGM Park.
Pensacola entered the eighth inning ahead, 6-4, and got the first two outs of the inning before the Shuckers mounted their comeback. Biloxi sent 11 batters to the plate and earned four hits, two walks, a hit batter and one error.
Biloxi second baseman Wendell Rijo and pinch hitter Javier Betancourt scored the first two runs of the inning when center fielder Johnny Davis singled them both in to tie the score, 6-6. Shuckers right fielder Michael Choice doubled in two runs when Betancourt and Davis scored to go up, 8-6. The final three runs scored when left fielder Clint Coulter smashed a three-run homer to left field, his 10th this season, that scored Choice and catcher Jacob Nottingham to make the score, 11-6.
Pensacola relievers Zack Weiss and Brennan Bernardino pitched the eighth. Weiss gave up six runs, one earned, and got the loss, while Bernardino gave up one run on the homer to Coulter.
The rally spoiled a good start by Pensacola, which had a six-run inning of its own in the fifth inning that gave them a 6-1 lead.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Keury Mella doubled to drive in the first two runs in the fifth. Third baseman Josh VanMeter singled to score Mella. First baseman Nick Longhi, who the Cincinnati Reds picked up from the Boston Red Sox seven days ago, doubled to center field with the bases loaded in his first start for the Blue Wahoos to drive in left fielder Tyler Goeddel, VanMeter and center fielder Gabriel Guerrero.
Pensacola starter Keury Mella gave up just one run in the first five innings but then gave up three in the sixth inning that pulled Biloxi within, 6-4. Mella gave up hits to the first three batters he faced in the sixth inning, including Dustin DeMuth’s two-run homer, his fifth of the season.
Mella ended up scattering eight hits and one walk over five innings and giving up four runs, while striking out five.
Biloxi relievers Jorge Lopez and Matt Ramsey held the Blue Wahoos hitless and scoreless over the last three innings and combined to strike out four. Lopez got both victories in relief against Pensacola in the series and is 5-6 this season.
Six People Injured In Highway 29, Highway 97 Crash In Molino
July 8, 2017
Six people, including three juveniles, were injured in a two vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Molino.
The crash occurred just after noon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 78-year old Edna Taylor of Molino was in a Lincoln MKZ northbound on Highway 29 in the left turn lane to Highway 97 when she turned directly into the path of a southbound Toyota Prius driven by 22-year old Brittany Neighbors of Queen Creek, AZ.
The MKZ came to rest in the intersection; the Prius crashed into a deep concrete culvert in front of a Tom Thumb store.
Taylor was transported to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries. Neighbors, and her passengers — 50-year old Jeane Hux of Pleasant View, TN, and children ages 6, 10 and 11 — were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Taylor was cited by the FHP for violation of right of way when making a left turn.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
