Making Learning Fun: Welcome To Fleming’s Jurassic World At Lipscomb Elementary
April 26, 2018
Students in Rhonda Fleming’s classroom at Lipscomb Elementary School went wild over her decorations. Fleming went all out in decorating the classroom as “Fleming’s Jurassic World”, including desks in a jeep, a waterfall and a dinosaur, in an effort to make learning more fun. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat The Barons
April 26, 2018
Pensacola recorded 14 hits in Wednesday’s series finale, and they needed every one of them. The Wahoos fended off a late surge from the Barons to hold on for a 9-8 win.
Birmingham struck early for the second consecutive game with a three-run fourth inning. The first five Barons reached in order, and three came to score to give Birmingham a 4-0 lead.
The Wahoos were quick to respond in the bottom of the fourth with a rally of their own. After a walk and a single, Chadwick Tromp doubled home Aristides Aquino and Luis Gonzalez to cut the deficit to 4-3. But if the fourth inning was just the appetizer, then the fifth inning’s rally was the main course.
Gavin LaValley led off the fifth with his second home run of the season, which tied the game at four. Pensacola’s next five batters all reached with hits, which chased Barons starter Ian Clarkin (L, 1-1) from the game. Nick Longhi’s two-run single capped a fourth inning that resulted in seven hits and six runs, giving the Wahoos a 9-4 lead. By the end of the inning, every Wahoos starter had recorded at least one hit for the game.
Despite the lead, Wyatt Strahan (W, 3-1) wasn’t at his sharpest. He pitched five plus innings and allowed a career-high 10 hits but limited the damage to only six runs (five earned). Pensacola manager Jody Davis used four different relievers to pitch the final four innings.
In the ninth inning with the Wahoos leading 9-8, Davis called on Alex Powers to finish the game. The 26-year old didn’t disappoint as he retired the side in order to seal the win.
Pensacola will head east on I-10 tomorrow to take on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in a rematch of last season’s Southern League South Division Championship series. Pensacola swept all three games last season in the playoffs to capture the franchise’s first Southern League title. Defending Southern League Pitcher of the Week, Daniel Wright (2-1, 4.29) will open the series for the Wahoos.
Century Applies For Grant To Finish Updates To Land Development Code
April 25, 2018
The Town of Century is applying for a state grant to complete an updated to their Land Development Code (LDC).
In 2016, the town received a $25,000 Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that was used to updated five chapters of the LDC.
If the town receives an additional grant, it will be used to update portions of the LDC that were adopted in 1991, prepare a zoning map and offset the cost of publishing the changes.
Monday night, the town voted to allow the Nickles Consulting group to apply for the grant on their behalf. Public meetings will be held prior to the approval of LDC changes.
Pictured: Three Century staffers — Assistant Clerk Kristina Wood, Peggy Fowler of Peggy Fowler and Associates and consultant Debbie Nickles — and no members of the public at a 2017 Land Development Code workshop in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
District Softball: Tate Tops Washington; Wins For Northview And Jay
April 25, 2018
Tate, Northview and Jay recorded wins Tuesday to advance to their respective district softball championship games Thursday.
Northview 2, Freeport 0
Jay 6, Chipley 3
Jay and Northview will meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in the District 3-1A softball championship game after both picked up wins Tuesday.
Tuesday, Aubree Love hit a home run as the Northview Lady Chiefs beat Freeport 2-0. And the Jay Lady Royals beat Chipley 6-3.
For Northview, Tori Herrington recorded nine strikeouts. At the plate, Ashley Ragsdale went 1-3, Valen Shelley was 1-3, Loves was 1-2 with her home run and a RBI and Lydia Smith was 2-3.
Jay will host Northview Thursday at 7:00 in the district championship game. Both teams were 3-2 in district play during the regular season.
Tate 10, Washington 0
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Washington 10-0 Tuesday to advance to the District 1-7A championship game on Thursday.
Hannah Brown tossed a shutout for Tate on the mound, allowing two hits and striking out eight.
Shelby Ullrich homered for the Lady Aggies.
For Tate: Ullrich 1-2, HR, RBI, 2R; Brown 3-4, RBI; Belle Wolfenden 1-3; Madisen Nelson 1-1, R; Sydni Solliday 2-2, 2RBI, R; Ryleigh Cawby 1-1, RBI, R: Kayliegh Cawthorn RBI; Ashley Lunquist R; Shelby McLean 1-3, RBI, R; Deazia Nickerson 1-2; Amber DeCoux 2-3, R; Katie Snyder 1-1, RBI; Hanna Halfacre R; Courtney Adams R.
Pace beat Escambia 2-1 Tuesday. That sets up a Pace at Tate district championship game Thursday at 7:00.
Photos by Diann Tagert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tops West Florida
April 25, 2018
The Tate Aggies scored four runs in the sixth inning on their way to a 7-1 win over West Florida Tuesday night.
