Johnston’s Late Heroics Lead Wahoos To Third Straight Win
July 21, 2023
Troy Johnston had scorched pitches in two previous at-bats, only to come up empty on great defensive plays.
But he didn’t get disappointed the third time he made great contact.
Johnston hit a towering, eighth-inning shot that struck the left-field wall for a go-ahead, run-scoring double, then Jefry Yan followed with another impressive close for his second win as Pensacola beat the Rocket City Trash Pandas 4-3 on Mullet Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In transforming to their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets, the Blue Wahoos continued their amazing three-year success against the Trash Pandas. This was their 13th consecutive home win against Rocket City, the Los Angeles Angels affiliate, located in Madison, Alabama near Huntsville.
The Blue Wahoos won all six meetings in 2022 against the Southern League North Division team, after claiming the last four games at home in 2021. The teams meet just once at each ballpark this season.
Rocket City had just tied Thursday’s game on Jeremiah Jackson’s 3-run homer in the top of the eighth against Pensacola reliever Josan Méndez.
Prior to that inning, Mullets starter Jonathan Bermudez had produced his best start of the season. He worked six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits with just one walk and eight strikeouts. Included in his performance was pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.
With two outs, he struck out Jackson on a high fastball, then thew a slider down low to strikeout Orlando Martinez to end the inning and his outing.
Pensacola catcher Bennett Hostetler helped provide run support with two solo homers in the third and fifth innings that were both moon shots toward the water beyond left field. After Hostetler hit his leadoff shot in the third, Dalvy Rosario went back-to-back with a blast over the left-center wall.
That 3-0 lead from four hits through seven innings had Pensacola in good shape.
In the bottom of the eighth, Cody Morissette led off with a walk. He then showed his baserunning skills by never hesitating and making a perfect slide to avoid a tag on Johnson’s double for the go-ahead run.
In the ninth, Yan walked the leadoff batter, then struck out the next three batters with a pair of fastballs and a curve to end the game. He has become the team’s go-to closer following Sean Reynolds’ call-up to Triple-A Jacksonville. Yan is 2-1 with a 1.97 ERA to go along with his eight saves.
The Blue Wahoos will try to clinch the series when the homestand continues on Friday.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Audrey Ledkins
July 21, 2023
Audrey Ledkins, age 75, of Poarch, AL passed away on July 20, 2023 in Atmore, AL. She was born on June 10, 1948 in Walnut Hill, FL to William Carmel and Addie Cook Bartley. She was of the Pentecostal Holiness faith and retired from Vanity Fair Corporation. She is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, William Bartley and Jerry Bartley, and three sisters, Verna Semora, Myrt Mallis and Norene Hall.
She is survived by her children, Timothy John Pearson (Jennifer Colbert) of Bratt, FL and Michelle Qualls of Atmore, AL; special nieces, Addie McGhee (Jamie Mondaca), Emily Craft and Mary Ann Hadley; her brothers, Michael (Annie Mae) Bartley of Loxley, AL and Kenny (Cindy) Bartley of Stockton, AL; her sisters, Luvenia Phillips of Mobile, AL, Mary Hodges of Mobile, AL, Carol Collier of Mobile, AL, Reetha (George) Thomley of Tensaw, AL, Emma Hadley of Atmore, AL, Yvonne (Terry) McGhee of Poarch, AL and Pamela Richardson of Atmore, AL; her grandchildren, Blake Pearson, Micah Herrington, and Taylor Qualls along with many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Pine Barren Baptist Church Cemetery in Davisville, FL.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.
Fire Started In A Grill Before Igniting Home, Boat And RV, ECFR Says
July 21, 2023
Investigators said a grill next to home started a blaze that destroyed a home on Chemstrand Road Wednesday evening.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire about 6:20 p.m. in the 10000 block of Chemstrand Road. They arrived to find most of the structure engulfed in flames, along with a boat and RV.
There were no injuries reported.
ECFR said a grease fire in a grill adjacent to the home caused the structure fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cigarettes In Trash Can Blamed For Cantonment House Fire That Displaced Four People
July 20, 2023
A discarded cigarette is being blamed for a fire that displaced four people Thursday in Cantonment.
The fire on Pauline Street at the corner of Old Chemstrand Road was reported at 11:12 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find fire showing from the home.
According to Escambia County Public Information Officer Davis Wood, the cause of the fire was determined to be discarded cigarettes in a trash can at the rear of the home.
There were no injuries reported.
The American Red cross is assisting the four occupants.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Da’Quavion Snowden Found Guilty Of Ladarius Clardy Murder
July 20, 2023
Da’Quavion Snowden was found guilty Thursday of the July 2021 murder of 18-year old Ladarius Clardy.
Snowden, 23, was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and attempted first-degree premeditated murder for the death of Clardy and injuring 19-year-old Eric Young. He will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Clardy, a former standout Pine Forest High School quarterback, was found shot dead in a vehicle crash about 1 a.m. on July 1, 2021. His vehicle was found with over 50 bullet holes in a ravine. Authorities say the murder was a case of mistaken identity. Young was also shot in the incident and survived.
Da’Quavion Snowden’s brother Amos Dehontiquan Snowden, Jr. is awaiting trial in the case and is due back in court in late September.
Charges in the case were dropped against Timothy Donaill Knight, Terrell Taquez Parker and Kobie Lashun Jenkins, Jr. due to a lack of evidence.
