Molino Utilities To Upgrade Water Main On Portion Of Highway 95A
July 31, 2016
Molino Utilities is set to replace and upgrade just over a mile and a half of water main along Highway 95A.
Bids are currently being accepted for the project that will include the installation of 8,340 linear feet of 8-inch water main from Meharg Road to Casey Lane. The project will also include fire hydrant installations and connections to existing portions of the water system.
Bids on the project are set to be opened on Thursday morning.
Last December, Molino Utilities received a $165,000 grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board to replace aging and undersized water lines with upgraded water mains and structures.
The funding was awarded as part of a competitive grant program to help local governments and non-profit utilities address local water supply challenges and meet regional water supply protection and management needs.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Parties Are Over; Real Politics Begin Now
July 31, 2016
The intramural infighting is finally over. For some, the close of the Democratic National Convention this week, following on the heels of the Republican Party’s spectacle, marks the true advent of the presidential campaign season, where, once again, Florida will be front-and-center in the race for the White House.
Appearing onstage Thursday night, Democrat Hillary Clinton made history as the country’s first female presidential nominee. No wonder, then, that the convention was situated in the City of Brotherly Love, just steps away from the home of flag-sewer Betsy Ross and amidst a cornucopia of monuments demarcating the birth of a nation united against tyranny.
But the Democrats’ love-fest wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Clinton wrapped up the political pageantry Thursday with an hour-long speech calling for unity, days after her party’s chief was forced out over leaked emails that came as no surprise to Clinton’s onetime opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
And, juxtaposed against the Philadelphia fanfare, Florida Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson faced increasing pressure to step away from a U.S. Senate primary after his ex-wife accused him of years of domestic abuse.
Without doubt the concatenation of events involving U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who stepped down as Democratic National Committee chairwoman over the weekend, and Grayson may have pricked a pin in the Democratic party bubble.
But the Dems’ overarching theme, a call-to-arms to defeat GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump that was punctuated throughout the four-day event, reflected a sentiment perhaps best expressed by Philadelphia icon Benjamin Franklin, who might be forgiven for the Old World phrasing.
“We must hang together, gentlemen … else, we shall most assuredly hang separately,” Franklin, the inventor, philosopher and statesman said.
UNITED WE STAND
After two fractious weeks in Cleveland and Philadelphia, the final night of the Democratic convention Thursday strove for unity that has eluded both parties, calling on preachers, immigrants and others to vouch for Clinton and to level withering criticism at Trump.
It was a calculated attempt to try to capitalize on one of the most unusual election seasons in recent American history, one overwhelmed by the bombastic personality of Trump, a real-estate mogul who upended the Republican establishment.
Accepting the Democratic nomination Thursday, Clinton spoke for nearly an hour, reminding the audience of her accomplishments in a political career that has spanned a quarter-century as first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state. Clinton conceded that some voters still feel like they don’t know her.
She laced policy prescriptions with personal anecdotes and criticisms of Trump. At the same time, she tried to cast herself as a candidate of unity in a divided America.
“I will be a president for Democrats, Republicans, independents; for the struggling, the striving, the successful; for all those who vote for me and for those who don’t — for all Americans,” she said.
Doubts about Trump were also on display in some of Thursday evening’s most theatrical moments. Through the final day of the convention, Clinton’s campaign tried to balance promoting a progressive message that would appeal to Sanders’ supporters with inching onto Republican turf left open by the unconventional campaign of Trump.
Retired generals and Republicans, including a former official in the administration of President Ronald Reagan, a conservative icon, hammered away at Trump’s proposals and called for the country to unite around Clinton. That amplified a speech Wednesday night by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has spent parts of his life as a Republican, Democrat and independent.
Democrats clearly hoped that message would contrast with the Republican National Convention, which featured vivid displays of a rift within the party and a hard-edged take on Clinton.
But for all the efforts to promote the idea of unity in Philadelphia, delegates to the convention didn’t deny that there were still divisions in the party — at least in the hours before Clinton’s speech. A small number of Sanders delegates were still wary of the nominee, supporters of both candidates said.
Protests and chants by Sanders supporters were audible almost from the beginning of the convention and continued through Clinton’s speech, though it wasn’t clear how many of the attempted interruptions Thursday night came from dissatisfied Sanders voters.
