Pedestrian Dies Day After Being Hit By Vehicle On Highway 29
September 3, 2018
A pedestrian passed away after being hit by a vehicle Friday night.
Dwight Nathanel Showers, 52, was walking along the east shoulder of Highway 29 near Kenmore Road about 11:50 Friday when he attempted to cross the road. He was struck by a 2006 Ford Explorer driven by 32-year old Shaketa Fountain of Pensacola, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said Showers was wearing dark clothing with no reflective gear or lighting.
He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he passed away on Saturday.
Fountain and four children in her vehicle were not injured.
No charges have been filed.
Man Convicted After Threatening Teen With Gun During Home Invasion
September 3, 2018
An Escambia County man has been convicted after threatening a teenager with a gun during a home invasion robbery.
Deonte Anthony Bodiford, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of home invasion robbery with a firearm. The jury also found Bodiford to be in actual possession of a firearm. The defendant faces up to life in state prison with a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years. Circuit Judge Stephen Pitre scheduled sentencing for October 19.
On April 17, 2017, Bodiford and co-defendant Malik Saunders kicked in the door of a residence off of Country Club Road. After finding a 13-year old in the residence, a firearm was put to the juvenile’s head and he was ordered to pack several
of his belongings into a bag. After locating another firearm in the residence, Bodiford loaded ammunition into the firearm and threatened the juvenile. Bodiford and Saunders stole money, two televisions, a gaming system, sneakers, and the firearm from the residence.
Bodiford also has several additional felony cases that remain currently pending. Saunders had previously entered a no contest plea to home invasion robbery with a firearm and is currently set for sentencing on September 12.
Golf Results: Tate, Pine Forest, West Florida, Washington
September 3, 2018
Local high school boys golf results:
At Cypress Lakes
Team Scores
- Washington 202
- Tate 203
- Pine Forest 220
- Jaren Cook, Washington – 46
- Ryan Harrison, Washington – 48
- JT Semple, Tate – 49
Tate
- JT Semple 49
- Jace Anthony 52
- Grant Gill 50
- Caleb Banks 52
- Peyton Caslow 61
Washington
- Robert Harrison 54
- Ryan Harrison 48
- Jaren Cook 46
- Tyler Levesque 54
- Conner Diebold 59
Pine Forest
- Christian Munoz 56
- Richard Rudd 59
- Drew Williams 51
- Tyler Woodward 60
- William Peavy 54
At Perdido Bay Country Club
Team Scores
- Tate 195
- Escambia 200
- West Florida (no score)
Tate
- JT Semple 47
- Jace Anthony 46
- Grant Gill 51
- Caleb Banks 51
- Peyton Caslow 54
Up Next:
West Florida, Escambia, Tate, Washington at Scenic Hills on September 4
What Will Happen To Gas Prices As Gordon Steers Toward Refineries?
September 3, 2018
Millions of motorists traveling over the weekend paid the most expensive Labor Day gas prices in four years. Prices could get even more expensive, depending on the path and severity of Gordon.
Gas prices in Florida are higher than a week ago. The state average of $2.80 per gallon is 7 cents more than last week, and 17 cents more than this time last year. The state average rose 8 cents last week, in anticipation of strong holiday demand; then leveled off over the weekend.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.76.
So far, the Gordon has not affected gas prices, but that would change if refineries suffer damage or go offline. Refineries in Louisiana and Mississippi began making preparations for the storm on Monday. As of press time, no refineries, oil rigs or platforms have shut down.
The Gulf Coast is home to nearly half (45%) of the nation’s refinery capacity. Last year, pump prices surged after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas as a Category 4 storm, causing mass flooding and refinery outages. Energy production dropped approximately 21 percent as a result. Although oil prices didn’t change much, gasoline futures jumped 47 cents within five days of Harvey’s arrival. Fifteen days after landfall, gas prices in the southeastern U.S. had climbed 40-50 cents.
“It’s too early to know just how much of an impact – if any – Gordon will have on prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Market watchers will pay close attention to how refineries respond to this storm. Any supply outages would likely cause prices to climb.”
Pictured: Drivers fill gas cans in advance of Gordon Sunday afternoon just across the state line in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Clinch Playoff Berth In 4-3 Win Over Smokies
September 3, 2018
Taylor Featherston delivered a go-ahead two-run homer against Scott Effross (L, 2-6) and the Wahoos clinched a playoff berth for the fourth season in a row with a 4-3 win Sunday night Smokies Stadium.
