Escambia Woman Charged With 20 Counts Of Child Porn Possession
April 5, 2025
A 46-year-old Escambia County woman has been charged with 20 counts of child porn possession.
Danielle Marie Ballard was booked into the Escambia County Jail where she’s being held with bond set $1 million.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigation into Ballard began after a Crime Stoppers tip received in February alleged that she was in possession of child porn files.
Deputies contacted he at her home, and she allowed a deputy to do a preliminary search of her laptop. According to an arrest report, the deputy found about 50 images of child porn, including some images that were of children as young as toddlers.
The porn images were found in a folder on the laptop where it appeared the trash bin had accidentally been moved, according to the ECSO report.
Ballard “became hysterical and repeatedly asked if she was going to jail,” the report states. She then confessed, according to the report, that “she had an interest” in child porn and state that she had been viewing and receiving child porn for five years.
Central Water Water Works Says Over 1,000 Customer Bills Were Apparently Lost In The Mail
April 5, 2025
Over 1,000 Central Water Works customers may not have received their bills this month after the bills were apparently lost in the mail.
The utility says the customer bills were taken to the McDavid Post Office for processing on March 25, and they were sent from there to the main Pensacola post office on Jordan Street. But Central now says that they don’t believe any of the bills were ever delivered to customers, and as of Friday afternoon they have received no explanation from the post office.
Central customers can call the office to find out the amount they owe this month, or register for their online billing system here. The online site will allow customers to view their bills back to January 2024, but the site is not yet set to take online payments. Online payments should be made available beginning in June.
Navarre Falls To Northview Softball, Tate Baseball On Friday Night
April 5, 2025
SOFTBALL
Northview 3, Navarre 2
Coming off a big district win 9-4 over Jay Thursday night, the Northview Lady Chiefs added another one to the win column with a 3-2 defeat of the 1A Navarre Friday night in Bratt.
Mikayla McAnally earned the win for Northview, surrendering five hits and two runs (one earneed) in seven innings, walking three and striking out three.
Aubrey Hadley, Addysen Bolen, and Daviona Randolph each had two hits for the Chiefs. Riley Brooks, Aubrey Hadley, and Addysen Bolen each had one RBI for Northview.
The Lady Chiefs will have two road games next week — Tuesday at Gulf Breeze and Thursday at West Florida.
BASEBALL
Tate 5, Navarre 1
The Tate Aggies beat Navarre 5-1 Friday night at Navarre.
Tatite Davis hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth for the Aggies to led Tate with two RBIs as he went 2-4 for the night. Nathan Ozuna and Cal Foxworth also had two hits each for the Aggies.
Keelan Beasley earned the win for the Aggies. he allowed four hits and one unearned run while striking out five and walking two over six innings. Nathan Connors threw one no-hit, no run inning for Tate in relief.
Blue Wahoos Win Season Opener 4-0 Over Biloxi
April 5, 2025
Robby Snelling made his prior Opening Day start a couple years ago, but not in a packed stadium or this kind of level.
“I’m looking forward to being in a great atmosphere,” said Snelling, earlier in the week before the Blue Wahoos’ first practice.
Friday night, he delivered a memorable impression.
Snelling, only 21 years old but already one of the Miami Marlins’ top-rated prospects, tossed a five-inning, two-hit gem to set a tone that was followed by the Pensacola bullpen in a 4-0 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers that delighted a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The season-opening win, crisply played in 2 hours and 35 minutes, gave Blue Wahoos new manager Nelson Prada a win in his Double-A managerial debut. Prada is coming off a special time in guiding Spain to the championship round of the World Baseball Classic in February.
Snelling, a 6-foot-3 lefthander from Reno, Nevada, who pitched in several Major League spring training games for the Marlins, flashed the same kind of quality stuff he’s showed since being acquired by the Marlins in a trade last July. He was drafted in 2022 by the San Diego Padres in the competitive balance portion of the first round.
