Photos: Century Sawmill Pageant Winners Announced
April 10, 2017
The 25th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant was held recently, sponsored by the Century Lions Club. All proceeds will go towards the purchase of eye glasses for needy children in the local tri-county area.
Overall queens, pictured top L-R were 2-5 years: Lexi Knowles, 6-9 years: Khloe Hamilton, and 10-16 years: Skylar Crawford.
Scroll down below photos for additional winners.
Toddler Miss Winners (2-3 years):
Picture above, L to R: 3rd- Mallory Marn; 2nd-Jillian Sanders; Queen-Marley Schoonover, and 1st-Lexi Knowles.
Little Miss Winners (4-5 years):
Picture above, L to R: 2nd-Abigail Hawthorn; Queen-Alydia Sutton, and 1st-Laurel Wadkins.
Young Miss Winners (6-7 years);
Picture above, L to R: Photogenic-Lexie Smith; 2nd-Kayleigh Forbes; Queen-Ansley Nowling; 1st-Khloe Hamilton; and 3rd-Jessica Pritchett.
Young Junior Miss Winners (8-9 years):
Picture above, L to R: 3rd-Jacie Himes; 2nd-Emily Brown; Queen-Lanie Stephens; and 1st-Leah Smith.
Junior Miss Winners (10-12 years):
Picture above, L to R: 3rd (tied)-Nevaeh King; 2nd-Morgan Hicks; Queen-McKenna Simmons; 1st-Bentley Glover & 3rd (tied)-Jordan Sanders.
Teen Miss Winners (13-16 years):
Picture above, L to R: 3rd-Whitney Kimbler; 2nd-Melissa Sunday; Queen-Victoria Scott; and 1st- Skylar Crawford
House, Senate Differ On ‘Stand Your Ground’ Change
April 10, 2017
The House and Senate are in a stand-off, for now, about a controversial bill dealing with “stand your ground” self-defense cases.
The two chambers have approved different versions of a proposal (SB 128) intended to shift a key burden of proof in “stand your ground” cases from defendants to prosecutors in pre-trial hearings.
As the bill returns to the Senate after the House approved its version this week, House and Senate leaders are maintaining support for their different positions.
The House wants to require prosecutors in “stand your ground” cases to overcome the asserted immunity sought by defendants through “clear and convincing evidence.” The Senate, which rejected the “clear and convincing evidence” language earlier this session, has set a higher standard known as “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“I’ve said from the beginning, if the government wants to convict you of a serious crime and send you to prison, they should have the burden of proof at every stage of the proceeding beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt,” Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, told reporters on Thursday. “It’s the highest legal standard in the world. It’s served us well. And in order for the government to prevail in the underlying criminal case they’re going to have to prove beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt. So I prefer the Senate’s higher legal standard.”
When asked if the House language could kill the bill, Negron, an attorney, replied, “It’s only week five (of the legislative session). I assume they’ll send the bill back to us, and it will be up to the senators on what they want to do. My preference would be that we stand on the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt criminal standard.”
The 60-day regular session is scheduled to end May 5.
The overall proposal, backed by groups such as the National Rifle Association and the Florida Public Defender Association, stems from a Florida Supreme Court ruling in 2015 that said defendants have the burden of proof to show they should be shielded from prosecution under the “stand your ground” law.
House sponsor Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, told reporters Thursday the clear-and-convincing-evidence threshold was a “reasonable and fair place to land” after hearing from numerous groups regarding how the 2005 law should be interpreted.
“We need to consider the opportunity for encouraging victims to come forward in those particular situations,” Payne replied when asked why he supported the “clear and convincing” language.
On Wednesday, before the House voted along party lines to support the bill, Rep. James Grant, a Tampa Republican who is an attorney, also defended the House clear-and-convincing-evidence approach.
“If the government cannot beat the lesser, easier burden in an immunity trial, then they darned sure can’t meet beyond and to the exclusion of each and every reasonable doubt when they ask for a conviction,” Grant said.