Some Sanders delegates staged a walkout Tuesday to demonstrate their unhappiness with Clinton’s nomination and the primary process that led to it.
“There’s still bitterness, and people have not come to the table,” said Florida state Sen. Audrey Gibson, a Jacksonville Democrat who supported Clinton. “I think it’s a small minority. … It’s not going to keep Hillary from winning the election.”
SUNSHINE STATE HOME-GIRL HECKLED
Four years after the 2012 party convention marked a highlight of Wasserman Schultz’s career, this year’s gathering proved to be a low point, with the Florida congresswoman stepping down as party chairwoman, getting booed in front of her home-state delegation and being pushed off the convention stage entirely.
Wasserman Schultz, a former state legislator from Weston, was tripped up after leaked internal party emails raised questions about her impartiality in the presidential primary between Clinton and Sanders. The emails are believed to have been obtained by Russian hackers.
At a breakfast meeting of the Florida delegation on Monday, some Sanders supporters shouted “Shame on you!” at Wasserman Schultz, while her supporters chanted her first name. The congresswoman tried to put a brave face on the intense interest surrounding her decision to resign as party chair, reportedly under pressure.
“I can see there’s a little bit of interest in my being here,” she said. “I appreciate that interest. And a little bit of interest from the press. But that really shows you that Florida is the most significant battleground state that will make sure that Hillary Clinton is elected president of the United States.”
Supporters of Sanders, who had been a political independent before deciding to seek the Democratic presidential nomination, believed even before the emails were released that Wasserman Schultz was unfairly supporting Clinton.
“I was shocked that Congresswoman Schultz showed up,” said Miguel Valdez, a delegate for Sanders from Florida’s 5th Congressional District. “I had thought that she would have thought better of it, but she did not.”
After the raucous appearance at the Florida breakfast, Wasserman Schultz backed off plans to gavel the convention into order Monday, apparently in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the scene. Wasserman Schultz is facing what could be a tough primary in her congressional re-election race.
In the immediate aftermath of Wasserman Schultz’s resignation as party chairwoman, Florida delegates and officials assessed the fallout.
Former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham said the loss of a party chair would not affect Florida’s profile given the state’s outsized role in presidential elections.
“I think that Florida is so important as the biggest swing state in the country … that I don’t think it will ever be characterized as anything other than a superstate for American politics,” Graham said.
PROGRESSIVES TURN ON LIBERAL FIREBRAND GRAYSON
While thousands of Democrats rallied in Philadelphia during the party convention, Grayson — in a heated U.S. Senate primary battle against fellow Florida Congressman Patrick Murphy — was fending off domestic-abuse allegations by his ex-wife.
A Politico story about the allegations appeared to rock Grayson’s campaign, leading, for example, to two progressive groups withdrawing their endorsements of Grayson, a longtime favorite of liberals. Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said in a joint release the decision was a first for both groups.
Grayson’s ex-wife, Lolita, provided Politico two decades of records to help craft a narrative alleging domestic abuse. Alan Grayson’s attorney, Mark NeJame, told WFME in Orlando that the allegations, released “on the eve of an election” were “politically motivated.”
After the allegations emerged, Grayson drew more attention because of a videotaped run-in with a Politico reporter following a Politico-hosted event Tuesday in Philadelphia.
The reporter, Edward-Isaac Dovere, had tried to stop Grayson in an attempt to get a comment on the ex-wife’s allegations.
In one video, Grayson — as he attempted to exit the event — told the reporter, “You’re getting in my way, my friend. You’re assaulting a member of Congress.”
As a number of reporters taped the encounter, Grayson threatened to hand video to Capitol police.
When asked if he was going to accuse a reporter of assault for asking a question, Grayson responded: “No, not for asking me questions, but for getting in my face and being a fool and pushing me as I am trying to leave this event.”
Grayson spokesman David Damron later released a statement contending the reporter had been advised to contact the congressman’s staff for comment.
Dovere responded in a tweet late Tuesday that “Grayson is lying: he never told me to contact staff. I have the tape!”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Democrat Hillary Clinton became the first woman in U.S. history to receive the presidential nomination of a major political party.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Let me ask you: Have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. … You have sacrificed nothing and no one.” — Khizr Khan, a father of a soldier who died in Iraq, blasting GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump for the Republican’s proposed temporary ban on immigration by Muslims like Khan.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Back To School Shopping? Print A Supply List
July 31, 2016
School starts Wednesday, August 10 in Escambia County. This year, there is a single countywide list for all elementary schools and a single list for all middle schools.
