Four Displaced After Fire Involving Exploding Ammo And Flammables Damages Home
April 28, 2023
Flammables and exploding ammunition reportedly contributed to a fire that heavily damaged a home just north of East Kingsfield Road Friday morning.
The fire was reported about 8:50 a.m. in the 2800 block of Silent Wood Drive. Firefighters arrived to find the home’s garage and a car in the driveway fully involved in fire. Callers to 911 described hearing explosions coming from the garage .
Escambia County Fire Rescue said that ammunition and other flammables in the garage contributed to the explosions.
The fire was extinguished by 9:30 a.m. The exact cause of the blaze was under investigation.
The American Red Cross was called to assist four occupants that were displaced by the fire.
Pictured: A fire heaving damaged a home and destroyed a car Friday morning on Silent Wood Drive. Photos from WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accused NWE Little League Treasurer Pleads Not Guilty To Fraud, Grand Theft
April 28, 2023
The former treasurer of the Northwest Escambia Little League has pleaded not guilty.
Paula Star Pugh, 48, was charged with grand theft $10,000 to $20,000 and fraud under $20,000. Both charges are third degree felonies. She was released on a $2,500 bond 22 minutes after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail on April 17.
A not guilty plea and a waiver of appearance at a scheduled May 12 arraignment was filed this week on Pugh’s behalf by her attorneys.
White was accused of fraudulent transactions using the NWE bank account totalling $16, 977.87.
According to a warrant affidavit, the transactions included numerous cash ATM withdrawals from an Atmore bank; purchases from Shell Oil and Papa John’s Pizza in Tampa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods Online; and eight checks payable to “cash” that were signed by Pugh totaling $9,226. The transactions are detailed in the image below.
RELATED STORY: NWE Little League Treasurer Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud
Editor’s note: Northwest Escambia Little League is not affiliated with Northwest Escambia (NWE) Football & Cheer at Bradberry Park.
Patchy Fog Overnight; Rain For Saturday
April 28, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Areas of fog before 10am. High near 77. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Annual Jay Pro Rodeo Is Friday, Saturday Nights
April 28, 2023
The 22nd Annual Jay Pro Rodeo continues Saturday nights.
The 3R Rodeo Company from Jemison, Alabama, will entertain the crowd with rodeo action including pro bull riding, saddle broncs, calf and team roping, steer wrestling, and women’s breakaway and barrel racing.
For the little ones, there’s the calf scramble, free face painting, bounce houses and more.
There will be plenty of food at the concession stand and local vendors.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. and rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Ted May Arena, about a half mile east of the red light on Highway 4 in Jay. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children age 12 and under. Parking is free. All proceeds benefit area youth programs, including the Jay High School SGA.
Escambia Extension Nutrition Educator Chinesa Sunday Retires After 40 Years
April 28, 2023
Escambia County Extension EFNEP Educator Chinesa Sunday has retired after 40 years of service.
“Chinesa, thank you for your service for over 40 years,” Escambia Extension said. “Your knowledge and expertise has helped tens-of-thousands of children across Escambia County live healthier and happier lives. You will be missed. Best wishes always”
EFNEP, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, is the nation’s first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families and youth today. EFNEP uses education to support participants’ efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health, and well-being. EFNEP combines hands-on learning, applied science, and program data to ensure program effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability.
In February, she was honored for her lengthy career by the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Library Big Spring Book Sale Begins Today
April 28, 2023
The Friends of West Florida Public Library will hold its Big Spring Book Sale through Sunday at the downtown library, 239 North. Spring Street.
Thousands of hardcover, paperback, and collectible books will be available for purchase, plus a variety of DVDs, CDs, puzzles, and other items. Proceeds are used to fund programs and enhancements at West Florida Public Library (WFPL) branches.
Saturday, April 29, the sale will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with free admission for all shoppers and half off the Friday prices.
