Wahoos Drop Doubleheader To Chattanooga
June 26, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lost a doubleheader Sunday to the Chattanooga Lookouts and have yet to beat them this season.
The Blue Wahoos dropped both seven-inning games, 6-0, and are now 0-9 against the Lookouts in the teams’ two five-game series. The Blue Wahoos have now been blanked nine times this season, while the Chattanooga pitching staff has recorded nine shutout wins this year.
Pensacola dropped the first game of the seven-inning doubleheader to Chattanooga, 6-0, Sunday, thanks to 25-year-old Dereck Rodriguez, who was pitching in just his second Double-A game.
Rodriquez allowed just two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings, striking out six for his first win for Chattanooga. Rodriguez earned his first Double-A victory and is now 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA.
Meanwhile, Pensacola starter Jose Lopez gave up four runs on nine hits and four walks over five innings and struck out four. Lopez gave up a home run in the top of the second inning to Chattanooga left fielder Travis Harrison, his first of the season. He fell to 2-1 on the year with a 3.57 ERA for the Blue Wahoos.
Also leading the Chattanooga offense in game one of the doubleheader was center fielder LaMonte Wade, who was 2-3, scored and knocked in two runs, and Andy Wilkins, who hit 3-4, with a double, scored a run and drove in 2 RBIs.
Pensacola’s offense was less productive, managing just three hits in both games. The Blue Wahoos dropped the second game, 6-0, as well, with Fernando Romero tossing seven scoreless innings. He also gave up three walks and struck out six to improve to 7-5 with a 2.97 ERA. The 22-year-old Romero now has 76 Ks in 78.2 innings.
Pensacola starter Domingo Tapia gave up four runs on six hits and two walks in three innings of work to pick up the loss to drop to 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA.
Blue Wahoos first baseman Gavin LaValley was 1-3 in both games and now is 5-14 (.357) hitting in all four games since being called up from the High-A Daytona Tortugas Thursday. The 22-year-old was the only Pensacola batter to get hits in both games and now has two doubles a homerun and three RBIs against Chattanooga.
Pensacola, the Southern League first half South Division champion, will try to avoid being swept in the five-game series by Chattanooga, the first half North Division champion, for the second time this season at 6:15 p.m. Monday.
Schedule: This Week’s Escambia County Government Meetings
June 25, 2017
Here is a schedule of Escambia County meetings for the upcoming week:
Monday, June 26
Library Board of Governance, 239 N. Spring St., 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 27
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1:30 p.m. (Agenda)
Escambia County Health Facilities Authority, 1019 N. 12th Ave., 4 p.m.
Wednesday, June 28
June Coffee with the Commissioner – Jeff Bergosh, District 1, Denny’s Restaurant, 4625 Mobile Highway, 6:30 a.m.
Development Review Committee, Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, 1 p.m.
Santa Rosa Island Authority Committee Meeting, 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, 5 p.m. (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Budget Workshop, 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, 5:05 p.m. (Agenda)
Santa Rosa Island Authority Special Board Meeting, 1 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, 5:10 p.m. (Agenda)
Scott Going To Washington Amid Health Care Debate
June 25, 2017
After U.S. Senate leaders released a proposal last week to roll back the Affordable Care Act, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he will go to Washington this week to weigh in on the issues.
“I have been carefully reviewing the bill, and…I will be traveling to Washington to meet with congressional leaders to provide input on how we can make the bill better for Floridians,” Scott said in a prepared statement. Details of the trip were not immediately announced. But the outcome of the debate in Washington could have major implications for Florida, in part because of likely changes in the Medicaid program. Scott and other Florida officials have long sought more flexibility in how the state can manage Medicaid, including possibly getting Medicaid block grants from Washington.
But some officials also have cautioned that a key question is how money would be distributed to states.
Scott, the former CEO of a national hospital company, did not go into detail about the new Senate bill but hinted at concerns about Medicaid and other issues.
“First, all states must be treated equitably,” Scott said. “Florida taxpayers deserve the same treatment as every other state under the Medicaid program. Second, every American, including those with pre-existing conditions, should have the ability to buy any kind of insurance they want. This will drive down costs and give people the flexibility and power to determine what they want to buy.” Scott and other Florida Republican leaders have vehemently opposed the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. But state Democratic leaders have lambasted the Senate bill and a health-care bill approved by the U.S. House.