The Senate voted 23-15 to approve its version of the bill on March 15.
The “stand your ground” law has long been controversial. It says people can use deadly force and do not have a duty to retreat if they think it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.
In its 2015 ruling, the Supreme Court majority opinion — written by Justice Barbara Pariente — said immunity in the “stand your ground” law “is not a blanket immunity, but rather, requires the establishment that the use of force was legally justified.”
But a dissenting opinion, written by Justice Charles Canady and now highlighted by Republican lawmakers, countered that the majority ruling “substantially curtails the benefit of the immunity from trial conferred by the Legislature under the Stand Your Ground law.”
“The factual question raised by the assertion of Stand Your Ground immunity in a pretrial evidentiary hearing is the same as the factual question raised by a Stand Your Ground defense presented at trial: whether the evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s conduct was not justified under the governing statutory standard,” Canady wrote.
The proposed change has been opposed by Democratic lawmakers and groups such as the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, who have argued it would put an end to cases before all the facts are revealed. They also contend the “stand your ground” law has disproportionate effects on minorities, as it is used more successfully as a defense when white shooters kill African-Americans.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Escambia Students Of The Year Honored
April 10, 2017
Students of the Year were recently honored by the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs.
Every Escambia County School District school and many special centers selected a student for this honor. Students were selected for a variety of reasons from overcoming life’s obstacles, to community service, to assisting classmates. The one thing they all had in common was they each had a story that would touch a heart.
Students of the Year were:
A.K. Suter Elementary – Taylor Blaydes
Bellview Elementary – Jeremiah Spann
Bellview Middle – Leanne Grace Blake
Beulah Academy of Science – Fisher Peacock
Beulah Elementary – Joel Arenas
Blue Angels Elementary – Tristan Thomas Hargon
Booker T. Washington High – Voshon Williams
Bratt Elementary – Jake Lyndon Warner
Brentwood Elementary – Isabella Bonilla
Brown-Barge Middle – Richard Rickter
Byrneville Elementary – Meredith Johnston
C.A. Weis Elementary – Amiya Robinson
Cordova Park Elementary – Nathaneal Rodriguez
Ensley Elementary – Osvaldo Barragan-Vera
Ernest Ward Middle – Taviana Parker
Escambia Charter – Maritsa Berio
Escambia High – Joshua Dufurrena
Escambia Westgate – Elementary – Amaya Katumba
Escambia Westgate – High – Nyree Cameron Vereen
Escambia Westgate – Middle – Michael Maurice Shoemo
Ferry Pass Elementary – Hanna (Thien-Huong) Uc
Ferry Pass Middle – Zackery Causey
George Stone Technical Center – Kentrell Stewart
Global Learning Academy – Angie Cela Yac
Hellen Caro Elementary – Audrey Hausmann
Henry McMillian Pre-K Center – Jayden King
J.H. Workman Middle – Bennett Rhone
Jim Allen Elementary – Ian Swanson
Jim C. Bailey Middle – Austin Blevins
L.D. McArthur Elementary – Dolon Zachary Babcock
Lakeview Day Support – Elementary – Sean Chason
Lakeview Day Support – Middle – John Thomas Baker
Lincoln Park Primary – Travoun Collins
Longleaf Elementary – Johnathon Money
Molino Park Elementary – Dylan Wood
Montclair Elementary – Juelz Lang
Myrtle Grove Elementary – Joseph Baye
N.B. Cook Elementary – Sarah Botts
Navy Point Elementary – Leiland Remo
Northview High – Autumn Albritton
O.J. Semmes Elementary – Darius Williams
Oakcrest Elementary – Bobby Joe Hicks
Pensacola High – Emma Dinsmore
Penscola Beach Elementary – Molly Kimbrough
Pine Forest High – Allen Fink
Pine Meadow Elementary – Brianna Harris
Pleasant Grove Elementary – Adam Houston
R.C. Lipscomb Elementary – Gabrielle Halls
Ransom Middle – Ta’niya Ashuna Lewis
Reinhardt Holm Elementary – Ciara McConnell
Scenic Heights Elementary – Maria Contreras
Sherwood Elementary – Illeana Mendez
Success Academy – Elijah Deckard
Tate High – Bycari Davis
Warrington Elementary – Bernard Watts
Warrington Middle – Kassidy Tillman
West Florida High – Haley Hauck
West Pensacola Elementary – Clarissa Hinerman
Woodham Middle – Adalia Burris
Pictured top: Bratt Elementary’s Student of the Year Jake Lyndon Warner. Photo courtesy Stone Studio for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Congressman to Hold Service Academy And ROTC Nights
April 10, 2017
Congressman Matt Gaetz is hosting Service Academy and ROTC Nights in Pensacola and Crestview.