Sunday, April 30 is the final day of the book sale, with free admission and the popular $7 Bag Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For just $7, you can get as much as will fit in a brown paper grocery bag. (Bags are provided.) Carts will be available to help carry the bags to your vehicle.
Credit cards, cash and check are all welcome as payment.
Book sale items include thousands of generous donations from the public and some library books retired from circulation, many of them now out-of-print. Novels and mysteries are sorted by author or into genres like science fiction and westerns. Other book categories include arts and entertainment, children’s, cookbooks, history, holidays, home and hobbies, literature, foreign language, military, modern living, nature and gardening, religion, science, sports, technical, and travel. There are also recorded books, magazines, and other media for sale.
The Collector’s Corner will feature an assortment of signed books, pre-1950s books, books by local and Florida authors, and other special books that are great for gifts. These items are priced as marked and must be checked out separately, so shoppers paying by check should bring two of them.
Friends of West Florida Public Library is a non-profit support organization of the West Florida Public Library.
Tate Baseball Presents Annual Awards Named For Former Aggies
April 28, 2023
Tate High School Baseball has presented three annual awards named for men who have played at Tate and impacted the program and people by showing some combination of moral character, athleticism, excellent work ethic and high academic achievements.
Ethan McAnally received the Travis Fryman Scholarship Award. Brayden Noble received the Chris Moorehead Award, and Drew Reaves received the Trace Penton Award.
Pictured: (L-R) Ethan McAnally, Brayden Nobile and Drew Reaves. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fitterer Dominates In Debut, Johnston Stays Hot In 5-0 Wahoos Win
April 28, 2023
Evan Fitterer worked 6.0 scoreless, one-hit innings in his Double-A debut and Troy Johnston had a multi-homer game for the second day in a row as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday by a score of 5-0.
Fitterer (W, 1-0), added to the Blue Wahoos roster on Tuesday, fanned eight batters and coaxed a pair of clutch double plays to keep the Biscuits off the scoreboard. He outdueled Sean Hunley (L, 1-1), who had allowed just one run over his first three starts but came out on the losing end of another strong effort.
Johnston, who hit a pair of home runs and drove in six runs in Wednesday’s blowout win over the Biscuits, hit solo home runs in the second and seventh as part of a 3-for-3 night.
In the ninth, Griffin Conine provided insurance with a bases-loaded, two-run double. Jefry Yan (S, 1) got the final six outs, five via the strikeout, to lock down Pensacola’s second conseucutive win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday evening in Montgomery.
written by Erik Bremer and file photo/Blue Wahoos
Local Firefighter Receives Kidney Transplant After Two-Year Wait
April 27, 2023
After more than two years on the waiting list, a local firefighter has received a kidney transplant.
We first introduced our readers to Cody Green in 2021 as he anxiously awaited a kidney. He finally got the call, underwent transplant surgery last Friday, and is recovering at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.
Cody is a Florida Forest Service wildland firefighter, and he is a volunteer firefighter at the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help Cody and his family while they are out of work during a long and extensive recovery period, according to GoFundMe.
He suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a serious condition in which scar tissue develops in parts of the kidney, and it can lead to full kidney failure.
After his diagnosis, he was at 40% kidney function, and doctors thought he would be able to live without dialysis or need of transplant until he was older in his 40s or 50s. But by mid July 2021, he was at just 7%.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Open To The Public For Two Long Weekends In May
April 27, 2023
Naval Air Station Pensacola will open to the public for two long weekends in May.
Public access to the air station May 4 through 7 and May 11 through 14 will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only, located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Areas of public interest onboard NAS Pensacola include the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and Fort Barrancas. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available to anyone with family interred at the cemetery through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide our community with the opportunity to visit the areas of public interest onboard NAS Pensacola while ensuring the safety of our service members, civilian employees and their families,” said Capt. Terry Shashaty, NAS Pensacola commanding officer.
Foreign nationals will not be allowed access. Non-DoD cardholders operating vehicles with trailers will not be allowed to enter. 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.
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
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
- No visitors with boats or boat trailers.
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.