After giving up a first-inning single to the second batter he faced – Biloxi’s star prospect Cooper Pratt — Snelling faced just two more batters above the minimum in his five-inning quality start. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.
Pratt, rated No. 2 in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, was thrown out on a terrific play by Blue Wahoos centerfielder Shane Saski, as Pratt tried to stretch the hit into a double.
From that point, the Shuckers got only two more baserunners against Snelling. Three relievers followed Snelling and they were all outstanding.
Zach McCambley, one of the veteran returnees, tossed 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Newcomer Lane Ramsey pitched a scoreless eighth inning and closer Josh Ekness finished the game with a 97-mph fastball for a game-ending strikeout.
The game featured outstanding defense on both sides. The Shuckers threw two Blue Wahoos runners out at the plate, including a terrific relay throw that got catcher Joe Mack out on a diving slide attempting to score on a Kemp Alderman double.
It was a big night at the plate for Alderman, a former Ole Miss star, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. The same for Nathan Martorella, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. This duo accounted for six of the Blue Wahoos’ eight hits.
The Blue Wahoos broke through with three runs in the fourth inning. After Martorella drove home Alderman with the game’s first run, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases and drew back-to-back RBI walks from Cody Morissette and Sasaki. Morissette walked three times in the game.
After Mack was thrown out at the plate in the seventh inning, Martorella drove home Alderman a second time to make it 4-0.
The teams will continue the three-game season opening series on Saturday night, the first post-game fireworks night of the season, in a 6:05 game featuring Blue Wahoos returning pitcher Evan Fitterer on the mound against the Shuckers Nate Peterson.
GAME NOTABLES
In starting their 13th season in club history, the Blue Wahoos are now 9-4 in openers. This was their sixth Opening Night win in the nine years they’ve started the season at home.
These teams will play 27 times this season, the most meetings of any Blue Wahoos opponent.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Series
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
James Rickey Fillingim
April 5, 2025
James Rickey Fillingim, age 77, of Molino, Florida passed away Saturday, March 22, 2025. He was born January 16, 1948 to James Curtis and Elsie Mae Fillingim.
Rickey served in the U.S. Marines where he completed two tours in Vietnam and received numerous medals. His service instilled in him a lifelong commitment to his community and country.
Rickey was preceded in death by his parents, James Curtis and Elsie Mae Fillingim; nephew, Jimmy Allen; and his beloved beautiful wife, Liz Fillingim.
Rickey is survived by three sisters whom he shared an unbreakable bond, Mickey Allen, JoAnn Catoe, and Mary Jane (Larry) King; sons, Curtis (Jean) Mosley, Ray Flowers, Lamar (Kristen) Flowers, and Matt Flowers; grandchildren, Caylin Mosley, Rose Flowers, and Derrick Snow; close friends, David Allen, Frankie Archer, Harvey Enfinger, John Fowler and Doug Smith; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. In addition to his family, he is survived by his faithful dog, Buddy.
Services will be held on Friday, April 11 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by the funeral ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Interment will take place at Lathram Chapel United Methodist Church.
gin at 12:30 p.m., followed by the funeral ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Interment will take place at Lathram Chapel United Methodist Church.
Is Costco Still Planning A Nine Mile Road Store? Apparently, As New Plans Are Filed
April 4, 2025
Is Costco still considering a store on Nine Mile Road?
It certainly looks that way.
Tampa-based Thomas Engineering filed plans with Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) for the store at 225 East Nine Mile Road back in June of last year. Then, in response to DRC feedback, updated plans were filed in late October 2024.
Since that time, the proposal has not gone before the DRC for consideration. Without a development order, the project can’t move forward.
What’s new?
About a week ago, Thomas Engineering filed new site construction site drawings for the Nine Mile Road Costco. A DRC hearing has not yet been scheduled but could be forthcoming soon.
How long does it take to build a Costco?
The architectural firm MG2, which has partnered with Costco for 30 years on over 780 locations, says it takes under four months to build a new store.
