County Waives Noise Ordinance For Event At Molino Bar
June 20, 2016
The Escambia County Commission has voted to approve a limited waiver of the county’s noise ordinances for an outdoor event at a Molino bar.
Th event honoring returning veterans and the July 4 Independence Holiday is planned for 10 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, July 2 at Louie’s Tavern in the 200 block of Molino Road. The all-day event will include live music in the evening.
The Building Inspections Division will issue a Special Event permit for the exemption. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will be notified that the waiver was issued.
Driver Flips Pickup Truck Off Bridge
June 20, 2016
One person was injured when he flipped his truck off the Eleven Mile Creek Bridge on East Kingsfield Road late Sunday morning. After being extricated by firefighters, the driver was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola area hospital. The driver’s name and condition have not been released. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County FFA Students Receive State FFA Degrees
June 20, 2016
A dozen Escambia County FFA members received their coveted State FFA Degrees last Friday during the 88th Florida FFA Convention in Orlando. The State FFA Degree is highest honor bestowed upon any regular member of the Florida FFA Assocation.
2016 State FFA Degree recipients from Escambia County Schools were:
Northview High School: Kaitlyn Nicole Kleinatland, Bethany Cheyenne Reynolds, Haylee Alease Weaver, Courtney Bryce Weekly.
Tate High School: Owen Phillip Carter, Rachel Joy Grammer, Heath Haydon Herndon, Bricen Trace Iannone, Victoria Lynnne Kent, Patra Nicole Miller, Michael Austin Rising
West Florida High School: Miranda Marie Vidak
Pictured above and below are FFA members from Escambia County at the 88th Florida FFA Convention in Orlando last week, including those from Northview, Tate and West Florida high schools and Ernest Ward Middle School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century $400K Grant Recognized In Brownsfields Redevelopment Forum
June 20, 2016
Nearly 70 representatives from local government and engineering and environmental consulting firms joined state and federal experts to learn more about the economic and environmental benefits of Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program.
During the forum, the town of Century was recognized for its recent selection by EPA to receive $400,000 in brownfields assessment grants. These funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments within the town of Century and the neighboring town of Flomaton, Ala. After the assessment phase, grant funds will also be used to prioritize the sites, develop cleanup plans and conduct community outreach activities. This will pave the way for the former hazardous waste and petroleum sites to become safe and environmentally sound locations for redevelopment, providing economic benefits for these communities.
“The Brownfields Redevelopment Program provides incentives to help revitalize communities and foster economic development,” said Joe Ullo, director of DEP’s Division of Waste Management. “It is an honor to not only recognize the town of Century for their success on obtaining the brownfields assessment grants from EPA, but also to be a part of educating our communities about these programs that empower communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and reuse properties previously impacted by pollutants.”
Through economic and regulatory incentives, the Brownfields Redevelopment Program encourages the restoration and redevelopment of contaminated sites, which helps create new jobs and boost the local economy. For the program’s incentives to be available to a community, a local government must designate a brownfields area by resolution.
“It is a priority for DEP to focus taxpayer resources on projects that provide a direct benefit to the environment and local communities, and the Brownfields Redevelopment Program is designed to do just that,” said Shawn Hamilton, director of DEP’s Northwest District. “Utilizing these incentives, our local communities can redevelop unused properties to meet local needs. We have seen many successful brownfields redevelopment projects in Northwest Florida and this annual forum encourages continued success.”
As of 2015, statewide, there have been 404 Brownfield Area Designations, 258 Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreements and 88 Site Rehabilitation Completion Orders issued since the program’s inception in 1997. More than $155 million has been invested in Florida’s communities through this program.
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
June 20, 2016
The driver of a Toyota Tacoma was injured when he lost control and ran off the roadway on Annie Bell Driver near Jacks Branch Road in Cantonment. He was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. There were no other occupants in the truck. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Vehicle Fire Extinguished Before Home Is Damaged
June 20, 2016
Firefighters were able to extinguish a vehicle fire early this morning before it spread to a nearby home. The Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze in the 5900 block of West Nine Mile Road in the the Crystal Lake Mobile Home Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gun Sales Soar After Orlando Shooting
June 20, 2016
Gun sales have dramatically increased in Florida in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub that left 49 people dead and dozens wounded.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement ran 9,854 background checks Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on people hoping to buy firearms, more than double the 4,468 during the same time frame in 2015. Another 3,956 background checks were conducted Wednesday, according to state numbers. Also, gun ranges and businesses offering concealed-weapons classes said they are seeing a spike in business.
“Anytime there is a tragedy around the United States, where people perceive that had they been armed they could have made a difference, it increases our feeling of vulnerability,” said Charlie Strickland, co-owner of the Talon Training Group gun range in Tallahassee. “In our country, you’ll see a corresponding increase in the purchase of firearms and an increase in training.”
Last year, more than 885,000 background checks were conducted for gun purchases in Florida, a record number. The state is on track to break that record in 2016, as month-to-month background check comparisons show an increase for every month when compared to the same time in 2015.
Pensacola First Half South Division Champions
June 20, 2016
On Father’s Day, Eric Jagielo had his dad, Steve, in the stands watching him play.
He treated his dad to one of the best Father’s Day gifts possible by hitting a walk-off single with two outs that hugged the third base line and bounced over the third base bag, scoring Pensacola second baseman Brandon Dixon for a 2-1 victory over Mobile.