Raymond Lafleur pitched the win for Tate in two innings, allowing one run, no hits and striking out four. Jace Dunsford and Reid Halfacre closed out the game in relief. Halfacre recorded the last three outs to earn the save for the Aggies.
Chase Stanhope took the loss for West Florida. He lasted four innings, allowing six hits and three runs.
For Tate: Blake Anderson 1-1, RBI; Ethan Bloodsworth R; Ryan Greene RBI; Reid Halfacre 1-4; Trent Jeffcoat 2-3, 2B, 2RBI, R; Kaden Kings 2-3; Raymond Lafleur R; Mason Land R; Hunter McLean 3-3, 2B, R; Darrien McDowell 1-3, R; Jesse Sherrill 2-3, 2RBI, R.
Rigby Recognized For 30 Years With Escambia County
April 25, 2018
Escambia County Fleet Maintenance Supervisor Dennis Rigby of Walnut Hill was recently recognized by the Escambia County Commission for 30 years of dedicated service.
“He’s a very unique individual. He’s extremely intelligent and has an iron man work ethic,” Pat Johnson, Waste Service Department director, said.
“It’s been an extremely interesting 30 years,” Rigby said.
Rigby was presented with a certificate and pin.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gov. Rick Scott Makes Senate Campaign Stop In Escambia County
April 25, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott hosted a campaign roundtable Tuesday with Escambia County business leaders in one of the recently announced low tax Opportunity Zones as stablished in the federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, encourage long-term investment and job creation in targeted communities by reducing taxes for many job creators.
Low Tax Opportunity Zones enhance local communities’ ability to attract businesses, developers and financial institutions to invest in targeted areas by allowing investors to defer capital gains taxes through investments in federally established Opportunity Funds.
Seven Census tracts in Escambia County, including Century and the immediate surrounding area.
Over the past week, the Governor has hosted multiple roundtables with Florida business leaders to discuss the Opportunity Zones, cutting taxes and his desire to service in Washington to fight for these priorities on behalf of Florida’s families and job creators.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Vol. Fire Honors Longtime Firefighter Earl Greene As He Retires
April 25, 2018
Earl Greene was recognized Tuesday as he retire from active service with the Jay Volunteer Fire Department. Greene served Jay and the surrounding communities as chaplain and as a firefighter for over 43 years. Pictured: Jay Fire Chief Tony Simmons (left) with Earl Greene. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Animal Shelter Changes Hours Of Operation
April 25, 2018
The Escambia County Animal Shelter will change its hours of operation effective Tuesday, May 1. The shelter will now offer pet adoptions on Mondays, providing adoption services to the public six days a week instead of five. Currently the shelter is open Mondays for animal intakes only.
The new shelter hours will be:
- Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (no change)
The changes will increase the number of days the shelter is open for adoptions, alleviate staffing issues and improve customer service by increasing the number of employees available during the hours the shelter is open to the public. This will also eliminate confusion regarding Monday services, with the shelter offering all services Monday through Friday, instead of limited services on Monday only.
For more information, please contact the Escambia County Animal Shelter directly at (850) 595-3075. The shelter is located at 200 West Fairfield Drive.
Private Investigator Murder Suspect Will Remain Free On Bond
April 24, 2018
Ashley Britt McArthur, charged with the murder of a private investigator, will remain free on bond.
McArthur, 40, was back in court Monday before Judge Jan Shackelford after the state filed a motion to revoke her bond. When she was released on a $400,000 bond shortly after her arrest, she was ordered to to wear a GPS tracking device, live with her mother in Gulf Breeze, and stay within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
While she spent most nights with her mother, it was reported that she spent the night on multiple occasions with her husband in Escambia County.
Shackleford ruled that McArthur must spend every night with her mother and that she will remain free on the original $400,000 bond posted on February 5.
McArthur is facing a first degree murder charge for the death of 33-year old Taylor Wright, a private investigator and former police officer. Wright’s body was found last September off Britt Road, just west of County Road 97 near Muscogee Road in Cantonment. She allegedly stole $34,000 from Wright.
McArthur operated Pensacola Automatic Amusement (PAA) on Pace Boulevard. She was charged in November 2017 with felony grand theft and fraud for the alleged theft of $13,301.04 from the Azalea Cocktail Lounge, which represented funds reported missing between July 10, 2015, and September 14, 2017. According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, lounge customers pay for games or the jukebox using cash, credit card or a mobile phone app. The payments were to be split 50-50 between the Azalea Lounge and another company. It was alleged that McArthur was splitting only the cash proceeds with lounge while keeping the proceeds from the credit card and mobile app payments.
In early April, McArthur was charged with arson and racketeering after she set fire to PAA in June 2017, according to court documents. The state alleges she started the fire to avoid a scheduled meeting with representatives of Azalea Lounge.