Rain Chances Up To Begin The Week; Drier By The Weekend
May 22, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Memorial Day: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Bratt Elementary School Recognizes Students Of The Month
May 22, 2023
Bratt Elementary School recently recognized their Students of the Month with a pizza party and storytime. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
May 22, 2023
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for April. They are Lauren Watts and EJ Bryant, Jr.
Gas Prices Decline As AAA Says 2.1 Million Floridians Prep For Memorial Day Road Trip
May 22, 2023
Florida gas prices are still declining as nearly 2.4 million Floridians prepare to travel for Memorial Day weekend. According to AAA’s holiday travel forecast, more than 2.1 million Floridians will take a road trip.
Florida gas prices have declined 31 cents per gallon over the course of the past 30 days. During the past week alone, the state average declined 7 cents per gallon.
On Sunday, Florida drivers paid an average price of $3.41 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average was one of the lowest in the state at $3.21. In North Escambia, a low price of $3.12 could be found on Highway 29 in Cantonment. In Pensacola, $2.91 was available at the warehouse clubs, and several other stations were below $3.
“It’s looking like Florida drivers will spend a dollar per gallon less for gasoline than they did last Memorial Day weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The state average should trickle even lower this week. However, even if pump prices do suddenly rise this week, it’s unlikely it’d be by a large enough margin that Floridians would change their plans, since most travel plans have already been finalized by now.”
Tate High’s Jay Davis Signs With Coastal Alabama
May 22, 2023
Tate High School’s Jay Davis recently signed with Coastal Alabama East to continue his athletic and academic career. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Where Emergency Care Begins: It’s EMS Week In Escambia County
May 22, 2023
It’s Emergency Medical Services Week in Escambia County.
The county commission issued a proclamation designating the week recently. EMS Week was first established by President Gerald Ford in 1974 . This year, Escambia County will be celebrating EMS Week with the theme, “Where Emergency Care Begins.”
“Our team continues to meet the challenges of the ever-increasing demand placed on Emergency Medical Services,” said EMS Chief David Torsell III. “The tireless effort of our EMTs and Paramedics is a testament to the dedication they provide to the citizens of Escambia County every day.”
Last year, Escambia County EMS responded to 74,060 calls. That’s an average of about 8.5 calls per hour, 24 hours a day for 365 days.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos End Series With 3-1 Finale Win Over Smokies
May 22, 2023
On their Throwback Sunday, the Blue Wahoos returned to a narrative that’s worked well in the past.
They got solid starting pitching, put together just enough runs, then had their bullpen show its winning depth in the Blue Wahoos’ 3-1 victory against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With closer Sean Reynolds earning his league-best seventh save, thus pounding his glove in delight after recording the final pop out, this win enabled the Blue Wahoos (25-13) to gain a split in the six-game homestand with the Smokies and increase their first-place lead to five games in the Southern League South Division.
A crowd of 4,202 took a cue from famed organist Nancy Faust, who worked 41 years and missed just five games as the iconic Chicago White Sox entertainer. They clapped and sang along with her various medleys as the Blue Wahoos took a 3-1 lead in the fifth and played good defense the rest of the way.
Faust got one of the loudest cheers when announced for a final time in the ninth inning.
Pensacola’s winning inning occurred in a strange way. After J.D. Orr led off the fifth inning with a walk, José Devers laced a one-out single. Dane Myers drew a walk and Victor Mesa Jr. battled his way with foul balls and good takes to draw a bases-loaded walk to score Orr.
Troy Johnson then took a curveball in the back to force in the third run. A double-play ball by Will Banfield ended the inning with the 3-1 lead. The Blue Wahoos got their first run when Dane Myers tripled home José Devers in the first inning.
The Blue Wahoos had numerous other scoring chances in the game, but couldn’t break it open.
But their pitching Sunday was outstanding against the Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate and North Division leaders.
Blue Wahoos righthander M.D. Johnson, making his second start of the week, grinded through four innings. He gave up a leadoff walk against Andy Weber, who came around to score the game’s first run on two-out single by Cole Roederer.
But the rest of the way, Johnson found a way to get through innings.
He threw 82 pitches, yielded three walks and struck out five in those four innings. His best inning was his final one when he gave up a leadoff single, then a walk, but retired the next three batters with a pair of strikeouts and inning-ending flyout.
Cristian Charle and Josan Méndez followed with three scoreless innings of relief. They combined to allow just one hit and had a trio of strikeouts.
That set the table for Reynolds to finish the game and seal the win.
The Smokies had just four baserunners in the final five innings.
Following the game, as is customary on Sunday, children were able to run the bases and families played catch in the outfield.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before embarking on a two-week road trip to face the Mississippi Braves and Biloxi Shuckers.
The series against the M-Braves begins on Tuesday at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. The Blue Wahoos’ ace Patrick Monteverde (5-0, 1.29 ERA) is the scheduled starter against the M-Braves Luis De Avila (1-3, 4.00). The teams will play through Sunday, May 28.
After a rough start, the M-Braves (16-21), the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A affiliate, have turned things around. They were 7-3 in their last 10 games entering Sunday. It will be the Blue Wahoos’ first of two trips this season to Pearl, Miss.
Following that series, the Blue Wahoos will travel to Biloxi, Mississippi to face the Biloxi Shuckers for six games beginning on May 29.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
James (Pud) Benjamin King, Jr.
May 22, 2023
James (Pud) Benjamin King, Jr., passed away on May 16, 2023, at the age of 65. James was born December 3, 1957, in Atmore, AL, to James King, Sr. and Ruby Scott King of Molino, FL. James graduated from Tate High School in 1975. He was employed at the local paper mill for 38½ years.
His career at the paper mill was his passion, but outside of work, there were three things he always enjoyed doing. Catfishing, dove hunting and watching the weather channel on two different TVs, at the same time. He was always quick to call friends and family to warn them of impending bad weather.
James is preceded in death by his father and mother, James and Ruby King.
James leaves behind his daughter, Christa (Will) Wilson; grandchildren, Jordan Jade and Cooper Gage Wilson; three brothers, Larry, Frankie and Guy King; three sisters, Catherine Wilson, Marie (Tootie) Faircloth, and Daisy (Merlene) Bruce; numerous nieces, nephews, countless friends, coworkers and people that were very special to him. Also his beloved companion, his cat, Chevy.
Funeral Service will be Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Pastor John Daniels will be officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 until the service. Interment will be in Pine Barren Creek Cemetery.
Pallbearers in attendance will be Will Wilson, Conrad Micari, Stephen Perry, Jasey Gibson, Mark Lewis, Dustin Gibson, Greye Rynders and Michael Faircloth.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home Nort is entrusted with arrangements.
Flomaton Man Charged With Trafficking Meth Into The Escambia, Florida Jail
May 21, 2023
A Flomaton man was charged with allegedly introducing a trafficking amount of meth into the Escambia County (FL) Jail.
Caleb Eli Turk, 31, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and introduction of a controlled substance into a detention facility.
Turk was arrested in Florida on an outstanding warrant from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama. He was searched and transported by a Florida deputy to the jail in Pensacola.
The deputy notated that Turk was fidgeting on the left side of his body during the transport. At the jail, the deputy again asked if there was “anything on him”, but he replied “no”, according to an arrest report. A jail corrections officer found a plastic bag containing 21.4 grams of meth concealed in his waistband, the report states.
Turk’s bond on the Florida charges was set at $15,000. He remained in the Escambia County (FL) Jail awaiting extradition.
Good Rain Chance For Monday
May 21, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the evening.
Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87.