Amy McCrory Named New Bratt Elementary School Principal
June 16, 2021
The Escambia County School District has named Amy McCrory as the new principal at Bratt Elementary School.
McCrory is retiring at the end of June as principal of Monroeville Elementary in Monroeville, Alabama. She has worked in education Monroe County for over 25 years, serving as an elementary and middle school teacher, high school administrator, a district curriculum director and as a principal.
“I want to say how excited I am to meet my new children and just become a member of that community in Bratt,” she said.
McCrory’s appointment was confirmed Tuesday night by the Escambia County School Board.
Bratt’s previous principal, Karen Jeanene Hall, has retired.
School Board Gives Nod To Updated Progression Plan With No Change To Valedictorian And Salutatorian Awards
June 16, 2021
The Escambia County School Board voted Tuesday night to move forward with advertising updates to the Student Progression Plan, with no change to the current practice of naming a valedictorian and salutatorian at each of the county’s high schools.
In a proposal presented to the board at a Monday workshop, Lesa Morgan, the school district’s director of high school education, had requested the elimination of the valedictorian and salutatorian awards beginning with the Class of 2025.
After public outcry overwhelmingly against the idea, Superintendent Tim Smith removed the section from the plan before it was approved Tuesday night.
For more information on the original plan and board member comments, click or tap here for a Monday NorthEscambia.com story.
Nick Fortes Provides Walk-Off Blast In Ninth For The Blue Wahoos
June 16, 2021
His previous at-bats Tuesday night had left Blue Wahoos catcher Nick Fortes frustrated at himself.
One sweet swing in the ninth inning changed that feeling.
Fortes squared up on a 3-1 fastball and powered it over the left-center wall for a two-run, walk-off, home run that lifted the Blue Wahoos to a dramatic 5-4victory against the Montgomery Biscuits and wowed a bayfront stadium crowd staying around to see it happen.
It was the first time in his career Fortes ended a game with a home-run stroke.
“It is honestly kinda crazy,” said Fortes, who also drove in the Blue Wahoos second run on a fielder’s choice play. “You kinda black out for a little bit rounding the bases.
“I remember hitting first and a snap of the fingers I’m already at home greeting my teammates. It is a pretty cool feeling.”
This became the Blue Wahoos (22-15) third walk-off win in 19 home games. It continued the team’s success in one-run games. They are now 11-4 in that category after Tuesday’s series-opening win. The teams will continue a six-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium through Sunday.
“It’s exciting. It makes for some really good baseball games,” Fortes said. “You can just tell the intensity picks a little bit once we get to the later innings.
“Obviously we would like to have those at-bats through the entire game, but it is really encouraging to see us not do so well early on, but then be able to lock it in, and put together good at bats later in the game and pull out some wins.”
While Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Jeff Lindgren gave up four runs in his five innings, he avoided worse damage in the second and fourth innings after yielding home runs.
The Biscuits (16-20), the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate, took a 3-0 lead in the second on shortstop Ford Proctor’s 3-run homer that kept carrying until clearing the left field wall.
Leadoff batter Garrett Whitney hit a solo home in the fifth. Three Blue Wahoos relievers produced shutout innings. Zach Wolf earned his first win by stranding Whitney at third base in the top of the ninth after he was hit by a pitch, advanced on a wild pitch, then moved to third on a groundout.
The Blue Wahoos got a pair of runs in the fourth on JJ Bleday’s double and Fortes’ one-out grounder. They got another in the eighth when Demetrius Sims hit into a double-play with runners on the corners.
In the eventful ninth, after Bleday grounded out, Jerar Encarnacion singled off Biscuits reliever Ivan Pelaez. Up stepped Fortes, who worked a 3-1 count and saw a 88-mph fastball that he left no doubt where it was heading after contact.
“It was a great feeling. My first three at-bats weren’t my best,” Fortes said. “Just really happy to go up there and put a good swing on one and send us home with a win.
“Honestly, we just had a feeling we were going to get ‘em in the ninth. A bunch of the guys were like, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’re going to get them.’
“From the seventh inning on we had some good at-bats. Everyone just had a feeling we were going to make some noise in the ninth.”
The Blue Wahoos had several roster moves prior to the game, led by the arrival of pitcher Edward Cabrera, the Miami Marlins No. 4 rated prospect by MLB Pipeline. The move provides the Blue Wahoos with three of Miami’s top four rated prospects in 2021.
Outfielder JJ Bleday (No. 2) and pitcher Max Meyer (No. 3) are the others.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer.
ECUA Lifts West Nine Mile Road Boil Water Notice
June 16, 2021
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has lifted a precautionary boil water notice that was issued Saturday for customers along West Nine Mile Road from Pine Forest Road To Beulah Road.
Results of all independent bacteriological samples have returned as clear, ECUA said.
ECUA crews completed repairs Saturday to a 16-inch pipe in the area.
Sheriff Says Shooter Targeted House In Molino Homicide, No Suspect Yet
June 15, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation into a Molino murder, and they believe the house where the man was shot was intentionally targeted early Tuesday morning.
The ECSO responded to the 5500 block of Cedartown Road just off Highway 95A about 1:45 a.m. Monday where they found a 21-year old man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died, accord to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We do not think it was random,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons told NorthEscambia.com “We believe the shooter or shooters intentionally went to that residence, walked around to the side of the house and shot multiple rounds through the window.”
There were three adults in the room at the time, the sheriff said, but only the victim was hit by the gunfire.
“We still have a number of investigators on the case,” Simmons added.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Pauses Removal Of Residents From Century Home, Giving Them A Chance To Pay Back Taxes
June 15, 2021
Escambia County has paused their move to force the residents out of a home in Century; instead the county is working with family members and giving them a chance to reclaim the property.
The property at 511 Hecker Road escheated to the county in January, becoming county property after taxes were not paid for seven years. In April, the county commission voted to authorize the County Attorney’s Office to take necessary action for the removal of the occupant and any abandoned property or vehicles.
The total amount owed in taxes and fees as of January was $22,516.71, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford. The taxes were owed by joint property owners Shawanda Newton, Latoya Redmond, Lalita Simpson, Earwin Newton and Amber Redmond, according to the tax deed.
Shawanda Poindexter said in a May email to the county that the home was left to her and her siblings after their mother passed away.
“Give me time to pay this so me and my siblings can redeem the property please,” Poindexter told the county commission.
“There is a clear defined process through statute that they have the ability to square up what was owed,” Barry said at a May BOCC meeting. “I know the board has no intent of evicting people from property if they are willing to catch everything up.
The Tax Collector’s Office calculated the amount owed, if paid by June 30, to be $9,611.01. Florida law allows the process by which the property can be redeemed with previous penalties waived.
Pictured: Shawanda Poindexter appeared by the Escambia County Commission in May. Pictured below: The property at 511 Hecker Road in Century. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vehicle Overturns On Highway 97 In Walnut Hill Late Monday Night
June 15, 2021
A driver escaped serious injuries in a single vehicle wreck late Monday night on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
The male lost control on Highway 97 just south of North Highway 99, striking a utility pole and a fence as he vehicle overturned. The driver was not around when first responders arrived, but was brought back to the scene in a private vehicle.
Highway 97 was temporarily closed due to power lines down across the roadway, and Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported 32 customers in the area lost power.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash about 11:35 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Tate Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp
June 15, 2021
The Tate High School Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp is coming up the last week of the month, and now is the time to register.
The registration forms and payment are due by Wednesday, June 23. The camp will take place at Tate Monday, June 28 through Wednesday, June 30 from 8 a.m. until noon each day. The camp Tate Aggies cheerleaders will each atheletes the property stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques and motion placement, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. There will also be fun games, engaging activities, snacks and drinks.
For registration information, click or tap here.
District 5 Commissioner Barry To Hold Town Hall Meeting In Molino
June 15, 2021
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry will host a town hall meeting on Monday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Molino Community Center.
Residents are invited and encouraged to attend the open forum event.
The Molino Community Center is located at 6450 Highway 95A.
Pictured: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry at February 2019 town hall meeting at the Molino Community Center. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Eric Randall Sworn In As New Pensacola Police Chief
June 15, 2021
Eric Randall was sworn in Monday as the new chief of the Pensacola Police Department.
Randall was selected as the police chief in May after a nationwide search, public participation and thorough review by the selection committee and mayor.
“I am so honored to have been chosen as the Chief of Police for the Pensacola Police Department, and I look forward to all the amazing things we will do together,” he said. “PPD is the key to making Pensacola a safe place to live, work, visit, and raise a family. In order to achieve this goal, we have to work as an innovative and collaborative team. We will work hard together to lead our department and city into the future.”
Randall was the assistant chief with the Newport News Police Department. He is originally from Pensacola and graduated from Washington High School.
