One Airlifted After E-bike Incident In Cantonment
April 14, 2025
A bicyclist was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital following an incident on an e-bike late Sunday afternoon in Cantonment.
The adult was found with critical injuries in the area of Well Line Road and Lakeview Avenue at about 5:45 p.m. They were airlifted with critical injuries by Aircare helicopter to a Pensacola hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the incident, but it did not appear the e-bike was involved in a collision, and it had no obvious damage. There were no other vehicles believed to be involved.
FHP is continuing their investigation and has not released any additional information.
Saturday afternoon, a 45-year old man was critically injured in Cottage Hill after crashing his e-bike into a pickup truck. [More info...]
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Cheerleader Alexis Hudson Signs With University of South Florida
April 14, 2025
Tate High School cheerleader Alexis Hudson signed on Friday afternoon with the University of South Florida. She has been a four-year Tate varsity cheerleader and captain. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century 14U Blackcats Take Second In Escambia/Santa Rosa Tournament
April 14, 2025
The 14U Century Blackcats took second place in the Escambia/Santa Rosa County mid season tournament. The Perdido Lady Rays won first place. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Reports Raw Sewage Spill At Apartment Complex
April 14, 2025
The Town of Century reported a 250 gallon untreated wastewater spill Sunday at a local apartment complex.
The spill occurred between 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. at the Century Woods Apartments at 20 West Highway 4.
None of the sewage was recovered, but the town did apply lime, according to a reported filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Management.
Fast Start, Strong Relief Give Blue Wahoos Series Win Over Biscuits
April 14, 2025
by Bill Vilona
Getting a fast start Sunday proved enough for the Blue Wahoos to finish a nine-game, season-opening homestand in a desired position.
After scoring three runs in the first inning, then taking a 4-0 lead into the middle innings, Blue Wahoos pitcher Luis Palacios was flawless in a rare relief role to seal a 4-3 victory and series win against the Montgomery Biscuits.
A crowd of 4,457 on a postcard perfect setting at Blue Wahoos Stadium watched the Blue Wahoos win for the fourth time this week and start their season at 7-2 before the first road trip.
“I’m very pleased,” said Blue Wahoos first-year manager Nelson Prada, saluting his players. “They played hard every time. They’ve come out with a good work ethic. They want to come and play the game hard every day and that’s a big thing for me.”
This was the second Family and Military Sunday. The big crowd amid perfect weather included children running the bases following the game and families catching soft baseballs in the outfield for 30 minutes.
Palacios entered the game to start the seventh inning and did not allow a hit. A one-out walk in the ninth inning was the only base runner he allowed. The lefty finished the game with a strikeout and a ground ball to earn his first save in four years and only third of his professional career.
He’s been primarily a starter since 2021, including Tuesday night’s series opener against the Biscuits. He worked four innings in that game, allowing four hits and a run in a game the Blue Wahoos went on to win – matching their best start in franchise history.
He breezed through the Biscuits lineup Sunday, not long after Montgomery rallied for three runs in the fifth inning to chase Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, who had been strong to that point.
Ortiz-Mayr allowed only one hit and three walks until the fifth inning. But two walks and three singles resulted in a big inning for the Biscuits. Zach McCambley followed and gave up a run-scoring hit, but ended the inning and pitched a scoreless sixth inning to set the table for Palacios to finish.
The Blue Wahoos began their first inning with the first three batters reaching and scoring. A wild pitch scored Jared Serna with the first run after he had led off with a single. Mark Coley II had the biggest hit with his two-run double.
“The one thing that stands out for me (in the first nine games) is that different hitters have done something every day,” Prada said. “So it’s not the same guy every time. A different hitter every day for me is big.”
A familiar guy, Kemp Alderman, who has been a big hitter in a bulk of games, produced again Sunday with a two-out single to score catcher Sam Praytor, who had singled earlier in the team’s at-bat.
But from that point, the Blue Wahoos had only two hits and three baserunners in the last seven innings.
The Blue Wahoos will now have Monday off before taking their first road trip, which will be a historic one. The Blue Wahoos will be in Columbus, Georgia, as the Southern League’s new team the Columbus Clingstones have their home opener in remodeled Synovus Park.
