Atmore Police Investigate Business Burglaries
July 8, 2016
The Atmore Police Department is investigating two business burglaries discovered Thursday morning.
About 4:30 a.m., an officer patrolling North Main Street heard the burglar alarm going off at Earle’s Jewelers at 119 Main Street. The officer discovered damage to the front door of the building. Officers entered the building but did not find anyone inside. A short time later, the business owner arrived and verified that several jewelry items were missing.
About 9 a.m., the owner of Marty’s Furniture on Howard Street arrived at work to find that it had been burglarized. The owner told police that it appeared the suspect made entry into the building and damaged the alarm control panel. No furniture items were taken.
Atmore Police have not said if they believe the two burglaries to be related.
Wahoos Rally Falls Short
July 8, 2016
Pensacola Blue left fielder Phillip Ervin smacked a two-run homer in the ninth inning with no outs to pull Blue Wahoos within one run but fell short in its comeback attempt.
The Mobile BayBears held on for a, 4-3, victory Thursday over Pensacola at Hank Aaron Stadium.
The winning hit ended up being first baseman Rudy Flores two-out solo homer to right field off of Pensacola closer Carlos Gonzalez in the eighth inning that gave the BayBears a 4-1 lead.
Mobile jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning Thursday. It was the fourth game in a row that the BayBears scored first against Pensacola. In the five-game series, the BayBears led 5-0 Monday, 7-0 Tuesday and 3-0 Wednesday.
Pensacola, which scored 10 runs on 16 hits Wednesday, managed just four hits in Thursday’s game, two coming in the ninth on center fielder Jeff Gelalich’s single and Ervin’s home run.
Mobile third baseman Travis Denker walked to lead off the second inning and first baseman Rudy Flores singled to left field. Then Sal Romano struck out the next two batters. But with two outs, left fielder Chuck Taylor doubled to drive in both Denker and Flores for a 2-0 lead. BayBears pitcher Taylor Clarke then helped himself with a single to center field that scored Taylor to go up, 3-0.
Pensacola finally scored off of Mobile starter Taylor Clarke in the eighth inning to pull within, 3-1. Blue Wahoos third baseman Taylor Sparks scored on a wild pitch after striking out but reaching first when the third strike got past Mobile catcher Oscar Hernandez.
The BayBears righty, who was making his seventh start for Mobile, worked a season-high eight innings, giving up one run on two hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters. Clarke improved his record to 3-4 with a 3.80 earned-run average.
Mobile clinched the five-game series, going up 3-1. The BayBears also evened their second half record to 7-7 (39-45). Pensacola, which won the first half Southern League South Division title, fell to 5-9 (46-38) and last place in the South.
Meanwhile, Blue Wahoos starter Sal Romano pitched 6.1 innings, his longest outing since he pitched seven innings against the Birmingham Barons on May 26. He gave up three runs on six hits and one walk, while striking out seven. Romano fell to 1-10 with a 4.81 ERA on the season.
Teen Injured In Hwy 29, Barrineau Park Road Crash
July 7, 2016
One juvenile was injured and four other people uninjured in a two vehicle crash Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Barrineau Park Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 93-year old Jess W. Milstid of Cantonment was northbound in the left turn lane of Highway 29 when he turned his 1999 Ford F150 into the path of a southbound Toyota Corolla driven by 15-year old Madelyn Lathan of Molino. Lathan, her front seat passenger 45-year old Amy Lathan, and 15-year old passenger Mallory Lanthan were not injured. A fourth passenger in the Corolla, 15-year old Morgan Lathan, was extricated by firefighters before being transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Milstid, who was not injured, was cited for turning left in front of approaching traffic.
The Molino and Cantonment Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Cantonment Hit And Run Driver, Vehicle Owner Arrested
July 7, 2016
UPDATED: This story was updated 8:30 a.m. on 7/8/2016 to reflect the arrest of the vehicle owner.
