Barth Residents Seek County Improvements. Streetlights, A Clean Up, And Perhaps A Park Are Coming.
April 15, 2023
There’s Barth Road, Barth Heights, Barth Lane and north Barth Road — all in Barth.
Barth is a quiet little community between Highway 29 to the west and the Escambia River to the east, a couple of miles north of the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
The houses are spread out, but the community is close.
And the residents are looking to Escambia County for some improvements.
Some of the roads are dirt. And it’s dark, with no street lighting.. There’s no bus stop, no community center, and no playground. Children play basketball in the street with a goal next to Barth Lane.
“This is a small community, but we are still people. And we need the same concern and consideration,” resident Mary Nory recently said. She was born in Barth, moved away, and returned home about a decade ago. “No one seems to help Barth. They pass over Barth. They go to everywhere but Barth, and there is a whole community here.”
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, who represents District 5 including Barth, said he is looking at ways to help the area, including their first ever community cleanup event.
“I don’t know if you have been out in Barth and seen some of the areas, but a lot of people is kind of concerned about, when I say that they yard is like really, really, really high and they don’t even know how they going to get it cleaned,” Franscine Mathis told Barry during a town hall meeting this week. He explained that county resources could not be used on private property, but perhaps some community groups could help. During the upcoming community cleanup event, residents will be able to put debris on the right of way for free disposal by the county.
“I just don’t want them to be fined. That’s what I am worried about,” she said. “When they do the clean sweep, and maybe code enforcement may see something or come out there to see something, and I just don’t want nobody to get fined.”
Barry reassured Mathis that fines are not the focus of a community cleanup event; he said the code enforcement system is generally complaint driven.
Chris Phillips, Escambia County assistant engineer, said the county has identified several locations around Barth for streetlights. Those are Highway 29 and Barth Road, Highway 29 and North Barth Road, Barth Road and Barth Heights, and Barth Road and Barth Lane.
“I’m comfortable looking at something similar to what we did in the Walnut Hill community, a small community park that’s walking distance for a lot of residents that may not have transportation,” Barry said. He said a park in Barth could be located on any small parcels owned by the county. The Katie Mae Marshall Memorial Park open in July 2021 on North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill with a playground on a small parcel that escheated to the county..
Mathis said she had has contact with a Barth landowner with “a lot of land” that has expressed interest in allowing a park on their property. Barry said that was doable, if they donate the land or lease it to the county for $1 a year.
Pictured top: The White Lilly Baptist Church on Barth Road was built in 1970. Pictured inset: Franscine Mathis address District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry during a town hall meeting this week. Pictured bottom inset: The Katie Mae Marshall Memorial Park open in July 2021 on a piece of property that escheated to Escambia County on North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Showband Holding Car Washes At Five Locations On Saturday
April 15, 2023
The Tate High School Showband of the South is holding car washes at five locations Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The locations are:
- Advance Auto Parts, 2440 South Highway 29
- Express Oil, Nine Mile Road
- O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, 2050 South Highway 29
- O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, 4165 Pine Forest Road
- Tractor Supply, Nine Mile Road
Fleet and business vehicles are welcome.
Lady Aggies Celebrate Senior Night With 11-1 Run-Ruled Win Over Escambia
April 15, 2023
The Tate Lady Aggies run-ruled the Escambia Gators with a big senior night 11-1 Friday night in five innings.
Before shutting down the Gators, the Tate Aggies honored seniors Charlie Vinson and MacKenzie Cook.
Jordan Smith pitched a complete game for the Aggies, allowing two hits and one run while striking out five.
Kate Balagbagan led the Aggies at the plate going 3-3. Amburleigh Laird went 2-2, and K Wine was 2-3. Cook, Lacy Wilson, Tristen Showalter, Olivia Latner, Peyton Womack, and Kylea Gibbs each added one hit.
The Aggies will host Gulf Breeze on Tuesday and travel to West Florida on Thursday.
Showers And Storms Saturday Night Into Sunday Morning
April 15, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a slight chance of showers between 10am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
April 15, 2023
Inmate Michael A. Johns assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Johns is serving a 15 year sentence for burglary out of Orange County with a release date in 2032.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Northview Beats Chipley 4-2 (With Photo Gallery)
April 15, 2023
The Northview Chiefs doubled up on the Chipley Tigers with a 4-2 win Friday evening in Bratt.
Jamarkus Jefferson earned the win for the Chiefs, giving up one run and three hits while striking out eight in five innings. Kaden Odom was on the mound for the final two innings, striking out three while allowing one run and one hit.
Jefferson led the Chiefs at bat, going 2-3. Rustin Pope, Tyler Shaw and Trent Knighten added one hit each.
