Wahoos Secure Shutout in Series Win Over Clingstones
July 26, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned their second shutout victory of the series over the Columbus Clingstones by a final score of 4-0.
Saturday’s game started out as almost a carbon copy of game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader. Alex Williams pitched a flawless first two frames before Colby Shade launched his second home run in three days out to left field, giving the ‘Hoos a 1-0 lead.
The game took an unexpected turn in the top of the third, however. After Williams faced the first two batters, Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. hit a 106 mph grounder that nailed Williams in the shin. After a visit from Adam Sparks, the athletic trainer, and a couple of test pitches, Williams didn’t feel he could continue the game. So, with a man on second and two down in the third, Holt Jones (W, 2-0) entered from the pen and pitched the best game of his season thus far.
Jones proceeded to pitch the next 4.2 innings allowing just one hit, no runs, no walks, and striking out five. He faced 15 batters and got 14 outs. Before Jones was pulled in the top of the 7th, Brandon Compton continued his absurd power surge with his 10th home run in 19 games for the Wahoos. The bomb gave Pensacola a 2-0 lead and that lead would stick.
Colby Martin (S, 6) got the final 5 outs of the game, striking out three and allowing just one to reach. It was Martin’s second save of the series and the Wahoos 6th shutout win of the season. Despite a hard fought 7.0 inning effort from Clingstones starter Brett Sears (L, 3-4), he took the loss. The Wahoos improved to 50-44 overall and 14-11 in the second half. The Clingstones fell to 43-49 and 14-12.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Columbus Clingstones on Sunday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Escambia County School Leaders Prep For New School Year
July 25, 2026
Escambia County Public Schools administrators and department heads met this week at Beulah Middle School for the annual ECPS Administrative Conference.
The group heard high-energy presentations from Superintendent Leonard and Deputy Superintendent Payne and received updates about educational law.
Teachers return to school on August 4 and the first day of school is August 12 in Escambia County.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Denied Entry With Livestock At Escambia I-10 Ag Station Arrested After Detouring Through Georgia
July 25, 2026
An attempted detour through Georgia ended in handcuffs for a Central Florida man accused of illegally importing out-of-state livestock after being denied entry into the state at an Escambia County agricultural inspection station.
The incident began at the Pensacola Agricultural Inspection Station on I-10. Roger Rodriguez Vega, of Maitland, arrived at the station transporting a trailer packed with 24 sheep and goats. The animals had originated from Texas—a designated high-risk zone currently under strict emergency import restrictions due to the presence of the destructive New World Screwworm parasite.
When Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) officers inspected the transport, Rodriguez Vega failed to provide a valid Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required by state health protections. Officers refused him entry into Florida, explicitly advising Rodriguez Vega that he could not lawfully bring the animals into the state without the mandatory veterinary clearance.
Instead of turning back, Rodriguez Vega allegedly attempted to circumvent the system. Recognizing the biosecurity threat, OALE officers immediately issued a statewide “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alert for his vehicle.
Investigators determined that Rodriguez Vega drove out of the area and re-entered Florida by crossing the border through Georgia, bypassing the Escambia County agricultural inspection station entirely. OALE officers tracked down the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. When asked again for the paperwork, Rodriguez Vega failed to produce a valid Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the 24 animals.
Rodriguez Vega was arrested and charged with 24 counts of unlawful entry of animals into the state and one count of resisting an officer without violence.
The enforcement action comes amid heightened statewide efforts to keep the flesh-eating parasite out of Florida’s borders.
“Florida has taken a proactive and aggressive approach to protecting our livestock, agricultural industry, pets, wildlife, and food supply from the very real threat of New World Screwworm, and we will not tolerate anyone who breaks the law and attempts to circumvent those protections,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson, whose office announced the arrest on Friday. “I commend the hard work of our agricultural law enforcement officers, who serve as the front line of defense against devastating animal diseases and pests as well as criminal activity. This arrest also serves as a warning to others that we will hold accountable anyone who intentionally violates Florida law and threatens our state’s farmers and ranchers.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Voting Equipment Put To The Test Ahead Of Primary
July 25, 2026
Voting equipment was put to the test this week in Escambia County.
