Blue Wahoos Renovate Field At Bradberry Park In Walnut Hill
August 12, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos renovated a youth baseball field at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill
“I would say we have done pretty well, considering everything,” said Dustin Hannah, the Blue Wahoos head groundskeeper, who led an effort of a dozen co-workers of men and women, all of whom novices in baseball field repair.
Hannah’s direction, his patience, helped make the group effort so much easier.
Since the Blue Wahoos’ inaugural 2012 season, the team has made it a community service priority to each year help renovate a youth baseball field within the Escambia or Santa Rosa County area.
The day is chosen during a break in the home schedule. The field is chosen through nomination of youth baseball organizations providing a video, or photos of why a particular field needs help. The process is vetted through an on-site visit before a venue is chosen.
“It’s all part of us giving back to our community,” said Donna Kirby, the Blue Wahoos vice president of operations. “The first year (2012) we did a field in Pensacola near downtown and we’ve then gone throughout the area. Last year, we did a field in Century.
“In a way, it’s kind of our payback to the sport. These are little kids now who are playing baseball on these fields. And who knows if they will grow up continuing to play baseball, and there’s always that chance one of them can become a professional player and maybe play in Blue Wahoos Stadium.”
The field upgraded is used by the Cal Ripken-Babe Youth Baseball league, which has kids from Walnut Hill and nearby Bratt playing in various age groups.
“Any type of help for non-profits like ours is welcomed, especially with ballfields,” said Bonnie Maughon, board member with the league, whose son, Walker is a Tee-Ball player. “The income you get to run the games is all that you have. Any extra help you receive is a real blessing.”
The Blue Wahoos staff, which included Kirby and team president Jonathan Griffith all pitched in to help during two different work shifts.
“It’s just a big group effort to at least get it to where we’re at right now,” said Anna Striano, the Blue Wahoos merchandise manager who coordinated the community service project, during a lunch break. “And you want to leave it better than you found it.”
Hannah transported a small trailer with hand tools and power tools he uses on Admiral Fetterman Field at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“We had a lot of grass to take out in the infield area, but I think we’re good,” he said. “These (youth league) fields, it’s not as in-depth work than it would be on a professional field.”
Maughon said she was scrolling Facebook when she saw the Blue Wahoos notice reaching out to youth leagues for nominations on field renovation. Striano started the process in June, then chose Bradberry Park in late July.
“I was really looking for ways to get help,” Maughon said. “We’re very thankful to be chosen. It’s very special. The fields are maintained by volunteers and it’s not easy.
“This year our president said we have enough kids for three T-Ball teams, but we needed one more volunteer coach to do it. And my husband stepped up.”
Hannah will follow up with the league’s director with tips on how to maintain the fields. It’s been done each year with various other fields the Blue Wahoos have helped to renovate.
It’s part of the team’s mission statement to improve the quality of life in Pensacola and the surrounding area. The field renovation was another way to help make that happen.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Reminder: All Students At 45 Escambia Schools Will Receive Free Lunch, Breakfast
August 12, 2019
Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students, regardless of income, during this school year at 45 schools in Escambia County.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program means that parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Meal program at that school. However, siblings attending schools not on the CEP list will need to apply for eligibility.
The free meal schools are selected upon income levels.
Participating schools are:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Bellview Elementary
Bratt Elementary
Brentwood Elementary
Byrneville Elementary
C.A Weis Elementary
Ensley Elementary
Ferry Pass Elementary
Global Learning Academy
Holm Elementary
Jim Allen Elementary
Lincoln Park Elementary
Lipscomb Elementary
Longleaf Elementary
McArthur Elementary
Molino Park Elementary
Montclair Elementary
Myrtle Grove Elementary
Navy Point Elementary
Oakcrest Elementary
Pine Meadow Elementary
Pleasant Grove Elementary
Scenic Heights Elementary
O.J. Semmes Elementary
Sherwood Elementary
Warrington Elementary
West Pensacola Elementary
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Bellview Middle
Beulah Middle
Ernest Ward Middle
Ferry Pass Middle
Jim Bailey Middle
Warrington Middle
Workman Middle
High Schools
Escambia High
Northview High
Pensacola High
Pine Forest High
Washington High
OTHER SCHOOLS AND CENTERS
Camelot
Capstone
Escambia Westgate Center
Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
Success Academy
Lakeview Center
CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Man Accidently Shoots Himself Saturday
August 11, 2019
An adult male was seriously injured when he accidently shot himself in the lower leg Saturday morning.
