Tate Cheer’s Paige McKinney And Landry Bellard Sign With Troy University
May 19, 2023
Tate High School seniors Paige McKinney and Landry Bellard have signed to continue their cheerleading careers with Troy University.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Pickup Truck In Molino
May 19, 2023
Fire destroyed a pickup truck Thursday in Molino.
The pickup truck was fully involved when Escambia County Fire Rescue arrived on Highway 95A near Bet Raines Road. Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control with no damage to other vehicles or structures.
There were no injuries.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Late Rally Falls Short As Pensacola’s Win Streak Snaps At 10
May 19, 2023
The Blue Wahoos had their franchise-record streak end Thursday, but not without suspense.
After trailing 5-0 into the fifth inning, Pensacola produced a 3-run rally in the seventh and had a chance for a walk-off rally in their final at-bat before the Tennessee Smokies held on for a 5-4 victory, halting a 10-game win streak that stretched into a third week.
Playing as the Pensacola Mullets and wearing their specialty uniforms on Mullet Thursday, the home team fell into an early hole, but rallied against the Smokies bullpen.
The game’s biggest moment was a near-miss shot by Victor Mesa Jr. With two outs and the tying run on third, Mesa Jr. launched a ball into the right-center gap that appeared to have a chance for a home run.
But Smokies right fielder Owen Caissie made a sensational catch against the wall to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, another chance ensued when Bennett Hostetler led off with a walk. J.D. Orr was unable to bunt him over and popped out. Smokies reliever Riley Martin then struck out Nasim Nuñez and Troy Johnston to end the game.
But the Blue Wahoos (24-12) had a memorable stretch of games where they swept a road series for only the second time in franchise history and eclipsed a win streak of eight games set three times in team history.
Blue Wahoos newcomer Jonathan Bermudez, making his first start this year since being signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26, struggled in his Pensacola debut.
Bermudez struck out the first two batters he faced, then allowed a walk before getting out of the first inning.
The second inning, however, wasn’t so clean. He walked two of the Smokies’ (19-17) first three batters. With two out Caleb Knight laced a pitch to right field. The Blue Wahoos’ Griffin Conine made a sliding attempt to keep the ball in front, but it bounced away allowing two runs to score.
The Smokies had their first two batters on second and third base in the fourth inning when Bermudez was lifted for reliever Josan Méndez. He gave up an RBI double to the next batter, but got out of the inning without worse damage.
The Smokies then took a 5-0 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth against Méndez.
Griffin Conine got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to begin the bottom of the fifth.
The Blue Wahoos began their seventh inning rally when Hostetler walked and Orr singled. Nuñez drove in a run and Johnston had a sacrifice fly RBI. Dane Myers then hit a shot back at the mound, off the pitcher’s leg and the errant throw allowed another run to score.
The fourth game of this series begins the weekend set on Friday.
The Blue Wahoos’ Luis Palacios (1-0, 9.00 ERA) will make his second start since joining the team a week ago from the Beloit Sky Carp, as part of the movement when Eury Pérez went to the Marlins. Palacios pitched twice last year for the Blue Wahoos.
The Smokies will start their top pitcher, lefthander Jordan Wicks (2-0, 2.67), rated the Chicago Cubs’ No. 5 overall prospect.
First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Termite Damage And Rot May Force Century To Replace Historic Community Center
May 18, 2023
Just over a year ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $3.255 million to the Town of Century to renovate two community centers.
Now, it appears one could be razed and replaced with a new building.
Just under $2 million was designated to renovate the historic Carver Community Center at 7040 West Jefferson Avenue. The former school building was constructed in 1945.
But time and termites have taken an obvious toll on the wood building, which sat empty, neglected and unmaintained for years by the Escambia County School District. The school district just recently transferred the title to the Town of Century.
Ben Townes of Ben Townes of Townes + Architects said two engineering firms recently inspected the building. They found no asbestos, but that was the only good news. What they found was lead paint and plenty of structural damage from termites and water.
“In essence, the entire building is covered in lead-based paint,” Townes said. “It adds a lot of cost to a project to have to deal with lead-based paints. It’s very hazardous and especially with children.”
He said the bottom plates of the building — essentially the bottom section of walls where studs are attached — are 70% missing or have termite damage, and there is extensive rot or termite damage to the remainder of the building. Townes said all total, the damage would exceed over 50% of the value of the building. In addition, the structure will not support the capacity required by code.
His cost estimate for just the repairs was at over $2.4 million plus $853,000 to mitigate hazards such has lead. At over $3.2 million, that exceeds the $2 million in grant money.
But for about $2 million a new structure, he said, could “pay homage to the existing building for a little less cost and at the end of the day have a really adequate facility for your use”. It could look almost identical to the old structure.
“If it gets torn down, I want some guaranteed, rock-solid evidence that it is going to be put back,” Council President Luis Gomez, Jr., said. “I want to make sure it gets put back.”