For the Escambia County Elementary School Supply List, click here.
For Escambia County Middle School Supply List, click here.
(High schools typically do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
Wahoos Fall To The Montgomery Biscuits
July 31, 2016
The Montgomery Biscuits came back from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning to beat the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, 4-3, Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium.
Montgomery overcame Pensacola in its last at bat in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Justin Williams led off with a double to center field. He then came around to score the winning run when DH Granden Goetzman bunted back to Pensacola reliever Abel De Los Santos, who threw the ball away.
The victory in the final game of the five-game series allowed Montgomery to capture the series, 3-2. The Biscuits improved 21-14 in the second half to lead the Southern League North Divison. Pensacola, dropped to 17-18 and starts a five-game series at 4 p.m. Sunday against the Mississippi Braves.
Pensacola could have won the game but had two runners thrown at home plate.
In the ninth inning, Blue Wahoos DH Eric Jagielo singled on a ground ball to center field and Brandon Dixon replaced him as a pinch runner. Pensacola catcher Chad Wallach bunted Dixon to second. Then, Pensacola center fielder Jeff Gelalich hit a line drive single to center field to Montgomery’s Braxton Lee who threw Dixon out trying to score the go-ahead run.
Again in the fourth inning, Pensacola third baseman Taylor Sparks struck out but reached first on a wild pitch and then stole his first base of the season to move to second. Blue Wahoos shortstop Zach Vincej then hit a line drive single to left field to Montgomery’s Cade Gotta, who came up throwing to Biscuits catcher Jake DePew to get Sparks out at home to end the inning.
Pensacola had gone ahead when it scored three runs in the seventh inning. The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with two out in the inning when second baseman Alex Blandino stepped to the plate and delivered a line drive single to left field to drive in Vincej and first baseman Ray Chang for two runs. Pensacola scored another run when Wallach scored on a passed ball to make the score, 3-0.
But Montgomery came right back in the bottom of the seventh. The Biscuits’ Lee came to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a ground ball to Vincej, who got the force out at second base allowing Williams to score to pull the Biscuits within, 3-1. Montgomery’s Gotta then doubled in DH Granden Goetzman and Lee to knot the game at 3-3.
All three runs were charged to Pensacola reliever Evan Mitchell, who pitched 0.2 innings.
Montgomery’s comeback victory spoiled the start by Barrett Astin. Making his seventh spot start of the season, Astin pitched a season-high six shutout innings, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out eight.
Pensacola was led at the plate by Vincej, who went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. He is now hitting a season best .359 in the month of July. Meanwhile, Blandino went 1-4 and drove in two runs to increase his RBIs to 27 this season.
Broxson, Hill Pump Big Bucks Into Local Senate Race
July 30, 2016
State Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, has loaned $50,000 to his campaign as he tangles with Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach, for a Northwest Florida Senate seat, a newly filed finance report shows.
Broxson and Hill are running in the Aug. 30 Republican primary in Senate District 1, which became open when Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, decided to run for Congress.
Neither candidate raised much money during the latest reporting period, which ran from July 9 to July 22. But Broxson put $50,000 of his own money into the campaign — matching an amount that Hill loaned to his campaign earlier in the month, according to finance reports.
In all, Broxson had raised $287,921 and made the $50,000 loan as of July 22. He had spent $198,706.
Hill, meanwhile, had raised an overall total of $113,072 and made the $50,000 loan. He had spent $130,298, according to the reports.
The winner of the Republican primary is virtually guaranteed to win the seat because the only other candidates are write-ins.
Senate District 1 includes Escambia, Santa Rosa and part of Okaloosa counties.
by The News Service of Florida
Inmate Busted For Selling Cocaine While On Work Release
July 30, 2016
An Escambia County work release inmate has been arrested for selling drugs rather than going to work.
A month-long narcotics investigation by the Escambia Count Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of 31-year old Lamarcus Brown. Investigators received information that Brown was leaving work release and selling cocaine from a home on Carey Avenue.
The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant at a home on Carey Avenue. Inside the home, they reported finding 64-grams of cocaine, paraphernalia to package and distribute cocaine, and more than $2,200 in cash.. Brown was charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies said Brown is a 14-time convicted felon that was on work release from a previous drug-related charge.