Not only did his dad celebrate but the 18th sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium went wild. The Blue Wahoos went wild after the game mostly spraying each other with about three dozen bottles of iced champagne.
Jagielo came in for Kyle Parker to play first base in the ninth inning. He came to the plate hitting .198 before the game-winning hit that upped his average to .202.
“My dad was in the stands on Father’s Day,” Jagielo said. “I just let my instincts take over as who I am as a baseball player. I’m not going to say it’s a storybook ending but it left a good feeling for the entire day.”
The Blue Wahoos improved Sunday to 41-29 – the most victories by Pensacola in a half in its five-year history. The Blue Wahoos were also perfect at home winning all seven series.
Meanwhile, Biloxi lost the opening game of a doubleheader, 2-1, against the Jacksonville Suns, so Pensacola knew it won the division crown in the bottom of the first inning. The Shuckers finished 39-30, 1.5 games back of Pensacola.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he preferred winning it the “Wahoo Way” as his players have dubbed it. It means winning on a walk-off hit, which Pensacola has done in five of the last 10 games and they tied the club record with seven walk-offs on the year.
The win was even more special to Kelly, he said, because they won the division by earning a victory.
“This team just finds ways to win,” said Kelly, who was drenched with champagne by his players, while conducting an interview with the media on the field. “We’re not doing anything all game but we stay close and have a chance to win in the ninth. We turn it on in the last three innings.”
It was a not-so-secret secret that the Blue Wahoos had won their second straight South Division title with players giving each other high fives and hugs in the dugout near the beginning of the game. The team broke the news in the middle of the eighth inning to the Pensacola fans by projecting “South Division Champions” on the scoreboard. The sold out crowd gave the team a loud standing ovation.
Like it has done a lot lately, Pensacola tied the score, 1-1, when left fielder Tony Renda hit a high pop up half way between third base and left field near the line. Mobile shortstop Ildemaro Vargas and left fielder Cody Regis collided and the ball dropped to the ground. Neither Vargas or Regis moved to pick up the ball as Renda raced around the bases for an inside the park home run. It was his first homer of the year for Pensacola.
It was his first inside the park home run since T-ball, said Renda. His .326 average gave him the Southern League first half batting crown.
“It was always drilled into me to run hard because you never know what’s going to happen,” said Renda, who has hit in 20 of his last 22 games at a .413 clip. “I thought, ‘You know, you should run. I saw them both lying on the ground. It was good.”
The Southern League All-Star added, “It’s fun. One of the best feelings you can have is cold champagne running down your back. What a way to win the game.”
The BayBears led, 1-0, in the second inning when Vargas doubled in the right center gap with two outs and then scored on catcher Ronnie Freeman’s bloop single.
Pensacola also got a quality start by Nick Travieso, who was the Blue Wahoos opening day starter. Travieso threw six innings, giving up one earned run on three hits, two walks and struck out two. He lowered his ERA to 4.91, which is below 5.00 for the first time since May 28.
Travieso said he’s been working hard with Pensacola pitching coaches and in the weight room to get back to his form that made him the Cincinnati Reds’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014.
“In the second inning, I saw the guys celebrating,” Travieso said. “I knew I had a job to take care of. I wanted to come in and win it. We have a bunch of guys who are hungry.”
The ever-popular Ray Chang made his second appearance in a game in June in the sixth inning. He walked and hit an infield single to shortstop. He also showed flashy fielding in the hot corner picking up a slow roller with his bare hand in the seventh inning to get the speedy Mobile shortstop Ildemaro Vargas. In the eighth inning, Chang back handed a hard hit grounder behind the third base bag and robbed a hit from first baseman Kevin Cron.
Asked which division title was more fun, Chang hesitated. It was his second game in a row that he’s played this month. He said he had the jitters just like he did when he played his first game ever.
“Probably the second time,” said Chang. “You kind of know what to expect. I don’t know. It’s a tie. It’s awesome.”
Unemployment Rate Drops In North Escambia
June 19, 2016
The latest job numbers released show the employment rate falling in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, while inching upwards in Alabama.
Escambia County’s seasonably adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.7 percent in April to 4.4 percent in May. There were 6,188 people reported unemployed during the period. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 5.7 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment decreased from 4.2 percent to 4.0 percent from April to May. Santa Rosa County had a total of 2,905 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 4.8 percent.
In Escambia County, Alabama, unemployment increased slightly from 6.0 percent in April to 6.3 percent in May. That represented 928 people unemployed in the county during the month. One year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County, Alabama, was 7.0 percent.
Florida’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.8 percent in April to 4.7 percent in May, with the new rate representing an estimated 457,000 people being out of work, according to state Department of Economic Opportunity figures released Friday. The numbers reflect a projected 16,000 fewer people qualified as unemployed from April to May, while the workforce of 9.8 million has shrunk by 30,000 in the same time. The state unemployment mark now matches the federal rate, which dropped from 5 percent to 4.7 percent between April and May.
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 6.1 percent in May, was unchanged from April’s rate of 6.1 and was also unmoved from the year-ago rate of 6.1 percent.
The jobless numbers released by Florida and Alabama do not include persons that have given up on finding a job and are no longer reported as unemployed.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Birthday Party Held For Rescue Horse
June 19, 2016
Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment held a 32nd birthday party for Sky, their second rescue horse, and an open house event on Saturday.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