Service Academy Nights provide constituents with information regarding admission processes, Congressional Office nomination process and a chance to meet and ask questions of service academy representatives from the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and University ROTC programs.
Service Academy Nights will be held on Monday, April 17 at Pine Forest High School from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Crestview High School in Crestview from 6 to 8 p.m.
Special guest speakers include Jason Crawford of Pensacola and Retired Air Force Colonel Edward Hubbard of Fort Walton Beach.
Jason Crawford served eight years in the U.S. Army Infantry with tours in Baghdad, Bosnia, and Korea. He is currently the C.E.O. for Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems.
Col. Edward Hubbard is a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, and former Vietnam POW. Hubbard is now an internationally known speaker, management consultant, artist, and author.
For more information, please contact Communications Director, Kavontae Smalls or Deputy Director of Military Affairs, Nathan Nelson USAF Capt. (Ret.) at (850) 479-1183.
Wahoos Tie Series With Tennessee Smokies
April 10, 2017
Gabriel Guerrero always seemed to hit well against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos when he played for the Mobile BayBears.
Now, Guerrero plays for Pensacola and Sunday he had a walk-off single as the Blue Wahoos came from three runs down to defeat the Tennessee Smokies, 4-3, in front of the fourth straight sellout of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Guerrero went 3-5 at the plate, hitting a double off the left field wall on one hop and scoring Pensacola’s second run in the eighth and then hitting a bloop single to left that drove in Pensacola second baseman Josh VanMeter in the ninth.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly, who coached Gabriel’s uncle Vladimir, said after the way Guerrero feasted on Blue Wahoos pitching in the past, he’s happy to have claimed him off waivers and have him play for his team this season.
“He loves hitting in this park,” Kelly said. “We figured we should get him for 70 games instead of just 10.”
Guerrero couldn’t stop smiling after the game. With runners on first and third, Tennessee elected to pitch to him. He was looking for a fastball but hit a slider for the game-winning hit, for Pensacola’s first walk-off this season. Last year, the team had a record 12 walk-offs.
“I always hit well here, I don’t know why,” Guerrero said. “It’s always exciting to have a walk-off run. It was a good win for the team. We kept fighting. We kept doing our job. We knew something was going to fall.”
Guerrero admitted he talks regularly to his uncle, who played 16 years in the Major Leagues and won the American League MVP in 2004 when he hit 39 home runs, drove in 126 RBIs and batted .337 for the California Angels.
“He’s my mentor. He’s my leader,” the 23-year-old Guerrero said. “I respect my uncle. It’s always good to have a guy around like him to talk to. I talk to him a lot.”
The Smokies bad luck in Pensacola continued. The Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate hasn’t won a series in Pensacola since 2012 — the longest drought for Tennessee in the Southern League.
This time, Pensacola catcher Adrian Nieto pulled the Blue Wahoos within, 3-2, in the eighth inning when he lined a single to center that scored both first baseman Eric Jagielo, who was hit by a pitch, and left fielder Gabriel Guerrero, who doubled.
