FHP Trooper Narrowly Avoids Crash; Other Driver Charged With DUI
June 4, 2025
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper narrowly avoided a crash on Davis Highway before arresting a woman for DUI.
It happened about 10:15 p.m. when the trooper almost hit a silver sedan that violated the right of way, turning directly into the trooper’s parth, according to FHP.
After the close call the trooper immediately conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.
To see the video, click here for our Facebook page.
The driver, identified as 37-year-old Jennifer M. Starnes of Somerville, Tennessee, was charged with driving under the influence.
Photo courtesy Florida Highway Patrol for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE 12U All-Stars Win At Regional Championships
June 4, 2025
The Northwest Escambia (NWE) 12U All-Star team won the gold bracket championship in the NCS Florida Panhandle All-Star Regional Championship. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Recapture Winning Formula In Series-Opening Victory Over Clingstones
June 4, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos have started June by replicating the elements which won in the past.
Getting stellar pitching and defense, combined with the kind of timely, two-out hits missing in May, the Blue Wahoos put back-to-back wins together following Tuesday’s 4-2 victory against the Columbus Clingstones to begin a homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
After ending a franchise-record 11-game losing streak Sunday in Montgomery, the Blue Wahoos were again sharp when needed Tuesday.
They twice tied the game with solo runs, then got a go-ahead run in the sixth and another in the seventh.
Meanwhile, their bullpen was a beast. Three relievers, beginning with winning pitcher Josh White, who worked two innings with six strikeouts, combined to allow no hits, one walk and struck out nine of the last 12 Columbus batters they faced.
“Everything was working tonight, I was just trying to fill up the zone and now we’re on win streak,” White said.
Closer Josh Ekness earned his fifth save by striking out the three batters he faced with 11 strikes on 12 pitches. The Blue Wahoos have the lowest bullpen earned run average in the Southern League.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” White said. “Any guy that goes into the game is going to perform, going to do his role and we’re going to give our team the best chance to win.”
For perspective, the Blue Wahoos won back-to-back games just once in May, after doing it frequently in April.
“It’s good,” White said. “It was nice to end last week with a win and start this week with a win, so we’ll just try to continue it.”
The Clingstones, the Atlanta Braves’ new Double-A affiliate in Columbus, Georgia, are making their first trip to Pensacola as a relocated affiliate team.
They took a 1-0 lead in the third off Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller when Miller uncorked a wild pitch to score Kobe Kato, who had led off with a single and stole second.
The Blue Wahoos answered right back in the bottom half of the inning when Dalvy Rosario hit his second homer of the season over the left field fence.
Columbus regained the lead on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. In the fifth, the Blue Wahoos tied it when Jared Serna singled, stole second and third and scored on Kemp Alderman’s two-out single.
It was another big game for Alderman. He went 2-for-3, reaching on a walk as well, drove in two runs and made a sensational running catch in foul territory from right field in the eighth inning – hitting the netting to record the inning’s final out.
The Blue Wahoos got their lead in the sixth when Josh Zamora singled, and scored on Shane Sasaki’s double. Alderman then added an insurance run with his two-out RBI single in the seventh to score Serna, who had tripled with one out in the inning.
GAME NOTABLES
— Two Crestview middle schools, Shoal River and Davidson, combined to perform the National Anthem in a massive gathering of band members behind home plate. They had a group outing with parents and school faculty totaling 140 fans on one of the party decks.
— Tuesday’s game was the “One Price Tuesday” promotion where all ticket purchases received a voucher for a hot dog, chips and soft drink.
— For the second time this season, right fielder Kemp Alderman won Southern League player of the week honors. After struggling at the plate in recent weeks, Alderman went 11-for-23 during the series against Montgomery with a triple, homer, and three RBI, along with a stolen base. He first won the award on April 7, following the season-opening series.
— The Blue Wahoos were glad to see May go by. The team’s 7-20 record was their worst in any month since becoming a Miami Marlins affiliate in 2021 and was the second-worst percentage wise in club history.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Columbus Clingstones vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday Thru Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: The games on Wednesday through Saturday night will all start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game will be a 4:05 p.m.
Escambia Mosquito Control To Spray Tonight In Beulah
June 3, 2025
The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division will conduct fogging missions today in the Beulah area.
See the maps for more detail. This includes the areas roughly bounded by:
Area 31A
- North: West Nine Mile Road
- South: Hurst Hammock Road
- East: Woodside Road
- West: Western way
Area 32 East
- North: Interstate 10
- South: Mobile Highway
- East: Eleven Mile Creek
- West: Beulah Road
Area 32 West
- North: Interstate 10
- South: West Nine Mile Road
- East: Beulah Road
- West: Ruby’s Fish Camp
Mission hours vary, but typically occur in the evening hours from 6-9:30 p.m. All operations are dependent on weather conditions.
When possible, pre-application and post-application surveillance is performed to ensure fogging is warranted. Methods used to determine need include dry ice-baited light traps, landing rate counts, and service requests received from the public.
Walnut Hill Woman Passes Away Following Alabama Traffic Crash
June 3, 2025
A Walnut Hill woman has passed away from injuries received in an Alabama traffic crash.
Mary Ria Michele Burt, 62, was critically injured on May 15 in Monroe County, Alabama, when the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan she was driving left the roadway, struck a culvert, and overturned, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Troopers said Burt was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected.
Burt was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she passed away on May 30, troopers said Tuesday morning.
The crash occurred on Butler Street near Matheny Road, approximately eight miles south of Frisco City in the Goodway community.
It’s Been 36 Years Since A FHP Trooper Was Killed In Cantonment; A Portion Of Highway 29 Is Dedicated To Him
June 3, 2025
This week marked 36 years since a n Florida Highway Patrol trooper was killed in a wreck in Cantonment.
In late 2019, Highway 29 from Neal Road to Nine Mile Road wasd esignated as the “Trooper Milan D. Hendrix Memorial Highway”.
Hendrix was on routine patrol duty about 10 p.m. on the night of June 1, 1989, when he was involved in an accident with a log truck on Highway 29.
He was southbound in front of the paper mill in Cantonment as an empty log truck turned onto Highway 29. The patrol vehicle went under the trailer. Witnesses said he may have been in a pursuit at the time.
At the time of his death, Trooper Hendrix was 37 years old and had served the residents of Florida with the Florida Highway Patrol for nine years. Milan Hendrix’s brother, Marque Hendrix, was also a FHP trooper that patrolled North Escambia county. He has since retired after 30 years on the force.
Century Sets Timetable For Hiring A Town Administrator
June 3, 2025
The Town of Century has set a timetable for hiring a town administrator who will work as the chief operations officer of the town and carry out the mayor and town council’s initiatives. The town administrator will report directly to the elected mayor and work in close coordination with the town council.
According to the job description, the salary range for the position is $112,000 to $137,000, with the likely offering salary between the minimum of $112,000 and the midpoint of the range, or about $124,500.
An applicant will be recommended by a selection committee that includes Mayor Ben Boutwell, council members John Bass and Henry Cunningham, interim town manager Howard Brown, and key staff members. Brown has stated that he will not apply for the town administrator position. According to the town charter, the final hiring recommendation to the council must come from the mayor.
The timetable states applications will be accepted until June 28, with application reviews from July 1-7. Interviews are tentatively set for July 15, with a finalist selected by July 22. After contract negotiations, the formal appointment by the town council is set for August 5, with the first day on the job set for August 12.
Pictured: Century interim town manager Howard Brown says he is not applying for the open town administrator position. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Five Scholarships
June 3, 2025
The Barrineau Park Historical Society recently presented five scholarships.
Recipients were:
Katie John Crow, a 2025 Tate High graduate, received a $1,000 Bernice and Bill Vaughn Scholarship. “KJ” has been very active and received many accolades from her four years at Tate. She plans to attend Coastal Alabama Community College on a tennis scholarship.
Laney Clarke was the recipient of a $1,000 Barrineau Park Historical Society scholarship. She was homeschooled and was a dual enrollment student at Pensacola State College. Laney has been very active in Escambia County 4-H and Girl Scouts Gateway Council and plans to attend the University of South Alabama majoring in marketing.
