See All The Photo Highlights From All Three Days Of The Blue Angels
July 14, 2025
Huge crowds watched the Blue Angels and the Pensacola Beach Airshow this year, possibly setting record attendance records.
NorthEscambia was there with photographer Perry Doggrell bringing our readers exciting and unique photos for three days. The photos from Thursday were especially unique and unlike what local fans are accustomed to seeing, taken from on-board the USCGC Barbara Mabrity, the Coast Guard ship in the Gulf that serves as the center point for the show. Doggrell even caught a rare view of the Blue Angels’ Fat Albert and an osprey—not the military kind, but the bird.
Here’s a look back at the photos:
- Thursday Practice Show photos (from the USCG ship), click here.
- Friday Dress Rehearsal, click here.
- Saturday Pensacola Beach Air Show, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Head Into All-Star Break In First Place
July 14, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
After splitting the six game set in Columbus, the Wahoos head into the All-Star break in first place in the Southern League South division at 10-7 in the second half, and 44-42 overall.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Columbus Clingstones 4-1 in their final game before the four-day All-Star break on Sunday afternoon.
Dax Fulton (L, 4-7) made his 14th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos, and was tagged for four runs over 3.2 innings. The southpaw picked up seven strikeouts, totaling seven or more for the third time in 2025.
Columbus picked up a run in each of their first two trips to the plate, as David McCabe started the scoring with an RBI single up the middle in the first. Kobe Kato followed up in the second inning, sending a double out to right to bring home Cal Conley for the game’s second run.
The Clingstones picked up two more in the fourth inning, as Conley scored from third after Kevin Kilpatrick collided with Blue Wahoos shortstop Johnny Olmstead on a stolen base. Kilpatrick later scored on a single from Drew Compton to extend the Columbus lead to 4-0.
Cody Morissette knocked in the Blue Wahoos’ lone run of the afternoon in the seventh, serving a fly ball to shallow left field for a single to score Nathan Martorella.
Columbus starter Lucas Braun worked 3.0 perfect innings on four days’ rest before departing. Ian Mejia (W, 9-1) carried the load against the Wahoos on Sunday with three shutout innings in relief, while Brian Moran (S, 1) tossed two scoreless innings to finish the series.
The Pensacola bullpen hurled 4.1 innings of shutout work, as Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and Josh Ekness combined to give up only two total hits in relief.
Following the All-Star break, the Blue Wahoos will return to Pensacola for a three game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts starting Friday, July 18t
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Hit Two-Month Low, Rise A Few Cents Locally
July 14, 2025
On average, AAA says Florida drivers are paying the lowest gas prices in two months. The state average has declined for the past 10 consecutive days, falling a total of 19 cents per gallon.
On Sunday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Florida was $2.94 per gallon. That’s down 14 cents from last week, 2 cents below last month, and 58 cents less than this time last year.
In Escambia County the average per gallon price Sunday was $2.90, which is a couple of center higher than a month ago, but 43 cents lower than a year ago.
A low price of $2.72 was available Sunday at the warehouse clubs In North Escambia, Sunday’s low price was $2.79 at several stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Florida drivers may feel some relief from the recent downturn at the pump, but that break may not last much longer,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices in Florida often follow a pattern of falling for about 10 days, then spiking by as much as 20 cents. With oil and gasoline futures climbing again, it’s likely we’ll see upward pressure on retail prices in the coming days.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Thousands Attend Saturday Blue Angels Air Show (With Gallery)
July 13, 2025
Tens of thousands of people attended Saturday’s official Pensacola Beach Air Show.
The show featured demonstration aircraft and our very own Blue Angels.
For a photo gallery from Saturday, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click here.
Woman Charged With A Felony After Alleged Altercation With Escambia Deputy In Cantonment
July 13, 2025
A woman was charged with this week with an altercation with an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy in Cantonment.
Savannah Hale, 21, was arrested at her mother’s residence on Winners Circle in Cantonment after the altercation with law enforcement. The incident began when Hale called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report an unrelated matter but escalated into a physical confrontation with a deputy.
She was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer and later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
According to the arrest report, the deputy arrived at the scene and approached Hale, who was sitting in a white Hyundai Elantra. Upon rolling down the window, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol. The report states Hale exhibited signs of impairment, including slurred speech, unsteady movements, and glossy eyes. Concerned that she might attempt to drive, Deputy Hernandez asked her to step out of the vehicle and called for backup.
While waiting for additional units,Hale reportedly became argumentative and physically confrontational. She scratched the deputy’s left wrist and punctured his right cheek with a ring on her hand, the arrest report states. The deputy restrained Hale by forcing her to the ground, and she was subsequently handcuffed by another responding deputy.
Deputies said the vehicle Hale was in contained several empty alcohol containers, including Beatbox and Four Loko beverages.
Century Council Meeting Rescheduled
July 13, 2025
The next Century Town Council meeting has been delayed by a week.
The meeting was set for this Tuesday, but it will be held on July 22 because Town Clerk Carrie Moore will be at a conference.
The council normally meets twice a month — on the first and third Tuesdays — but the July 1 meeting was canceled with little to no business set for the agenda.
NWE 12U All-Stars Bag Groceries for Regional Tournament Trip
July 13, 2025
The Northwest Escambia 12U All-Star Baseball team bagged groceries at the Davisville Piggly Wiggly for about eight hours Saturday
They worked to raise funds for a trip later this week to the Southwest Cal Ripken Regional Tournament in West Monroe, Louisiana.
The NWE athletes could still use help with travel expenses; donations are also being accepted via Venmo @NWEbaseball.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Wins America’s Best Looking Cruiser Contest For The Third Year
July 13, 2025
For the third consecutive year, the Florida Highway Patrol has won the 2025 American Association of State Troopers (AAST) “Best Looking Cruiser” competition.
“This year’s photo captures the beauty of a Miami skyline sunset and showcases the strength of Florida law enforcement through our new Corvette, seized from a convicted drug trafficker as part of a joint FHP-DEA criminal investigation,” said Executive Director Dave Kerner.
The FHP submission this year was taken during an iconic Miami sunset with the Florida Highway Patrol’s very own black and tan Corvette. The Corvette was seized in a joint criminal investigation into a nationwide drug trafficking organization with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is currently being used at various outreach events to help bring attention to various traffic safety campaigns to reduce crashes on Florida’s roadways.
Wahoos Avoid No-Hitter, But Fall 2-1 To Clingstones
July 13, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos narrowly avoided a no-hit bid in a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Clingstones Saturday night.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, third baseman Josh Zamora broke through with an RBI double to center field against Zach Thompson (W, 1-0), allowing Nathan Martorella to score and ending the chance of the Blue Wahoos being no-hit for just the second time in franchise history.
Alex Williams made his first start at the Double-A level for the Wahoos and set a career high in strikeouts with nine. In a spot start in place of Futures Game participant Thomas White, Williams held the Clingstones scoreless across 5.1 innings without walking a batter.
The Columbus pitching staff matched the work of Williams. Right-hander Samuel Mejia went 5.0 innings without allowing a hit in his Double-A debut. Amos Willingham held the no-hit bid through 2.0 innings of work before Thompson entered in the eighth.
The Clingstones pushed across their two runs in the eighth. After a Drew Compton double and intentional walk, catcher Adam Zebrowski broke the scoreless tie on an RBI single to right and David McCabe scored on a wild pitch by Blue Wahoos reliever Gabe Bierman (L, 0-1).
The Blue Wahoos will finish their series against the Clingstones on Sunday. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. EDT/12:05 p.m. CDT.
Congressman Jimmy Patronis Files Amendment To Keep The Blue Angels In Pensacola Forever
July 12, 2025
Friday, Congressman Jimmy Patronis filed an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act, which prevents any funds in the Defense Appropriations Act from moving the Blue Angels from their base in Pensacola.
The Blue Angels have been a staple of Pensacola and the Emerald Coast for 70 years,” Patronis said. “To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Blue Angels calling this region home, I was proud to file an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act that simply ensures that no funding will be used to transfer the Blue Angels from their historic base in Pensacola. While there is no known risk of them leaving the Pensacola area, I wanted to take the extra step to make sure the Blue Angels remain here forever. The Blue Angels are awesome, creating economic opportunities and fostering a sense of pride throughout the community.”
As currently drafted, the Defense Appropriations Act also provides funding to increase Active-Duty base pay by 3.8%. The Defense Appropriations Act is expected to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives soon.
“The Defense Appropriations Act funds our military’s essential functions, including military personnel, operations and maintenance, Research and Development, and more. I’m proud to represent one of the largest military districts in the country, and numerous military facilities,” Patronis added. “As written, this year, the Defense Appropriations Act provides funding to increase the base pay for our military servicemembers by 3.8%. These men and women defend our country 24/7/365, and I’m grateful to Congress for showing some appreciation for our heroes in uniform and the sacrifices they make for our country.”
Pictured: The Blue Angels over Pensacola Beach on Thursday as seen from onboard a Coast Guard ship in the Gulf. NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.