Nieto said the key was to stop thinking about his swing when he was up to bat.
“My first couple at bats, I was thinking about my mechanics,” he said. “I told myself, ‘Get ready. Be on time. See the ball and hit it. Put the barrel on it.”
Nieto was also involved with an odd play in the fifth inning. Pensacola shortstop Alex Blandino hit a chopper to third base with the bases loaded and the Smokies turned a double play. It appeared that Nieto had scored from third to pull Pensacola within, 3-1.
However, the umpires ruled that pinch hitter Angelo Gumbs interfered with the double play on his slide into second base. The umpires took the Blue Wahoos run off the board, putting Nieto back on third base and center fielder Brian O’Grady back on second.
Kelly got thrown out for the first time this season arguing the call.
To Kelly, one of the key’s to Pensacola’s comeback victory to tie the series, 2-2, and have a chance to win the series at 6:35 p.m. Monday, is the bullpen. Its four relievers — Alex Powers, Domingo Tapia, Ariel Hernandez and Ismael Guillon — have combined to pitch five shutout innings and strike out six.
“The biggest thing is the bullpen throwing those scoreless innings that kept us in the game,” Kelly said. “We had one bad inning (Saturday) but other than that the bullpen has been fantastic. It’s good having those guys backing up our starters.”
The Blue Wahoos relievers have allowed just three runs in 14.1 innings, not counting allowing five runs in one inning to Tennessee in Saturday’s game.
Tennessee left fielder Charcer Burks, who has feasted on Pensacola pitching batting .333 in four games, started the game by creaming a pitch to left field out of the park.
The Smokies then went up, 2-0, in the first inning when Blue Wahoos’ Nieto threw to second base trying to catch Tennessee second baseman Davis Bote stealing. But the ball glanced off Pensacola’s Blandino’s glove, allowing Tennessee third baseman Jason Vosler to score.
Tennessee added another run in the second inning when centerfielder Trey Martin walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on pitcher Preston Martin’s groundout to first base for a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, in his Double-A debut, Tennessee right-hander Preston Morrison picked up where he left off in A ball last season. He dominated.
Morrison, who Baseball America pegged as the 29th best prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization, had a no-hitter until Aristides Aquino hit an infield single to third base. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking four and striking out three.
Morrison moved up to the Smokies this season after going 13-5 with a 1.92 ERA in 26 starts and 150.1 innings in two seasons in the minors.
“We kept saying, something’s going to fall in,” Kelly said. “We said there has got to be a hole out there somewhere. If I remember, it’s the Wahoo way.”
$3 Million Highway 97A Bridge Replacement Underway
April 9, 2017
The $3 million bridge replacement project on County Road 97A over Boggy Creek near Enon in Escambia County is underway. Traffic has been moved to a temporary bridge while crews construct a new, modern bridge encompassing 12-foot travel lanes, eight foot shoulders and a solid concrete barrier railing. The bridge approaches will also be replaced. Work is anticipated to be complete in the fall of 2017, weather permitting. The bridge to be replaced was constructed in 1969. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Creek The Changed Course: Nature Class Learns About The Big Escambia
April 9, 2017
A Florida Master Naturalist conservation class learned about the Big Escambia Creek restoration project near Century last week. The class was presented by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist. The class is an adult education program created by the University of Florida/IFAS intended to promote awareness and understanding of Florida’s unique environment.
Big Escambia Creek is a major tributary of the Escambia River located approximately 29 miles north of Escambia Bay. Over 30 years ago conditions along the lower reaches of the creek changed when a sand mining operation digging too close to the creek combined with an intensive rainfall event caused the creek to change its course and follow the path of least resistance through the sandpits. Since the creek changed its course, the estimated 900 acres of wetlands in and around the old creek channel now had no base flow and were reverting to an upland type habitat. In addition, tons of sediment began to flow downstream into the Pensacola Bay System.
