Saturday Driver’s License Road Tests Available
June 5, 2017
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector, announces that Saturday road testing services will be available by appointment only on June 24 beginning at 8 a.m. at his Marcus Pointe location, 6451 North “W” Street. This service will provide road testing to new drivers seeking a Class E license as well as drivers in need of re-examination. Applicants under the age of 18 must have had their learner’s permit for a minimum of six months to be eligible to take the road test. No medical, extended road tests or other services will be available.
“I am excited to offer, for the first time, Saturday road testing for busy families. School will be back in before we know it, and offering this service will provide additional opportunities for scheduling at a more convenient time,” Lunsford said. “This is all about serving our customers well and fulfilling our vision to promote world-class customer service.”
Appointments for this special Saturday road testing must be scheduled and paid for in advance through the tax collector’s call center. Payment can be made via electronic check, credit or debit card, and a convenience fee may apply. It is expected that appointments to fill up quickly. Customers are encouraged to to schedule early. To make a Saturday appointment, call (850) 438-6500, ext. 3252.
Blue Wahoos Hold On For 3-2 Win Over BayBears
June 5, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos closer Jimmy Herget turned in his longest outing this season, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings for his Southern League-leading 15th save.
Herget protected a one-run lead as the Blue Wahoos held on for a, 3-2, victory Sunday over the Mobile BayBears in Hank Aaron Stadium.
T
he Blue Wahoos improved to 32-24 and with the Biloxi Shuckers loss Sunday took a two-game lead in the race for the Southern League South Division. The club is now 9-12 in one-run games this year.
Herget allowed one hit, one walk and struck out three. He now has 15 saves in 17 attempts and has struck out 41 batters in 28.1 innings. He is 1-2 with a 1.59 ERA.
Pensacola ace Tyler Mahle pitched 6.1 scoreless innings before Mobile tagged him for two runs in the seventh. Mahle got the first out of the seventh inning and then gave up singles to Mobile second baseman David Fletcher and center field Forrest Allday who both scored when BayBears first baseman Zach Houchins hit his 12th double of the season to make it a, 3-2, game.
Pensacola reliever Geoff Broussard came in and hit Wade Wass, a former Catholic High School player, with a pitch to put runners on first and second. He was then replaced by Herget, who got third baseman Andrew Daniel to fly out to left field to move Houchins and Wass to second and third. Herget intentionally walked left fielder Tim Arakawa to load the bases. But Herget got the final out of the seventh inning when he got shortstop Alberto Triunfel to hit into a force out to end the scoring threat.
Mahle improved to 7-2 on the season and dropped his ERA to 1.66. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out three batters and now has 75 on the season, which ties him for second in the Southern League.
Pensacola went ahead, 1-0, when second baseman Alex Blandino smacked his 14th double of the season to center field to score first baseman Angelo Gumbs, who reached on an error.
In the sixth inning, Aristides Aquino smashed his eighth homer of the season to put Pensacola ahead, 2-0. Blandino made it, 3-0, then hit his 15th double of the season to right field with two outs to score Gumbs, who walked.
Aquino has reached base in 20 straight games or since May 14. During the streak, the 22-year-old, who MLB Pipeline.com ranks as the sixth best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, has four home runs, 16 RBIs and is 24-73 or hitting .328.
Wrong Way Driver Wrecks In Post Office Parking Lot
June 4, 2017
There were no injuries when a driver wrecked in the parking lot of a local post office early Sunday morning.
The driver apparently lost control just before 1 a.m. in the 1400 block of Old Chemstrand Road, struck a “Do Not Enter” sign and two curbs before coming to rest in the parking lot of the Gonzalez Post Office. He refused medical treatment at the scene.
‘The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash.
Further information has not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Traffic Alert: Delays On Highway 4 At Canoe Creek For Tuesday
June 4, 2017
Drivers can expect delays Tuesday morning on Highway 4 over Canoe Creek, between Bratt and Byrneville.
There will be alternating lane restrictions from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. for a routine bridge inspection. Drivers are reminded to use caution when traveling through the area and be alert for workers and equipment.
Youth Begin Fair Livestock Projects
June 4, 2017
Over 30 youth weighed-in their steers Saturday to being their Pensacola Interstate Fair Project. Each will work over the next 140 days to prepare themselves and the animals for the show. The final weigh-in and show will take place of October 23 with the sale on October 26. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Approves Funds For ‘The Bluffs’ And Muscogee Road, Vetoes Beulah Interchange
June 4, 2017
A major industrial campus development in Cantonment and Muscogee Road area improvements were among the North Escambia area projects to make Florida’s budget signed by Gov. Rick Scott on Friday, while a Beulah area project and millions for the University of West Florida were vetoed.