Josiah Rogers is a winner of a $500 Haupert Scholarship. He was a homeschooled senior who was dual enrolled in Pensacola State College. Josiah’s activities include Escambia 4-H, martial arts, piano, and setting up his own lawn service. He plans to attend the University of West Florida in September and major in mechanical engineering.
Laura Laborde was a Northview High senior and received a $500 Jennings/Crabtree Scholarship. She also has taken college courses through dual enrollment at Pensacola State College. Laura is a ballet dancer and teaches her art to younger students. She plans to attend the University of West Florida in the fall and major in nursing.
Ryan Clarke is the winner of a$500 Lynda Minchew Scholarship. She was a homeschooled senior who was dual enrolled at Pensacola State College and has been accepted to Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.
She plans to major in criminology and “catch the bad guys” as she said.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Community Revival Continues Tonight At Carver Park
June 3, 2025
A Cantonment Community Revival is going on each night this week at Carver Park.
The event is sponsored by the Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) and the North Escambia Fellowship of Churches.
The Cantonment Community Revival schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday, June 3: Rev. Leon Bell, Associate Pastor Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment
- Wednesday, June 4: Pastor Gene McCants, Providence Baptist Church
- Thursday, June 5: Brother Vincent Wilson, Deliverance Tabernacle
- Friday, June 6: Youth Night with Pastor Robert Gross, Back to the Cross Christian Center
- Saturday, June 7: A Family and Friends Fellowship Day will wrap up the week from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The revival is taking place under the big tent in Carver Park, 208 Webb Street in Cantonment.
Pictured: The first night of the Cantonment Community Revival Monday night at Carver Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Faculty, Students Develop Software That Analyzes Security, Privacy Levels Of Mobile Apps
June 3, 2025
University of West Florida faculty and students have developed software that analyzes the security and privacy levels of mobile applications.
Dr. Hossain Shahriar, associate director and professor for the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity, and his graduate students have developed a platform that evaluates how well thousands of mobile applications are securing users’ personal information.
“Many times now, before a doctor’s appointment, you will be told to go fill out your information on the apps,” Shahriar said. “That’s fine, but that is protected health information; so what we are doing is researching whether these apps are secure and compliant with HIPAA, the federal law restricting the release of medical information, when storing your data.”
Shahriar’s goal is for the platform to help companies be proactive in enhancing their app’s security level before deploying it. He also hopes it will help individuals understand the risk factor level of each app when inputting their information. The app uses a scale of low, medium, high and critical when testing vulnerabilities. It also includes vulnerability and risk breakdowns.
“For example, if the meter shows 87% risk factor, then the user knows they should not be using that app,” Shahriar said. “Why? Because if they put their social security number in there, it is probably being disclosed as plain text and the encryption is not there.”
The project has been funded by a two-year $545,000 National Institutes of Health Small Business Technology Transfer grant that Shahriar received in 2023 in partnership with Ubitrix, Inc. Shahriar said when the project began a couple years ago, he could not find anything similar in the market that would analyze apps and give a score based on their compliance with privacy laws. He said the project has involved building new algorithms, as well as static and dynamic analysis techniques. Abdul Barek, graduate research assistant in UWF’s intelligent systems and robotics doctoral program, has been the lead student developer on the project since its inception. Other project members include Md Bajlur Rashid, Md Mostafizur Rahman, ABM Kamrul Riad and Md Abdur Rahman.
“We saw some vulnerabilities in some of the popular apps from the marketplace; it was amazing to see that we discovered that from our work,” Barek said.
Shahriar said the platform has not just been used to run security risks for medical information but also general information of thousands of applications that are developed in different popular platforms like Android, iOS and more. According to Shahriar, at least one Fortune 500 company has used the app and found some holes in the security of their app. The currently deployed tool can be publicly accessed and tested on hipaachecker.health. The tool currently supports Android app, iOS app and web apps, while a new Large Language-based module to recommend the discover insecure code fixing is in the development process.