Fourth Straight Win As Wahoos Beat The Barons
May 11, 2023
Nasim Nuñez had an outstanding day at the plate and Patrick Monteverde turned in another stellar start as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Birmingham Barons 7-5 on Wednesdady for their fourth win in a row.
Nuñez was 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI, while Monteverde (W, 4-0) earned his league-leading fourth win with 5.1 innings of two-hit, one-run ball.
The Blue Wahoos took a 3-0 lead against Barons starter Cristian Mena (L, 3-2) in the third as Nuñez smoked a two-run triple into the right field corner. He scored one batter later on a Joe Rizzo sacrifice fly.
In the sixth, J.D. Orr added to the lead with a bases-loaded walk before Nuñez chopped a two-run single through the hole to left to extend the Pensacola advantage to 6-0. Monteverde wobbled in the sixth, leaving with the bases loaded, but Josan Méndez allowed only one inherited runner to score as he worked out of the jam.
Méndez wasn’t so lucky in the seventh, as the Barons loaded the bases once more before Ben Norman launched an opposite-field grand slam into the Pensacola bullpen to draw the score to 6-5. Birmingham twice got the tying run in scoring position, but came up empty in their bid to complete the comeback.
Troy Johnston doubled home Nuñez for an insurance run in the ninth, and Jefry Yan (S, 3) earned the six-out save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Thursday evening at Regions Field.
written by Erik Bremer
Shelly Ann Brazwell
May 11, 2023
Ms. Shelly Ann Brazwell, age 50, passed away, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Diamondhead, MS. She resided in Atmore, AL; in her younger years before moving to Mississippi.
Ms. Brazwell enjoyed reading, arts and crafts, coloring, and crocheting. She enjoyed going to the Smoky Mountains, and she loved animals.
Ms. Brazwell is preceded in death by her loved ones, Ernest (Myrlene) Godwin, and Garry Godwin.
She is survived by her mother, Deborah (David) Ronzone, of Bratt, FL; one daughter, Kelsi Brazwell, of Atmore, AL; two brothers, Larry Wayne Free, of TX; Greg (Aubrey) Free, of TX; one uncle, Larry (Becky) Godwin, of Atmore, AL; special friend, Ray Billeaud, and other relatives.
Graveside service will be held Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:30 AM at Godwin Cemetery with speaker, David Ronzone.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, May12, 2023 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home..
Pallbearers will be Elliot Classen, Sammy Lee, Greg Vaughn, and Greg Free.
Steven Ernest Joy
May 11, 2023
Mr. Steven Ernest Joy, age 67, passed away, Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in Atmore, AL. He was born, October 3, 1955, in Dover, New Hampshire but as a child moved to Atmore. He raised his family in Mobile, AL. before moving back to Atmore later in life. He was a member of Unity Non-Denominational Church of Mobile, AL. While his technical trade was in welding, his passion was being a musician playing bass guitar in Mobile and surrounding areas playing gigs.
Mr. Joy enjoyed spending time with his family- often referring to himself affectionately as “Mr. Mom.” He enjoyed playing and listening to all different kinds of music especially classic rock, and in particular “The Beatles.” He was also an avid chess player and taught his children the game and later adults in a chess club he founded at the Atmore nursing home.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Styron Bowden, and one brother, Brian Lyndon Joy.
He is survived by his father, Stanley Joy, of Silverhill, AL; four sons, Nathaniel Everette Joy, of Mobile, AL; Alexander Stephen Joy, of Mobile, AL; Benjamin Harrison (Jayleen) Joy, of Miramar, FL; Dillon Zachary Joy, of Mobile, AL; one daughter, Chelsea Lenore Joy, of Mobile, AL; four grandchildren, and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 12:00 PM until service time at 1:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
West Florida HS Teacher Suspended, Charged With Aggravated Assault
May 10, 2023
A West Florida High School social students teacher has been suspended following his arrest on a felony charge Tuesday night.
Jerrod Wade Novotny, 44, was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The alleged incident happened last Thursday. A woman told Pensacola Police that he was drunk when he arrived at a track meet being held at Washington High School. According to a report, that made her angry and she would not allow him to go to dinner at Olive Garden.
But, he arrived at the restaurant “belligerent and drunk”, the report states.
Later that night, she woke up to Novotny standing over her, pointing a handgun at her before hiding the gun behind his back, the report continues.