A $7.7 million project was implemented to eliminate the delivery of the sediment and to restore the productivity of the floodplain by diverting the creek back into its original channel. Construction on the project began in 2003 and was completed in 2005.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Public Meetings This Week
April 9, 2017
Here is the schedule of public meetings for Escambia County this week:
Monday, April 10
Technical Coordinating Committee, 4081 E. Olive Road, Suite A, 8:30 a.m.
Citizen’s Advisory Committee, 4081 E. Olive Road, Suite A, 10:30 a.m.
Marine Advisory Committee Meeting, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11
Mass Transit Advisory Committee Workshop, 3363 West Park Place, Room 112, 8:30 a.m.
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate, 3363 West Park Place, 1:30 p.m.
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority Public Hearing, 700 S. Palafox St., Suite 310, 4:30 p.m.
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority Meeting, 700 S. Palafox St., Suite 310, 5 p.m.
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, 420 W. Chase St., 5:30 p.m.
District 3 Town Hall Meeting, 3363 West Park Place, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12
Transportation Planning Organization, 3363 West Park Place, 9 a.m.
Development Review Committee, 3363 West Park Place, 1 p.m.
Santa Rosa Island Authority Board Meeting, 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach, 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 13
Attorney/Client Session – Brumley v. Escambia County, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 8:30 a.m.
Board of County Commissioners Committee of the Whole, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 9 a.m.
Wellness Committee Meeting, 4th Floor Training Room, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 2:30 p.m.
Benefits Committee Meeting, 4th Floor Training Room, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, April 14
County Offices Closed – Good Friday
Escambia County Names New Human Resources Director
April 9, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners welcomes Eric Kleinert as the new Director of Human Resources, joining Escambia County from Carmel, Indiana, where he most recently served as the human resources director for the Indiana Department of Transportation. Kleinert’s responsibilities with Escambia County will include supervising the Human Resources Department, mentoring and evaluating staff, advising the county administrator on the needs of the department and representing the department before the board of county commissioners. Kleinert’s first day with Escambia County was Friday.
Kleinert graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Master’s Degree in human resources management and from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s Degree in political science. With 20 years of experience in the field of human resources, Kleinert has also earned his Senior Professional in Human Resources certificate from the HR Certification Institute and Senior Certified Professional certificate from the Society for Human Resources Management.
As the director of human resources for the Indiana Department of Transportation, Kleinert served more than 3,500 employees, directing a human resources team working in affirmative action, benefits, disability, employee relations, leave administration, recruiting and workers’ compensation. Prior to his position at IDOT, Kleinert was the human resources director for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles from January 2014 to June 2015, serving approximately 1,750 employees. Kleinert has also served as the human resources director for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the regional human resources director for the Indiana Department of Corrections.
Kleinert grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana, and became interested in human resources while working at a temp agency shortly after graduating college. Kleinert said he was drawn to the way human resources could impact and support an organization, and he soon entered the field through an entry-level HR position.
The prospect of becoming Escambia County’s human resources director interested Kleinert not only because of the county’s mission and values, but also because of the area’s attractive lifestyle. Kleinert’s wife, Melanie, and two daughters, Gabi and Madi, will be relocating along with him.
“I think it’s a combination of the opportunity to continue in public service as well as the quality of life in the county,” Kleinert said. “We’ve visited the county several times over the past 15 years, and it’s an area we targeted as a place we’d like to relocate to.”
In his new position as the county’s human resources director, Kleinert said he plans to take time to analyze any HR-related issues in Escambia County and develop relevant, timely and sustainable solutions as needed, operating under what he calls a “coaching” management style.
“It’s adaptable based on the employee,” Kleinert said. “I will push employees in certain situations and challenge them to grow. In others, it will be hands-on, especially as they’re new to processes, and try to grow them in a more applied manner.”
Kleinert said he’s looking forward to continuing the county’s human resources mission while supporting the mission and vision of the board of county commissioners.