The Escambia County Canvassing Board conducted the required public Logic and Accuracy (L&A) Test of the voting and tabulation equipment that will be used in the August 18 primary election.
L&A testing is conducted prior to each election to ensure the voting and tabulation system accurately records and counts every vote.
The Escambia County Canvassing Board consists of County Judge Scott Ritchie, chair; Supervisor of Elections Robert D. Bender; and Pensacola Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier. The testing was held at the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) Warehouse and Training Center on Navy Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Offense Goes Quiet In 4-0 Loss
July 25, 2026
A lackluster night at the plate saw the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fall to the Columbus Clingstones by a final score of 4-0 on Friday night.
It is the first game the Blue Wahoos (49-44, 13-11) have dropped in the series, and it is the first time Columbus has shut out Pensacola this season. Pensacola leads the series 3-1 and holds an 11-5 mark against the Clingstones (43-46, 13-12) this season.
Free bases and a defensive miscue allowed the Clingstones to get aboard in the first inning. An initial walk and subsequent hit-by-pitch issued by Pensacola starter Jacob Miller (L, 1-5) put two on base, and a line drive into left by Jordan Groshans that escaped the glove of Ethan O’Donnell allowed both runners to come home.
Miller exited after the first inning, replaced by Christian MacLeod. MacLeod served as the Blue Wahoos’ most effective reliever of the night through 3.2 innings, allowing no hits or runs while striking out three Clingstones.
A solo home run from Adam Zebrowski extended the Columbus lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth. A Colby Jones RBI double in the eighth pushed the edge to 4-0.
Pensacola managed five hits, each credited to different bats, while Columbus scored their four runs on six hits. Jay Beshears earned the lone extra base hit – a double – for the home side. The Blue Wahoos drew three walks to the Clingstones’ six.
Columbus starter Braden Scott (W, 1-0), who was signed by the Atlanta Braves earlier this season after spending two years in the Atlantic League, made an impressive first start in affiliated ball for Columbus on Friday night. Scott offered 5.0 shutout innings of two-hit baseball and earned seven strikeouts, allowing only three walks.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Columbus Clingstones on Saturday.
written by Maddy Branning
Escambia Commission Bans Data Centers; Barry Says No Projects Ever Under Consideration In District 5
July 24, 2026
The county commission voted unanimously Thursday night to ban data centers in the unincorporated areas of Escambia County.
The ban is essentially two parts:
- An approved resolution now officially on the books memorializing its position that data center facilities are not permitted under the County’s Land Development Code and are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County.
- A forthcoming ordinance, to be considered at a public hearing on August 6.
“Data center facilities are not identified as a permitted or conditional principal use in any zoning district,” the resolution states. “The Board further memorializes its position that data center facilities are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County.”
The ordinance to be considered by the board on August 6 is expected to strengthen the data center ban, and clear up an ambiguity. Commissioners are expected to tweak ordinance language to ban data centers smaller than 50 megawatts, which is the state’s threshold for a “large-scale data center.”
“Your code does not anticipate any size as a permitted use,” County Attorney Alison Rogers told the board.
Rogers said server rooms or small data centers would be allowed “where they are an accessory use like at a Navy federal, or UWF, or a hospital. Those are already going to be allowed because they are accessory uses. The county has a server room.”
Commissioners were unified in their position against data centers in Escambia County.
“We all believe this. None of us want data centers. It’s not happening,” Commissioner Steve Stroberger said while holding up a “No Data Center” sign.
After discussing that District 5 is the only district in the county that would potentially have enough land for a large-scale data center, with two-thirds of the land mass, District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said there has never been one under consideration in the district.
“There’s not been a single approach made, no proposal or even an off-conversation at the gas station about a project involving any type of data center in District 5,” Barry said. “I think what we are doing is prudent, but just to be clear there hasn’t been a push. I don’t want people in our community to feel like someone else in their community has been working behind their back to try to flip one of these in.”
“It hasn’t happened. It has not happened, so I don’t want people to feel like other people in their community have been trying to do something underhanded,” he added.
“They are not real jobs,” Commissioner Lumon May said. “There are construction jobs. Then there is AI, then they maintain 10 or 15 jobs.”
