Sign At Century Cemetery Honors Work And Life Of Willie Dortch
September 17, 2023
A sign at the Century Cemetery honor the life and work of Willie Dortch.
Dortch passed away September 10, 2022. A proclamation from the town described him as a “pillar” in the town. A heavy equipment operator by trade, he spent his own time and materials as groundskeeper at the Century Cemetery and worked to serve his community in any way that he could.
The Century Cemetery is located off Kelly Field Road on the north side of Showalter Park.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Commission Cancels COW Meeting Again
September 17, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has canceled the Tuesday, September 19 planned Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting.
The COW is a workshop type meeting held for commission discussion, but no votes are taken.
Canceling the meeting has been the norm this year.
The BOCC will hold their regular meeting on Thursday, September 21 at 9 a.m.
Bermúdez Brilliant In 3-0 Shutout Win
September 17, 2023
His well-traveled professional career has taken Blue Wahoos pitcher Jonathan Bermúdez across the country with three different organizations, pitching in more than 100 games.
He provided great reason to always remember the one Saturday night.
The 27-year-old lefthander from Puerto Rico worked a career-long seven complete innings, allowing just three hits with nine strikeouts, helping lead Pensacola to a 3-0 win against the Mississippi Braves.
A sellout crowd on the final Saturday home game of the season watched Bermúdez out-dazzle M-Braves starter Hurston Waldrep, the former Florida Gators star, who was the first-round pick in July by the Atlanta Braves in the 2023 Draft.
Waldrep pitched four innings, the longest of his brief pro career, giving up four hits, a run and striking out five.
The crisply-played pitching showcase was completed in just 2 hours, 15 minutes.
In making his 18th start, Bermúdez faced just two batters above the minimum in seven innings. He did not allow a walk. Bermúdez was signed by the Miami Marlins on April 26 as a free agent, after being with the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros organizations – reaching the Triple-A level in each one.
Of the three singles he allowed, one was erased when the M-Braves’ Cody Milligan was thrown out on a perfect throw by Jake Thompson trying to stretch the hit into a double.
Relievers Chandler Jozwiak and Luarbert Arias followed behind Bermúdez to complete the shutout. The M-Braves had a single in the eighth off Jozwiak before Arias retired them in order in the ninth.
The Blue Wahoos chose to wear the Pensacola Pok-Ta-Pok uniforms, which became instantly popular with the players when introduced before the season as part of the team’s participation the Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión program to honor the game’s Latin American history.
Pensacola got its first run in the third inning when Cobie Fletcher-Vance led off with a double, then scored on Victor Mesa Jr.’s single.
The score remained that way until the seventh inning, when Josh Zamora doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Norel González. Pensacola added its third run in the eighth inning when Paul McIntosh led off with a walk, then later scored on Bennett Hostetler’s RBI single.
The Blue Wahoos (78-57), extending their mark with the second-most wins in franchise history, will now end their regular-season schedule on Sunday, trying to even the series against the M-Braves. The Blue Wahoos’ team record for season wins was 81, set in 2016 as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in a 140-game season.
Sunday’s finale will also be a special POW-MIA commemoration game to honor the 50-year anniversary of the return of U.S. POW service members and the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
Attending Sunday’s game will be two area men who were former POWs at that time. They will be honored with ceremonial first pitches, then more recognition between innings of the game.
Sunday’s afternoon game will feature the second rehab start this week by the Miami Marlins’ Sixto Sánchez, who was once the No. 1 prospect in the organization before a series of injuries the last three years stalled his career. Sánchez will be on a limited pitch count and is expected to be followed by M.D. Johnson.
Pregame activities will begin at 3:45 p.m., including ceremonial first pitches and special guest introductions. The official first pitch of the game will be at 4:05 p.m.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before traveling on Tuesday to face the Montgomery Biscuits for Game 1 of the Southern League Division Series. Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be in Pensacola on Thursday, September 21 at 6:05 p.m. at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A deciding Game 3, if necessary, will be at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Friday, September 22.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Traffic Shuffled Again In $4.7 Million Highway 29 Project In Century
September 16, 2023
There has been another big shift in a Highway 29 construction zone in Century.
North and southbound traffic on North Century Boulevard has been shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street
The shift will be in place through September as crews perform drainage improvements, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The complete $4.7 million project has an anticipated completion target date in January 2024. FDOT will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Pictured: Lane closures on Highway 29 in Century as seen on Saturday, August 5. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Board Approves Lower Millage Rate, $797.5 Million Budget
September 16, 2023
The Escambia County School Board has approved a lower millage rate and a high budget for the 2023-2024 year.
The millage rate will drop from 5.274 to 5.144, but is still considered a tax increase because it exceeds the rolled back rate by 9.6%. The rolled back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase.
The budget is $797.5 million, up $15 million from the last fiscal year budget of $782 million.
The budget and millage rate passed on a 4-0 vote with District 1 board member Kevin Adams absent.
Partly Cloudy, Low About 70 Saturday Night
September 16, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light north wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
No Place Like Home: Northview Gets 35-0 Senior Night Shutout Over Lighthouse (With Gallery)
September 16, 2023
There’s no place like home for a big win.