Escambia Man Gets Life For January Murder
July 30, 2016
An Escambia County man was convicted by a jury Friday of first degree murder.
The jury found David Lee Calland guilty in connection with the murder of Darel Mims on January 11, 2016. Mims was found shot in the head in his apartment at the Beauclerc Apartments located off East Burgess Road.
Calland was sentenced to life in state prison by Circuit Judge John Miller.
Two co-defendants, Jezzamay Atherton and Bryan Simmons, have pleaded to a lesser second degree murder charge. As part of their plea agreement, they were required to testify against Calland. The face maximum of life in prison when sentenced on August 23.
State, Seminoles Spar Over Card Games
July 30, 2016
Nearly a year after the expiration of a high-stakes gambling agreement, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and state regulators made pitches last week in a federal lawsuit over the tribe’s right to operate “banked” card games, such as blackjack.
The dispute involves the Seminoles’ “exclusive” right to operate banked card games at five of the tribe’s seven casinos, part of a broader, 20-year deal, called a compact, signed with the state in 2010.
The five-year agreement regarding the cards expired on July 31, but the Seminoles have continued to offer the games.
The tribe is accusing the state of failing to negotiate in “good faith” on a new agreement, and its case is centered on two types of games — controversial “designated-player” card games and slot machines that simulate blackjack — authorized by state gambling regulators at pari-mutuel facilities. The tribe contends those games violate the compact’s exclusivity provision involving banked card games.
But the state, which is asking a federal judge to order the Seminoles to stop operating the card games, insists that the blackjack-like games are, in fact, slot machines, and that the designated-player games authorized by the state do not violate the compact.
“The state of Florida cannot permit what its laws expressly prohibit. Beyond this, as a matter of fact, the games at issue are not banking games,” lawyers for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation wrote in a document filed in federal court in Tallahassee.
Florida taxpayers have paid more than $260,000 to private lawyers to represent the state in the dispute with the Seminoles.
Regulators in 2011 first approved the designated-player — also called “player-banked” — games, in which the “bank” is another player, instead of the “house.” The designated players at pari-mutuel facilities almost always are employees of third-party companies.
Under Florida law, a “banking game” is defined as one “in which the house is a participant in the game, taking on players, paying winners, and collecting from losers or in which the cardroom establishes a bank against which participants play.” Pari-mutuel cardrooms are allowed to conduct games in which players compete only against each other.
The designated-player games have become wildly popular with gamblers, and have eclipsed other types of card games at most of the state’s pari-mutuels that operate cardrooms.
After years of operating with little or no interference from regulators, the games became the focus of intense scrutiny as Gov. Rick Scott’s administration hashed out a new gambling agreement with the tribe last year.
The same day that Scott and tribal leaders signed a proposed deal in December, Department of Business and Professional Regulation investigators — who were given a template for complaints — fanned out across the state to observe the games in more than half-a-dozen facilities. Less than a month later, regulators filed administrative complaints against 17 cardrooms. Lawmakers never approved the agreement signed by Scott.
The crackdown on the designated-player card games was directly related to the compact, John Lockwood — a lawyer who represents a number of the pari-mutuels who were hit with complaints — alleged during an administrative hearing involving the Jacksonville Kennel Club, also known as bestbet Jacksonville, earlier this month.
In the administrative case and in the Seminole lawsuit, the state insists that the designated-player card games approved by regulators — which include varieties of two- and three-card poker — are legal.
And, although there have been few if any changes since the games have been in play, regulators now contend that the manner in which the card games are played violates state law.
In a footnote in the 37-page filing, lawyers for the state pointed out that “it is vital to distinguish” between poker games that comply with state law and the operation of banked card by pari-mutuels and card rooms ” who have departed from the internal controls submitted” to regulators.
“If the games are not operated in accordance with the DBPR’s regulations or the games as actually played in the cardrooms meet the definition of a banking game, then the DBPR initiates an action to enforce the prohibition on banking games,” the lawyers wrote, referring to complaints filed on Jan. 25 and noting that the state is “actively prosecuting” the complaints.
The state also maintains that it is not obligated to negotiate a new deal with the tribe because the overall 20-year compact is still in effect.
But the Seminoles allege that federal law requires the state to go back to the bargaining table.
