Friday Nights More Like Friday Night Lightning As Preseason Games Are Canceled
August 16, 2025
The first Friday night lights of the season were more like Friday night lightning as the weather canceled preseason games at both Northview and Tate.
The games were first put on hold and spectators sent to their cars, but persistent lightning, some of it just a few hundred feet from the stadiums, led to eventual cancellations for safety reasons.
The high schools in Escambia County have WeatherStem systems on campus that provide real-time weather data, including the distance of lightning strikes. If the lightning is within 10 miles of a school, outdoor activities must end and everyone is moved to a safe location, such as inside a building or their vehicles. Everyone must be completely within the designated safe locations by the time the lightning is a six miles away from the school. The all clear is given 30 minutes after the last nearby lightning strike.
Northview and Ernest Ward Middle School were set to host Baker in a Kickoff Classic on Friday night. Now, the Chiefs will move forward into the regular season with a road trip to Destin at 7 p.m. on August 22. Their first home game back in Bratt is on August 29 against Opp.
Tate had planned to take on Pine Forest Friday night. Next Friday night, August 22, the Aggies will begin a three-game homestand against Fort Walton Beach, followed by Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Their first road trip will be September 12 at Milton.
Pictured top: The WeatherStem station on above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Fire At Grain Elevator In Walnut Hill
August 16, 2025
Fire broke out at Tensley Grain in Walnut Hill on Friday afternoon.
The fire was contained to a tower dryer—essentially a metal silo that is external to the main grain storage silos. The gas-powered dryer is designed to remove moisture from the corn before storage.
The Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the fire along with a tower truck from the Atmore Fire Department shortly before 4 p.m., but most responding units were canceled prior to arrival.
Firefighters stood by and grain elevator employees worked to move the grain into a “pit” and remove any burning corn from the dryer. Firefighters were on scene for nearly four hours.
There were no injuries reported.
Tensley Grain is the former Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Heat Advisory, Scattered Afternoon Showers And Storms For Saturday
August 16, 2025
A heat advisory is in effect with heat indices expected to reach up to 110 degrees on Saturday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Photos: Shelf Cloud Over Ernest Ward Middle School
August 16, 2025
An impressive shelf cloud was visible Friday afternoon over Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill as strong storms rolled into the area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wait Out Rain, Coley Comes Through In 2-1 Win
August 16, 2025
A clutch home run and a dominant appearance out of the bullpen gave the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a 2-1 win over the Birmingham Barons on a rainy Friday night in downtown Pensacola.
Mark Coley II came up big for the Blue Wahoos, launching a solo home run over the left field wall to give Pensacola the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
“I was just trying to get the head out, be more on time,” Coley said of his second home run of the year. “First at-bat, I was kind of late, so just adjustments again, catch everything out in front.”
Coley was certainly on time, pulling a breaking ball from Birmingham’s Jordan Mikel (L, 2-2) 111 mph down the left field line to give the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the series after three lopsided losses to start the week.
Birmingham struck first for the fourth time in four games, scratching across a run on an RBI single from Mario Camilletti to score Braden Montgomery in the second inning.
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr turned in a solid 4.2 innings for the Blue Wahoos, allowing one earned run while striking out three hitters. Ortiz-Mayr exited the game in the fifth with the bases loaded, but right-hander Jesse Bergin escaped the jam after inducing a groundball to second of the bat of DJ Gladney.
After the end of the fifth inning, the game entered a 34-minute rain delay with Birmingham leading 1-0.
Left-hander Justin King took the mound for the Blue Wahoos to begin the sixth inning coming out of the delay, striking out the side in order.
Birmingham’s Riley Gowens hurled 5.0 innings of shutout, one-hit baseball, including five strikeouts on 67 pitches. Though the Barons starter warmed up after the delay, the length of the break caused an early end to his night.
Ryan Ignoffo tied things up in the bottom of the sixth at one apiece for the Blue Wahoos, sending a ground ball by the glove of a diving Jason Matthews at third base, allowing Kemp Alderman to score from second.
After King was removed with an apparent injury, Nigel Belgrave (W, 5-1) entered on short notice and had a strong outing for the Blue Wahoos. With 3.0 innings of shutout relief, Belgrave earned the win after striking out four Barons on the way to the Blue Wahoos’ 57th win of the year.
Pensacola’s win keeps their division lead of 2.0 games intact, as second-place Montgomery defeated Chattanooga 2-0 Friday night.
The Blue Wahoos and Barons will square off Saturday night in what is projected to be a battle of highly touted left-handers. Thomas White (1-1, 2.05 ERA), the number one prospect in the Marlins organization, will make the start for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Shane Murphy (8-4, 1.32 ERA) with a 6:05 first pitch.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
And Then There Were Four – Century Interviews Town Administrator Candidates
August 15, 2025
On Thursday evening, the Century Town Council interviewed four applicants to be the next Century town administrator, and announced that a fifth candidate had withdrawn from consideration.
The council conducted all interviews virtually, regardless of where the candidate resides, in an effort to not favor local area candidates.
The council interviewed former state representative and businessman Dave Murzin of Pensacola; former Treasure Island, Florida, administrator Charles Anderson, who noted he is now living in Navarre; Baldwin County grants director Brian Underwood of Fairhope; and Peter Cavalli of Tampa, a businessman and former town manager for Kenneth City, Florida.
A fifth applicant, Timothy Day of Cape Coral, Florida, informed the town Thursday that he was withdrawing from consideration.
The council also, dissolved the selection committee, which had consisted of Mayor Ben Boutwell and council members Henry Cunningham and John Bass. The dissolution allows the mayor to speak with each member of the town council individually about their applicant choices. Boutwell, Cunningham, Bass and council Sparkie Harrison attended the meeting in-person, while council members Dynette Lewis and Shelisa Abraham were out of town and attended virtually.
Under the town charter, the mayor must make the employment recommendations to the council for approval or disapproval; the council is unable to otherwise approve someone. Boutwell is expected to make his recommendation at the regular council meeting next Tuesday.
Pictured first below: The four remaining applicants for Century town administrator (the images are poor quality, photographed unenlarged on a TV screen during virtual interviews). Other photos; Members of the Century Town Council interview administrator applicants Tuesday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Charged With Child Cruelty
August 15, 2025
A McDavid man was charged with child cruelty after an alleged family altercation.
Govan Shane Alexander, 53, was charged with a single count of felony child cruelty. According to an arrest report, Alexander, the victim and another family member had been fighting, and he told the victim to meet him outside. A witness told deputies that the Alexander held the victim down by his hair on the ground.
The victim told deputies that Alexander charged him, punched him in the face, blooding his nose and held him down. Deputies noted in their report that the victim had blood on his arms and his shirt was stretched, consistent with his statements.
Alexander appeared to be under the influence of alcohol to deputies, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. His statement to deputies and the child’s age were redacted from the report.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
Alexander was release from the Escambia County Jail late Thursday night on a $5,000 bond.
Countdown To Friday Night Lights: Northview Holds ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 15, 2025
As football season draws near, Northview High School held their annual Meet the Chiefs on Thursday evening.
During the event, moved indoors due to weather, fans had a chance to meet the Northview Chiefs, cheerleaders, and Tribal Beat band. They were also introduced to players and cheerleaders from Ernest Ward Middle School and area youth teams.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek Has Reopened
August 15, 2025
Interstate Circle Bridge over Eight Mile Creek has reopened to traffic, restoring connection for local residents and daily commuters.
This bridge reconstruction project addressed aging infrastructure to increase safety and mobility in the region. The original bridge was constructed in 1970 and considered functionally obsolete.
The newly reconstructed bridge features two 10-foot travel lanes (one in each direction), 5-foot paved shoulders and new traffic railing that meets current standards.
Although the bridge is open to traffic, additional construction activities may continue until the project is fully complete. Temporary single-lane closures may occur on Interstate Circle Monday through Friday, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., as crews finalize stormwater management and other site improvements
The $3.2 million project is currently estimated for completion in late 2025.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Heat Advisory: Hot Afternoons And Pop-up Storms
August 15, 2025
A heat advisory is in effect with heat indices expected to reach up to 110 degrees on Friday
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 91.