“You can rebuild it,” project consultant Robin Phillips said. “We wouldn’t actually use grant money to go in and demolish it and not rebuild it, because what’s the benefit in that?”
One local resident said he does not want to see a new building; he wants the old one repaired.
“To me, as a student of that school at one time, we just need to find more money to cover the cost to bring it back to that original state,” Anthony Robinson said. “That’s what I want, and I think that’s what most of the people of the town of Century want. If we don’t have the money right now, let’s hold off until we get it.”
Phillips noted there is a deadline to spend the grant money, but a year extension from the state might be possible.
Gomez said public comments will be heard at an upcoming public meeting. The meeting has not yet been scheduled.
The remained of the grant awarded by DeSantis, about $850,000, was designated for improvements at the Century Community Center (also known as the Ag Building) at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Is Now Open To The Public Seven Days. Here’s What You Need To Know.
May 18, 2023
Wednesday, Naval Air Station Pensacola reopened to the public seven days a week for the first time in over three years.
While on the base, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center at the main gate to anyone with family interred at the cemetery.
Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the west gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. The museum is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real ID or passport.
“We cannot express how excited and grateful we are to welcome everyone back to their museum,” said Ret. Adm. Kyle Cozad, President and CEO of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. “We’d like to take this opportunity to remind all visitors of these simple ‘Know Before You Go’ tips to help make their experience that much smoother.”
Real ID Required
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID-compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card. If you do not have a Real ID compliant identification, you must present an original or certified true copy of a birth certificate bearing a raised seal, social security card, and driver’s license issued by a state, territory, possession or District of Columbia that is not Real ID-compliant. All three documents must bear the same name, or a former name as documented on acceptable name change documentation such as a court order, marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Access Depends On Parking
Air station access will be dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
There Are Restrictions
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- No visitors with boats and boat trailers
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
Foreign National Access
Foreign nationals are authorized access but must be escorted by a U.S. citizen in the same vehicle. The U.S. citizen will have a background check conducted upon arrival. Foreign national visitors who have not been processed through the Foreign Visits System Confirmation Module (FVSCM) must be in possession and present a permanent resident card, alien registration receipt card (Form 1-551) or a foreign passport which contains a temporary 1-551 stamp or a temporary 1-551 printed notification on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV).
McDavid Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Woman In Atmore
May 18, 2023
A McDavid man has been charged with the attempted murder of a woman Wednesday in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department responded to the Southland Motel on East Louisville Avenue about 11:45. They found a female suffering from gunshot wounds on the floor of a motel room. She was airlifted to the trauma center at an area hospital.
Luis Trevizo Becerra, 39, was charged with attempted murder and booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.
Once police developed Becerra as a suspect, a statewide alert was issued. Becerra was apprehended by Alabama Law Enforcement Agencies troopers along I-65 near Evergreen.
An update on the victim’s condition was not available.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Man Charged With Felonies For Bad Check From Closed Company
May 18, 2023
A Cantonment man is accused of fraudulently representing a fictitious company that went out of business years ago and writing a check on a closed account.
Bradley Parker Henderson, 41 was charged with felony criminal use of a fictitious person identification, felony uttering a false banknote, and misdemeanor petty theft.
Henderson paid a local locksmith company to make a vehicle key for him using a check from a company that went out of business in 2015, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Henderson’s bond on the charges was set at $50,000, but he remained jailed without bond due to a failure to appear charge in a traffic court case.
North End Elite Wins 8U Tournament
May 18, 2023
The North End Elite won the recent USFA 8U Softball Tournament at Pace. The team includes players from the Molino Recreation Association and Northwest Escambia 8U softball. Pictured above: (front, L-R) Mailei Milner, Paycen Cutler, Madison Daniel, Issy Mills, Bryndle Moye, (middle L-R) Abby Weaver, Bayleigh Enfinger, June Kilgore, Hadley Cook, Peyton Roberts, Caroline Peters, Tatum Godwin. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain Tonight
May 18, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Laney Eugene Strange
May 18, 2023
Laney Eugene Strange, 94, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on May 14, 2023. He was born in Darnell, Louisiana on September 27, 1928 to the late Josiah and Laura Jane Rawls.
Laney worked for the United States Civil Service at Naval Air Station Pensacola until retirement. He then moved onto his next adventure and opened his own business, Beulah Hardware and Excavating. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He was a member of Calvary Way Full Gospel Church.
Laney is preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Lois P. Strange; parents; brother, Ray Strange; sister, Laverne Strange; and son in law, James LaJoie.
He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia LaJoie and Lois Jean (Mike) Barnes; grandchildren, Melissa Dorn, Michael Barnes, Patrick Roush and Matthew Barnes; great grandchildren, Mitchell Barnes, Roxanne Barnes, Jacob Gainey, Abigail Dorn, Makenna Dorn, Isaac Dorn, Kaylee Roush and Emerie Roush.
A Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Interment will follow in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.