An arrest warrant is outstanding for a Cantonment man involved in a May 31 hit and run crash in Cantonment, and the vehicle’s owner has now been arrested.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 25-year old Colby Chase Myrick was traveling northbound on Wegner Avenue approaching Mintz Lane when he failed to stop at a yield sign and struck a Toyota Avalon driven by 71-year old Elizabeth Harris of Cantonment.
The Toyota left the roadway and struck a concrete table and landscaping at 302 Wegner Avenue, while Myrick fled fled the scene in the Dodge Ram northbound on Wegner Avenue. Harris and her six-year old passenger suffered minor injuries.
Over two weeks later, the Dodge Ram was located on Well Line Road and positively identified as the vehicle involved in the crash.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Myrick for leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, driving while license revoked habitual, reckless driving with injuries, driving while license expired more than six months and tampering with evidence. He also faces a citation for failure to report a crash and failure to provide insurance in a crash.
The owner of the Dodge Ram, 32-year old Priscilla Kaye Plott, was arrested for permitting an unauthorized person to drive. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Anyone with information on the thee whereabouts of Myrick is asked to call *FHP from a cell phone or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The 1996 Dodge Ram driven by Myrick was identified by a piece of the front grill left behind at the crash scene with a chrome skull with two guns mounted to the front.
Pictured inset: Wanted suspect Colby Chase Myrick in a January 2016 mugshot. Vehicle photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 15 Years For Tree Branch Beating
July 7, 2016
A Milton man has been sentenced to prison for beating another man with a tree branch in Escambia County.
Circuit Judge Jennie Kinsey sentenced Terrance Leroy McCrea to 15 years after a jury convicted him of aggravate battery with a deadly weapon.
On May 5, 2015, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Circle K on Pace Boulevard where they found a man on the ground covered in blood. McCrea was located at the scene with a four-foot tree branch and made incriminating statements to deputies.
Deputies spoke with a witness who observed McCrea attack the victim without provocation and strike him numerous times with the branch. EMS responded and transported the victim to the hospital where he remained for a week before being released.
ECUA’s Composting Program Wins National Award
July 7, 2016
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) announces that Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) has been named the winner of the 2016 SWANA Gold Excellence Award in the composting category.
ECUA is taking home the Gold trophy for its entry, “Emerald Coast Utilities Authority Biosolids Composting Facility.” The award will be presented during an August conference in Indiana.
“ECUA is utilizing yard trash and biosolids to create an environmentally beneficial compost. This eliminates the need to landfill yard trash and biosolids and provides a valuable compost resource to residents and businesses in the ECUA service area,” said Randy Rudd, ECUA deputy executive director.
ECUA began offering garbage and yard waste sanitation collection in Escambia County in 1992. Curbside recycling service was introduced in January 2009, and in 2015, the Biosolids Composting Facility (BCF) opened. The BCF composts weekly about 400 tons of biosolids (about half of ECUA’s biosolids) and 500 tons of yard waste and will produce approximately 15,000 tons of finished compost annually. Plans are underway to double its capacity. ECUA is using the Modified Static Aerobic Pile method.
Emerald Coast bloom, “The Most in Bio-Compost,” is certified under the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance program, a nationally recognized compost testing program.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Summer Reading Program Brings ‘Wizard Of Oz’ To The Library
July 7, 2016
The Summer Reading Program is continuing at local West Florida Library branches. Wednesday, the Hampstead Stage Company presented their adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” at the Century Branch Library. The program was also presented Thursday morning at the Molino Branch Library.
The Summer Reading Program will feature a reptile program next week: Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Southwest Branch Library; Wednesday at 11 am. at the Century Branch Library; Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Main Library; Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Molino Branch Library; and Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Tryon Branch Library.
Photos by August Whorff for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Latest Evers Giveaway: A Chance To Shoot Machine Guns
July 7, 2016
State Sen. Greg Evers, running in a crowded Republican primary for a Northwest Florida congressional seat, will hold a fund-raising event where donors can pay up to $2,700 for a chance to shoot a variety of military-style machine guns. Evers, a Baker Republican, will also give a prize to the shooter who “kills” Osama Bin Laden, a news release said.
Evers drew heat last month over his decision to give away an AR-15 assault rifle, similar to a gun used in the Orlando nightclub attack that left 49 people dead and dozens more injured.
“Since some folks don’t understand the difference between an AR-15 and a real assault rifle capable of automatic fire, we’re going to show them,” Evers said. “I think people will get a big kick out of seeing what a real assault rifle can do, and they’ll have even more fun shooting up simulated terrorists.”
Evers, who frequently sponsored National Rifle Association-backed legislation in the Legislature, will hold the event at the Pensacola Indoor Shooting Range on July 23. The event will feature six fully automatic machine guns, including two military-grade M-16 assault rifles and four varieties of submachine guns. According to the press release, the weapons are “extremely restricted,” but it is legal to fire them on a supervised gun range.
Evers is among the candidates in Congressional District 1, which became open when longtime U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller announced he would not seek re-election this year.
by The News Service of Florida
Pensacola Wahoos Snap Losing Streak Against Mobile Baybears
July 7, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos snapped its four game losing streak Wednesday with a 10-4 victory over the Mobile BayBears at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Pensacola got solo home runs by center fielder Jeff Gelalich, his first in Double-A, first baseman Eric Jagielo, who hit his fifth homer this season, and shortstop Zach Vincej, who smacked his third.
After being shut out the night before by Mobile, Pensacola broke out with 10 runs and 16 hits. Five Blue Wahoos had multi-hit games, including Gelalich (3-5, two runs and three RBIs), left fielder Phillip Ervin (3-5, two runs), second baseman Brandon Dixon (3-4, two RBIs), Vincej (2-4, one run, one RBI) and catcher Jose Duarte (2-5 with two runs).
Pensacola broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning. The Blue Wahoos loaded the bases when Duarte, Gelalich and Ervin all singled. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde walked to score Duarte and put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 4-3. Pensacola’s Gelalich scored on a passed ball to put the Blue Wahoos up, 5-3. Pensacola took a 6-3 lead when Dixon hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Ervin.
In the eighth inning, Pensacola added four more runs to go ahead 10-3. Vincej hit a homer over the left field wall to lead off the inning. Pensacola then loaded the bases on singles by pinch hitter Calten Daal and Duarte and Ray Chang got hit by a pitch. Gelalich doubled to score Daal and Duarte to increase Pensacola’s lead to 9-3. Chang scored on a wild pitch to put the score at 10-3.
Blue Wahoos pitcher Jackson Stephens gave up three runs on two hits in the first inning to Mobile. But after that he allowed one more hit, walked five and struck out two in five innings of work.
But Barrett Astin, who threw two scoreless innings and struck out three, got the victory to improve to 6-2 and owns a 2.93 ERA.
Pensacola knotted the score, 3-3, in the fourth inning on Jagielo’s homer to left field.
The Blue Wahoos had scored two runs in the third inning when Gelalich hit a solo home run to right field with two outs. Gelalich has hit his way into the starting lineup batting .320 with one homer and 10 RBIs. Pensacola’s Dixon doubled in Ervin to pull the Blue Wahoos within, 3-2.
The Mobile BayBears, like the game before, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. BayBears second baseman Kevin Medrano doubled in center fielder Evan Marzilli on a line drive to left fielder to put Mobile up, 1-0. Mobile first baseman Kevin Cron hit a sacrifice fly to right field that drove in shortstop Ildemaro Vargas to put BayBears ahead, 2-0. Then BayBears left fielder Rudy Flores hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Medrano to make the score, 3-0.
Slight Rain Chance And Hot
July 7, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light southwest wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 105. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 93.