The budget included $3.1 million for The Bluffs in Cantonment – a site that could be home to as many as 60 new industrial and manufacturing companies and more than 15,000 jobs with wages of nearly $3.9 billion.
The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south. Although located along the Escambia River, most of the property to be developed is at a high elevation, about 100 feet above sea level, and not in a flood plain. Minimally, the project is expected to recruit approximately 10 companies that would occupy more than 3.9 million square feet of building space on 295 acres of land which will be significant to Escambia County and the regional economy.
The budget also included about $1.4 million for a commerce park planned at the Pensacola International Airport and $500,000 for improvements along the Muscogee Road freight corridor.
Scott’s largest local veto was $4.1 million total for four programs — archaeology, nursing practical education, physical therapy and robotics — at the University of West Florida. Scott also vetoed $250,000 for a Beulah Interstate 10 interchange and $100,000 for a Gálvez monument in Pensacola.
UWF did receive about $9.5 million for programs including Laboratory Services Annex, physician assistance program, mechanical engineering and more.
Pictured: Concept maps and drawings show the planned “The Bluffs” development along the Escambia River in Cantonment. Images for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Announced Year End Honor Rolls
June 4, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School has released the following year-end honor rolls:
6th Grade A Honor Roll
Erich Amerson
Leah Anderson
Ryan Andrews
Luke Bridges
Abbie Buford
Kaypra Casillas
Ethan Collier
Drake Driskell
Cross Goslee
Kayla Johnson
Emily Levins
Kennedy Long
Elianna Morales
Alyssa Moya
Kaden Odom
Cameron Partrick
McKenna Simmons
Jessica Stabler
Aubrey Stuckey
Abigail Weber
Clay Wilson
6th Grade A-B Honor Roll
Drew Albritton
Riley Blackwell
Leila Boutwell
Karson Brown
Na’khya Brown
Landon Chavers
Ryan Dove
Kameron Enfinger
Ja’kayla Evans
Caitlyn Gibson
Emma Gilmore
Chase Hampton
Gabriel Harigel
Johnnie Howell
Ruthie Huskey
Ryan Kahalley
Emily Lambeth
Megan McGhee
Chase Pugh
Torian Richardson
Arquavian Smith
Kole Stewart
John Michael Ward
Alexia Yeater
Blake Yoder
Loghan Zellers
7th Grade A Honor Roll
Anna Adams
John Bashore
Hunter Borelli
Sarah Sconiers
Mia Starns
7th Grade A-B Honor Roll
Lakyn Bodiford
Tereasia Burt
Shelby Cotita
Kaitlin Gafford
Payton Gilchrist
Jason Gurganus
Samantha Hammond
Jon Harigel
Sarah Hetrick
Grayson James
Ethan Kilburn
Jaden Lewis
Madelyn McAnally
Kenzy McLaney
Kinzey Powell
Makayla Ramsey
Mackenzie Sims
8th Grade A Honor Roll
Maggie Amerson
Savannah Doremus
Amber Gilman
Hannah Hughes
David Lamb
Meredith McGhee
Brayden Mickel
Libby Pugh
Emily Stabler
Summer Waters
Lane Wilson
8th Grade A-B Honor Roll
Larry Allie
Kenley Brown
Logan Bryan
Christian Bullington
Kayla Campbell
Sophia Cotita
Makayla Garrett
Shelby Godwin
Hailey Harigel
Rylee Huskey
Justin Kent
Maille Kilcrease
Heather Knowles
Bryce Korinchak
Abigail Levins
Mary Paige Nassar
Abigail Nelson
Taviana Parker
Ryan Pendleton
Kenna Redmond
Madelin Sheedy
Cody Thomas
Le’Ariel Thomas
Ariel Ward
Ben Ward
Autumn Williams
8th Grade Presidential Awards
Maggie Amerson
Logan Bryan
Kayla Campbell
Sophia Cotita
Savannah Doremus
Makayla Garrett
Amber Gilman
Shelby Godwin
Hailey Harigel
Hannah Hughes
Justin Kent
Maille Kilcrease
Heather Knowles
Bryce Korinchak
Kaley Lashley
Abigail Levins
Meredith McGhee
Nathaniel Mickel
Mary Paige Nassar
Abigail Nelson
Taviana Parker
Libby Pugh
Tyler Ray
Kenna Redmond
Emily Stabler
Cody Thomas
Ariel Ward
Benjamin Ward
Summer Waters
Autumn Williams
William Wilson
Wahoos Win Series Over The Jumbo Shrimp
June 4, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos exploded against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for six runs in the sixth inning on six singles and two errors to cruise to its fifth consecutive series victory Saturday.
