Escambia Fire Responds To Fire In ECUA Recycling Facility
April 23, 2025
CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a fire inside the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) on Wednesday afternoon at the Perdido Landfill.
The fire was reported about 1:15 p.m. and was knocked down and under control by 1:47 p.m., according to ECFR.
Preliminary information indicated that the fire was contained to a single piece of machinery. There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Attempted Capital Sexual Battery Of Child
April 23, 2025
A Molino man has been sentenced to 25 years in state prison in a child sex abuse case.
Brannen Lee Bateman, now 31, was convicted of attempted capital sexual battery.
Bateman was sentenced by Judge Linda Nobles to 25 years in state prison to be followed by 25 years sexual offender probation. He was also designated as a sexual predator.
According to court documents, Bateman was 21 years old when he began forcing a 5-year-old girl to have sexual contact with him and watch pornographic video on his phone.
He was also accused of abusing another 6-year-old girl, according to court documents. The girl told her parents, but they did not believe her.
EREC Awards Four Scholarships
April 23, 2025
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced four scholarships awards to students in the utility’s service area.
Four-year Herman D. Johnson Scholarships are being awarded to Colton Criswell from Northview High School and Braden Adams from Jay High School.
EREC Trade/Votech Scholarships are being awarded to Ayden Attalah from Northview High School and Lael Peterson from Jay High School.
The students will be recognized at the EREC Annual Meeting on April 26 at Wallace Lake K-8 School.
Pictured top: Colton Criswell (left) and Braden Adams. Pictured below: Ayden Attalah (left) and Lael Peterson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Homicide After Victim Found Stabbed In Ensley Home
April 23, 2025
A 34-year-old Escambia County man is charged with homicide after allegedly stabbing a man in the neck at an Ensley home.
Kyle Alexander Miller, 34, remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond after being arrested Monday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1200 block of Barmel Street off Fowler Avenue for a welfare check. When they arrived, they found a man that had been deceased for several days in the master bedroom. According to an arrest report, the homicide was believed to happen on our about April 9.
An autopsy determined the man died after being stabbed twice in the neck. Miller was then developed as a suspect; investigators believe Miller was the victim’s roommate at the time.
Possible Pop-Up Showers This Evening
April 23, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly before 7pm. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Patchy dense fog after 10pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Areas of dense fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Northview Tops Tate Varsity 9-4; Tate JV Shuts Out NHS (With Gallery)
April 23, 2025
Northview 9, Tate 4
The Northview Lady Chiefs ended their regular season with a 9-4 win over the Tate Aggies Tuesday night in Bratt.
Mikayla McAnally earned the win with a complete game with seven innings in the circle. She gave up eight hits and four runs while walking three and striking out eight. Jordan Smith opened for Tate, giving up four hits and six runs (two earned) in five and one-third innings while striking out four and walking five. Peyton Womack closed in two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out one and walking three.
Kylee Langham slammed a home run to center field to the put the Chiefs on the board in the bottom of the first. Riley Brooks, Mikayla McAnally, and Daviona Randolph each had two hits for the Chiefs. Mikayla McAnally, Jamison Gilman, and Langham each had two RBIs.
Kaylie Mitchell went 1-for-4 at the plate for the Aggies with two RBIs.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Up next for the Chiefs is the district tournament, with a schedule to be announced.
In their final regular season game, the varsity Lady Aggies will host Escambia at 5:30 Wednesday. It’s youth night…kids wearing their team jersey will be admitted at no charge and receive free hotdogs, chips, and a drink from the concession stand (first come, first serve). A few local youth softball teams will be highlighted beginning at 5 p.m.
Tate 15, Northview 0 (JV)
The junior varsity Tate Aggies shut out Northview 15-0 on Tuesday.
Sarah Mitchell earned the win for Tate, giving up one hit and no runs in three innings, walking two and striking out seven.
Mitchell went 3-3 at the plate. Aubree Gorum and Gracyn Campbell each had three RBIs for Tate.
The game closed the season for the JV Aggies.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Broadcasters Recognized Dave Hoxeng, Owner Of Cat Country, Other Local Stations
April 23, 2025
The Florida Association of Broadcasters (FAB) has announced Dave Hoxeng as the 2025 recipient of FAB’s prestigious William J. Brooks Award. Established in 1988, this award honors legendary Florida broadcasters whose exceptional service and dedication set a standard of excellence in the industry. Presented annually, the award celebrates individuals who embody the high ideals exemplified by its namesake, William J. Brooks.
FAB said Dave Hoxeng, owner of ADX Communications, has profoundly influenced the radio landscape of Northwest Florida through an unwavering commitment to local content, community service, and broadcast excellence. Since launching Cat Country 98.7 (WYCT-FM) in 2003, Dave and his wife Mary have grown their media presence to include NewsRadio 92.3/AM 1620 (WNRP), ESPN Pensacola 1330/99.1 (WEBY), and Pensacola’s Playlist 94.5. These locally owned and operated stations serve Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with a dynamic mix of music, news, sports, and talk programming.
Hoxeng’s dedication to local broadcasting has been central to the stations’ success and national recognition. Cat Country 98.7 was named the 2024 CMA Radio Station of the Year, adding to previous wins in 2017 and 2019. The station has also earned multiple honors from the Academy of Country Music (ACM), and has been recognized by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) with the NAB Crystal Radio Award and the NAB Service to America Award for outstanding community service.
Beyond the airwaves, the Hoxengs are deeply rooted in the local community. They established the Dave and Mary Hoxeng Endowed Scholarship at Pensacola State College to support aspiring journalism students. Their commitment to ethical leadership and civic engagement has also been recognized with awards such as the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics and the PACE Award for Spirit of Pensacola.
