Blue Wahoos Capture Sixth Straight Series
June 9, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won its sixth straight series thanks to clutch two-out singles by third baseman Josh VanMeter and center fielder Gabriel Guerrero in the third inning to overcome the Mobile BayBears Thursday at Hank Aaron Stadium.
VanMeter singled to right field to drive in second baseman Alex Blandino, who lead-off the third inning with his 17th double of the season. Left fielder Tyler Goeddel, who had walked moved to third base and then VanMeter stole second base to put runners at second and third with Guerrero up to bat. He singled to right field to score both Goeddel and VanMeter, giving Pensacola a 3-0 lead in the third inning.
It would be all the runs the Pensacola pitching staff would need to pull out a, 3-2, victory over Mobile. Now 10-13 in one-run games, the Blue Wahoos captured the series, 3-2.
The victory improved the Blue Wahoos record to 34-26 to keep them in first place in the Southern League South Division. The team has been in first place for all but six days in the first half. It is vying to become the first Southern League team to win four straight halves since the Tennessee Smokies did it from 2009-2011.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Castillo earned his second win in a row to improve his record to 3-3 and he now has a 3.00 ERA. Castillo worked six innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks and struck out eight.
Castillo retired the first six batters he faced before giving up a lead-off solo home run to right center field in the third inning by Mobile catcher Wade Wass, a Catholic High School product. It was his 10th homer of the season.
Mobile’s only other run came in the fourth inning when first baseman Zach Houchins singled to center field to score center fielder Michael Hermosillo. Houchins led the BayBears offense, going 7-18, or .389, with 10 RBIs.
Pensacola relievers Robert Stock, Ariel Hernandez and Jimmy Herget protected the Blue Wahoos one-run lead by pitching a combined three scoreless innings. They gave up three hits, a walk and struck out two.
Hernandez earned his Southern League-leading eighth hold, while Herget got his Southern League-leading 16th save of the season. He has 43 strikeouts in 29.1 innings on the year.
Fire Destroys Industrial Park Building
June 8, 2017
Firefighters from two counties were battled a major fire at an industrial building the Ellyson Industrial Park Thursda afternoon.
The fire was at “Custom Wood designs” in the 3300 block of Addison Drive.
Dozens of fire units from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were called to the blaze.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Brewton Sex Offender Arrested For Murder Of Naomi Jones
June 8, 2017
A convicted sex offender from Brewton, AL, has been arrested for the death of Naomi Jones.
Robert Letroy Howard, 38, is being held in the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola. He is charged with first degree murder, kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender.
Authorities say Howard was living with his girlfriend in the same apartment complex in which Jones lived in the 1400 block of East Johnson Avenue. He lived in a nearly adjacent apartment to Jones. She was last seen May 31 in that apartment complex.
Jones likely died within 24 to 36 hours after her May 31 disappearance, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. Her body was then later dumped into Eight Mile Creek, some 4-5 miles away, where it was found days later by two men looking for a fishing location.
Morgan said investigators believe Howard acted alone.
Howard was convicted in 1999 on two counts of first degree rape to two adult females in Escambia County, AL. One of the victims was 19-years old at the time. He served 15 years.
Century’s ‘Cash Cow’ Is No More As Gas Department Revenue Declines
June 8, 2017
The Town of Century’s gas department used to be a “cash cow”, creating a very profitable revenue stream for the town, according to their financial advisor. But now that revenue is decreasing, expenses are increasing and the future of the department could be in question due to a huge decline in customer base.
The concerns were expressed by the town’s accountant, Robert Hudson, at a recent town council meeting. Hudson said the gas department lost $16,000 during the first six months of the fiscal year. What’s worse, he said, is that those six months — October through March — are the coldest of the year when customers use the most natural gas.
Hudson said the town is at a “bare bones” level to maintain the system. Years ago, he said, Century had some 1,300 natural gas customers, but with only 500 customers bearing the cost of the system now, things are much more difficult.
The declining revenue is being blamed on an increasing number of customers switching to electricity and the loss of a number of homes in the town, primarily due to the February 2016 EF-3 tornado.
The town’s water and sewer department showed a $46,860 deficit during the first six months. The town recently raised water and sewer rates by $200 per year for the average family to help eliminate shortfalls, and the town has sent an additional $31,000 bill to the prison to cover increases allowed under contract.
Overall, the town’s financial picture showed about a $47,000 revenue shortfall the first half of the year, but the town expects to offset that loss with the increased prison water bill, a more accurate water meter at the prison, some $18,000 from the state for mowing the Highway 29 right of way, and increased rates.
Due to the gas department shortfall, the Century Town Council voted to make a $33,000 gas department debt service payment using economic development funds.