The victim provided Pensacola Police with a text message sent the following day:
“I want to let you know something, no need to discuss or anything. I was truly heartbroken about what you did for dinner. Absolutely broken. I then called your mom so that there can be no going back, The Gun was to shoot myself. I was going to do It, And you woke up. I thought I would never fall In love. And I am sorry. I understand you want to leave for however long. Chill. I am Not asking you back. I think separation is right. I am sorry I failed to”.
The Escambia County Public Schools issued the following statement:
“This is a law enforcement matter. ECPS will continue to cooperate with our local law enforcement partners. We will abide by Florida law related to the appropriate employment actions required of us. This individual is currently suspended, per these statutory requirements.”
Large Part Of Cantonment, Gonzalez Lose Power After Lines Downed On Highway 29
May 10, 2023
A large portion of Cantonment and Gonzalez were left without power early Wednesday morning after an incident on Highway 29.
Power lines were downed on Highway 29 just south of Muscogee Road near International Paper. It appeared that multiple vehicles may have struck the downed wires or a pole, but exactly what happened was not immediately clear.
Power lines were downed on both sides of Highway 29, and power was out south of Muscogee Road to at least Archer Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
FDOT To Evaluate Safety Of Nine Mile Road, Beulah Road Intersection
May 10, 2023
The Florida Department of Transportation is evaluating the safety of the Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road intersection.
Following a fatal crash April 28, Escambia County requested FDOT conduct the comprehensive evaluation, citing ongoing citizen complaints and the number of wrecks.
In an email to the state, Escambia County cited two NorthEscambia.com stories — the April crash that killed an Alabama woman and a November two-vehicle wreck that injured five people. Both crashes, according to Escambia County, were due to eastbound drivers that were turning left that traveled into the path of a westbound driver, perhaps due to limited sight distance.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there have been 44 crashes in the area of the intersection in the last couple of years.
FDOT is expected to review and take other steps including a look at signal timing and lane alignment.
Both Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road are state maintained roads and outside county control. In 2019, the county approved a road swap, trading part of the county’s Beulah Road to the state for part of Perdido Key Drive.
Escambia County gave 2.5 miles of Beulah Road from Mobile Highway to Isaacs Lane to the Florida Department of Transportation. In turn, FDOT gave Escambia County 6.2 miles of Perdido Key Drive from the Alabama state line to Gongora Drive.
An April 28 crash at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road claimed the life of an Alabama woman. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos and photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Felony Child Abuse
May 10, 2023
A Cantonment man is charged with abusing two children.
Billy Ray Constantine, 26, was charged with two felony counts of child abuse without great bodily harm. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $150,000.
Two children reportedly suffered multiple bruises caused by Constantine. The Florida Department of Children and Families Child Protective Investigator launched an investigation after receiving a DCF report that minors were at risk for domestic violence and environmental hazards.
One of the children said he smokes around her “but not from normal smelling cigarettes” and she sometimes “sees him eat baby powder off a spoon”. The child had bruises on her body and told investigators that they were from Constantine hitting her, according to an arrest report. A child with a bruise on her face said it was from Constantine hitting and kicking her the night before, the report continues, addinging that one of the children was currently wearing a brace after her arm was “stomped”.
Constantine also allegedly told an adult not to report the alleged abuse or he would “shoot up her house”, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report states.
DCF placed the children in other homes due to the allegations, and the investigation is continuing, the report notes.
Scattered Afternoon Showers And Storms Pattern Continues
May 10, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms during the evening. Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 90. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
New Members Inducted Into Northview High Beta Club
May 10, 2023
Thirteen students were inducted into the National Beta Club at Northview High School this week.
The students are:
- Brooke Lytton
- Jayden White
- Brianna Reynolds
- Anna Kunkel
- Elizabeth Coleman
- Talaysha Curry
- Wade Bailey
- Braylan Shelly
- Jackson Simmons
- Savannah Hudson
- Kayleigh Young
- Liam Simonson
- Maurice Dixon
The National Beta Club’s purpose is “to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, leadership and service among elementary and secondary school students”.
Pictured: New Beta Club members at Northview High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Contract Awarded For Hurricane Sally Repairs At Molino Community Center
May 10, 2023
Escambia County has awarded a contract for Hurricane Sally repairs at the Molino Community Center.
The $141,503.23 contract, funded by FEMA, was awarded to JNB Contracting of Daleville, Alabama, for damage repairs for the community center , the adjacent cafeteria building and the Molino Head Start building.
Most of the work involves scraping and painting ceilings, drywall replacement, and other painting.
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores on September 16, 2020.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.