“This (Senate) bill is just as bad as the House bill, taking coverage away from millions of people and making huge cuts to Medicaid,” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said in a statement Thursday. “If that weren’t enough, it also allows insurance companies to hike rates for older Americans.”
by The News Service of Florida
Teens Found Safe After Perdido River Search
June 25, 2017
Two teens were located safe and sound Saturday night after becoming lost on the rain-swollen Perdido River.
The kayaking teens has reportedly put into the river at a residence on Perdido Lake Road and did not return. Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies were called about 8:30 p.m. to assist in the search for them. By 9:30 p.m., the teens had been located uninjured in the 150 block of River Annex Road.
According to the National Weather Service, the Perdido River at Barrineau Park was at minor flood stage of 13 feet at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Pictured: First responders gather on a dirt road near the Perdido River Saturday night. NorthEscambia.com photo Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Clouds, Some Rain For Sunday
June 25, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Calm wind.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Highway 29 In Century Apparently Damaged By Heavy Rains
June 25, 2017
Heavy rain last week apparently caused damage to Highway 29 in Century, just south of Hudson Hill Road.
Neighbors said the road cracked on Saturday, with the cracks spreading quickly. The pavement was flexing the under passing vehicles, pushing water out of the cracks, neighbors said.
Mayor Henry Hawkins said the Town of Century has contacted the Florida Department of Transportation about the situation. Hawkins said the problem was not caused by a potable water leak.
Photos by Katy Weber for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2018 Escambia County Voter Guide Is Now Available
June 25, 2017
The Escambia County Voter Guide 2018 is now available at from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
he booklet details 2018 election dates, offices to be filled and contains complete information on how to register to vote, keep voter information current, and how to vote at the polls.
The Escambia County Voter Guide 2018 can be downloaded by clicking here, or copies are available at the office of Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford at 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
June 25, 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
· Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Road Turn Lane Construction between Hillview Drive and Barron Miller Road-Westbound lane closure between Hillview Drive and Barron Miller Road from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29 as crews construct a westbound, right turn lane.
· Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Turn Lane Construction at Woodside Road- Construction of a westbound, left turn lane on Mobile Highway to Woodside Road. There will be no lane closures within the school zone Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Work is anticipated to be complete fall 2017.
· 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, June 25 through Thursday, June 29 as crews perform paving, guardrail, and shoulder work.
· Alternating eastbound lane closures.
· The U.S. 29 north to I-10 westbound ramp will be closed. Traffic will be detoured north to make a U-turn at Broad Street to access I-10 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.
· Arthur Brown Road (County Road (C.R.) 99A) Bridge Replacement over Boggy Creek- Activities are underway. The new bridge will consist of 11-foot travel lanes, six-foot shoulders, and a solid concrete barrier railing. Traffic will be diverted to a temporary onsite road and bridge. Construction is estimated to take eight months.
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291) to the Escambia Bay Bridge- Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 25 through Thursday, June 29 as crews paint barrier wall and perform paving work.
· Intermittent lane closures on I-10 east and westbound between Davis Highway (Exit 13) and the approach to Escambia Bay Bridge.
· Alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) between Whisper Way and Northpointe Parkway.
· Creighton 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.
· Theo Barrs Bridge on Perdido Key Drive (S.R.) 292 Routine Maintenance Intermittent lane restrictions from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 28 as crews install signage. Traffic flaggers will be on site to assist with traffic control.
· Road Ranger Service Patrol on the Pensacola Bay Bridge- Service patrol vehicles are stationed on each of the bridges between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and major holidays. At other times, at least one unit is on-call and available to respond within 30 minutes. Road Ranger assistance on the Pensacola Bay Bridge is available by dialing the Florida Highway Patrol at *FHP (*347).
· 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.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Test pile driving for the new bridge is underway. While there are no direct traffic impacts, persons nearby may detect noise and the possibility of vibration. Pile driving work is scheduled during daytime hours, seven-days-a-week.
Santa Rosa County
· I-10 over S.R. 87 Routine Bridge Maintenance- Eastbound lane restrictions from 8 p.m. Sunday, June 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 26 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
· I-10 from east of S.R. 87 to Okaloosa County Line- East and westbound lane restrictions at Garnier Landing Road Overpass, 2 1/2 miles west of County Road 189 (Holt/ Exit 45), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday as crews make bridge repairs.
· 10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, 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, June 25 through Thursday, June 29 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.
· U.S. 98 (S.R. 30) Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement- Intermittent east and westbound, right lane closures on the Gulf Breeze approaches to the bridge from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29. On Tuesday, June 27 lane restriction will take place from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be demolishing existing curb, clearing and grubbing in state owned right-of-way, placing temporary pavement, and setting barrier wall.
· 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.
Pensacola Drops Game, 3-2, to Chattanooga
June 25, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starter Deck McGuire threw eight scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out six.
But the Chattanooga Lookouts came back from a 2-0 deficit when catcher Dan Rohlfing was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for a walk-off win, 3-2, Saturday over Pensacola at AT&T Field.
Gavin LaValley appeared to have given the Blue Wahoos and All-Star McGuire a 2-0 win in the top of the eighth inning when he laced a double that scored shortstop Josh VanMeter and center fielder Gabriel Guerrero.
In his first two games since being called up from the High-A Daytona Tortugas Thursday, the 22-year-old LaValley has two doubles and a homer in eight at-bats.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-6 McGuire has shutout his opponents in four of his 11 starts this season with Pensacola.
But Chattanooga came right back in the bottom of the ninth with three runs off Pensacola reliever Geoff Broussard, who gave up three walks, three singles and hit a batter and failed to get an out.
Chattanooga DH Jonathan Rodriguez smacked a single to left field that scored right fielder Edgar Corcino to cut Pensacola’s lead to 2-1. The game was knotted, 2-2, when first baseman Andy Wilkins then hit a line drive into right field that scored left fielder LaMonte Wade. The next two batters walked and then Broussard hit Rohlfing, which scored pinch runner Alex Perez with the game-winning run, 3-2.
Pensacola has lost the first two games of the series and plays a seven-inning doubleheader with Chattanooga at 3:15 p.m. Sunday to make up for Thursday’s rained out game. The five-game series matches the South and North divisions’ first half champions.
Besides LaValley, VanMeter went 2-5 with a run scored for Pensacola. Gabriel Guerrero earned his 24th multi-hit game with a 3-4 night and one run scored. Blue Wahoos third baseman Nick Senzel, the second overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, was 2-4 for his first multi-hit game in Double-A.
Scott Signs Medical Marijuana Plan
June 24, 2017
More than seven months after Floridians overwhelmingly backed the broad legalization of medical marijuana, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a bill aimed at carrying out the voters’ wishes.
Lawmakers passed the bill (SB 8-A) during a special session this month after struggling to reach agreement on an implementation plan for the medical-marijuana constitutional amendment, which 71 percent of voters approved in November.
Scott’s office sent out a news release after 5:30 p.m. Friday that said he had signed the marijuana bill, along with 37 others, but did not comment. He had indicated earlier he would approve the bill.
The constitutional amendment gave doctors the authority to order marijuana for potentially hundreds of thousands of patients who suffer from debilitating conditions including cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
But as is commonly the case, a plan still needed to be put in place to carry out the amendment. The bill resolves issues such as how many companies will receive marijuana licenses and how many retail outlets they can operate.
It appears likely, however, that Orlando lawyer John Morgan, who largely bankrolled the constitutional amendment, will challenge part of the bill that bars people from smoking medical marijuana. The bill would allow vaping and other methods of marijuana use.
Lawmakers who supported the smoking ban pointed to concerns about issues such as the health effects of smoking marijuana on people’s lungs. But Morgan has vowed to file a lawsuit to try to overturn the ban, saying voters envisioned that patients would be able to smoke cannabis.
“(Smoking) clearly was called for in the amendment, and so what they’ve done for me is allowed me to step back up on my soapbox and go get what the people of Florida wanted when they passed this bill with 71 percent,” Morgan told The News Service of Florida this month.
The marijuana measure was the highest-profile bill signed Friday by Scott.
Among the others was a bill that would help wireless telecommunications companies in dealing with local government regulations.
The measure (HB 687) would limit the ability of local governments to regulate types of equipment known as “small wireless facilities” in public rights of ways. The equipment is for emerging 5G technology. The bill, which becomes law July 1, drew objections from local governments, at least in part, because it would take away their authority.
by Jim Saunders and Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida