Sunshine And Warming For The Remainder Of The Week
May 19, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Leslie Mason, Jr.
May 19, 2021
Leslie Mason Jr, age 86 formerly of Pensacola and current resident of Miramar Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on May 16, 2021. Funeral Services will be held 2 p.m., Monday May 24, 2021, at Eastern Gate Funeral Home with Pastor Ricky Peebles officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens with a reception to follow.
He was born on February 15, 1935 in Canoe, Alabama. He is preceded in death by his parents Leslie and Dillie Ann Mason and sister Frances Mason Brewton. He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 64 years Dolores, his three children Anita K Fee, Vernon Keith Mason and Kevin Gregory Mason (Laura Balters), brother Billy Mason, sisters Mary Helen (JW Thomley), Monettie Bethea, Virginia (Jerry) Dunn, Barbara (Thomas), Noel, Thelma and (Ralph) Wilson and brother in law Harvey Brewton. Together, Les and Dolores had 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Les was a professional truck driver of 44 years. Upon retirement, he and Dolores began a new chapter of their adventurous lives by making an RV their new home. For the next 16 years, Les and Dolores were able to visit all 50 states and the Canadian provinces.
Les and Dolores loved working in RV campgrounds across the country and genuinely enjoyed interacting with all the guests. As recently as November 2020, Les was working in the family campground up in Pigeon Forge, TN where he had an uncanny way of making everyone smile.
Escambia Records One New Death, 25 Additional COVID-19 Cases
May 19, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
There was one new death and 25 new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday in Escambia County by the Florida Department of Health.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,406 (+25)
Non-Florida residents: 3,692
Recovered: 33,875*
Total deaths: 698 (+1)
Long-term care facility deaths: 288
Current hospitalizations: 42 (+3)
Number of tests reported last day: 683
Percent positive reported last day: 3.4%
Percent positive reported last week: 5.0%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,291 (+18)
Cantonment: 3,272 (+5)
Century: 1,185
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 494
McDavid: 214
Bellview: 59
Walnut Hill: 58 (+1)
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,378 (+13)
Non-Florida residents: 261
Total deaths: 291
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 912*
Number of tests reported last day: 418
Percent positive reported last day: 2.6%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,765 (+7)
Navarre: 3,783 (+2)
Gulf Breeze: 3,381 (+1)
Pace: 1,506 (+2)
Jay: 556
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,296,785
Florida residents: 2,253,896
Deaths: 36,227
Hospitalizations: 93,388
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Burdick Leads Blue Wahoos To Extra Innings Win Over Trash Pandas
May 19, 2021
After a disappointing offensive series against Birmingham, Blue Wahoos outfielder Peyton Burdick hoped his perseverance would finally yield results.
It certainly did Tuesday night.
Burdick produced three hits, but none bigger than his game-deciding double in the 10th inning, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the season’s first walk-off celebration at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Burdick began his big night with a first inning, solo home run that was a no-doubter, even into the strong wind blowing in from the bay.
“You go up there every day, you keep working,” said Burdick, after being doused with a water bucket by teammates near second base. “That’s the name of the game in baseball, you gotta keep working. You never know what day is going to be your day.
“It is a great feeling, especially when you get off to a slow start. A day like today. For sure boosts your confidence and gets your head back a little bit.”
The game also treated a crowd of 3,001 to a duel by two of baseball’s top pitching prospects, both of whom excelled through the first half of the game. The series’ opener was a homecoming for Rocket City manager Jay Bell, the former Tate High star from decades ago, who had an 18-year distinguished career in the Major Leagues.
The Blue Wahoos’ Max Meyer, the Miami Marlins’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, made his third start resemble his pro debut May 4.
Meyer went six innings for the first time, giving up no runs, five hits, nine strikeouts and just one walk in 84 pitches. It was a rebound from his start in the team’s home opener May 11 when he yielded five runs in a 6-1 loss against Birmingham.
“I was able to rely on my slider a lot more and when I feel I have that pitch down, the game works pretty easy for me,” Meyer said. “I felt good out there. I have to improve on some fastballs. But I was happy with what happened today.”
Meanwhile, Rocket City’s Reid Detmers, the No. 10 overall pick in 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, after a stellar career at Louisville, settled into a shutout groove after allowing Burdick’s homer and an RBI ground out in the first inning.
Meyer spent some time last week on the mound before a Blue Wahoos practice with coaches surrounding him to work two of his pitches.
“The bullpen session helped me get used to the (stadium) mound a little bit better and I was able to figure out my offspeed pitches and we worked on fastball grip,” Meyer said.
The game went into the ninth with the Blue Wahoos holding a 2-0 lead before tough luck ensued. The lead evaporated on a two-out, two-run double by Rocket City’s Ibandel Isabel off closer Colton Hock to tie the game.
But with JJ Beleday on second to start the bottom of the 10th, in baseball’s new extra-inning format, Burdick smashed a fastball into the right center gap to end the game.
“I was waiting for that curve ball to come and he threw me a heater (fastball) with 2 strikes and I hit it the other way,” said Burdick, who finished 3-for-5. “It felt pretty good getting it on the barrel.”
Prior to the game, the Crestview High band entertained fans outside the main gate and performed the National Anthem.
The six-game series with the Trash Pandas, relocated to the Huntsville, Ala. area, after being the Mobile-Bay Bears for 20-plus years, will continue through Sunday.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos Senior Writer
Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Northview, ECHS, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian
May 19, 2021
The Atmore Rotary Club has named 160 area high school students as Academic All-Stars.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the in-person ceremony could not be held this year, and students were mailed a recognition packet.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year.
The Rotary Club is presenting over $25,000 in scholarships this year to 37 Seniors. Each four-year Senior Academic All Star will receive a scholarship for $1,000. The seniors who have been an Academic All Star for three years will receive $700, two year seniors will receive $600, and one-year seniors will receive $500. The program excludes Northview students that are full-time dual enrolled.
Those honored as Atmore Rotary Club Academic All Stars were:
(Four-Year Academic All-Stars are denoted with asterisks.)
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
9th Grade
Rabekah Danielle Abbott
Raegan Michelle Abbott
Kendall Anne Alvare
Sarah Elaine Bailey
Doria Beach
Kendal Brooke Beasley
Chloe Faith Criswell
Riley Elizabeth Dawson
Carsyn Laine Dortch
Austin David Dunsford
Mayson Claire Edwards
Brandon Lee Ferguson
Raleigh Sienna Gibson
Kaylie B Glick
Maggie Rose Godwin
Makayla Jane Golson
Kylie Breann Grantham
Madalyn Marie Grimes
Ava Kate Gurganus
Berklee Savannah Hall
Leah Kathryn Hetrick
Meredith Makenzie Johnston
James Judson Lee
Sarah Kate Long
Leila Ann Mason
Caden Thomas Mills
Chloe Layne Morris
Jackson Johnny Mac Parker
Evin Taylor Pedicord
Cody Tyler Pugh
Chloe Adele Ragsdale
Daniel Tyler Riggs
Wyatt Alexander Scruggs
Dequan Rashad Shabazz
Mandell Levan Smith
Skyler Marie Williams
10th Grade
Clayton Mitchell Allen
Leah Kalyn Anderson
Terrell Luke Bridges
Ethan Scott Collier
Presley Sharee Dortch
Drake Allen Driskell
Logan Taylor Faith
Emma Sage Gilmore
William Cross Goslee
Gabriel Kohle Harigel
Shelby Lynn Kent
Trent Austin Knighten
Emily Grace Levins
Sarah Kennedy Long
Bayllon David Matson
Megan T McGhee
Ruth Nicole Mobley
Elianna T. Morales
David Kaden Odom
Cameron Riley Partrick
Rustin Kyle Pope
Chase Randal Pugh
Leila Katherine Sanders
Simeon Sanders
Dustin James Santinelli
Alana Shelly
McKenna Rae Simmons
Jessica Faith Stabler
Audrey Michelle Stuckey
John Michael Ward
Preston Clay Wilson
Charles Michael Wood
Blake Richard Yoder
11th Grade
Anna Faith Adams
John Blake Bashore
Hunter Shane Borelli
Shelby Nicole Cotita
Miyhanna Patrice Davidson
Casandra Lynn Davis
Kaitlin Hope Gafford
Jonathan Thomas Gibbs
Holley Danielle Gilley
Jason Zane Gurganus
Sarah Margaret Hetrick
Jesse Allen Hughes
Grayson Elizabeth James
Ethan Riley Kilburn
Taylor Lynn Levins
Dallon Thortis Rackard
Sarah Jane Sconiers
Jordan Alise Stanley
Mia Rain Starns
Madison Victoria Watson
12th Grade
Maggie Lauren Amerson ****
Madelyn Brooke Berry
Sehoye Rose Buckley
Naudia Briana-Nicole Carach
Alexis Madison Fleming
Amber Marie Gilman ****
Leia Madison Grantham
Heather Lashea Knowles ****
David Allen Lamb ****
Abigail Lynn Levins
Meredith McKinley McGhee ****
Taheya Lee McGhee
Karelis Jadelynn Morales
Madyson Shai Moye
Jalexis Sy’Rai Robinson
Michael Jerome Sanders
Leah Faye Wood
Lillian Joan Worden
ESCAMBIA ACADEMY
9th Grade
Patrick Byrd
Eli Covington
Timmy Doerr
10th Grade
Abby-Kate Helton
11th Grade
Braden Crysell
Emma Hall
Brady Howell
Jamison Janes
Christopher Long
Ja’Daniel Nettles
Landon Sims
Jadon Stevens
12th Grade
Jeb Black
Randal Bonds
Lillian Bonner
Daughtry McGhee
Rubye Nix
Disha Patel ****
Joshua Spruill
Gabrielle Williams
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
9th Grade
David Bouler
Evereona Jackson
10th Grade
Shamirica Rankins
Summayah Tolbert
Carmelo Turner
11th Grade
La’Asia Henderson
Charity James
Zahria McCants
Aniya Stots
Sheldon Williams
12th Grade
Destiny Brown
Samantha Forkins
Brianna Morrow
Madison Simmons ****
Mia Simmons ****
ATMORE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
9th Grade
Emmett Battles
Brooklyn Hursh
Dexter Smoker
Elizabeth Terry
Helen Weber
10th Grade
Elliott Classen
Claire Girby
Sydney Mast
11th Grade
Caeden Battles
Titus Dean
Gage Gades
Joanna Jernigan
12th Grade
Harleigh Crumbly
Morgan Jury
Micah Mast ****
Mia Morris
Reese White
Megan Wilson
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Jay Beats Wewahitchka In State Semifinal
May 18, 2021
The Jay Lady Royals beat Wewahitchka 7-2 Tuesday afternoon in the 1A state semifinal in Clermont. The head to the state championship Wednesday against the winner of this afternoon’s Branford vs. Trenton game. Pictured: The Jay Lady Royals after their regional win last week. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Critically Injured In Crash Trying To Pass Another Vehicle On Jacks Branch Road
May 18, 2021
A Milton woman was critically injured when she lost control of her SUV while passing on Jacks Branch Road Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 30-year old woman was traveling north on Jacks Branch Road at River Annex Road when she attempted to pass another vehicle. She ran off the roadway, hit a trashcan and lost control of her SUV. The vehicle rolled several times on the shoulder of the roadway.
The adult female was airlifted by MedStar Air Care helicopter to an area hospital.
FHP no longer releases the name of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Shed In Cottage Hill
May 18, 2021
Fire destroyed a storage shed in Cottage Hill Tuesday morning.
The approximately 500 square foot shed was involved in fire and had already collapsed when firefighters arrived behind a home in the 800 block of McKenzie Road about 7:45 a.m.
There were no injuries reported, and there was no word on the cause of the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Smoke In Century Nursing Home Forces Evacuation
May 18, 2021
Smoke in a Century nursing home forced a partial evacuation of the facility Tuesday morning.
Fire alarms at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center sounded about 6:40 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the 88-bed facility to find smoke in a back hallway.
The source of the smoke was believed to be the HVAC system. At least some of the residents were evacuated to the outdoors as firefighters worked to determine the cause.
There were no injuries reported.
The Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Atmore Fire Department, Pace Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS were among those dispatched to the scene. Some of the fire units remained on scene until about 8:30 a.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Tom Thumb Closed Temporarily After Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19
May 18, 2021
The Tom Thumb in Molino is closed for a few days after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee notified Tom Thumb of their positive test result, and the store was closed early Monday afternoon for cleaning and sanitizing by an industrial cleaning crew.
“The store will re-open in the next few days. We are grateful to all our customers for their patience and understanding during this time,” a Tom Thumb spokesman said in statement to NorthEscambia.com. “We are making every effort to provide the affected team member and our broader team with the necessary resources and support.”
The company said the store’s employees have been contacted and advised to follow CDC recommended guidelines.
Pictured: The Tom Thumb at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo.