Florida Forest Service Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Application Deadline Is June 18
June 13, 2021
Applications close Friday, June 18 for the 2021 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program for non-industrial, private forest landowners. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the U.S. Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who have overstocked pine stands and need to conduct a first thinning. In addition, it offers partial cost reimbursement for activities that can mitigate SPB activity, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
To obtain an application or to learn more about the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, visit FDACS.gov/SPBPrevention.
The southern pine beetle (SPB) is one of the most economically devastating forest pests in the Southeastern United States, with periodic outbreaks destroying thousands of acres of pine timber. The last major SPB outbreak in Florida, between 1999 and 2002, caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses on over 24,000 acres. The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program promotes forest management practices that reduce the risk and impacts of SPB infestations. Since it was first offered in 2005, the program has been implemented on more than 197,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners.
NWE 8U Baseball Wins District Championship
June 13, 2021
The Northwest Escambia 8U Baseball All-Stars won the district championship Saturday with a 9-3 win over Flomaton. With the win, NWE advances to the state tournament in Theodore, Alabama on June 26. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Offense Sputters In 6-1 Loss At Chattanooga
June 13, 2021
The Blue Wahoos offense sputtered again for the Wahoos as they fell 6-1 to the Lookouts on Saturday night at AT&T Field.
In another highly anticipated pitching matchup, neither starter turned in the performance many expected.
Jake Eder (L, 1-2) battled with his command early in his start and was tagged with a pair of runs in the first inning. Chattanooga would add another run in the second inning to make it 3-0. Eder finished the night with six innings pitched and allowed four runs (3ER) with two walks and five strikeouts. He tied his career-high with 88 pitches.
Eder—who entered today’s start with the lowest ERA in the Double-A South—now has an ERA of 1.26, which is the second-lowest in the league.
Chattanooga starter Nick Lodolo looked poised to turn a solid inning up until an injury derailed his outing. Lodolo had seven strikeouts 3.1 innings before a 2-1 slider to J.D. Osborne forced the former first round pick to exit the game due to injury.
After Lodolo left the game, the Lookouts used four different relievers to hold the Blue Wahoos to one run despite having 10 hits on the night. Pensacola went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 14 men on base.
Offensively, JJ Bleday led the way for the Wahoos tallying three hits on the night while Nick Fortes went 2-for-5. Pensacola avoided being shutout for the second night in a row courtesy of a sac fly to right field by Jerar Encarnacion in the top of the ninth inning.
The series concludes tomorrow afternoon before the Wahoos return home to Pensacola. LHP Brandon Leibrandt (1-3, 8.17) gets the green light for the Wahoos and he will be opposed by Randy Wynne (1-1, 6.14). First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 PM CT.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Youth Director Accused Of Hiding Camera In Church Bathroom Now Charged With Child Pornography Possession
June 12, 2021
The youth director arrested a week ago for allegedly recording people with a hidden camera in a church bathroom is now charged with possessing child porn.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators served a search warrant at the home of 37-year old David Patrick Nims located in the 7400 block of Hidden Valley Road after arresting him for video voyeurism.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Calvary Baptist Church on Pine Forest Road after a hidden video surveillance camera was located in a bathroom on June 7. Nims served as the volunteer youth director at the church.
Electronic devices which were seized during the search of Nims’ home, and a laptop containing more than 100 child pornography files discovered, according to the ECSO. Investigators said none of the child victims in the files appear to have a local connection but instead it appeared the images were downloaded from the internet.
Nims was charged with possession of child pornography, in addition to the original charge of second degree felony video voyeurism by a person 18 or older, who is responsible for the welfare of a child younger than 16. The ECSO said more charges could be added as Special Victims Unit investigators continue to analyze additional digital files.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said anyone that believes they may be a victim of Nims, or knows that someone that may be a victim, is asked to call them at (850) 436-9620.
Lane Closures This Week On Highway 29 Cantonment To Molino As Construction Nears Completion
June 12, 2021
The Florida Department of Transportation said drivers can expect possible delays Monday through Friday on Highway 29 between Molino and Cantonment.
FDOT said motorists will encounter intermittent day and night lane closures on Highway 29 front just south of Muscogee Road in Cantonment to Highway 97 in Molino. Contractors will be performing striping operations, signal work, and other miscellaneous items needed complete the project.
Pictured: Highway 29 just south of Well Line Road in Cantonment, as seen Saturday, June 11. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier Expected To Open In Two Weeks After Repairs
June 12, 2021
Temporary hurricane damage repairs on Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier will begin Monday, June 14. The repairs are expected to be completed within a couple of weeks.
“Public Works is working diligently to reopen the fishing pier at Casino Beach as soon as possible,” said Chairman and District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender. “I am really looking forward to seeing anglers return to this recreational amenity on Pensacola Beach.”
After meeting onsite with FEMA representatives about Hurricane Sally damage, the county received approval to move forward with these temporary repairs. Escambia County is also working on receiving approval from DEP for temporary repairs to the walk overs at Park West.
Tax Collector to Resume Driving Skills Exams At Marcus Pointe Office
June 12, 2021
Driving tests for new drivers are transitioning back to the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office at 6451 North W Street on June 21, according to Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
Since April 2020, the tests have been administered at an outdoor range in downtown Pensacola in order to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 for the public and for staff.