Escambia County EMS was dispatched to the Escambia River Gun Club on Rocky Branch Road about 11:15 a.m. Saturday. It was not immediately clear if the injury occurred at the gun club or at a nearby location.
The man, reportedly in his 60’s, was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert with injuries that did not appear to be life threatening.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Provides Free School Supplies
August 11, 2019
The Cantonment Improvement Committee held a back to school bash Saturday.
The group distributed backpacks and schools supplies and provided a free lunch at Carver Park in Cantonment.
The event was made possible by community partners including Ascend Performance Materials, International Paper and the Cantonment Rotary Club.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
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Lightning Strikes McDavid Home
August 11, 2019
A McDavid home was struck by lightning late Saturday afternoon.
It happened about 5:30 p.m. at a two story home on Lambert Bridge Road near Pine Barren Road.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded and found evidence of a lightning strike, but no fire. There were no injuries reported.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Haas Center Conducting Century Survey, Holding Focus Group Meetings Tuesday
August 11, 2019
The University of West Florida Haas Center will hold focus group sessions Tuesday to survey Century area residents on community goods and services needed in the area, and an online version of the survey is also available.
The survey is available now at Haas.uwf.edu/CenturySurvey. The focus group meetings will be held at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. at 4400 Hecker Road.
The survey is part of a $24,500 marketing study funding by the Escambia County Commission.
Back To School: What Time Does Your Child’s School Start And Release?
August 11, 2019
School begins Monday, August 12 in Escambia County.
For a printable school start and release time schedule, click here. The schedule includes complete details such as drop off times, bus departure schedules and early release times.
Crary Road Bridge Replacement Project Completed
August 10, 2019
Work is now complete on a $776,874 Florida Department of Transportation project to replace the current bridge on Crary Road over Pritchett Mill Creek near Century.
The work involved replacing the current bridge structure with a box culvert, paving the roadway approaches, and improving drainage. Crary Road had beenen closed between Tedder and Byrneville roads since November 2018 for construction.
NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Back To School: Here Are Printable School Supply Lists
August 10, 2019
School begins Monday, August 12 in Escambia County. Here are the school supply lists for elementary and middle schools:
For the Escambia County elementary school supply list, click here.
For the Escambia County middle school supply list, click here.
(High schools do not have a general supply list. Students are advised of their supply needs in each class.)
Rescue Clear: Escambia Emergency Dispatcher Retires After 30 Years
August 10, 2019
A voice that has been on the other end of 911 in Escambia County for 30 years retired Friday afternoon.
William “Bill” Jordan has answered and dispatched thousands upon thousands of 911 calls in Escambia County.
His three decades of service was to come to an end with one last radio call. He turned to the microphone and paused. Then he turned his head way, laughed and turned back to the microphone.
“This is Escambia County Fire Rescue Communications Center, Pensacola, Florida. The following dispatcher is out of service. 2826 (his radio number). Clear, Rescue clear at at 16:57.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Alright,” he said with a sigh. Three decades were over. So he thought.
“Squad 3 Escambia.”
“Squad 3,” Bill answered.
“Godspeed.”
He stood up, walked away and then turned to look back at the dispatch desk. And the radio calls kept coming from fire stations across the county.
“Ladder 13 Escambia.”
“Ladder 13,” he replied.
“Good luck. Thank you for your service.”
Engine 17. Ladder 13. Engine 14. The radio calls continued with best wishes.
“I really wasn’t expecting all this,” he said to those in the dispatch center.
“1803 Escambia.”
“1803?”
“Thank you for you service. Enjoy your retirement sir.”
“901 Escambia.”
“All units standby,” Bill said. He looks at the dispatch computer. A structure fire call on Creighton Road was coming in.
“Let’s do it,” Bill said as he hit the dispatch tones that alerts fire stations needed for the call. Like a ship’s captain at the helm, he settled into his chair, and soon begin to dispatch fire engines to the fire.
“….commercial structure fire,” Bill said as he went back work serving Escambia County’s citizens.
Pictured top: William “Bill” Jordan on his last shift, ending a 30-year career as an Escambia County dispatcher. Pictured inset: Bill reacts as he signs off the last time. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
