Blue Wahoos Blanked In Columbus Opener
April 16, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their road schedule with a loss on Tuesday night, falling 3-0 to the Columbus Clingstones in the first game at the newly-renovated Synovus Park.
In front of an eager sellout crowd of 5,041 fans, the Clingstones (5-4) christened their new home with a combined four-hit shutout of the Blue Wahoos (7-3). Starter Blake Burkhalter (W, 1-1) was the star, fanning eight batters over 5.2 innings and leaving six Pensacola runners on base to squander early threats.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Jacob Miller (L, 0-2) did his best to counter, becoming the first Pensacola pitcher to complete 6.0 innings this season, but surrendered a leadoff walk to second baseman David Fletcher in the third that came in to score on a subsequent wild pitch for the only offense the Clingstones would need.
Columbus added two more runs in the seventh with RBI singles from Carlos Rodriguez and Cal Conley against reliever Ricky DeVito, extending their lead to 3-0. They then handed things off to nine-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel, who struck out a pair in a scoreless eighth in front of the delighted crowd. Kimbrel, 36, was added to the Columbus roster on Monday in his attempt to return to the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves.
Hayden Harris (S, 1) finished off the Blue Wahoos in the ninth, ending a memorable night for the Columbus fans. Synovus Park, formerly named Golden Park and originally opened in 1926, underwent an extensive renovation to meet modern MiLB standards and lure a Double-A franchise back to town for the first time since 1990.
Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack collected the first hit in the stadium with a single in the first inning. Jared Serna extended his hitting streak to a team-high eight games with a single in the seventh. Mark Coley II made a sprawling catch in the left field corner in the bottom of the seventh and rob Adam Zebrowski of a potential two-run double.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Wednesday night. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET/6:05 p.m. CT.
File photo.
Have You Seen The New FHP Corvette C8 Stingray?
April 16, 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol’s new sports car can go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and reach speeds up to 194mph.
Let’s say that again. 0-60 in 2.9 seconds.
It’s a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray unveiled by the FHP on Tuesday. And no, it was not purchased with taxpayer dollars. The car was seized by the FHP in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force.
FHP said the Corvette “will be utilized to support the Florida Highway Patrol’s mission of keeping our roadways and highways safe”. It will also be used at outreach and educational events and in recruitment efforts.
You won’t likely see the car on the roads in Escambia County anytime soon. It’s stationed with Troop F in Fort Myers.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also has seized Corvette. The ECSO 2016 Corvette Z06 C7 was a felony seizure from local drug dealers.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Roberts Road $4.6 Million Drainage, Widening Project Begins
April 15, 2025
An Escambia County $4.6 million West Roberts Road widening and drainage improvement project is now underway.
The widening and drainage improvements will be along a 1.75 mile stretch of West Roberts from the Highway 29 intersection west to the southernly turn to Sutton Place. The project intent is to widen the roadway to two 12-foot-wide travel lanes with 5-foot-wide shoulders from Pine Forest Road to Highway 29. The roadway from the southern turn to Pine Forest will be resurfaced and striped.
The $4,635,298.30 project funded the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was awarded to contractor C.W. Roberts, Inc.
The county said access to adjacent properties will be maintained, although there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance is blocked.
Pictured: West Roberts Road near Stallion Road. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
IRS Tax Deadline Was Extended For All Florida Residents
April 15, 2025
Taxpayers in Florida have until May 1 to file with the IRS.
Due to hurricanes that hit the state last summer, the IRS extended the tax deadline for all Florida residents and businesses until May 1, 2025. That gives residents of Florida, and other states including Alabama, a couple more weeks to file beyond the traditional April 1 deadline.
The IRS extended the tax filing deadline to May 1, 2025, for all Florida residents and businesses due to hurricanes Debbie, Helene and Milton that hit the state in 2024.
The automatic deadline extensions apply to all Florida counties and cover individual, corporate, estate, trust, partnership, S corporation, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns, along with other types of returns.
For more information from the IRS, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
What Is Your Church Doing For Easter? Share Your Events With Our Readers
April 15, 2025
What is your church doing for Easter?
NorthEscambia.com will provide free promotion for churches in North Escambia or North Santa Rosa counties in Florida, or Atmore or Flomaton in Alabama. If your church is having a special Holy Week, Good Friday and/or Easter service, or any other special service or event like an egg hunt, let us know!
We will share your information with thousands of readers across the area. We will list the services on our Events page free of charge, and we’ll be publishing a special story before Good Friday. Please try to keep your announcement for our events page to 75 words or less.
Send your announcement to news@northescambia.com or click here for our contact page. We will also be happy to publish photos after your event; email the photos to news@northescambia.com.
Pictured top and below: An Easter morning “Sonrise Service” at Pensacola’s Maritime Stadium. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball Beats Laurel Hill 15-0 In First Round Of District Playoffs
April 15, 2025
The Northview Chiefs opened the district tournament with a 15-0 run-ruled shortened four inning win over the Laurel Hill Hoboes Monday afternoon in Baker.
Jayden White earned the win on the mound for Northview. He gave p one hit and no runs in three and two-thirds innings while walking one and striking out seven. Jackson Bridges pitched a perfect one-third of an inning in relief.
Kelan Jury, Braynt Mason, Jase Portwood, and Brady Smith each had two hits for the Chiefs. Jury and Mason had three RBIs each.
With the win, the No. 3 ranked Northview Chiefs (11-1) advance to the FHSAA Rural District 1 semifinals on Tuesday against No. 2 Jay (13-10) at 4 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Lacrosse Slips To Gulf Breeze In District Semifinals
April 15, 2025
The Tate Aggies girls lacrosse team fell short 19-6 against No. 1 Gulf Breeze Monday in the semifinals of the 2A District 1 tournament.
The Aggies advanced in round one of the tournament with a 7-3 win over Milton.
Gulf Breeze will face Navarre on Thursday for the district championship.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Kingsfield Elementary Shines With Literacy Night (With Gallery)
April 15, 2025
Kingsfield Elementary School recently transformed into a hub of literary excitement last week, hosting a movie theme literacy night for enthusiastic students and families.
Students explored a multitude of interactive stations. From interactive literacy-themed games that sparked creativity to bookmark-making stations, there was something for everyone.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Tate High School Drama Department hosted a Reader’s Theater. The school’s Book Fair was also a popular destination, providing students with the opportunity to discover new literary treasures.
Cosmos Kids Yoga provided a wonderful opportunity for families to participate in healthy activities, and the STEAM booths brought hands on learning to the students.
Special guests included Escambia County Schools Superintendent Keight Leonard, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, and Bullwinkle from Sam’s Fun City.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Fire Marshal Investigating Early Morning Milestone Fire
April 14, 2025
One home and three vehicles were destroyed by a two-alarm fire early Monday morning in Milestone.
At 5:27 a.m., fire was reported in a single-story brick home on Milestone Boulevard that was threatening two nearby homes. Due to the significance of the fire and the exposure of nearby homes, a second alarm for additional units was issued. The other two homes were damaged by heat.
Crews battled the intense fire, eventually bringing the situation under control by 7:10 a.m. There were no injuries or fatalities.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.
The Ensley, Cantonment, Ferry Pass, Bellview, Beulah, Myrtle Grove, and Osceola stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County EMS.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Leads Emerge In Case Of Molino Man Believed To Be Murdered 20 Years Ago
April 14, 2025
New leads have surfaced in the case of a Molino Man that disappeared in 2004 and is now presumed dead, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and investigators recently conducted new interviews.
Timothy Allen Lamb was developmentally disabled, legally blind and suffered from a heart condition, according to the ECSO. He lived with his mother until 2003 and then lived with different friends in the Molino area. He did not work and did not drive.
Relatives last communicated with Lamb in 2004 due to “very strained family relationships,” investigators said in 2018.
In 2016, a relative tried to contact Lamb, but discovered that he was nowhere to be found, and he had not been seen by friends in years. He was last known to be living with a friend off Highway 97 in Molino in 2005. In February 2018, investigators said they had reason to believe he was murdered in 2005. A body was never found.
Investigators made the case public in September 2017 in an attempt to obtain more information.
According to the ESCO, new information was recently received about the case, and investigators travelled to Tennessee to pursue new leads. Additional information was not made available.
Search warrants were served in 2005 off Highway 97 at the home of Lamb’s friend, but the search did not produce a body. Additional search warrants were executed, and other properties were searched after owners gave consent. In 2018, deputies said there was concrete evidence of fraud in the case, along with element of foul play, but the statute of limitations passed without arrests.
However, there is no statute of limitations in Florida if the ECSO were to develop a murder suspect.
Anyone that knows anything about Lamb — whether recently or from years ago, the names of his friends, or any other information, is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