Trailing 2-1 in the in the seventh inning, Gavin LaValley led off the inning with a single. Featherston followed and belted Effross’s 2-1 pitch over the right-field fence, which put Pensacola up 4-3. The Wahoos picked up their first two runs of the game courtesy of Shed Long’s two-run homer in the top of the fourth.
Daniel Wright started the game for the Wahoos and allowed three runs across five innings. After scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Smokies took the lead against Wright after Eddy Martinez hit a two-run homer to give the hosts a temporary 3-2 lead.
The bullpen turned in four shutout innings for Jody Davis to secure the win. Nick Howard (W, 2-0) turned in a scoreless sixth inning, and after the Wahoos retook the lead, Joel Bender pitched two scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth. Alex Powers (S, 18) closed out the ninth inning in what will likely be his final appearance of the regular season with his 18th save of the year.
With Mobile’s loss to the Biscuits earlier in the day, Pensacola mathematically clinched the final spot in the 2018 Southern League Playoffs with a chance to defend last year’s Southern League Championship. The Wahoos join the Montgomery Biscuits as the second Southern League team this decade to make the playoffs four years in a row. Pensacola will begin their title defense on Wednesday, September 5 in Biloxi against the Shuckers.
With Birmingham’s 6-3 win over Biloxi on Sunday, the Wahoos can clinch the second-half title with a win over Tennessee and a Biloxi loss on Monday. As it currently stands the Wahoos are guaranteed a playoff spot as the wildcard, meaning that four of the five games (if needed) would be played at MGM Park. If the Shuckers hang on to win the second-half, Pensacola’s only home playoff game in the first round would be on Friday, September 7 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The 2018 regular season concludes Monday afternoon in Kodak. RHP Wyatt Strahan (7-11, 6.35) is looking to wrap up the campaign on a winning note while RHP Keegan Thompson aims to give Tennessee a consolation win to end their season.
No Injuries In Highway 29 Rollover Sunday Morning
September 2, 2018
No one was injured in a rollover crash Sunday morning on Highway 29 south of East Kingsfield Road about 5:40 a.m..
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Ensley and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Statewide Amber Alert Issued For Missing 2-Year Old
September 2, 2018
Bratt Road Bridge Closed Almost Nine Months With No Work
September 2, 2018
The Bratt Road Bridge over Canoe Creek has been closed for nearly nine months, and it will be several more weeks before work begins on a replacement bridge.
The current wooden-support bridge was constructed in 1956 and was closed by FDOT December 6 after it failed an inspection.
The Florida Department of Transportation is set to award a contract to replace the bridge on September 26. Once construction begins, it will take up 90-120 days to install a temporary bridge and open it to traffic.
Once the temporary bridge is opened, construction will begin on a new permanent concrete bridge.
The bridge averaged 425 vehicles per day prior to closure.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 29 Incident Early Sunday
September 2, 2018
One person was transported to the hospital following an incident on Highway 29 in McDavid early Sunday morning.
At about 12:45 a.m., Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS were dispatched to the report of a single vehicle wreck on Highway 29 about two miles north of Highway 164. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to a reported disturbance following the crash.
Authorities discovered a southbound Ford pickup truck had crossed the median and rotated into a ditch alongside northbound Highway 29. The Florida Highway Patrol responded but did not work the incident as a traffic crash because there was no property damage.
A female was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart hospital in Pensacola, but exactly how she was injured was not immediately clear.
Further details were not released by authorities.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Huelsbeck Retires After 70 Years Service To Cantonment, Molino Catholic Communities
September 2, 2018
Longtime Cantonment resident Jody Huelsbeck has retired from St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment after over 70 years of service to the Catholic church community in Cantonment and Molino.
Whether he was keeping the church campus mowed, changing light bulbs, eradicating wasp nests, or whatever needed to be done, he was there.
He served as an altar boy at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church many years ago, was involved with Santa Maria Church, and was involved with St. Judge’s since its inception – even helping with construction of the church.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council, donating his times and talents to help and serve wherever needed.
Huelsbeck, according to those that know him best, always had a smile on his face and a witty greeting for anyone he encountered.
He also known for the creating beautiful rosaries, sometimes combining them with a religious artwork print for bishops, priests and other dignitaries. He has also sent his special artwork with greetings from St Jude’s to Pope Francis and President Donald Trump, receiving replies of gratitude in return.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.