The game was tied, 4-4, when Pensacola sent 10 players to the plate and put on a hitting demonstration for the sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The Blue Wahoos ended up winning 11-6 Friday and captured the series, 3-2, denying Jacksonville a chance to win its first series in Pensacola’s ballpark since June 2015.
Jacksonville committed seven errors, which was two short of the record of nine errors made by the Biloxi Shuckers on April 10 this season against the Montgomery Biscuits.
“We were hoping to take advantage of (the errors),” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “You don’t want to look up there and see seven errors and only have four runs.”
The sixth inning started for Pensacola with a lead-off single by left fielder Tyler Goeddel. Center fielder Gabriel Guerrero then hit a rocket to Jacksonville second baseman KC Serna who dropped the ball. Third baseman Josh VanMeter then hit a towering fly ball behind third base that Jumbo Shrimp shortstop Alex Yarbrough missed for the second error of the inning.
With the bases loaded and no outs, right fielder Aristides Aquino hit a one hopper that glanced off the first baseman’s glove and then bounced off VanMeter, allowing both Goeddel and Guerrero to score to put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 6-4. First baseman Eric Jagielo ripped a single to right field to score VanMeter to make it, 7-4. Another single on a liner by second baseman Angelo Gumbs drove in Aquino for an 8-4 lead.
Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan hit a bullet into right field where Jacksonville’s John Norwood gunned down Jagielo at the plate for the second out of the inning. Blue Wahoos reliever Robert Stock then hit a bouncer up the middle that scored catcher Adrian Nieto and Trahan with the final two runs of the inning scoring for a 10-4 lead.
Pensacola is 31-24 and in first place in the Southern League South Division with just three series left before the end of the first half. The Blue Wahoos are trying to become the first Southern League team to win four straight halves since the Tennessee Smokies did it from 2009-2011.
Blue Wahoos reliever Alex Powers came through for Pensacola Friday. He finished the game with three scoreless innings, allowing four hits, one walk and striking out five.
Powers entered the game in the seventh inning after Stock loaded the bases and walked in a run. Powers struck out the side with the bases full.
“Powers gave us three huge innings right there,” Kelly said. “He had those three big Ks with the bases loaded. That was huge.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel Guerrero led the Pensacola offense Friday and throughout the five-game series against Jacksonville. He was 6-17 (.353) and drove in six runs, increasing his RBI total to 15 for the season. He has 21 multi-hit games in the 52 games he has played this season.
Plus, he has enjoyed playing center field more lately. He made a sliding catch in the fifth inning to rob Jacksonville left fielder Alex Glenn of a hit.
“I’ve had a good season, so far,” Guerrero said. “I’m seeing the ball and not trying to do to much.”
Pensacola also benefited from two great defensive plays by Angelo Gumbs at second base, especially in the eight inning when he fielded the ball on the shortstop side of second base, spun and threw out the runner.
Jacksonville is 4-16 in Blue Wahoos Stadium the last two years.
Jacksonville’s Perez tied the game, 4-4, when he lined a triple into the right center field gap to lead off the fourth. Jacksonville’s Yarbrough hit a chopper to Pensacola’s Jagielo at first base who threw home to get Perez but the center fielder scored when he slid wide behind home plate and tapped the plate with his left hand.
Pensacola right fielder Aristides Aquino had put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-3, in the third inning when he scored on catcher Adrian Nieto’s ground ball to Jacksonville first baseman Taylor Ard. Ard threw to Jumbo Shrimp shortstop Yarbrough to get Pensacola Jagielo out at second. But Yarbrough’s throw to first base glanced off the glove of Jacksonville starting pitcher Chris Mazza, allowing Nieto to reach third base where he was stranded.
The Blue Wahoos lead the game, 3-0, after the first two innings but Jacksonville right fielder John Norwood hit a three-run homer to left to tie the game, 3-3. Norwood has nine homers this season, which is fourth in the Southern League.
Century Man Charged With Attacking Girlfriend, Drug Possession
June 3, 2017
A Century man was jailed recently on a drug charge and for assaulting his girlfriend.
An Escambia County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck near the intersection of Lake Street and Old Flomaton Road in Century due to an inoperable tag light. The deputy reported discovering 22 grams of marijuana in the truck, along with a bong used for smoking marijuana, homemade nunchucks, metal knuckles and two knives .
Elisha Tyquan Hunt, 23, was charged with marijuana possession and arrested on an outstanding warrant for battery.
