Escambia County Honors Late Baseball Hall Of Famer Don Sutton, Former Molino Resident
May 7, 2021
The Escambia County Commission issued a proclamation Thursday night honoring the late baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and former Molino resident Don Sutton. He passed away in January at age 75.
Members of Sutton’s family and members of the 1962 Tate High School baseball state championship team stood by as District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry read the proclamation and presented it to Don Sutton’s brother, Ron Sutton. (Read the complete proclamation below.)
“When Don talked about coming back here, he was coming home,” an emotional Ron Sutton told the commission. “The thing is his career is a testament to my mom and dad who taught us if you have a good work ethic, and you try hard enough, anything is possible.”
About the family’s move to Molino in 1950, Ron Sutton said, “My daddy always said we came to the land flowing with milk and honey, and I believe that.”
Sutton was born April 2, 1945, in Clio, Alabama. He attended Molino Junior High School for nine years and graduated from Tate High School as the Class of 1963’s “Most Likely to Succeed.” He played basketball, football and led two Aggie baseball teams to two state championship games. In 1962, he pitched 13 innings for the Aggies in their state championship win
During his career as a right-handed pitcher, he won 324 games, including 58 shutouts and earned the seventh place spot on baseball’s all-time strikeout list with 3,574. Sutton played over a decade with the LA Dodgers, and also played for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s and California Angels before returning for one last season with the Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
“My mother used to worry about my imaginary friends ‘cause I would be out in the yard playing ball,” Don Sutton said in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 1998. “She worried because she didn’t know a Mickey, or a Whitey, or a Yogi, or a Moose, or an Elston, but I played with them every day.”
Sutton also had a successful 29-year broadcasting career, working for major networks including TBS and NBC, along with the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.
The Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino is named in his honor, and a portion of Highway 29 in Molino is known as the Don Sutton Highway. There is also a display devoted to Sutton in the Molino Museum in the Molino Community Complex.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are wearing the number 20 on their uniforms this season to honor Sutton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Regional Softball: Chiles Eliminates Tate; Jay Tops Freeport By 10
May 7, 2021
Region 1-6A
Chiles 5, Tate 1
The Tate Lady Aggies fell behind early in a 5-1 Region 1-6A quarterfinal loss Thursday at Tallahassee Chiles.
Abbie Burks allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, walking one.
Michayla Kent led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-3 with one run. Hannah Halfacre and Courtney Adams had one hit each for Tate.
Chiles will host Lincoln in the regional semifinals on May 11.
Region 1-1A
Jay 11, Freeport 1
The Jay Royals beat Freeport in the Region 1-1A semifinals 11-1 Thursday night in Jay.
Mattie Cochran earned the victory for Jay, going give innings, allowing one run and three hits will striking out nine and walking one.
Caitlyn Gavin (pictured above) had a fifth inning home run for the Royals. It was her ninth dinger of the season.
Brett Watson went 3-4 for the Lady Royals, and Audrey Barnes was 2-3 the plate. Jay also had hits from Gavin, Ella Nelson, Cochran, Madison Mathis and Kassidy Nevels.
Jay will travel to Holmes County on Tuesday in the regional finals.
Pictured: Caitlyn Gavin had a fifth inning home run for the Jay Royals Thursday night, her ninth homer of the season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Celebrates Northview Chiefs Baseball As They Head Into Regionals
May 7, 2021
Many of the little league players at Northwest Escambia (NWE) in Walnut Hill dream of one day playing baseball for the Northview High School Chiefs.
The NHS Chiefs are headed into the first round of regional playoffs Friday night. So Thursday night, the NWE players decided to celebrate them and wish them the very best.
NWE players presented each district champion NHS Chief with a goody bag that included treats like sports drinks and sunflower seeds, inspirational quotes, and notes of encouragement.
Northview will host Paxton at 7 p.m. Friday in Bratt. The winner will face either Jay or Holmes County in the regional final on May 11.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Concrete Pours Completed On The Last Two Spans Needed To Open Pensacola Bay Bridge
May 7, 2021
Work is continuing on repairs to the Pensacola Bay Bridge, and the Florida Department of Transportation says they are still on track to open two lanes of traffic on the bridge the week of May 31.
Overnight concrete pours are completed on the last two spans before the bridge can open.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Take Two On The Road Over Mississippi
May 7, 2021
The Blue Wahoos swept a doubleheader over the Mississippi Braves Thursday. The Wahoos won the first game 5-1 and shut out the Braves 6-0 in the second. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Names New Fire Chief
May 6, 2021
Escambia County has named a new fire chief.
Jason Catrambone will join Escambia County on June 14 with more than 25 years of experience as an accomplished chief fire officer, including more than 18 years of command-level experience.
As the Escambia County fire chief, Catrambone’s duties will include supervising fire rescue staff, providing oversight and directing the implementation of internal operations, managing expenditures to the approved annual budget, developing goals and objectives and ensuring compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Escambia County’s last fire chief, Rusty Nail, was hired in April 2018 and resigned in April 2019.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to join the Escambia County Fire Rescue team and Escambia County community,” said Catrambone. “I’m looking forward to working with this motivated group of men and women to continue to serve the residents and visitors of Escambia County dutifully and honorably.”
He currently serves as the fire chief for the City of Williston, N.D. and has certifications as a hazardous materials incident commander and strike team task force leader. He earned an associate degree from Columbia Southern University and has continued coursework there toward a Bachelor of Science in fire service administration with an expected graduation date this year. He received an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
“Chief Catrambone brings the wealth of knowledge and a breadth of experience to this position that we were looking for,” said Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. “We’re excited to welcome him to the team.”
“We look forward to Chief Catrambone leading ECFR with his vast understanding and knowledge of firefighter personnel management,” said County Administrator Janice Gilley. “His 25 years of experience tell a story of dedicated and unceasing commitment to excellence and public service and we welcome him to the team.”
“I am very happy a new fire chief has been selected,” said Chairman and District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender. “This is the first step in elevating Escambia County’s fire service. There is still a lot of work to do, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Catrambone is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and previously served on the board of directors. He recently accepted the role of International Association of Fire Chiefs international director.
Catrambone was selected from a pool of 108 cumulative applicants for the Escambia County fire chief position after a thorough review process. The selection process included phone and in-person interviews, a tour of Escambia County Public Safety and a meet and greet with staff.
Century Council Rejects Mayor’s New Hires — For The Second Time
May 6, 2021
The Century Town Council has once again rejected the hiring of two employees recommended by the mayor.
In March, the council refused to approve the employees hired by the mayor because he violated the town’s charter. The charter states that the mayor will present his employee selections to the town council to be approved or denied. The council can only vote yes or no on the mayor’s choice; the charter does not give the council any authority to hire anyone not recommended by the mayor.
At a March meeting, the council turned down the employees because Boutwell had already hired them without their permission and voted to re-advertise the entry-level service worker and citizen services clerk jobs.
This week, Boutwell brought the same two employee choices back to the council, but a motion to hire them failed due to the lack of a second.
Council president Luis Gomez expressed concern that the clerk applicant had actually submitted her resume and application in November, months before the positions were advertised.
Gomez said he had personally contacted the references listed by the service worker applicant and had found he was terminated for just cause and was not eligible for rehired by a former employer. Gomez made additional disparaging comments about the individual.
The council provided no next step for the hiring process. Under the town charter, Boutwell can continue to come back to the council for approval of his choices, whether they be the same or different individuals.
The service worker the mayor hired has nine years experience as millwright at a lumber mill, five years in maintenance at a chemical plant, and six years in home construction. The office worker selected by Boutwell has almost 20 years experience at an area bank as a bookkeeper, loan assistance, teller and accounts payable clerk, and holds an associate degree from Pensacola Junior College.
Pictured: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell (above) and council president Luis Gomez (below) debate the hiring of two new employees. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Highway 297A Fully Reopened After Repairs
May 6, 2021
Highway 297A near Highway 97 in Cantonment fully reopened about 1:30 Thursday afternoon after being closed for repairs.
The northbound lane of Highway 297A just north of the intersection was closed about 7 a.m. Thursday.
Temporary repairs were made Wednesday after an existing depression in the roadway worsened about daybreak.
Pictured: Work Wednesday morning on Highway 297A. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Proclamation Honors Town’s Clerks During Municipal Clerks Week
May 6, 2021
Century Mayor Ben Boutwell has issued a proclamation recognizing the town’s clerks during Municipal Clerks Week. Pictured are (left to right) Town Clerk Kim Godwin, Boutwell, Billing Clerk Toni Simmons and Administrative Clerk Emily Easterling. Also honored was Deputy Clerk of Finance Kristina Wood (not pictured.) Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview And Jay Athletes Headed To State Track And Field Finals
May 6, 2021
Athletes from both Northview and Jay High schools will compete in the state track and field finals.
Jay will complete on Friday in Class 1A, and Northview will compete in Class 2A on Saturday. Both finals are at the University of North Florida Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville.
From Northview:
- Sarius Davis will complete the 100 meter and the 400 meter sprints (pictured top left).
- John Michael Ward will complete in the shot put (pictured top right)
From Jay:
- Jillian Thornton, ranked first in the state, will complete in the high jump. She also set a new school record at regionals (pictured below left).
- Issac Black will compete in pole vault (pictured below middle).
- Landry Cato will compete in pole vault (pictured below right).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
