Search Underway For Exotic South American Cat Missing From Molino Animal Sanctuary
June 6, 2025
A Molino animal sanctuary is searching for a missing exotic cat that they believe may have been intentionally released or stolen.
Jack is not just any cat — he’s a Geoffroy’s cat, a small wild cat that is native to the southern and central regions of South America. It’s an ordinary-sized cat; Jack is about seven pounds (about the size of an ordinary cat) and does not have a tail.
“His exhibit was vandalized,” Sunset Wildlife Director Margaret Lynd said Thursday evening. “He was either taken or was purposely released.” She said the top of his exhibit definitely appeared to have been pried open.
“We likely think he was released; there is a possibility that he has been stolen and taken by wildlife traffickers,” Lynd said. “However, we mostly believe it was probably maybe local teenagers or somebody in our area how wanted to just come in and cause havoc.”
Lynd has placed traps and cameras in the area around the sanctuary, which is located at 997 Cotton Lake Road, not far from the Camp o’ the Pines on Highway 29. She’s also reported Jack’s disappearance to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and she’s attempted to contact U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
She stressed that Jack is not dangerous to the public, but he may bite very forcibly if someone tries to capture him. The best thing, she said, is to report a sighting of Jack to Sunset Wildlife Connection at (850) 490-6917 or call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620, or FWC at (850) 488-4647.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show Is Saturday In Century
June 6, 2025
The 35th Anniversary Sawmill Festival and Car Show in Century is this 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.
Zamora’s Big Blast, Rosario’s Defense Lead Wahoos To Win Over Clingstones
June 6, 2025
The Blue Wahoos had their best run production Thursday in three weeks.
On a night with the first home-game rain daily this season – exactly one hour — it proved to be a good time for that to happen.
After scoring a pair of runs without a hit, Pensacola got a 3-run homer from Josh Zamora an inning later in the fourth to further build a lead and hold off the Columbus Clingstones 7-4 to take the team’s first mid-week lead in a series since April at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 3.948 on Mullet Thursday, which settled in seats after the rain ended and a brilliant rainbow was cast over the outfield, saw the team taking on its customary alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets. The fans watched several pleasing elements.
The Blue Wahoos (26-28) received a shining start from Evan Fitterer, who worked six innings, allowed just two hits, one run and struck out five for his best outing since April 24.
His efforts carried into the offense, which had seven batters reach base on seven hits, plus five stolen bases – one off the team record. It was the kind of complimentary production the Blue Wahoos have strived to seek, after picking up their third win in the last four games.
“There’s nothing like it,” said Zamora in an on-field post game interview. “One through nine it’s phenomenal when we all get going.”
Also phenomenal was a catch made by Blue Wahoos left fielder Dalvy Rosario, who got a late jump on a blast by catcher Adam Zebrowski. As the ball was going over the left field wall, Rosario perfectly timed his leap and came down with the ball in one of the best home-run-robbing catches seen in this ballpark.
Rosario also had a big night at the plate, reaching base three times, scoring two runs and driving in another run.
With none out, two on in the fourth inning, Zamora jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Columbus starter Lucas Braun, one of 10 Clingstone players rated among the Top 30 in the Atlanta Braves organization. He sent it 385 feet over the left field wall with an exit speed of 99.3 mph off the bat.
That home run, his fourth this season, provided a 5-1 lead.
“Just (looking for) something over the plate,” he said. “Trying to be aggressive and score some runs for the boys.”
The lead expanded 7-1 after seven innings, then got shaky.
A rare hiccup from the Blue Wahoos bullpen occurred when reliever Nigel Belgrave gave up three runs in the eighth inning. Columbus then had the tying run at the plate with two-on in the ninth when reliever Jesse Bergin ended the game by getting third baseman Keshawn Ogans to hit into a double-play.
It was the most runs the Blue Wahoos had scored since a 9-6 win May 15 at home against Rocket City.
The runs began in the second with consecutive walks to Johnny Olmstead and Mark Coley. The Blue Wahoos then pulled off a double-steal, including only the ninth home plate steal in club history, to get the first run. Coley then scored when he swiped third base and came home on a throwing error.
In the fourth, Kemp Alderman and Nathan Martorella produced consecutive singles before Zamora’s homer.
In the fifth inning, Alderman’s two-out single scored Rosario for the sixth run. In the seventh, Rosario drove home Coley.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos honored the Gulf Breeze High beach volleyball team that recently won its second consecutive state championship and finished ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.com, which is a national outlet devoted to high school sports. For the Dolphins, it’s back-to-back titles and No. 1 rankings. The 17-member team, including six seniors were honored along with head coach Chelsea Kroll and her two assistant coaches. Adding to the school’s feat, the beach volleyball team was started only three years ago without any prior history in the sport.
— The city of Crestview had its own special night Thursday at the game. Crestview mayor JB Whitten threw out a ceremonial first pitch, along with Crestview’s “citizen of the year” award winner. The Crestview chamber of commerce had 60 guests the city of Crestview had more than 200 guests.
— The W.S. Neal baseball team from Brewton, Alabama had its outing.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Friday Thru Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The games on Friday and Saturday will start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game will be a 4:05 p.m. start time.
Northview Names Justin Raley As New Head Baseball Coach
June 5, 2025
Northview High School has named Justin Raley as their new head baseball coach.
Raley is a familiar name in area 1A baseball — Justin Raley has been an assistant coach for the past three seasons at Jay, under the leadership of his father Duane Raley. Jay has made it to the regional finals in the past couple of seasons, after falling to Northview in the regional semifinals in 2022.
Raley said he took the Northview job with the blessings of his father.
“He told me that if I wanted the job to take it,” he said. “I felt like it was time for me to step out and do my thing.”
“I’m excited to get back in there and get rolling with the guys,” Raley said. “I know we’ve got a good group of guys; I coached many of them in middle school at Ernest Ward, so I’m excited to get with them and establish my philosophy of coaching and my philosophy of baseball.”
“I want our pitchers to be able to really compete on every count. I want us to be able to throw any pitch anytime. Our hitters to be known as guys that battle in the box, even in bad counts< he said. “We still fight for a quality of that to get a job done. I really I want to go in there and pretty quickly kind of establish my standard and my philosophy on the game.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Considers Updating Laws To Say ‘Gulf of America’
June 5, 2025
Escambia County is planning to change the wording in county ordinances to “Gulf of America”.
Tonight, the Escambia County Commission will vote to authorize a public hearing for July 10 to find out what the public thinks.
Currently, there are nearly two dozen ordinances — related to Perdido Key, dog parks, littering and more — that mention “Gulf of Mexico”.
The change would follow bills signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April changing Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America in textbooks and state law.
The county’s sign welcoming visitors to Pensacola Beach was updated to Gulf of America recently.
Blue Wahoos Honor Northview Lady Chiefs Softball Before 3-2 Loss To Clingstones
June 5, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos honored the Northview Lady Chiefs softball team before a 3-2 Wednesday night loss to the Clingstones.
The Chiefs reached the FHSAA Rural Softball State Championship game for the first time in school history, bringing home the state runner-up trophy. The young team with just one senior also won the first regional title ever for the school as they went 22-7 under the leadership of head coach Amy Holland.
Lady Chief Bailey Burkette and Mikayla McAnally threw out ceremonial first pitches for the Wahoos.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Snelling Strong, but Late Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Clingstones
Game summary by Willie Phaler
With two of the top arms in the Southern League taking the mound in Wednesday night’s game, a 3-2 win in favor of the Columbus Clingstones lived up to be a pitcher’s duel.
Pensacola’s Robby Snelling (L, 2-5) and Columbus’s Ian Mejia (W, 5-0) opened up the game with three scoreless innings, but the Clingstones were able to break through in the fourth.
With runners on first and second with two outs, Geraldo Quintero sent a single to right for an RBI, while Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. drove in a pair with a single of his own to put the Clingstones up 3-0.
The three runs in the fifth were all the damage the Braves’ affiliate was able to run up against Snelling, but also all they needed in the 3-2 win to even the series.
The highly touted southpaw’s line on the night consisted of 5.0 innings with three earned runs and three hits while punching out three hitters.
Kemp Alderman put the Blue Wahoos on the board in the bottom of the seventh, sending his sixth home run of the year out to left field. The longball extends Alderman’s hitting streak to 10 games, the longest by a Blue Wahoos player this year.
The scoring in the seventh didn’t stop there for Pensacola. After a Nathan Martorella double against Mejia, Columbus manager Cody Gabella went to the bullpen for sidearming right-hander Jose Cuas. Mark Coley II sent a triple to left-center on the third pitch from Cuas, scoring Martorella and bringing the Wahoos within one.
After walking Johnny Olmstead to give Pensacola runners on the corners with one out, Cuas escaped after picking up a strikeout and a flyout to center.
