Large Crowds Attend Century’s Sawmill Day And Car Show (With Photo Galleries)
May 5, 2019
Large crowds attended the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society’s Sawmill Day and Car Show in Century Saturday in Century’s Historic District.
The day included a vintage and custom car show, plus arts and crafts booths, plenty of historic exhibits, food and live entertainment.
For Sawmill Day photos, click here.
For car show photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Biloxi 11-2
May 5, 2019
The Blue Wahoos beat the Biloxi Shuckers 11-2 Saturday night.
The capacity crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium, which included PGA Tour star Bubba Watson and family, along with 1,000 ticket-holders from a youth sports association, got a full night of entertainment.
“A great moment here with the crowd and everything. It’s the best minor league ballpark the Twins have,” said third baseman Miguel Sano, the Minnesota Twins third baseman and 2017 American League All-Star who is spending the weekend in Pensacola on injury rehab assignment. He’s expected to soon return to boost the first-place Twins.
Sano drove in one of the runs for first place Blue Wahoos (19-10) who advanced their best record in the Southern League and first-place lead in the South Division. He also generated a crowd reaction with his first at-bat foul that traveled far out of the ballpark.
He will be the designated hitter in Sunday’s series-deciding finale. The Blue Wahoos have won every series so far this season.
Saturday, the Blue Wahoos won by scoring runs in six of their eight inning at-bats. They blasted a pair of homers into the right-center berm filled with kids, and had every player in the lineup factor into the game box. Some of that due to nine walks issued by four Biloxi pitchers and two infield errors that allowed runs to score.
“We took advantage of the mistakes they made and were able to do some damage,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego. “We had really good discipline at the plate. That was one of the best nights we’ve had offensively.”
Luis Arraez and Alex Kirilloff, hitting back-to-back at the top of the order, both had two hits, combined for three RBI and Arraez scored three times.
“I think we really stay focused,” said Arraez, who is batting .330. “We do a good job. We play hard every time. We have a great team.”
In his third game with the Blue Wahoos, Kirilloff delivered his first pair of RBI. It was also the first time in his professional career he’s played first base. He played that position as well as outfield in high school.
“We know he can do that,” Borrego said. “We need to keep working with him, but I like what I see. I like the way he moved.
On the mound, Blue Wahoos’ Randy Dobnak, a former Independent League teammate with Taylor Grzelakowski, made his first start. He worked four innings, allowing two runs and had five strikeouts. Relievers Adam Bray (2 innings) and Tyler Jay (3 innings) were flawless
All West Florida Libraries Closed On Monday
May 5, 2019
All West Florida Public Libraries will be closed Monday, May 6 for staff training. Regular hours and programming will resume on Tuesday, May 7.
Any materials with a due date of May 6 will not accrue fines during the closure.
The Century and Genealogy branches are always closed on Mondays.
Pictured: The Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo.
FHP: 6-Year Old Drove, Crashed In Highway 29 Parking Lot As Mother Shopped In Store
May 4, 2019
An Escambia County mother that left her three children in a vehicle while she shopped in a Highway 29 store was charged after her 6-year old drove and crashed the vehicle in the parking lot.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 27-year Cassidy Nicole Ellis was charged with child neglect and leaving children in a vehicle unattended.
According to the FHP, Ellis left her three children -ages six, four and two – in a Dodge Durango Friday night while she went inside the Dollar Tree on Pensacola Boulevard. Her 6-year old backed the vehicle out of parking space, drove the vehicle forward, and collided with a Dodge Charger before the vehicle came to rest on a tree in the parking lot.
The children were not injured.
Ellis remained in the Escambia County Jail Saturday morning with bond set $5,000.
Navy Federal Updates Offer To $4.2 Million, 300 New Jobs For OLF 8 Acreage
May 4, 2019
Navy Federal has submitted an updated offer of just under $4.2 million and is promising 300 new jobs for 96 acres of the OLF 8 property owned by Escambia County on Nine Mile Road.
The $4.192million purchase offer is based upon $47,500 per acre for 88 acres and $1,500 per acre for eight acres of wetlands. The $47,500 per acre is based upon the average of two recent appraisals.
Navy Federal’s non-binding offer expires on July 31.
In January Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County.
The land exchange provided Escambia County with property that can accommodate a wide variety of residential and light industrial development options, that will benefit the citizens and improve the county tax base. In return, the Navy gains a new, fully functional helicopter OLF, that meets current helicopter flight training requirements and is closer to NAS Whiting Field.
Escambia County has received an unsolicited offer of $18 million for about 530 acres of the property not being acquired by Navy Federal and $1.1 million for 15 acres with frontage on Nine Mile Road to construct a commercial center with a mix of retail, small offices and restaurants.
The county would legally required to declare excess acreage as surplus and sell to the highest bidder.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Awards Four Scholarships
May 4, 2019
Friday evening, the Barrineau Park Historical Society presented four deserving high school seniors with college scholarships. The scholarships were presented to Lexxi Baggett, Northview High School; Kaylin Glenn, West Florida High School; Jordana Jernigan, Tate High School; and Brett Fillingim, Tate High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Laughlin Signs College Football Scholarship
May 4, 2019
Northview High School senior Lance McLaughlin signed a football scholarship Friday afternoon with Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
McLaughlin has a 3.77 weighted GPA is in the top 25 of his class in Northview. He had 162 tackles this past season for the Chiefs, possibly a school record. He also had two forced fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
“Lance is going to be around the football,” Northview Head Coach Derek Marshman said. “He is a role model. I think he is going to do great things. I think the best things for Lance are yet to come.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gracie Brasch Named Tate FFA Rodeo Queen
May 4, 2019
The Tate High School FFA Alumni Association has named Gracie Brasch as their 2019 Rodeo Queen.
Brasch and first runner-up Jayme Smith are both juniors at Northview High School. Other contestants were Hannah Merchant, Kenzie Ricardy, Emily Boutwell and Destiny Cleckler.
The 28th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo was held Friday and Saturday nights.
Pictured above: First runner-up Jayme Smith and Tate Rodeo Queen Gracie Brasch. Pictured below (L-R): Contestants Jayme Smith, Hannah Merchant, Gracie Brasch, Kenzie Ricardy, Emily Boutwell and Destiny Cleckler. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Basketball’s Moftaqir Signs With Lawson State
May 4, 2019
Tate High School senior Yaseen Moftaqir signed Friday afternoon with Lawson State Community College in Birmingham.. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Signs Firefighter Cancer Benefits Into Law
May 4, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a measure into law providing cancer benefits for firefighters. With the signing of this legislation, Florida joins 45 other states that provide a cancer benefit to these first responders.
“Here in Florida, we look after our first responders and I am honored to sign this bill to help ensure our firefighters who are battling cancer have the tools and benefits they need,” said DeSantis. “These men and women are true heroes, who often are the first on scene and the last to leave during an emergency.”
“This marks an enormous victory for these brave men and women in their fight against cancer,” said Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “Today, Florida tells every firefighter battling cancer, every firefighter afraid of getting cancer, and every child who dreams of being a firefighter that we are in their corner. I’m proud that we can now add Florida to the list of states that provides this essential benefit for firefighters.”
While treatment for cancer is often covered already existing health plans, the new law requires the firefighter’s employer to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as copays and deductibles.
The Florida League of Cities called the law an “unfunded mandate” in a letter to DeSantis.
“In theory, it sounds like a worthwhile initiative, which is why it was met with great fanfare during Legislative Session. However, when you dig into the details, this is a significant unfunded mandate with widespread negative impact on property taxpayers,” the League said in the letter.