“Costco Wholesale has set the bar by creating and maintaining the platinum standard in optimized rollouts: It takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members” MG2 said. That means a new Pensacola Costco, if approved, could easily open by the end of the year.
What do the newly filed plans show?
The latest plans filed last week with Escambia County show the 172,580 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 835 parking spaces at 225 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of the current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The plans show the existing Dairy Queen, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Wells Fargo to remain, with a Costco gas station constructed between Sam’s Seafood and Wells Fargo in an area that is currently a parking area for the old shopping center. The current Planet Fitness building will be demolished to make room for the new Costco if it’s approved.
What is currently the nearest to Pensacola?
The nearest currently open Costco to Pensacola is in Mobile, Alabama.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
Clouds Friday And Saturday; Rain By Sunday
April 4, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 74. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Escambia Public Schools To Host Teacher Hiring Event
April 4, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools is hosting an in-person Teacher Hiring Event to fill teacher positions for the 2025-2026 school year.
The event will take place on Saturday, May 3 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway in Pensacola.
All interested persons must have a bachelor’s degree or higher, complete the on-line application to attend the hiring event, and must submit official transcripts before the day of the hiring event. Full-time teaching positions at all grade levels will be available for the 2025-2026 school year.
Applicants should be prepared for on-the-spot interviews and job offers, and must bring their resume and identification cards. Onboarding will be completed at the hiring event with our teams from Human Resources and Risk Management departments.
“We want our schools to be fully staffed for the new school year in August and persons interviewing may have the opportunity to secure a teaching position before leaving the event,” said ECPS Director of Human Resource Services Melia Adams. “We need educators who will make a great impact on the lives of our kids.”
School administrators and staff will be conducting interviews. Available instructional positions include English, math, science, social studies, music and art education, elementary education, special education and foreign languages. New teachers’ starting salary is $48,300 and benefit packages will be explained.
Visit https://apps2.winocular.com/escambia/jobs/Jobpost.exe and click on “2025-2026 Teacher Hiring Event (In-Person).” Application deadline is May 1, 2025. Applicants will receive an email notification if eligible to attend.
Northview Lady Chiefs Knock Off Undefeated Jay (With Gallery)
April 4, 2025
The Northview Lady Chiefs handed the top-ranking Jay Royals their first loss of the season 9-5 on a misty Thursday night in Bratt.
Jamison Gilman opened in the circle for the Chiefs. The senior allowed four hits and two runs (one earned) in three innings, walking two and striking out none. Mikayla McAnally pitched four innings in relief, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out five and walking two.
“We just fought hard tonight. We made some errors; we are still working on mental errors,” Northview coach Amy Holland said after the big win. “More than anything, this team here is not laying down. They are fighting out and they’re finding ways to win. We scored a lot of points on two outs tonight, and that just tells you right they are not laying down, they’re not going to give up, and we’ve got a long way to go.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Layna Lowry pitched five and two-third innings for the Royals, surrendering 10 hits and nine runs with three strikeouts and one walk.
Bailey Burkette led the Lady Chiefs with three RBIs as she went 2-4. Riley Brooks, Aubrey Hadley, and Avery Stuckey each added two hits.
Kiley Samford and Lowry had two hits each for Jay, while Kaylee Gilbreath recorded two RBIs.
The Lady Chiefs will host Navarre at 5:30 p.m. Friday, while Jay’s next game will be against West Florida on April 8.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cottage Hill Cleanup Set For April 9
April 4, 2025
A neighborhood cleanup for residents in Cottage Hill will take place Wednesday, April 9. This is a chance for residents to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances and household waste free of charge.
Yard debris is eligible for removal during this cleanup.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area can participate in the neighborhood cleanup. All items for pickup should at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup.
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
Since 2016, more than 7,435 tons (16,393,574 pounds) of waste have been disposed of through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Safe Neighborhood Program. During neighborhood cleanups, crew members and volunteers visit different neighborhoods in the county to remove a variety of debris and waste free of charge.