Alicia Jernigan, water and sewer department head, last month identified $430,000 needed to fix “critical” problems with town’s water and wastewater facilities. The town council voted in May to transfer $172,000 from a $229,000 reserve fund to make some of the critical water and sewer system repairs.
Pictured: The Century Correctional Institution is town’s biggest water, sewer and natural gas customer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Inmates Airlifted After Altercations At Century Prison
June 8, 2017
Two Century Correctional Institution inmates were airlifted in serious condition to Pensacola area hospitals Wednesday after two apparently different incidents of violence at the prison.
The first inmate, who was reportedly stabbed multiple times, was airlifted from prison grounds about 3 p.m. The injuries were the result of an apparent inmate on inmate alteration, according to Ashley Cook, press secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections.
“The incident is currently under investigation by the Department’s Office of the Inspector General. Due to the open and active investigation into this incident, this is all of the information currently available,” she said.
Escambia County EMS and Fire were called back to the Century Correctional Institution about two hours later for another inmate assault victim. That victim was also airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to a Pensacola area hospital.
Further details on the second incident were not immediately available.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Boat ‘Runs Aground’ Outside Lake Stone
June 8, 2017
A boat “ran aground” outside Lake Stone Wednesday afternoon near Century.
The boat was being towed on a trailer, when the trailer broke free from a vehicle and struck the rock “Lake Stone Campground” sign. The boat then left the trailer, striking a wooden fence in front of the lake caretaker’s residence.
There were no injuries reported in the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Votes To Override Scott Higher Education Vetoes
June 8, 2017
In a rebuke to Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Senate on Wednesday voted to override vetoes of some $75 million in higher-education projects, although House leaders appear reluctant to back the move.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Scott’s $410 million in line-item vetoes in an $82 billion budget passed last month “disproportionately” impacted the higher-education system.
“The Senate has every intention of looking at ways to make sure its higher-education priorities get funded,” Negron said before the Senate took up the veto overrides early Wednesday evening.
The largest veto overrides, which require a two-thirds vote, sought to restore funding for two $15 million building projects at Florida International University and Florida Gulf Coast University.
The overrides also sought to restore $5 million for a gymnasium project at Miami Dade College and $13 million in building projects at Florida State University, including $5 million for STEM teaching lab.
Medical marijuana research projects at the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of Florida were also supported in the override votes.
But the override votes, which were the first for the Republican-led Senate since Scott took office in 2011, will not be successful without the House’s support.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, and House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said they have little interest in overriding the vetoes, saying they agree with the governor’s call to use the vetoed funding to support the public-school budget.
“The governor has the prerogative to veto anything he sees that is not in the best interest of Floridians,” Trujillo said.
Trujillo said the 2017-18 budget passed last month by the Legislature put “hundreds of millions” of dollars into higher-education initiatives, including construction projects. He said the governor’s vetoes would allow lawmakers to shift some of that money to the K-12 system, which Scott said was inadequately funded in the budget.
“That’s a bona fide, legitimate policy position to have,” Trujillo said.
Scott called a special legislative session, which started Wednesday, to boost spending on public schools and economic development. The special session is scheduled to end Friday.
The Senate veto overrides were opposed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, and Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville.
Lee, a former Senate president and budget chairman, questioned the strategy of carrying out a series of override votes that are not likely to be successful.
“A veto override is an extraordinary measure. I think we’re unnecessarily escalating conflict at the plaza level (Scott’s office) and with the House of Representatives, which isn’t inclined to take up any of these veto overrides,” Lee said.
“You’re just legislating for your exercise here. This isn’t going anywhere. Why insult people and make it harder to prosecute your business?” he added.
Scott vetoed nearly $60 million of university construction projects in the annual Public Education Capital Outlay, or PECO, program.
Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said she supported an override of Scott’s decision to reject $15 million in PECO funding for Florida International’s School of International and Public Affairs. She said the funding is linked to a private donation to carry out the project. “That’s why it’s really important,” she said.
Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said the 15-member Democratic coalition would support broader override votes encompassing more than just higher-education projects.
“We had a budget that we voted for and now $410 million of it is gone,” Clemens said. “From our perspective, there is a reason why (the vetoed projects) were in the budget. They were good ideas then and they’re still good ideas.”
Scott vetoed most of the higher education projects saying there were not the top priorities of the university or state college systems.
He vetoed the medical-marijuana research projects at the Moffitt Center and the University of Florida because he said the schools could fund the projects out of sizable increases that they are receiving in the new budget.
Prior to the higher education veto overrides, the Senate in a series of votes earlier Wednesday overrode Scott’s veto of $11.4 billion in state funding for the $20 billion public school system. Scott’s veto of that money was part of the plan to increase school funding during the special session.