The Chiefs will be in action three times next week as they host W.S. Neal on Monday, travel to Flomaton on Tuesday, and welcome Central on Thursday.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No. 1 Pace Tops No. 10 Tate (With Gallery)
April 15, 2023
In a big District 1-6A game Friday night, the No. 1 Pace Patriots downed the No. 10 Tate Aggies 5-3.
Colton Swiers took the loss for the Aggies, allowing two hits and two runs, striking out three, in one and two-thirds innings. Drew Reaves opened on the mound for Tate, giving up five hits and three runs, striking out three, in three innings. Gabe Patterson threw one and a third innings with two strikeouts and allowing one hit.
Clif Quiggins led the Aggies at bat, going 2-4. Reaves, Frank Randall, Ethan McAnally, James Davis, Caden Kelly and Madox Land each added a hit for Tate.
The Patriots improved to 18-2 on the season, while the Aggies fell to 13-6.
The Aggies have a three game home stand next week as they host Washington on Tuesday, West Florida on Thursday and Pensacola High on Friday.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Mary Rita Hughes Leake
April 15, 2023
, our beloved Nana, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023 just 13 days shy of her 100th birthday. Rita Hughes was born in Midland, Maryland to the late John and Anna (McGowan) Hughes on April 27, 1923. She was a graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She retired from the Akron City School system in 1979. Rita was an active member of both St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Akron, Ohio, as well as, St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Barrineau Park, Florida. She enjoyed volunteering, traveling, and reading, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her four granddaughters and two great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, James W. Leake; three brothers; and a sister.
Rita is survived by her daughter, Ann (George) Wayte; granddaughters, Rebecca (Jerry) Hatch, Jacquelyn (Dave) Goddard, Tina (Mark) Barber, and Beth (Chris) Ryzoc; and two great grandchildren, Lillian and John Hatch.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 12Noon, Saturday, April 22, 2023 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. Family will receive friends at 11AM prior to services. Burial will be held in Frostburg, Maryland.
We want to thank Covenant Hospice for their kind and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Barrineau Park, Florida.
Pérez Fans Seven, But Shuckers Beat Blue Wahoos 7-1
April 15, 2023
In his final start as a teenager, Pensacola Blue Wahoos righty Eury Pérez struck out seven batters in a 7-1 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night.
A game billed as a showdown between two of baseball’s top prospects, Pérez and Biloxi outfielder Jackson Chourio, saw Pérez (L, 0-1) fan his fellow 19-year-old twice before Chourio hit a game-breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning.
Biloxi opened up the scoring in the first with an unearned run, as Lamar Sparks reached on an error and scored on Tyler Black’s RBI double. Pensacola couldn’t solve Shuckers starter Christian Mejias (W, 1-0), who allowed only one hit over 5.0 scorless innings.
Pérez was in good shape heading to the fifth, and almost had an inning-ending double play before Freddy Zamora’s sharp grounder to third took a bad hop and turned into an RBI double. Two batters later, Chourio sent a liner off the left field foul pole for a three-run homer to extend the Biloxi lead to 5-0.
The Blue Wahoos managed their only run in the sixth, as Cobie Fletcher-Vance hit a double and scored on a José Devers groundout. The Shuckers added insurance in the seventh on a Zamora homer and in the eighth on a Griffin Conine fielding error.
Brandon Knarr and Harold Chirino combined to pitch the final four innings for the Shuckers, who have taken three of the first four games in their series against Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday at MGM Park in Biloxi.
by Erik Bremer
Gary Hiram McDonald, Sr.
April 15, 2023
. resident of Molino, Florida went home to be with Jesus on April 13, 2023 at the age of 73. He was born on February 26, 1950 in Pensacola, Florida to Tommy and Vermel Perry McDonald.
Gary owned several businesses including McDonald Tire in Baker, Louisiana and Gary’s Tire Center in Pensacola, Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents, Ilence and Clora Miller Perry; and paternal grandparents, William and Anna McDonald.
Gary is survived by his daughter, Rhesa (Ben) Robinson; son, Gary (Ashleigh) McDonald, Jr.; three grandchildren, Haley Robinson, Haden Robinson and Gavin McDonald; sister, Felicia (Jeremy) and Karen (Steve) Ward; several nieces and nephews; and a special cousin, Shelley Hamm Cooley.
Gary was a faithful member of New Hope Apostolic Church. He loved going to church, witnessing to others, and passionately serving the Lord. He also enjoyed hanging out at Cracker Barrel and sitting in a rocking chair while greeting folks. Gary loved to joke around and make people laugh. He was loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle, Molino, Florida on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastors Jeremy Shields and Steve Ward officiating. Burial to follow in First Pentecostal Church Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. prior to services.
Pallbearers will be Ben Robinson, Haden Robinson, Gavin McDonald, Harlan Foster, Austin Garrett, and Thomas Richardson.