After dropping the first three games of the season on the road, the Northview Chiefs got a big 35-0 senior night win at home over Lighthouse Private Christian Academy Friday night. Northview is now 5-0 against Lighthouse across all meetings.
For a photo gallery click here. Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, the band and more in the next few days.
“It was just a great senior night at Northview,” head coach Wes Summerford said. “We’ve played three great teams, then Lighthouse came up here, and it’s just great to get a win. That’s important for our guys right now, and we get to work off that. That’s going to be our message. Our kids…we’ve got to rebound off this, and we’ve got to work on this win and be positive…feed off it and keep going.”
The penalty flags were flying all night against the Chiefs with five — that’s five — touchdowns called back on penalties.
But it was the five that hit the scoreboard that counted.
Senior Devin Kelly had two senior night touchdowns in the first half from seven yards and one yard out. Senior Joe Wright had a one-yard rushing TD with 2:12 to go in the half and added another in the third quarter.
Northview (1-3) will sit out next Friday night with a bye before they gas up the bus and hit the road again for their next two games against Elberta on September 29 and Baker on October 6. Homecoming will be October 13 as the Jay Royals head to Bratt.
“We have a bye week to get healthy. We were short a few guys tonight,” Summerford said. “Get those guys healthy, and work on not having those penalties.”
For a photo gallery click here. Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, the band and more in the next few days.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Navarre Tops Tate 45-42 In Late Night District Battle
September 16, 2023
The Tate Aggies fell to the Navarre Raiders 45-42 in a late night battle in Navarre.
The game kicked off about 8:30, an hour late, due to a lightning delay. Then the real fireworks began in the District 1-4S matchup.
The Raiders were first on the board early in the game. Tate’s Laquarius Bradford returned the ensuing kickoff down to the 14-yard line, leading to the first touchdown for the Aggies from Andre Colston. Colston added another short TD run to put the Aggies on top 14-7 in the first.
Navarre answered to tie it up 14-14. The Aggies rolled ahead 21-14 with a touchdown run from Nathan Case before Navarre tied it up 21-21.
Tate scored again on a Carson Secchiari run that made it 35-28, Navarre still on top. Colton added another short touchdown run with 5:33 to go in the third, and it was all tied up 35-35. Navarre took the lead 38-35 with a field goal before the Aggies took the lead 42-38 with a touchdown from Demoarion Clay.
Navarre scored again with about nine and half minutes in the game, 45-42.
With just seconds to go in the game and facing fourth down, the Aggies decided to try a 50-yard field goal. The ball had barely left the foot of Tate’s Jackson Clarke when it was blocked by a Navarre player from around the outside.
The Navarre raiders took a knee to end the game about 11:30 p.m.
At 2-2, the Aggies are still having their best season in five years — it’s the first season with two wins since 2018. The Aggies will have next Friday night off before looking for win number three as they host the Milton Panthers on September 29.
Pictured: Northview’s Taite Davis hands off to Andre Colston Friday night in Navarre. Image courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Want To Be A Firefighter? Here’s How To Take The Required Physical Abilities Test
September 16, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue will hold a physical abilities test on Monday, September 25.
The tests will take place at Pensacola Fire Department Station 4, at 1 North “Q” Street at 8 a.m. and is open to anyone interested in joining Escambia County Fire Rescue. Participants should arrive 30 minutes early to sign in.
Florida-certified firefighters with a certificate of completion must sign up for the certified test. Those without Florida fire certifications must sign up for the cadet test. Click here to apply for the certified firefighter or cadet positions.
In order to become an Escambia County Firefighter, participants must pass the test. Interviews for those who pass the test will take place the following day.
The certified test consists of:
- 1 3/4″ charged hose pull in 27 seconds
- Keiser sled in 60 seconds
- Tower evolution in six minutes
The cadet test consists of:
- 25 push-ups in two minutes
- 40 sit-ups in two minutes
- Run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes
- 1 3/4″ charged hose pull in 27 seconds
- Keiser sled in 60 seconds
- Tower evolution in six minutes
Certified Escambia County Firefighters receive a starting pay of $41,698 and numerous benefits including competitive pay and health benefits, a 48/96 schedule, 14 paid holidays, special teams’ incentive pay, and more.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 16, 2023
Here are high school football scores from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Navarre 45, Tate 42 [Story...]
- Northview 35, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 0 [Story, photos...]
- Jay 14, Baker 3
- Choctaw 35, Pine Forest 14
- Escambia 37, Fort Walton Beach 0
- Bay 35, Pensacola High 0
- Pace 28, Crestview 0
- Gulf Breeze 73, Milton 42
- BYES: Washington, West Florida
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 34, Cottage Hill 14
- Jackson Academy 46, Escambia Academy 18
- St. Michael 41, Escambia County (Atmore) 26
- Jackson 38, T.R. Miller 7
- W.S. Neal 48, Monroe County 12
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Lighthouse Christian 35-0 Friday night in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.