“The state refused to participate in any negotiations regarding such games unless they were part of a renegotiation of the entire compact. It also demanded a substantial increase in the state’s revenue share as a condition of such an amended compact without specifying any new benefits for the tribe that would justify the increase sought,” the tribe’s lawyers, Barry Richard and Joseph Webster, wrote in a motion for summary judgment in June.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Voter Registration Deadline Is Monday
July 30, 2016
Florida residents face a Monday deadline to register to vote in the August 30 primary elections.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office will hold extended hours — from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. — on Monday, August 1, to allow voters to register or change parties before the book closing deadline.
Florida law mandates that registration books close 29 days before an election. New registrations and party changes must be completed and received or postmarked no later than August 1, in order for them to be effective for the August 30, election. Address changes can be made after the books close. If you are unsure of your registration status, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click Am I Registered?
Florida is a closed primary state. In a primary election, voters may only vote for candidates in their party of registration unless there is a universal primary contest, a nonpartisan contest, or other issue on the ballot.
The primary ballot will include partisan races for the U.S. Senate and many congressional and legislative seats. Also, many areas will have non-partisan local races, and voters statewide will be able to cast ballots on Amendment 4, which would give commercial property owners a tax break on renewable-energy devices similar to one given to residential property owners.
Voter turnout during the 2014 primaries was 18 percent, but Secretary of State Ken Detzner said he expects that number to be higher this year. More than 2 million vote-by-mail ballots have already been sent to Floridians.
Wahoos Beat Montgomery
July 30, 2016
All season long, Pensacola starting pitcher Sal Romano has worked hard to improve with Blue Wahoos pitching coach Danny Darwin.
That extra work paid off Friday when the 22-year-old pitched 6.2 perfect innings to help lead Pensacola to a 4-0 victory Friday over the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium. The series is now tied, 2-2, going into the final game of the five-game series Saturday.
Pensacola, the first half Southern League champions, improved its record to 17-17 in the second half. Meanwhile, Montgomery fell to 20-14 but still leads the North Division.
With two out in the seventh inning, Romano hit Montgomery shortstop Willy Adames to end his perfect game. The next batter, Biscuits first baseman Jake Bauers, singled on a line drive to right field to break up the no-hitter.
After Darwin visited the mound to calm the big righty, Romano struck out Montgomery left fielder Granden Goetzman.
Romano, rated the ninth best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization by MLB.com, struck out six batters total, which included striking out the side in the fifth inning. He didn’t walk any batters.
The last time Romano pitched a one-hitter was when he completed seven innings July 21, 2015, for the High-A Daytona Tortugas. Romano struck out six in that game, too, and walked none.
Romano improved to 4-10, winning three of his last four starts, and lowered his earned-run average to 3.98. It’s the first time his ERA fell below 4.00 since May 4
Rated the pitcher with the best fastball in the Reds system, Romano now has 106 strikeouts this season to lead the Southern League.
Pensacola reliever Carlos Gonzalez replaced Romano in the eighth inning and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one more hit to Montgomery. He earned his seventh save for the Blue Wahoos this season.
The Blue Wahoos scored two runs with two outs in the eighth inning to go up, 2-0, when Pensacola shortstop Zach Vincej doubled —his 17th of the season — to left field to drive in Ray Chang, who had doubled. The second run scored when DH Brandon Dixon reached first on an error by Adames that allowed Vincej to score from second base.
Vincej is now hitting .337 (29-86), so far, this month and has 11 RBIs in July — his highest monthly total.
Alex Blandino launched a two-run homer to center field in the top of the ninth inning to give Pensacola a 4-0 lead. It was his seventh homer this season and he now has 25 RBIs.
Pensacola did have two good chances to score earlier in the game. In the third inning, Chang came up with the bases loaded and one out and flew out to Montgomery right fielder Cade Gotta. Gotta then threw home to catcher Jake DePew to nail the Blue Wahoos’ Blandino at home.
Chang had been 3-3 with the bases loaded with a double and five RBIs when he stepped to the plate.
Again, Pensacola had runners at the corners with two outs when right fielder Jeff Gelalich doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch and Blandino walked. However, Pensacola center fielder Beau Amaral struck out to end the inning.
Montgomery starting pitcher Chris Kirsch also threw well. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out seven. He left the game in a 0-0 tie.