Wahoos Drop Slugfest To Shuckers, 9-6
July 29, 2018
Pensacola dropped its series opener to the Biloxi Shuckers, 9-6, in front of a capacity crowd Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The two teams combined to hit seven home runs, with the Southern League leaders-Biloxi-belting four of them.
With the Shuckers already leading, 1-0, Aristides Aquino and Gavin LaValley each launched solo home runs in the bottom of the second to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-1 lead. Biloxi rallied over the fourth and fifth innings to score five runs, using a pair of home runs to do it. Luis Aviles Jr. belted his fourth with a man on in the fourth inning. Troy Stokes Jr. hit the first of his two solo home runs on the night to spark a three-run rally in the fifth.
Trailing 6-2 in the fifth, Taylor Featherston’s RBI single cut the deficit back to 6-3. It was his second of four hits in the game. The back and forth continued throughout the night. Despite opportunities to tie or take the lead, Pensacola couldn’t get over the hump. The Wahoos finished 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 runners on base.
Seth Varner (L, 5-2) started for the Wahoos. Since moving to the rotation on May 25th Varner has been dominant, but that was not the case on Saturday. Varner’s night ended early after four innings. The southpaw surrendered five earned runs on 10 hits, and three walks.
The Wahoos attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nate Griep (S, 27) walked Aristides Aquino, and Chris Okey delivered a pinch-hit single before a two-out walk to Mitch Nay loaded the bases. Griep struck out Jose Siri to end the threat and game.
The Wahoos will look to even the series Sunday evening. Vladimir Gutierrez (8-8 4.27) will start for the Wahoos and Luis Ortiz (2-4, 3.92) will take the hill for the Shucker
Man Shot By Relative In Cantonment
July 28, 2018
A man was shot by a relative in Cantonment Saturday morning.
The man was shot by his nephew in the leg in the backyard of a home in the 1400 block of Muscogee Road near Jacks Branch Road, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were unable to locate the nephew after a search. It is expected that a warrant may be issued for his arrest at a later date.
The man was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
State To Clean Up Decades Old Petroleum Spill At Escambia Road Dept. In Cantonment
July 28, 2018
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) will clean up a decades old spill at the Escambia County Road Department in Cantonment.
In 1986 a petroleum discharge was reported at the road department facility at 601 Highway 297A. The release was registered into the Florida State Early Detection Incentive Petroleum Cleanup Program and has now become eligible for cleanup.
The FDEP will locate contamination, determine contamination levels and, when necessary, remove and remediate contamination. Any work may be performed by the FDEP or a contractor.
The state is seeking access to the property to conduct the assessment and cleanup of the contamination.
The Escambia County Commission is expected to approve an access agreement at their next meeting on August 2.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Dept. Of Justice Not Yet Releasing Details On Beulah ASPCA Case
July 28, 2018
Few details have been released after law enforcement and a humane society group spent much of Wednesday at a Beulah home.
State and local law enforcement, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office have said they were not involved. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was on scene at the home in the 7000 block of Beulah Road.
Emily Schneider, director of media and communications for the ASPCA, told NorthEscambia.com the ASPCA was providing support to law enforcement authorities, but she referred all further questions to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Multiple inquires to the Department of Justice for comment went unanswered after two days.
The happenings were reportedly part of an ongoing investigation. There were no reported arrests.
We will update you on NorthEscambia.com when further details are released.
Pictured: Law enforcement and the ASPCA conducted an operation of some sort Wednesday in the 7000 block of Beulah Road. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Man Was Stealing Copper Wire From Gulf Power
July 28, 2018
An Escambia County man has been arrested for stealing wire from Gulf Power.
Joshua Caleb Hogan, 29, was charged with burglary of a structure, burglary of a vehicle, grand theft and resisting arrest without violence.
On Thursday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was notified that someone was stealing spools of copper wire from a Gulf Power Property on West Nine Mile Road. The Sheriff’s Office set up surveillance in the area.
During the surveillance operation Friday, Hogan was located on the property burglarizing work trucks. ECSO deputies identified themselves, and Hogan tried to flee the scene. After a brief foot pursuit he was arrested.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $22,000.
Election Security Grants Awarded To Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
July 28, 2018
The Florida Department of State has approved $10.3 million in election security grants for 49 Florida counties.
Escambia County will receive $240,530, and Santa Rosa County will receive $138,825.
Broward County received the largest grant at about $1.16 million
Back To School Shopping? Print A Supply List
July 28, 2018
School starts Thursday, August 10 in Escambia County, FL. This year, there is a single countywide list for all elementary schools and a single list for all middle schools.
Helpful dates: First day of school is August 13. The Back to School Tax Free Weekend is August 3-5.
Elementary School Supply Lists
- Elementary School Supply List for all elementary schools not listed below.
- Molino Park VPK.
- Molino Park ESE Pre-K.
- Byrneville Elementary School
Middle School Supply List
- #2 Pencils
- Blue or Black ink pens
- Wide Ruled Notebook Paper
- Pack of multi-colored highlighters
- Zippered Binder or 2 inch, 3 ring notebook and set of 10 dividers
- Ear buds
- Texas Instruments TI30X solar powered calculator for Algebra I only
Weekend Gardening: Distinctly Southern Hydrangeas
July 28, 2018
by UF/IFAS Extension
Nothing defines a southern landscape more than hydrangeas.
These beautiful, large flowering shrubs fill gardens with their green, leafy foliage and incredible blooms during the warm months.
In order to ensure consistent and reliable blooms, these shrubs must be cared for correctly. In addition to proper site location, fertilizer and moisture conditions, hydrangeas may require pruning. Proper pruning includes correct timing.
Hydrangea aficionados are constantly debating pruning techniques. There are many different types of hydrangeas and pruning differs according to the type. It is a big genus of plants and so it’s important to know what type of hydrangeas you may have and on what type of wood they bloom on.
Blooms on old wood, prune after flowering
The bigleaf hydrangeas, known scientifically as Hydrangea macrophylla, are what most people think of when you mention hydrangeas. Most gardeners will know these as mopheads (also called hortensias) and lacecaps. Many of these blooms will be blue or pink although other colors now are available.
Many large colonies of bigleaf hydrangeas have existed around old homes for decades, surviving and blooming in spite of neglect. This tells us that it is not necessary to prune bigleaf hydrangeas.
However, if you want to keep these shrubs within a defined boundary, control their height or rejuvenate old shrubs, it will be necessary to prune them.
Bigleaf hydrangeas can be reduced in size immediately after flowering. A general rule of thumb is that you may remove up to a third of the shrub’s height. Be sure to complete your pruning before August. This is critical because next year flower blooms start to form in August. Pruning after August will remove next year’s blooms.
There now is a small group of bigleaf hydrangeas that are everblooming or remontant. Endless Summer® is one well-known brand. According to the developers of these reblooming hydrangeas, remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. They are quite forgiving and will not suffer if left unpruned or pruned at the wrong time because these cultivars bloom on both old and new growth.
Our native oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a large, deciduous shrub that can grow up to six feet tall. It has deeply lobed, oak-like leaves which turn bronze in the fall. This plant does not usually need pruning. If reshaping or size-reduction is necessary, prune after blooms begin to fade.
Article Continues Below Photo
Lacecap hydrangea
Blooms on new wood, prune in early spring
Smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) is the other U.S. native. The most common cultivar, ‘Annabelle’, produces rounded inflorescences that may reach up to a foot in diameter.
The panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) is more of an upright type. It is typically a 10 to 15-foot large shrub or low-branched tree.
Panicle and smooth hydrangeas flower on current year’s growth and can be pruned anytime from late summer until early spring. If pruning these two species in the spring, try to prune before leaves appear.
Winter pruning
Established bigleaf, panicle, oakleaf and smooth hydrangea plants can often benefit from rejuvenation pruning. Remove about one-third of the oldest stems each year. The result is a fuller, healthier plant. This type of pruning is easiest to do in winter, since the absence of leaves makes it easier to see and reach inside plants.
Hydrangeas offer a wide variety of plants which can make the timing of pruning difficult to remember. Just keep in mind, if in doubt, either don’t prune at all or prune after flowering.
Santa Rosa Inmate Sentenced For Attack On Correctional Officer, Inmate
July 28, 2018
A Santa Rosa County inmate will spend the rest of his life in prison for an attack on a corrections officer and an inmate.
Mauricio Meza, 26, was convicted of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. He was immediately sentenced to life plus an additional 30 years.
In March 017, Meza stabbed a correctional officer and another inmate with a handmade weapon. Prior to the attack, Meza had used a handmade handcuff key to remove his handcuffs and leg iron restraints.
Meza admitted to the stabbing and told investigators that he had made the weapon several days earlier. The officer, who has been employed with Department of Corrections since 2005, sustained severe damage to his hand. These permanent
injuries will prohibit him from working as a correctional officer. The inmate was stabbed nine times causing severe injuries, including a collapsed lung.
At the time of the incident, Meza was serving a 13 year sentence for second degree murder and robbery.
Wahoos Blanked In Series Finale
July 28, 2018
Chattanooga earned a consolation prize in the series finale with a 5-0 win Friday night at AT&T Field.
Rookie Davis’s (L, 1-1) fourth rehab start got off to a bumpy start when the second batter of the game, Brent Rooker, unloaded his 20th home run of the season to give the visitors a 1-0. Davis rebounded nicely, posting zeroes in the second and third inning. Trouble was lurking in the fourth when Chattanooga scored four runs in the fourth inning. With the Lookouts already up 2-0, Alex Perez’s two-run double was a hammer blow to the Wahoos.
After Davis, both Nick Howard and Wyatt Strahan had encouraging scoreless appearances for the Wahoos by keeping Chattanooga off the board for the rest of the night.
Australian-native Lewis Thorpe (W, 6-4) was brilliant in his second outing since participating in the Sirius XM All-Star Futures game. The southpaw dealt seven shutout innings and allowed two hits while striking out seven.
Pensacola’s offense—who had been on a tear over the past week—was held in check in the series finale. On a positive note, TJ Friedl extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the ninth inning. However, he was quickly erased on Mitch Nay’s double-play grounder.
Despite the loss, Pensacola won the series, winning three games against the Minnesota Twins Double-A affiliate. Pensacola remains undefeated in their last 10 series, having won eight and splitting two.
Pensacola will open their final 10-game homestand, beginning with five games against the Biloxi Shuckers. LHP Seth Varner (5-1, 2.40) will start the opener for the Wahoos and will be opposed by Biloxi’s RHP Trey Supak (1-6, 6.93).