“It’s something that I can relate to,” Kleinert said. “The fiscal responsibility, the commitment to customer service – in my current organization, those are some of our core values, as well.”
Wahoos Drop Second In A Row
April 9, 2017
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos took a short-lived, 2-1, lead in the first inning of Saturday’s game when Devin Mesoraco blasted his first homer in two seasons out of Blue Wahoos Stadium into Pensacola Bay.
However, the Tennessee Smokies regained the lead in the second inning and Smokies pitcher Trevor Clifton set down the next 13 Pensacola batters he faced, as Tennessee went on to a 9-2 victory in front of the third straight sellout crowd of 5,038.
The two-run shot by Mesoraco also scored Pensacola shortstop Blake Trahan, who had walked. It was Mesoraco’s first home run since Sept. 23, 2014 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mesoraco, an All-Star catcher with the Reds in 2014, is playing in Pensacola as part of his rehabilitation from two hip surgeries and a shoulder surgery that limited him to play just 39 games with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015 and 2016.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly pointed to his bulletin board where he pinned the schedule for Mesoraco’s playing time. By the middle of next week, the Reds’ want him to play in back-to-back 9-inning games. He played six innings in the Blue Wahoos’ season opener, sat out the second game, and was pulled after 7 innings Saturday.
“They don’t let me make those decisions,” Kelly said, chuckling.
Mesoraco impressed him with his long ball in the first inning.
“He hit that ball good,” Kelly said. “We talked earlier in the day at batting practice and he’s still not feeling comfortable yet. But he jumped all over that 3-1 fastball. He’s knocking that rust off.”
The Blue Wahoos stayed within two runs of Tennessee until the sixth inning when the Smokies sent nine batters to the plate and broke out with five runs.
The big hit in the inning came from Tennessee first baseman Yasiel Balaguert who with two outs and the bases loaded hit a sizzling ground ball past the shortstop into centerfield that made a close 4-2 game, 6-2, as both pinch hitter Ian Rice and left fielder Charcer Burks scored. Balaguert was 2-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs.
“Offensively, this lineup is going to hit,” Kelly said. “It just takes time. We got some power. We’re going to hits some home runs.”
Kelly expects one of the Blue Wahoos’ power hitters, Aristides Aquino, who hit 23 homers last year to get on track. Aquino is 0-11 after getting a hit in his first at bat Thursday that drove in a run.
“He’s going to show us why he’s so highly rated,” Kelly said confidently of Aquino, the sixth ranked Red’s prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Tennessee scored in the first inning to go up 1-0, when Burks started the game with a double. He then scored when second baseman Davis Bote hit a sharp grounder down the right field line.
After Mesoraco’s two-run bomb, the Smokies came back with two more runs in the second inning when catcher Cael Brockmeyer doubled and scored on a triple by shortstop Andrew Ely, who smacked a line drive into the left center gap to tie the game 2-2. Ely then scored when Tennessee righty Clifton singled up the middle to give Tennessee a 3-2 lead.
Making his Double-A debut Clifton, who MLB Pipeline ranks the seventh best prospect in the Cubs organization, retired the next 13 Blue Wahoos hitters until first baseman Angelo Gumbs smacked a line drive single to right center in the fifth inning. Clifton was named High-A Carolina League Pitcher of the Year after going 7-7 with a 2.72 ERA for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and holding hitters to a .225 average.
He finished the game allowing just two hits and two runs in five innings, while walking one and striking out four.
“In that first inning, we needed to take advantage of him,” Kelly said. “He started getting his breaking ball over and seemed to settle in.”
Pensacola right-hander Keury Mella also made his Double-A debut Saturday. The 23-year-old Mella, who is the No. 19 ranked prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, also lasted five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four. After giving up three runs in the first two innings, Mella threw better, blanking the Smokies and limiting them to two hits, one walk and striking out two over the next three innings.
“Those last three innings, I thought he threw fairly well,” Kelly said.