“It’s security people and a couple of engineers,” Barry interjected.
“To me, it should not even be a consideration because it would be an economic development project and they can’t create jobs,” May continued. “They hurt the environment.”
NorthEscambia.com image.
Century’s Freedom Road Bridge Nears Construction Phase After Escambia County Funds Inspection Contract
July 24, 2026
The Freedom Road Bridge in Century has been closed for six and one-half years, and the town may finally have the money to replace and reopen it after a vote Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission.
The commission voted to transfer $191,934 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) from Commissioner Steven Barry’s District 5 Discretionary Funds to the Freedom Road Bridge replacement.
The funds will be used to hire WSP USA, Inc. for Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) Services.
The replacement of the existing Freedom Road Bridge structure will include a new 26-foot-long, single-span structure. Along with the bridge replacement, the Freedom Road project includes utility relocations and associated roadway work to rebuild the roadway after construction. This work includes select clearing and grubbing, new base material, asphalt, guardrail, striping and signage.
In April, the town awarded a $1,612,966.06 construction contract to F&W Construction Company.
The 2023-24 Florida budget included a $1,257,000 Legislative appropriation to replace a town-owned bridge, but the project was delayed by rising construction costs.
Pictured: The Freedom Road bridge in Century, which has been closed for over six and a half years, as seen in April 2026. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured in the lower photos are the conditions that prompted the bridge to be closed six years ago.
Penny for Progress: Escambia Commission Votes To Put LOST Renewal On November Ballot
July 24, 2026
The Escambia County Commission voted on Thursday night to send the renewal of a penny tax to the ballot in November.
Voters will decide if they will extend the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) for a decade.
Thursday night’s unanimous commission vote instructs the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections to place the renewal on the November 3 general election ballot.
LOST is a one-cent sales tax levied to fund infrastructure projects throughout the County, with proportionate amounts distributed to the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century. To levy or extend this tax, an ordinance must be adopted by the Board and the voters of Escambia County must approve the measure at a county-wide referendum.
LOST revenues average nearly $70 million per year for capital projects and infrastructure needs for Escambia County, including public safety, fire trucks and ambulances, fire stations, park improvements, road resurfacing, sidewalks, drainage and stormwater enhancements, and more.
First approved by voters in 1992 and renewed in 1997, 2006 and 2014, LOST has provided a reliable, voter-approved funding source for community improvements funded by residents and visitors alike. According to a recent University of West Florida Haas Center study, approved LOST-funded projects in Escambia County from 2009 to 2028 alone represent an estimated $2.1 billion in local economic impact.
The current LOST cycle runs through 2028. With approval by voters, the tax will continue to be collected from January 1, 2029, through December 31, 2038.
Tax Rate Breakdown
The standard State of Florida sales tax is 6.0%. In Escambia County, the total combined sales tax rate is 7.5%, which includes two local discretionary surtaxes:
- 1.0% (One Cent): The Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) managed by the county and its municipalities.
- 0.5% (Half Cent): A separate school district tax that directly benefits Escambia County Public Schools.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Audiobooks, And More At This Weekend Library Media Sale
July 24, 2026
The Friends of the West Florida Public Library will hold a two-day Summer Media Sale this weekend.
The sale will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Downtown Library, 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola. Admission is free.
The sale will include audiobooks, movies on DVD, music CDs and cassettes, and vinyl records in all genres. There will be a special area for DVD sets of television shows and jigsaw puzzles. Prices will range from $1 to $10.
Cash or credit cards are accepted.
Only Woman on Florida’s Death Row Denied New Sentencing Hearing For Escambia Murder
July 24, 2026
Tina Lasonya Brown, the only woman on Florida’s death row, will remain there following a court ruling on the Escambia County case.
The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Tina Lasonya Brown’s successive post-conviction motion, ending her latest effort to receive a new sentencing hearing.
Brown was tried and convicted in 2012 by Assistant State Attorney Bridgette M. Jensen for first-degree murder in the brutal March 2010 killing of 19-year-old Audreanna Zimmerman.
Zimmerman was stunned with a taser, beaten, and then set on fire in an Ensley field. She managed to walk nearly a third of a mile to seek help but died two weeks later from her injuries.