The stadium, which opened in 1926 as Golden Park and included Babe Ruth as one of the stars of yesteryear to play there, underwent a $50 million renovation to become the Atlanta Braves’ relocated Double-A affiliate. It will be a return of affiliated baseball to Columbus, which had teams from 1969 through 2008 in consecutive fashion.
GAME NOTABLES:
- Kazoo’s Reading Program had its first pregame parade with 120-plus children who completed the reading assignments and were able to receive a free ticket, along with on-field parade before the game.
- The Tiger Point Sports Association followed with the organization’s parade of youth baseball and softball players. The group had 250 players, parents and friends in attendance. Following the game, many in the group remained to watch the movie “Sandlot” on the stadium video board.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Columbus Clingstones WHERE: Synovus Park, Columbus, Georgia WHEN: Tuesday through April 20
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Trend Lower Again
April 14, 2025
Florida gas prices are moving lower again, according to AAA. The state average rose 2 cents early last week, then dropped 10 cents in the past four days.
Sunday’s state average is $3.11 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price in two weeks.
In Escambia County, the average per gallon was $2.85. A low price of $2.68 was available at a station on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, the low-price Sunday night was $2.79 at multiple stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“The recent drop in crude oil prices now appear to be impacting prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The state average could drift back down near the $3 per gallon threshold this week.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bicyclist Critically Injured In Crash With Pickup In Cottage Hill
April 13, 2025
An adult male bicyclist was critically injured in a crash Saturday afternoon in Cottage Hill.
The crash happened just before 5 p.m. on Crowndale Court. The bicyclist crashed into the side of a Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck that reportedly had pulled out from a private residence.
The 45-year-old male was airlifted by AirCare helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola as a trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Photos: SEC Western Gate Soccer Showdown At Ashton Brosnaham Park
April 13, 2025
The top-ranked Southeastern Conference women’s soccer teams competed in the Western Gate Soccer Showdown at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park off 10 Mile Road. It was the second year for the free event at the Escambia County Park.
The showdown will feature 45-minute matchups between the Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers, and autograph sessions. Admission was free.
For a photo gallery from LSU vs. Mississippi State, click here.
The 2025 SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament will return to Escambia County November 2-9. The top 12 SEC women’s soccer teams will compete for the SEC Championship at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park.
Pictured: LSU takes on Mississippi State Saturday afternoon at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
WaWa In Beulah Will Open This Week
April 13, 2025
The new Wawa store in Beulah will open this week.
The new store at 5888 West Nine Mile Road, at the corner of Beulah Road, will open on Thursday. Festivities start at 7:45 a.m. with Wawa General Manager Matthew Peery doing the honors of counting down the moment when the doors open for the very first time at 8:00 a.m.
At 8:30 a.m., customers are invited to participate in a brief ceremony to celebrate the new store and the impacts it will have on the community. The program kicks off with an entertaining parade with Wawa associates. The ceremony concludes with Wawa’s signature Hoagies for Heroes competition between first responders and official ribbon cutting with mascot Wally Goose.
Wawa will give away free t-shirts to the first 100 customers, free samples of Wawa’s newest Dill Pickle Ranch sauce and Crispy Pickle Toppings on hoagies until 8:30 a.m. and free any size hot coffee through April 27th.
The Beulah location will be Wawa’s second location in Escambia County. The first opened on Boesch Lane, located at Ransley Station on Pine Forest Road just north of I-10.
Three more Wawa stores are currently planned for Escambia County:
- 6650 Pensacola Boulevard near W Street.
- 8503 North Davis Highway, near Johnson Avenue and HCA West Florida Hospital.
- 9262 West Highway 98 at Blue Angel Parkway.
Pictured: Work continued Saturday afternoon on a new Wawa Store that will open Thursday at the Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road intersection. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lane Closures Planned Monday And Tuesday For I-10 Eastbound Near Highway 29
April 13, 2025
Driver will encounter I-10 eastbound outside lane closures between markers 9 and 10 near the Highway 29 exit Monday and Tuesday between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Crews will place a low-profile barrier wall. Graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.