Blue Wahoos Stadium Named America’s Best Double-A Ballpark
July 10, 2020
Pensacola’s Blue Wahoos Stadium has been named the 2020 Ballpark Digest “Best of the Ballparks” champion at the Double-A level, earning the title through a national fan vote that attracted over 80,000 votes. The five-round competition featured all 30 Double-A Minor League Stadiums in a single-elimination bracket decided by fans. Pensacola won the title of Best Ballpark by besting “Hodgetown”, the ballpark of the Amarillo Sod Poodles, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres and the 2019 Best of the Ballparks champion, in the championship round.
“We’re very excited to bring the title of Best Ballpark back to Pensacola,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “Our mission as an organization is to improve the quality of life in our community, so it’s an honor for us to bring this recognition to our city. While we’re proud to have a great ballpark, we’re even more proud to have such incredible fans who voted us to the title.”
Pensacola’s road to the title included a win over Bowie’s Prince George Stadium in the opening round, victories against Biloxi’s MGM Park and Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium, both Southern League opponents, in the second and third rounds, a tightly contest win against Corpus Christi’s Whataburger Field in the semi-finals, and a resounding 54%-46% win in the championship against Hodgetown.
“Despite all the bad news, the Blue Wahoos ownership and management have responded with verve and imagination, refusing to let down their fans,” Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard said in a release by the publication. “The win in the fan vote against such a tough foe really shows how loved the Blue Wahoos are in the community.
Built in 2012, Blue Wahoos Stadium has established itself as one of the nation’s premier facilities over the past decade, winning three Southern League Ballpark of the Year Awards and previously winning the Ballpark Digest Best of the Ballparks contest in 2016. A multi-use community ballpark, the stadium hosts over 200 events each year including Blue Wahoos games and University of West Florida football games.
Another Staff COVID-19 Case Reported At Century Prison
July 10, 2020
Another staff member at Century Correctional Institution has been confirmed positive for COVID-19, but there have still been no positive inmate cases.
There are now six positive correctional workers at Century CI, up five earlier in the week. Nine inmates have been tested. Seven have received negative results and two area awaiting their test results. Five inmates are being monitored in medical quarantine, according to a report from the Florida Department of Corrections. There have been no inmate deaths related to coronavirus at CCI.
The FDC has reported 2,460 inmates and 722 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 statewide. There have been 28 inmate deaths.
At Blackwater Correctional Facility in Milton, which is operated by the GEO Group, a total of 101 inmates and 17 staffers have tested positive. Another 1,824 inmates were negative.
Two Pedestrians Killed In Two Different Escambia County Crashes
July 9, 2020
Two pedestrians were killed in Escambia County in two separate crashes in two days.
Beverly Parkway Pedestrian Fatality
A pedestrian was killed about 3:45 a.m. Thursday on Beverly Parkway at Palm Court. The Florida Highway Patrol said the male was crossing Beverly Parkway and walked into the path of a car driven by a 27-year old Pensacola woman. The victim was thrown into the the path of a car driven by a 26-year old Louisiana man.
The age and and other information about the pedestrian was not yet known.
Miller Street Pedestrian Fatality
A 63-year old female was walking across Miller Street near Park Street when she walked into the path of a car driven by a 36-year old Pensacola man at 5:49 p.m. Wednesday. The female did not survive.
The FHP no longer releases the name of anyone involved in a traffic crash.
43 Escambia County Employees Are Currently COVID-19 Positive, 90 More Awaiting Results
July 9, 2020
Escambia County reported an increase in the number of employees that are currently COVID-19 positive.
On Wednesday, there were 43 positive employees, or 2.15% of the workforce, up from 35 on Tuesday. Another 90 employees, 4.51%, of the county’s workforce of 1,997, were awaiting their test results.
The latest data shows 21 positive corrections employee out of a workforce of 574, one in Animal Services, two in ECAT, two in Human Resources and Risk Management, seven lifeguards, eight EMS workers and one in emergency dispatch. The numbers were current cases of Wednesday, not historical cumulative counts.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Century Looking To Lease Large Industrial Building
July 9, 2020
The Town of Century is seeking lease proposals for a 40,390 square foot building in the town’s industrial park.
Known as the Helicopter Technology Building — named for the defunct company that was based there — it has been empty since 2008.
The town is still footing the bill for utilities, insurance, maintenance and other costs for the vacant property, and they are looking to turn it into a positive cash flow and create jobs along the way.
Lease proposals will be accepted until 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 6. Proposal requirements include the proposed monthly lease fee, desired start day, and number of employees associated with the proposed lease. The town council will review the proposals and reserves the right to reject any or all of them. Click or tap here for the complete requirements and procedure (pdf).
In 2017, the building was appraised for $550,000 with a fair market rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month). The office and warehouse space has full climate control, sprinkler system, new HVAC and energy efficient lighting.
Last Potential Lessor Was Rejected
The most recent company seeking to lease the building was rejected by the town council.
In May 2019, West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who were in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company offered an $8,000 deposit, pay the first month’s rent in advance, and pay for any upgrades to the building. At the end of the lease term, they would have had the opportunity to buy the building for $100. The building would have been used primarily for cotton storage.
A motion by then council member Ben Boutwell to proceed with negotiations and work on an agreement failed on a 3-2 vote with council members James Smith, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Luis Gomez voting against. The dissenters expressed objections against the business because it would likely not create any jobs.
“I don’t see the benefit for us,” Smith said at the time. “Where’s the employment?”
Smith and Gomez expressed concerns at the May 2019 meeting that if the council were to lease the building below market value, the town would not have any available industrial space if another company wanted to located in Century with new jobs.
“Someday it could produce jobs, even it’s 10-15 jobs for Century,” Gomez said.
“Let’s talk about y’all’s track record and my track record,” Baxley said after pointing out that no company had seriously considered the building in the past decade but he had developed several similar properties. “For 46 years now, I’ve been making payroll.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reminder: COVID-19 Testing Available Friday In Century From Community Health
July 9, 2020
Community Health Northwest Florida will offer COVID-19 testing in Century on Friday.
The drive-thru/walk-up testing will be available Friday from 9 a.m. until noon on East Hecker Road at the Head Start building (former elementary school). A photo identification is required. The testing is available to any Escambia County, Florida, resident of any age, regardless of symptoms. There is no pre-screening required.
Testing will be provided weather permitting while supplies last.
According to Community Health:
- The tests are no-cost to the individual. If you have health insurance, your insurance will cover the cost. If you do not have insurance, you can still be tested free of charge. Bring an identification and insurance card (if you have insurance).
- Testing is not a doctor visit. You will not receive a medical examination. Community Health will only be collecting a specimen to send to a lab for processing, and then you will be free to go.
- Once your test is complete, is it critical that you go home and self-isolate, wear a face covering and keep way from other people (including family members) to the best of your ability until results are known.
- Community Health will call to share test results when they are available along with instructions on what to do next. They should have a good working contact number for you. They will not leave test result information on a voicemail message.
Pictured: Community Health Northwest Florida COVID-19 testing in Century on May 13. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Krul Lake And Other Blackwater Forest Facilities Will Remain Closed Due To Coronavirus
July 9, 2020
The Florida Forest Service (FFS) has announced several popular recreation facilities in the Blackwater State Forest will remain closed due to COVID-19.
Last month, the FFS announced that group recreation areas located at state forests would reopen on July 10 with a limited capacity of 50 people.
But due to the exponential increase in COVID-19, group recreation areas and other select areas will remain closed until further notice. All reservations through August 31 will be fully refunded, and no new reservations will be accepted until further notice.
In the Blackwater State Forest area, the following will remain closed:
- Krul Recreation Area
- Krull Campground
- Sweetwater Trail
- Clear Creek OHV Campground
Pictured: Krul Lake. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment, Farm Hill Neighborhood Cleanup Is Friday; Get Rid Of Yard Debris, Junk For Free
July 9, 2020
Residents of the Cantonment and Farm Hill areas will have the opportunity to dispose of yard debris and other items free of charge Friday, July 10 during a neighborhood cleanup.
Only residents in the designated cleanup area cam participate in the neighborhood cleanup. Items left at the curb outside of the area will not be collected. The general cleanup area is east of Jack’s Branch Road and north of Pine Lane Drive. Click or tap the map above to enlarge.
All debris must be at the curb directly in front of a residence by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. Do not place piles under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes.
Items eligible for removal include:
- Household appliances and electronics
- Yard waste
- Household junk and debris
- Bicycles and toys
- Old furniture and mattresses
- Barbecue grills
- Household hazardous waste (old paint, motor oil, chemicals, batteries)
- Tires (limit 10 per household)
Items NOT eligible for removal include:
- Building materials (concrete, bricks, blocks, roofing, drywall or lumber)
- Explosives or ammunition
- Auto parts
- Dirt or sod
- Vehicles or vessels
- 55-gallon drums of fluids
Two 5,000 Pound Food Giveaways Planned At Escambia Chapel AME Zion Church
July 9, 2020
Two 5,000 pound food giveaways at the Escambia Chapel AME Zion Church.
The giveaways will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. or while supplies last on both Friday, July 10 and Monday, July 13. The Church is located at 2901 East Johnson Avenue in Ferry Pass, but the events should be entered from Caminetti Street.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
18 Escambia County Inmates Housed In Walton County Test Positive For COVID-19
July 8, 2020
Eighteen Escambia County inmates being housed in the Walton County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19.
Wednesday night, the Walnut County Jail said they have received the first round of test results for 58 inmates in the facility. Those results revealed 38 positive cases and 20 negative results.
Of the positive inmates, 18 are Escambia County inmates.
Another 38 test results are pending.
For questions, call the Escambia County Jail at (850) 436-9650.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.