But the K-12 overrides, like the higher-education overrides, will not take effect unless the House agrees. The last successful overrides occurred in the final months of former Gov. Charlie Crist’s administration in 2010.
by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida
Reptiles Please Young Readers At The Library (With Gallery)
June 8, 2017
The West Florida Public Library Summer Reading Program got underway Wednesday at the Century Branch Library with a visit from “Reno’s Reptiles”.
Reno’s Reptiles will make appearances Thursday at the Molino Branch Library at 11 a.m. and the Tryon Branch Library at 3 p.m.
For a photo gallery from Reno’s Reptiles in Century Wednesday, click here.
Also this week, Summer Reading programs will include:
Tampa Taiko — Learn about the exciting traditional Japanese performing art of Taiko drumming and see big Taiko drums.
- Thursday, June 8, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch Library (Held at Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway)
- Thursday, June 8, 3 p.m. – Molino Branch Library
- Friday, June 9, 7 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Saturday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. – Century Branch Library
- Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m. – Tryon Branch Library
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Lawmakers Move Forward With Medical Marijuana Bill
June 8, 2017
Lawmakers have been under intense pressure to resolve the issue during the special session after a potential medical-marijuana deal blew up at the end of the regular session.
The Senate on Wednesday morning announced plans to take up the issue during the special session, and a House committee signed off on the proposal later in the day.
One of the key sticking points between the House and Senate had involved how many retail outlets the state’s licensed medical-marijuana operators could run.
The Senate favored a limit of 15 storefronts for each vendor, while the House backed a proposal that would have permitted up to 100.
Under the compromise measure (HB 5A) approved by the House Health & Human Services Committee late Wednesday, marijuana operators each could run up to 25 retail outlets. The number of retail outlets the vendors would be able to operate in each of five regions of the state would be based on the populations of the regions.
The state currently has seven licensed marijuana vendors, and the agreement between House and Senate leaders would require health officials to approve 10 new operators by Oct. 3.
The new licensees would include a member of the Florida Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, as well as applicants who lost out to competitors when the Department of Health granted the initial medical-marijuana operator licenses in 2015. The measure requires up to two licenses go to applicants currently or previously involved in “the canning, concentrating, or otherwise processing of citrus fruit or citrus molasses.”
Marijuana operators could also sell their dispensary slots to other vendors, something that was not considered in either chamber’s legislation that failed to pass earlier.
As before, under the new plan, the number of dispensaries each operator could run would increase as the number of patients registered in a statewide database grows. The dispensary cap would go away in 2020.
Florida’s cannabis industry is expected to explode after the passage of the constitutional amendment, under which at least 420,000 patients in Florida could be eligible for medical marijuana, according to the most recent health department estimates.
The measure would also add 57 workers to the Office of Compassionate Use within the state health department to handle the blossoming marijuana industry.
House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who has shepherded the measure for his chamber, said that both the House and Senate made concessions to reach the compromise.
“Neither one of us got what we wanted, but both of us got something we could live with,” Rodrigues, R-Estero, told reporters after Wednesday’s committee meeting.
Some lawmakers heard complaints from constituents when they returned home after the regular session ended, prompting leaders to strike a deal, Rodrigues indicated.
Voters believed that lawmakers “didn’t do our job, and it upset them,” he said.
“I’m happy that it got added to the call for the special session,” Rodrigues said. “I’m convinced that both chambers can get this out, and if we do that, we’ve fulfilled our responsibilities to our voters back home who voted for this and we can go home with our heads held high.”
Senate leaders had argued that allowing a proliferation of retail outlets would give Florida’s seven state-sanctioned medical marijuana operators an unfair advantage over potential competitors seeking to enter what could be one of the nation’s most lucrative cannabis markets.
But scurrying between House and Senate Republican leaders resulted in the deal regarding the dispensary limits.
“We drove down to the two-yard line, and we weren’t able to punch it in for a touchdown. Now we’ve scored,” said Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who has been a key player on medical-marijuana issues.
The Legislature in 2014 passed a law that allowed non-euphoric cannabis for some patients and passed a 2016 law that made marijuana available to people with terminal illnesses.
Without legislative action, the Florida Department of Health would be in charge of medical-marijuana regulations.
“I think it’s important that the Legislature set the framework for the medical marijuana system in the state of Florida rather than leave it to bureaucrats. We represent the people, and 71 percent of the people voted for this so this is our job,” said Bradley, who sponsored the 2014 non-euphoric cannabis measure.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Heavy Rains Flood Oak Grove Bridge Construction Work Zone
June 8, 2017
Recent heavy rains flooded the approaches under construction for a new bridge on North Highway 99 in Oak Grove. Wednesday afternoon, much the construction zone remained underwater. The existing bridge (in the left of the photo) is being replaced with a new, modern structure consisting of 11-foot travel lanes, nine-foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The project is expected to be completed in early 2018. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