The battery warrant was issued after Hunt allegedly attacked is girlfriend last Demcember. Hunt allegedly attacked his girlfriend of two years, punching her in the eye with a closed fist. She was transported ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital for treatment.
Hunt was booked into the Escambia County Jail for battery and possession of marijuana. He was late released on a $1,000 bond.
School, Economic Development Get Special Session As Scott Signs Budget
June 3, 2017
After reaching an agreement with legislative leaders to boost money for public schools and to back plans for economic-development and tourism funding, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed an $82 billion state budget and called lawmakers back for a three-day special session to complete the deal.
“I think this is going to be good for job creation and I think it’s going to be good for education,” Scott said, following a press conference at Miami International Airport with Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes.
Each leader will get something from the deal, which will be completed in a special session that begins Wednesday.
Lawmakers have agreed to create an $85 million “Florida Job Growth Grant Fund,” which will provide money for infrastructure and job-training efforts. Scott had requested $85 million for business incentives that would go through the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida, but the House refused to go along with spending money on incentives.
Another concession to Scott will be $76 million in funding for the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida. Lawmakers had cut the funding to $25 million in the budget passed last month.
Funding for public schools in the deal will go up by $215 million, enough to provide about a $100-per-student increase in the 2017-18 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The budget approved last month had only a $24.49 per-student increase.
Also as part of the agreement, Scott is expected to sign two education bills, passed in the 2017 session, that are important to Corcoran and Negron.
One (SB 374) contains most of the higher-education policy initiatives supported by Negron, including block tuition for state universities, a new oversight board for state colleges and a cap on enrollment in state college baccalaureate programs.
The other bill (HB 7069), which is backed by Corcoran, would expand the use of charter schools in Florida and provide bonuses to high-performing teachers and principals.
Scott, however, deflected questions on the House bill.
“We’re still reviewing (HB) 7069 but I believe that we’re on a pathway to have a very good special session,” Scott said. “I am going to work to make sure that everything we do is good for all students.”
To set up the special session, Scott signed the new budget (SB 2500), while vetoing $410 million in spending and projects. He said the vetoed funding was “more than sufficient” to pay for the school funding, tourism and economic development increases.
In a more extraordinary move, Scott vetoed the entire $20 billion K-12 funding program in the budget, which will require lawmakers to pass a new bill next week with the $100-per-student increase. It was a move supported by teachers, school boards and superintendents, who called the original funding increase inadequate.
It’s the first time in 34 years that a governor has rejected the Florida Education Financing Program, commonly known as FEFP, since Bob Graham’s veto in 1983.
Scott declined to veto another portion of the budget related to state college funding, meaning those schools may have to live with a $30 million cut in remedial education. Scott promised to seek a funding increase for the state colleges during the 2018 regular session, which begins in January.
The agreement ended a bitter feud between Scott and Corcoran, the House leader, over economic-development and tourism funding. While Corcoran criticized a $1 million promotional contract with rapper Pitbull and likened economic incentives to “corporate welfare,” Scott toured the state labeling Corcoran and other House members as “job killers.”
Scott downplayed those differences on Friday.
“I appreciate the fact that people fight for what they believe in,” Scott said. “I think often what happens at the end of that discussion … you end up with a good product.”
Negron and other Senate leaders emphasized that they had supported Scott’s call for increased school funding and economic-development and tourism funding from the beginning of the 2017 session.
“It’s a shame the House wouldn’t negotiate during the regular session,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, tweeted. “Now we have to spend $60-70k a day on a special session.”
Corcoran said Friday’s agreement showed “you can have leaders with competing opinions and still compromise to meet common goals.”
Corcoran won concessions that the Visit Florida would be held to higher accountability standards and that the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund would not be specifically targeted at individual companies.
“It’s truly a model for the rest of the nation wrestling with ending corporate welfare,” Corcoran said.
Controversy will continue over the charter school legislation, which is not part of the special session but drew fresh condemnation on Friday from Democrats and some public-school advocates.
“To pretend this newest backroom deal will help public education in our state is laughable,” said House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa.
She said the charter school legislation creates “a $140 million slush fund for private charter school operators in exchange for an $85 million slush fund for corporate welfare.”
Legislative leaders said they may add medical-marijuana legislation to the special session agenda, if they can resolve differences over the number of dispensaries that would be allowed to distribute the drugs. Voters approved a medical-marijuana constitutional amendment in November.
“We still want to try to get something resolved next week,” said Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. “If we cannot, I don’t know that waiting a month or two is going to make a difference.”
by Lloyd Dunkelberger and Dara Kam