Lefty Hayden Harris entered for the Clingstones in the eighth and picked up his third save of the year as he provided two innings of hitless ball to shut down the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola’s bullpen shined once again, as the trio of Luis Palacios, Lane Ramsey and Ricky DeVito combined for four innings of shutout pitching, allowing just one hit in relief.
With the series tied at one apiece, Pensacola will take on their alternate identity, the Mulltets, and send out Evan Fitterer (2-4, 3.40 ERA) to take on Lucas Braun (3-1, 4.08 ERA).
For a photo gallery, click here.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The games on Thursday through Saturday night will all start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game will be a 4:05 p.m. start.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Take Stock in Children Of Escambia County Awards $350,000 In Scholarships
June 5, 2025
Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded over $350,000 in scholarships before the last day of school at the “Graduation & Unsung Hero Celebration”.
The event honored 26 graduating seniors who received four-year tuition scholarships and a laptop computer. Also recognized were all of the volunteer mentors of our students as well as scholarship donors.
The 2025 Take Stock in Children graduates were:
- Northview High: Genesis Scott-Johnson and Laura Laborde;
- T ate High: Caine Carter, Jayda Fillingim, Adrianna Middleton, Ceth Morris, Kaylyn Weiss;
- Escambia Virtual: Halana Werts;
- Escambia High: Xandria Smith;
- Pensacola High: Michael Combs;
- Pine Forest High: Izaiah Cubias, Raven Falzone, Callum Fletcher, Bethany Gurley, Andrew Moles;
- Washington High: Retag Abdelhamid, Jayden Brown, Kyleigh Cox, Azarria McGhee;
- West Florida High: Allison Banks, Shynia Bowie, Nyking Curry, Landon Green, Tyrin Joiner, and Jared Long.
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. The program provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Students are selected through a need-based application process in middle school, and comprehensive services continue through high school and include the students’ transition into college. Students receive a college scholarship, a caring volunteer mentor, and college readiness skills.
Scholarships are funded through a unique public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when scholarships are purchased each year.
Century Town Council Looking For Ways To Get Splash Pad Repaired
June 5, 2025
The Century Town Council is looking for ways to get the town’s splash pad up and running.
“See if there are any extra funds for upgrading the splash pad, because that is a great asset to this town,” former Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said from the audience. “There’s nothing for the kids to cool down, especially when they have little league softball tournaments and all that stuff out there.”
Town Clerk Carrie Moore said she went to the splash pad in Showalter Park with town employees because she was in contact with someone from another city that could potentially make the repairs. However, she said they were unable to evaluate the splash pad problem due to the lack of electricity. She said a control panel at the softball fields caught fire and was not replaced, cutting electricity to the splash pad. In addition, the splash pad may have been struck by lightning.
“So at this point, we can’t even truly diagnose the splash pad,” Moore said.
“You have an outside electrician coming in to do it, or are y’all depending on the current staff to do it out there?”, Gomez asked. “That there is the problem.”
Moore said that she understood a town staff member was certified to do the work, but she believes the repair job should be outsourced — both fixing the softball field electrical problem and then repairing the splash pad.
Interim town manager Howard Brown said the town should get three quotes from licensed contractors and not rely on staff.
“If y’all get it working, that’s great, but in the near future, can y’all see about getting an upgrade because it’s very weak, but better than nothing,” Gomez added.
Century’s splash pad first opened in 2017, funded by a $50,000 state grant. It’s been non-functional for about a year.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
ECSO Searching For Endangered Cantonment Man Missing Since March
June 5, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man missing and endangered who was last seen in March in Cantonment.
Keondre Williams, 23, was last seen March 15 in the 2600 block of South Highway 95A in Cantonment. He is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 125 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black jeans, a black shirt, a green sweatshirt, and black slide shoes.
The ECSO said Wednesday that they have been actively investigating this case since Williams went missing. They are asking anyone with information to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
One Injured In North Highway 99 Rollover Crash
June 4, 2025
A 17-year-old was injured in a two vehicle rollover crash on Wednesday morning in Oak Grove.
According to witnesses, the adult female driver of a Toyota Rav4 failed to stop at a four-way stop at the intersection of North Highway 99 and Highway 164 shortly before noon. She collided with a white Buick LaCrosse that was traveling through the intersection after stopping. The collision caused the Buick to overturn.
The 17-year-old female driver of the Buick was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital for evaluation with injuries that were not believed to be serious.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
