Oliver Howard Lowery, Sr.
May 21, 2023
Oliver Howard Lowery, Sr., 74, of Cantonment, Florida passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023. He was born in Winnfield, Louisiana on August 25, 1948 to the late John Lowery and Gladys Paul Lowery.
Mr. Lowery worked as a pipe surveyor for 20+ years. He also worked for Dollar General and Walmart before retiring. He enjoyed playing and winning chess!
He is preceded in death by his sons, Lavelle Lowery and Timmy Lowery.
Mr. Lowery is survived by his wife of 12½ years, Linda Shirley Lowery; son, Oliver H. Lowery, Jr.; daughter, Tracy Lowery; numerous grandkids; step-children, Priscilla Rawls, Mikee Moss, and Jeanette Hodge; and numerous step-grandkids and step-great grandkids.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Pensacola’s Comeback Foiled In 13-6 Loss To Tennessee
May 21, 2023
The Blue Wahoos are now on the wrong kind of streak.
After this week started with a pair of wins and a club-record 10-game winning streak, the Tennessee Smokies won their third in a row Saturday by answering the Blue Wahoos’ comeback attempt with a pair of 3-run homers in the eighth inning of a 13-6 blowout win.
A sellout crowd of 5,038 became energized when the Blue Wahoos rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the fifth inning and had a tying run thrown out at the plate to end the sixth inning.
The intrigue continued into the eighth.
That’s when the Tennessee Smokies Haydn McGeary blasted a first-pitch fastball from reliever Austin Roberts into the right-center berm for a 3-run homer.
The ball’s flight immediately had reliever Roberts kicking the mound in disgust.
The decisive moment then got worse for the Blue Wahoos (24-14) when reliever Zach Willeman gave up a walk, a single and second 3-run homer of the inning, this one by Bradlee Beesley, who went 2-for-3 in the game and scored four runs. The Smokies (21-17), leaders in the Southern League North Division, had 11 hits as every batter reached base.
But most of the crowd stayed around for the attraction of post-game fireworks presented by Navy Federal Credit Union.
Following the show, more than 130 Scouts of America youths, along with parents and scouting leaders, were part of a sleepover night at the ballpark.
Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer sustained his worst outing this season. He did not make it out of the second inning. When he was lifted with two outs, the Smokies already had a 5-0 lead.
Fitterer threw 69 pitches, only half for strikes, as he struggled with location unlike any prior start. The righthander yielded a season-high five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
In four prior starts, the 22-year-old Fitterer had allowed just five runs combined and recorded three consecutive wins in joining the team from High-A Beloit Sky Carp. He gave up four hits or fewer in each of those Pensacola starts.
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth inning, the Blue Wahoos started their comeback with Griffin Conine’s RBI single.
Troy Johnston then smashed a 3-run homer in the fifth inning, part of a night when he went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.
Will Banfield homered to lead off the sixth inning. Nasim Nuñez drove home Bennett Hostetler with a RBI single. Nuñez was later thrown out at the plate trying to score on Dane Myers’ hit. Nuñez went 2-for-5 and was among seven Blue Wahoos batters with at least one hit.
All of that led into the eventual eighth inning when the Smokies blew open the game.
The Blue Wahoos will now hope to salvage a split in the 6-game series when closing the homestand Sunday afternoon against the Smokies.
M.D. Johnson (0-1, 3.67), who began the week Tuesday with a solid start (6 innings, 3 runs), returns to the mound for a repeat against the Smokies, who will throw Porter Hodge (0-3, 5.47) for a second time.
The game will also feature renowned baseball organist Nancy Faust, who performed 41 years for the Chicago White Sox beginning in 1970, and is considered a pioneer in game entertainment. She will be performing on the concourse behind home plate with the same kind of vintage organ she used at Comiskey Park.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
May 21, 2023
Tate High School recently named their Students of the Month for March. They are Trey MacWhinnie (pictured left) and Caroline Paravicini. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Alice Pierce
May 21, 2023
Alice Pierce, 88, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on May 11,2023. She was born in Camden, Alabama on May 24, 1934 to the late John Warren and Mary Ella Walker Rayborn.
She was a long-time member of Atmore Church of Christ and Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Alice had a steady hand and was an avid seamstress for Vanity Fair in Atmore, Alabama until retirement. She also enjoyed gardening, playing slot machines and spending time with her loving family.
She is preceded in death by sons, John Daniel Pierce and Dane Lamar Pierce; grandsons, Dane Lamar Pierce Jr. and Douglas Glenn (Bubba) Pierce and former husbands Irby Powell and Rubin Pierce.
Alice is survived by her daughters, Angie (Johnny) Edwards and Allison Mills; sons, Glen Pierce, Tom (Tammy) Pierce and Kenneth “Toby” (LeAnn) Pierce; thirteen grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Gene Hudson officiating. Burial will follow in Whitmire Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Anthony Pierce, Kris Pierce, Adam Edwards, Tyler Pierce, Torka Mills and Connor Powers.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
FPL Seeks Slight Rate Decrease By July
May 20, 2023
Florida Power & Light customers could see a small decrease in their bills beginning in July.
The utility submitted a Florida Public Service Commission proposal on Friday seeking to reduce the fuel cost portion of bills by a total of $256 million reflecting continued downward revisions in projected natural gas costs for 2023 after last year’s high levels.
FPL customers in Northwest Florida using a 1,000 kilowatt hours average would see their bill drop from $158.86 in May to $154.91 in July. In the rest of the state, FPL customers will see their rates for 1,000-kilowatt hours drop from $139.95 to $136.
“This is more positive news for our customers,” said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of FPL. “We know that every dollar counts for our customers, and we are pleased to propose another rate reduction.”
Mental Health Task Force Releases Findings
May 20, 2023
Friday, the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida released its report of finding and recommendations.
The task force comprised a diverse group of over 100 participants, including front-line workers, community service organizations, religious groups, first responders, hospital administration and CEOs, judges, city council members, county commissioners, state legislators, and state agencies.
The reports are available at mentalhealthtaskforce.org.
“Now, the focus shifts to the crucial stage of implementing these recommendations,” Rep. Michelle Salzman said.
Scattered Pop-Up Storms Will Be The Weekend Norm
May 20, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 86.
Molino Man Prefiles For Escambia School Board District 5
May 20, 2023
A Molino man is the first person to prefile for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County School Board.
Scott Taylor prefiled Friday with the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
Tate High’s Frankie Randall Signs With Coastal Alabama
May 20, 2023
Tate High School’s Frankie Randall has signed with Coastal Alabama South to continue his athletic and academic career.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnston Homers As Blue Wahoos Fall 5-1 To Smokies
May 20, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Cubs prospect Jordan Wicks in a 5-1 loss to the Tennessee Smokies in front of a sellout crowd on Friday night.
Troy Johnston’s solo home run in the fifth inning was the lone bright spot for the Blue Wahoos, who have now lost back-to-back games for the first time in almost a month.
The Smokies took an early lead against Pensacola starter Luis Palacios (L, 1-1) with an RBI single from Pablo Aliendo in the second inning and a solo homer from Chase Strumpf in the third. Palacios allowed two runs in 5.0 innings, departing with a 2-1 deficit.
Nelson Maldonado added some insurance for Tennessee with a two-run double against Dylan Bice in the sixth inning, and BJ Murray closed out the scoring with a solo home run against Brady Puckett in the eighth.
Pensacola threatened in the eighth and ninth, but couldn’t chip away at the deficit. Ben Hecht (S, 2) wriggled out of a jam in the ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos