Escambia County Holds Hurricane Exercise
May 29, 2025
The annual Escambia County Hurricane Exercise at the Emergency Operations Center on W Street in Pensacola.
Escambia County Emergency Management and community partners took part in an exercise to simulate an emergency activation due to a hurricane.
Throughout the exercise, several scenarios were presented.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Snelling Goes Seven, But Bats Kept Quiet In 3-1 Blue Wahoos Loss
May 29, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Robby Snelling pitched a career-high 7.0 innings for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night, but didn’t receive enough run support in a 3-1 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
Snelling (L, 2-4) was perfect through 4.0 innings in his first start since being named Southern League Pitcher of the Week, and finished his night retiring four in a row to complete 7.0 innings for the first time in his professional career. But a brief hiccup in a five-hit, three-run fifth inning proved to be too much to overcome for the Blue Wahoos, who fell below .500 for the first time this season with their eighth consecutive loss.
Brody Hopkins (W, 3-2) danced around trouble for the Biscuits, working 5.0 scoreless innings and stranding five runners in scoring position. The Blue Wahoos had ample opportunities to take advantage, but went 0-for-11 with men in scoring position throughout the evening.
The Biscuits came to life in the fifth inning, getting their first baserunner of the night on a first-pitch Colton Ledbetter single before Matthew Etzel broke the scoreless tie with a long two-run homer to right field. It continued a run of dominance for Etzel, who homered in Tuesday’s game and has hit 6 of his 10 career Biscuits homers against Pensacola since joining the Rays organization late last season.
Tatem Levins doubled and Willy Vasquez singled with two outs in the fifth to add another run, giving the Biscuits a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Wahoos scored an unearned run in the sixth as Kemp Alderman reached on an error and scored on a Nathan Martorella RBI groundout, but Biscuits relievers Ty Cummings, Derrick Edington and JJ Goss (S, 6) protected the Montgomery lead to seal a 3-1 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Thursday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
In About A Week, Fluoride Will No Longer Be Added To ECUA Water
May 28, 2025
In an estimated week to 10 days, there will no longer be fluoride in the water from the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
During a Tuesday meeting, the board voted to not purchase any more fluoride ahead of the state mandated removal of fluoride from public drinking water by July 1.
ECUA Executive Director Bruck Woody said just over 1,000 gallons of fluoride are stored at well locations throughout the utility’s system, and it is used at a rate of about 750 gallons a week.
“It’s just over a week’s supply,” he said.
“By my calculations…based on our current consumption, we would have to order more fluoride if we chose to continue adding it up to the July 1st deadline,” District 5 board member Kevin Stephens commented, and Woody agreed. “I think that would be insane.”
Stephens made a motion to not purchase any more fluoride after existing stock is gone.
“It doesn’t make sense for us to go and purchase more,” Perkins said. “We exhaust our supply and then follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law.”
Board member Louis Benson said ECUA should conduct public outreach to educate consumers how to fluoridate their own teeth. Perkis said he would not want ECUA to circumvent the state law.
Rescheduled Sawmill Day To Be Held June 7 In Century
May 28, 2025
The 35th Anniversary Sawmill Festival and Car Show in Century is coming up on Saturday, June 7. It was rescheduled from May 3 by weather.
Vendor spaces are available for $20. Those interested can contact Christina at (850) 377-6752. Vehicle enthusiasts can register bikes for $15 and classic cars for $25.
Running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the festival will feature a classic car and bike show. Attendees can look forward to live entertainment, including performances by the Southern Revival Band and Friends in Low Places.
Beyond the music, visitors can enjoy local food, crafts, and a variety of vendors. There will also be contests, museum tours, and exhibits that highlight the rich history of the area.
The free event will be held in the historic district at the corner of 4th Street and Jefferson Avenue.
Pictured: Sawmill Day in 2024. NorthEscambia.comp photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Is Second Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder In Atmore Shooting
May 28, 2025
The Atmore Police Department has arrested a second attempted murder suspect in connection with a shooting incident last week.
Terry Clark, 24, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant after a traffic stop by the Flomaton police Department.
At approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, Atmore Police Officers responded to reports of multiple shots fired in the area of Sowell Avenue and Trout Street. The victim and witnesses provided dispatch with a description of a vehicle fleeing the scene.
An Atmore Police Officer en route to the shooting location observed a vehicle matching the description leaving the area. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop and made eye contact with the driver, whom he recognized as James Antonio Johnson of Atmore. Johnson then dramatically accelerated, reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour on Carver Avenue as he attempted to evade the officer. The officer briefly lost sight of Johnson’s vehicle before locating it abandoned at a nearby residence.
Upon interviewing the victim of the shooting, Johnson was positively identified as the individual who had fired shots at their vehicle. Investigators processed the scene, recovering 27 spent shell casings from two different caliber firearms.
James Antonio Johnson (pictured left and below), 24, later turned himself in to authorities and was charged with attempted murder and felony fleeting charges.
Rain Possible Overnight, Likely For Thursday
May 28, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 1am and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. High near 83. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7pm. Low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A chance of showers before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 84. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Pine Meadow’s Denise Simmons Named Escambia Stellar Employee Of The Year
May 28, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools’ Office of Community Involvement recognized Pine Meadow Elementary’s Denise Simmons as the Stellar Employee of the Year for 2025. She was previously recognized as the April, 2025 Stellar Employee of the Month.
Simmons serves as the administrative clerk at Pine Meadow Elementary. She has been with the district for 26 years and has dedicated 10 years to Pine Meadow. The district said Simmons consistently exemplifies the essential qualities expected of an administrative clerk. As the first point of contact for parents and students at Pine Meadow, she welcomes everyone with a friendly smile and greets them by name, helping to foster a welcoming and supportive environment. Her approachable demeanor ensures that all stakeholders feel comfortable when discussing any questions or concerns they may have.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Felony Suspect That Eluded Deputies In Molino Has Been Captured
May 28, 2025
A felony suspect that eluded capture after abandoning a stolen vehicle in Molino Saturday night has been captured.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect abandoned a stolen vehicle in the area of Highway 97 and Holly Park Lane, not far from the Dogwood Park Baptist Church. Thanks to OnStar tracking, deputies located the truck after it was reported stolen. Deputies set up a perimeter and searched for the suspect using a drone and K-9. The search was called off after several hours.
The ECSO said Tuesday that the suspect, 32-year-old Stephen Glenn Barton of Okeechobee, Florida, was later found hiding in a barn.
He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and grand theft of firearm. He remained jailed Wednesday morning with bond set $14,000.
Wahoos’ Woes Continue In 8-1 Loss To Montgomery Biscuits
May 28, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
In need of a reset, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos hoped the start of a weeklong road trip to Montgomery would help snap their team out of a six-game skid. Instead, their series opener offered more of the same in an 8-1 loss to the Biscuits on Tuesday night.
The Pensacola offense managed only three hits, highlighted by a solo home run from Cody Morissette in his first game since returning from six weeks on the injured list. With the loss, the Blue Wahoos have lost seven games in a row for just the fifth time in team history and have slipped back to .500 (23-23) for the first time since Opening Day.
The Biscuits jumped ahead early on Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller (L, 1-4), turning an infield single and a walk into a first-inning rally before Matthew Etzel hit an opposite-field, three-run homer for a 3-0 Montgomery lead.
Montgomery blew the game open with a five-run fourth inning despite collecting only two hits in the frame. Tatem Levins led off the rally with a grounder up the middle that turned into a single due to infield miscommunication, and Hunter Stovall followed with a bunt single. A one-out walk to Xavier Isaac loaded the bases for Cooper Kinney, who lifted a fly ball to left-center field that scored two runs when Shane Sasaki collided with Mark Coley II for an error. A Morissette error at second base scored another run, and two more came in on a pair of bases-loaded walks before reliever Alex Williams entered to end the threat.
That would be more than enough run support for Owen Wild (W, 2-3), who worked hitless ball until Morissette’s fifth-inning homer and pitched 5.1 innings before handing the game to the bullpen.
Williams and Josh White combined for 4.1 hitless innings of relief for the Blue Wahoos, but Jonny Cuevas and Trevor Martin were equally effective, keeping the Blue Wahoos from chipping away at the early deficit for an 8-1 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Wednesday. First pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Carl Phillip Nellums
May 28, 2025
Carl Phillip Nellums, 75, of Cantonment, Florida, passed away on May 24, 2025 in Pensacola, Florida. He was born in Bay Minette, Alabama on June 17, 1949 to Buck and Alfreda Nellums. He was married to Becky Nellums. He was a general contractor by trade, who over the course of his career built many quality homes in the Northwest Florida area.
Phillip was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He loved a good joke and liked to make others laugh. He always had a story to tell. He was a generous man and ready to lend a hand when it was needed. He was LOVED and will be missed by all that knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Buck and Alfreda Nellums; and sisters, Dora Nellums and Doris Ejido.
He is survived by his loving wife, Becky Nellums; siblings, John (Judy) Nellums, Harriet Skinner, Catherine (Ron) Meyer, Robert Nellums, and Dorothy Nellums; children, Jerry (Anita) Nellums, Jeff (Angie) Doggette, Randy Doggette, Eddie (Natalie) Doggette, John Nellums, John (Amanda) Andrews, and Kristy Hill; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Pallbearers: Daniel Nellums, Cody Nellums, Mason Doggette, Spencer Doggette, Ryan Andrews, and Hunter Andrews
Honorary Pallbearer: Hunter Doggette
The family will receive friends at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 5:00 PM ~ 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with Pastor Edwin Quijada officiating. Burial will follow in Robertsdale, Alabama at Clear Spring Cemetery.