“These honors and accolades reflect Dave’s dedication to the industry and the impact his stations have on the communities they serve,” said Pat Roberts, President and CEO of the Florida Association of Broadcasters. “He is a pillar of our industry, and I can think of no one more deserving of this award.”
The William J. Brooks Award will be presented at the Florida Association of Broadcasters’ Annual Luncheon on Thursday, June 26, at The Breakers Palm Beach, as part of the FAB’s Annual Convention.
Tate Aggies Baseball Opens Regional Quarterfinals Tonight At Home
April 23, 2025
The Tate Aggies open play in the FHSAA 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals tonight with the first game in a best-of-three series.
After receiving an at-large bid, No. 4 Tate (14-111) will host the No. 5 Fletcher Senators (15-8-1) for two games — Wednesday and again Thursday at 7 p.m.
The third game, if necessary will move nearly 400 miles away to Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach. The winner will advance to the regional semifinals April 30 against either No. 1 Buckholz or No. 8 First Coast.
In other 6A Baseball State Championship regional quarterfinals in the area, No. 2 Pace will host No. 7 Oviedo. Looking ahead, the regional finals are May 7, the state semifinals on May 16 at the state championship on May 17.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Blue Wahoos Miss Opportunities, Fall 2-1 To Smokies
April 23, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
Producing two-out, run-scoring hits has been a staple of the Blue Wahoos’ early-season success.
They could not buy one Tuesday. It cost them a game.
The Knoxville Smokies broke a tie game without a hit in the eighth inning and held on for a 2-1 victory against the Blue Wahoos to begin a series that matched the Southern League division leaders at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It became a frustrating night for the Blue Wahoos. They had runners in scoring position in five of the final six innings, but could not get a clutch hit. They were 1-for-9 in the game in that scenario.
A crowd of 3,568 on Doggone Tuesday with one-price tickets, witnessed a game with solid defensive plays on both sides. The Blue Wahoos turned a double play with the bases loaded to thwart the Smokies in the fifth. Left fielder Mark Coley II made an inning-ending, diving catch an inning later to prevent extra bases and potentially a run.
The Smokies picked off the Blue Wahoos’ Kemp Alderman in the fourth inning and had first baseman B.J. Murray Jr. make a terrific diving stop on a ball scorched off the bat by Nathan Martorella in the eighth. The next Blue Wahoos batter, Coley II, hit a double that would have tied the game.
Three Blue Wahoos pitchers had solid outings adversely affected by a combined eight walks. Two of those walks led to Smokies runs.
The Blue Wahoos started well, getting a first-innning run when Jared Serna reached on a single, moved over on a fielder’s choice and scored on Alderman’s single.
Knoxville tied the game in the second inning when Parker Chavers walked and eventually scored when Hayden Cantrell – a former Blue Wahoos player – delivered a two out single.
Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller worked the first four innings, giving up three hits, but issuing five walks. Reliever Justin King pitched out of a bases loaded, no-out jam that he inherited from Miller in the fifth inning.
Blue Wahoos catcher Sam Praytor, now the team’s No. 1 catcher with Joe Mack elevated Monday to Triple-A Jacksonville, reached base twice in the game. His frustration boiled in the ninth when he was called out on a third strike call, then was ejected when yelling at the home plate umpire.
It was among 10 strikeouts for the Blue Wahoos in the game. Coley II had two of the Blue Wahoos’ six hits.
The teams will continue the six-game series Wednesday in a matchup of each team’s top-rated pitcher. Robby Snelling (2-0. 2.20 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Blue Wahoos against Knoxville’s Will Sanders (0-1, 4.05 ERA).
GAME NOTABLES
— Joe Mack quickly made an impact in his Triple-A debut Tuesday with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. After the Blue Wahoos catcher was called up Monday to replace Augustin Ramirez, who made his MLB debut Monday with the Miami Marlins, he was in Jacksonville’s starting lineup.
Batting fourth, he reached on an error, walked and scored a run in four plate appearances. Also joining Jacksonville on Monday was Blue Wahoos second baseman Harrison Spohn, who did not play Tuesday. The Jumbo Shrimp (16-6) defeated the Gwinnett Stripers to extend their first place lead in the International League East Division.
— Three area teachers were honored before the game and threw out a ceremonial first pitch as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Knoxville Smokies vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Wednesday Thru Sunday.
GAME TIMES: Wednesday through Saturday games all start at 6:05 p.m. The game on Sunday starts at 1:05 p.m.
Catherine Charlene Victor
April 22, 2025
Catherine Charlene Victor, age 53, passed away on April 17, 2025 in Pensacola, FL surrounded by her loving family.
Catherine was born on October 31, 1971 in Century, FL to Carl Starett, Sr. and Clara Belle Capers. She was a graduate of Ernest Ward High School and was a member of Beaulah Chapel Assembly of God. In her free time, Catherine enjoyed spending time with her grandbabies who were the light of her life.
Catherine is preceded in death by her mother; Clara Belle Starrett, her grandparents; George and Katie Mae Capers, her brother; Ricky Earl Rayborn, her niece; Kaitlyn Starrett, and her nephew; A.J. Smith.
Catherine is survived by her husband; Johnny Victor, Jr., her father; Carl Starrett Sr., her son; John “J.C.” Victor, her daughter; Brittany Victor, her brothers; Tony Starrett, Joseph Rayborn, and Carl Starrett, Jr., her sister; Ellen Miller, her grandchildren; Brianna Heritage, Damon Heritage, and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Tim Floyd officiating. Interment will follow at Dry Springs Cemetery in Dry Springs, FL.
Active pallbearers will be Austin Conway, Joe Rayborn, J.C. Victor, Justin Long, Christian Porter, and Zach Combs. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Capers, Henry Capers, and John Taylor.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson- Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.