Chumuckla Man Murdered By His Cousin; Strangled And Ran Over By A Golf Cart, SRSO Says
July 20, 2023
A man was killed Wednesday evening in Chumuckla by his cousin, according to authorities.
Robert Patrick Jernigan, 53, is in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond on a charge of homicide.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a death investigation Wednesday evening in the 1800 block of Schnoor Road at Chumuckla Springs Road.
Deputies arrived to find Stephen Lee Jernigan deceased. According to an arrest report, Robert Jernigan choked the victim and ran over him with a golf cart. Stephen Jernigan was found dead under the golf cart by his wife.
The report states it was the first time Robert Jernigan had been to the home in about six years. The wife told authorities that the men were arguing downstairs before going outside the home. It was about 45 minutes later that Stephen Jernigan was found deceased.
.
Over Two Dozen North Escambia Roads Set For Resurfacing. Here’s The List.
July 20, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has approved the resurfacing of over two dozen roads in District 5, and over a dozen more will be considered at an upcoming commission meeting.
This week, the BOCC approved funding to resurface:
- Becks Lake (portion)
- Bentwood Lane
- Beulah Road (portion)
- Bocage Road
- Booth Avenue
- Calico Drive
- Callan Way
- Croquet Drive
- Destrehan Road
- Equestrian Way
- Hamilton Crossing Drive
- Homeland Avenue
- Jonah Avenue
- Mintz Lane
- Mustang Drive
- Pace Parkway
- Park Lane East
- Park Lane West
- Parlange Circle
- Pine Street
- Risen Drive
- Rocky Avenue
- Saddle Drive
- Streetirrup Drive
- Tara Road
- Wegner Avenue
The following District 5 roads will be considered at the August 3 commission meeting:
- Balboa Road
- Desoto Road
- Highway 196 (29 to 95A)
- Isabella Road
- Madrid Road North
- Madrid Road South
- Navarro Road
- Perdido Road
- Plaza Road
- Rittenberry
- San Carlos Road
- Santa Carlos Road SE
- Santa Rosa Road NE
There is no timetable yet available.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Mostly Clear, Mid 70s Tonight
July 20, 2023
Another heat advisory is in effect with heat index values (the “feels like” temperature) expected to range from 107-110 degrees on Frida.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 110. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Century Council President Says He Won’t Check If Meetings Were Legally Noticed
July 20, 2023
Following the cancellation of July’s first public meeting due to a probable Sunshine Law violation, the president of the Century Town Council says he will no longer bother to check and see if a meeting has been correctly noticed under Florida’s Sunshine Law.
“I think everyone in Century knows what time when we have the meeting,” council president Luis Gomez, Jr. said.
The council’s July 5 meeting has halted because the town’s public notices did not include the time of the meeting as required.
Beginning with meetings in February 2023, a standard notice for regular meetings and bill review meetings had been posted on a bulletin board outside town hall providing dates but no times. Sometimes an adjacent notice was posted with times, but those notices repeatedly had meeting dates listed as being in 2022, making the notice appear outdated.
One of the few members of the public at Tuesday’s council meeting took issue with Gomez and the lack of required public notice.
“There are new people coming into Century, every month, every week; I am one of them,” resident Evelyn Deterville said. Recently married, she was an unsuccessful candidate (Evelyn Webber) for a council seat in the March 2023 special election. “For those of you that have been here for a long time, you’ve got to keep in mind this city has grown, this town has grown. So I would like for you to continue to get the word out…When I talk to people and tell them about the council meeting, different things that’s going on, they ask me when it is, where it is also.”
“Everybody that lives here knows. Now, I agree, new people that come to Century, they’re going to have to get it just like everyone else,” Gomez said. “If there’s a problem and you actually want to attend, you would put in a little effort to find out when the meetings are.”
Gomez then proceeded to “say it for the record in an open meeting” the days and times.
The council president then said going forward he will skip the standard agenda opening item to confirm that a meeting was properly advertised. “I’m not going to do that to halt business and slow up the time in these meetings ever again for the rest of the year to December.”
“You can call and ask when the meetings are,” he said. “It’s on our agenda, but I’m not going to do that (check for proper public notice) because I will no longer let this council be your topic of discussion on nobody’s newspaper, blog or whatever. We’re missing the town’s business because of this.”
Florida’s attorney general says every meeting, each and every one, must be noticed with date, time and place — “Notice is required even though meetings of the board are “of general knowledge” and are not conducted in a closed door manner”.
The Florida Attorney General’s “2023 Government in the Sunshine Manual” states that:
- “The notice should contain the time and place of the meeting and, if available, an agenda, or if no agenda is available, a statement of the general subject matter to be considered.
- “The notice should be prominently displayed in the area in the agency’s offices set aside for that purpose, e.g., for cities, in city hall, and on the agency’s website, if there is one.”
Town Clerk Leslie Howington said the meeting notice is only being posted at the town hall and website.
“It’s not the council’s place to publicize the meeting; it’s the town hall’s meeting,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said. “The council members do not send out advertisements for the meetings. It’s the town hall, in the office. That’s where it starts.”
Pictured: Century council president Luis Gomez, Jr. reviews agenda items Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cotton Lake, Bluff Springs Recreation Sites Reopened
July 20, 2023
The Northwest Florida Water Management District has reopened two recreation sites in the Escambia River Water Management Area that had been closed due to flooding.
The Bluff Springs and Cotton Lake sites are now open.
The Cotton Lake and Bluff Springs recreation sites have reopened after a temporary closure due to flooding on the Escambia River. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.