For new drivers, an appointment is not required. The queue for driving tests will be open at the Marcus Pointe location from 8:00 a.m. until3:30 p.m. The virtual queue is available by choosing “Join the Line” at EscambiaTaxCollector.com. Once all available openings have been filled, the line will close for the day.
Driving tests resulting from a medical review or multiple crashes will be administered at the Warrington office, located at 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A. Driving exams for medical reviews or multiple crashes will require an appointment. To schedule an appointment for a medical or crash related driving test, email ectc@EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Lookouts Edge The Wahoos In A Pitching Showdown
June 12, 2021
Lookouts win 1-0 on Robinson’s solo home run
In a highly anticipated pitching showdown between two of baseball’s top prospects, the Lookouts edged past the Wahoos 1-0 on Friday night at AT&T Field.
Hunter Greene (W, 5-0), the league leader in wins and strikeouts (60) took the mound for the hosts against Wahoos ace Max Meyer. It was matchup that featured a second overall pick in 2017 (Greene) and a third overall pick (Meyer) in 2020.
The pitching matchup lived up the hype, as evidenced by the final score.
Meyer lasted only five innings on a night where his command at times tried to betray him. During his outing, Meyer yielded four walks and only struck out three, but escaped peril numerous times throughout his start.
In the bottom of the first, the Lookouts loaded the bases with only out. Meyer fell behind Brian Rey 3-0; however, Rey hit into an inning ending double play on a 3-0 fastball to end the threat. In the second inning the Lookouts had runners on first and second with two outs before Meyer induced a groundout to end the inning. Meyer ran into the same issue in the fourth, but stranded two more base runners when Leonardo Rivas ended the inning with a groundout Lazaro Alonso.
Despite the nine strikeouts from Greene, the Wahoos had chances to score against the Reds top pitching prospect.
In the top of the first inning, Jerar Encarnacion doubled to right and Nick Fortes walked to set up first and second with two outs. The inning came to an end when Greene struck out Alonso with a 101 mph fastball. In the fourth, the Wahoos opened the inning with back-to-back walks against Greene. Unfortunately for the Wahoos, the rally would go no further as the right-hander retired the next three Wahoos in a row to end the inning.
The only offense in the game came after Meyer departed the contest. Zach Wolf (L, 0-2) surrendered a solo home run to Chuck Robinson to put the Lookouts 1-0. That was the only hit the Wahoos bullpen allowed on Friday.
In the top of the ninth inning against another former first round pick, Pensacola got the tying run in scoring position against Nick Howard S, 3). After a walk to Riley Mahan, the Wahoos used Jhon Nunez as a pinch runner, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. The game came to end after Howard struck out Peyton Burdick to end the game.
Saturday night will feature another star-studded pitching matchup at AT&T Field. LHP Jake Eder (1-1, 0.61) will face LHP Nick Lodolo (2-0, 1.01). Eder has the second-lowest ERA in all of MiLB, and Lodolo was the seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU.
by Chris Garagiola, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
File photo.
FDOH Moves To Weekly COVID-19 Reports; 68 Additional Cases In Escambia County
June 12, 2021
There were 68 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
FDOH released its first COVID-19 report Friday since the state moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report that no longer contains any data on out of state residents that tested positive or died in Florida. Local data is limited only to number of cases and positivity rate; the number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities has been removed.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 33,028 (+68)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 2.9%
Current Hospitalizations: 15 (-2)
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,423 (+84)
Positivity Rate Last Week: 2.3%
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 2,300,786 (+12,157)
Case positivity rate: 3.4%
Deaths: 37,265 (+40)
Woman That Drove Truck Into Lake Facing Unrelated Grand Theft Auto, Burglary Charges, ECSO Says
June 11, 2021
The woman the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says drove a truck into a lake near Century evening has been arrested on unrelated charges for allegedly stealing a Jeep.
Tammy Sue Amerson, 50, was arrested Wednesday on charges of grand theft auto, burglary of an unoccupied vehicle and trespassing after a warning for two earlier incidents. She is not currently facing any charges for the lake incident.
Amerson allegedly took a Jeep Patriot from a residence on Briggs Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue in Century. The owner said he heard his dog bark about 10:30 p.m. the night of June 1, and he found his Jeep Patriot missing the following morning. The vehicle owner said the keys were in the unlocked Jeep, but he had not give anyone permission to use it.
Later that night, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Amerson’s residence in Bratt after she reportedly told a relative that she stole a vehicle and hid it in her garage, according to an arrest report.
Deputies located the vehicle hidden in a garage at the back of he property, the report states, and Amerson spontaneously stated that she borrowed the vehicle from the victim on Briggs Boulevard after talking to him.
Amerson was also charged in connection with a trespassing incident on May 31 at a relative’s home. Amerson was previously trespassed warned from the property by the ECSO but was discovered covered with a blanket asleep on the woman’s front porch swing, according to the arrest report. The victim stated Amerson was “talking and acting crazy,” the report states, and she fled into a wooded area.
Tuesday evening, June 8, Amerson drove a pickup truck into a gravel lake on Bluff Springs Road just west of the Escambia River in the Bluff Springs Recreation Area. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office dive team responded and by late Tuesday night had determined that no one was inside the truck. Authorities don’t know why she drove into the lake, the ECSO said.
In May, Amerson was charged with felony grand theft after allegedly selling a boat motor online but never delivering it to the buyer. [Read more...]
Amerson remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $15,500.