Wahoos Win 5th Series Of The Season
May 13, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Donald Lutz took out some of his frustrations at the plate against Chattanooga this series at AT&T Field.
Lutz went 2-4 and drove in three runs and stole a base, as Pensacola clinched the five-game series with a 5-4, victory Thursday that was delayed by rain an hour and 20 minutes in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Blue Wahoos clinched the series to move to 5-2 this season. However, the Blue Wahoos are still chasing the Biloxi Shuckers, who over took them April 19. The Shuckers came from behind to beat the Jacksonville Suns, 8-6, Thursday and now are 21-12. Meanwhile, Pensacola improved to 21-13, a half-game behind the Shuckers.
In two games against Chattanooga this series, Lutz has feasted on the Lookouts pitchers going 4-8 with two doubles and raising his average to a season-high .200. Lutz, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, has one homer and 11 runs batted in this season and it was his second three RBI game of the year.
He drove in the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning when he singled up the middle to score second baseman Zach Vincej and third baseman Alex Blandino, which put Pensacola on top, 4-1.
Chattanooga scored two in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 4-3 game. The No. 8 hitter Stuart Turner and the No. 9 hitter Shannon Wilkerson hit back-to-back solo shots to left field off of Pensacola starter Nick Travieso.
Pensacola added a run in the top of the sixth inning when Vincej hit a soft grounder to shortstop to score Blue Wahoos catcher Chad Wallach for a 5-3 lead.
Chattanooga went up, 1-0, in the first when Ryan Walker singled to center field to score Zach Granite.
The Blue Wahoos then came back to take the lead, 2-1, by scoring in the second and third innings. In the second, Wallach grounded into a double play that scored Pensacola right fielder Brandon Dixon. In the third inning, Lutz hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Vincej.
Pensacola starting pitcher Travieso, the Cincinnati Reds No. 7 prospect according to Baseball America, allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks in 5.1 innings, while striking out five. In his longest outing of the season, he improved to 2-2 with a 5.96 ERA.
Bottom of the sixth inning Travieso struck out second baseman Levi Michael and then walked D.J. Hicks. As he was being replaced by Pensacola reliever Barrett Astin, it started to rain at about 8:30 p.m. and the game was finally resumed at 9:50 p.m. Thursday.
Pensacola shortstop Calten Daal went 1-4 to push his hitting streak to 11 games. He is hitting .425 (17-40) in 11 games.
In addition, Tony Renda, who batted leadoff and played left field, was 1-5 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. His batting average is now .317 on the season.
Man Killed In State Line Road Wreck At Funeral Home
May 12, 2016
One person was killed in a single vehicle crash just before midnight Wednesday at the Alabama/Florida state line in Flomaton.
The driver of the vehicle was eastbound on West State Line Road at Highland Avenue when he lost control, struck utility pole and overturned into a ditch. The vehicle came to rest upright in front of the Flomaton Funeral Home, on the Alabama side of the roadway.
The adult male driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
Further details, including the driver’s name, have not yet been released.
The Flomaton Fire Department, Escambia County (FL) EMS and the Flomaton Police Department responded to the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Critical After Major Highway 29 Cantonment Crash (Updated With Names, More Photos)
May 12, 2016
Two people were critically injured in a traffic crash at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road Wednesday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 58-year old Diane Purifoy was northbound on Highway 29 in the left turn to Muscogee Road when she turned her 2001 Buick Century into the path of southbound Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 36-year old Christopher Carlisle Odom, Jr. of Ruskin, FL.
The Tahoe collided with the rear of the Buick, shearing the car nearly in half. The Tahoe continued south on Highway 29, overturning several times and coming to rest nearly past the Raceway gas station at the railroad tracks. Odom and his passenger, 43-year old Joseph Michael Kettering of Cantonment, were critically injured.
Both men in the SUV were not wearing their seat belts and were ejected during the crash. One of them was trapped under the vehicle until freed by firemen. The FHP did not specify in their report which man was trapped. Both were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Odom was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash according to the FHP report.
Purifoy, who was wearing her seat belt, received only minor injuries in the wreck and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.
A tire and a portion of the Buick came to rest several feet away near the gas pumps in the Raceway parking lot (see bottom photo). There were no injuries as a result.
A charges in the crash are pending the outcome of the FHP investigation.
For more photos from the crash scene, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Extra Tornado Debris Removal In Century Coming To End
May 12, 2016
Extra tornado debris removal in Century is coming to an end on Friday, about three months after an EF-3 tornado ripped through the town.
Large dumpsters from Republic Services were placed in the hardest hit areas for debris following the tornado ; those dumpsters will be removed on Friday. The town will resume its normal curbside pickup scheduled of the first and third Tuesday of each month.
On February 15, the Town of Century was struck by an EF-3 tornado that had winds estimated to be up to 155 miles per hour that damaged or totally destroyed 109 structures. The Town of Century didn’t have the approximate equipment to clean up the debris caused by the tornado, so they rented the equipment from Thompson Tractor Company, Inc., and hired Republic Services to remove the debris.
Town officials believed that FEMA funding would become available to reimburse them for expenses associated with the cleanup, but FEMA determined that the damage was not severe enough for federal assistance.
Escambia County has already approved paying Century’s invoices from Thompson Tractor Company for $10,042.20 and from Republic Services for $24,413.34 for a total off $37,455.54. Additional invoices will become due for the last month, also to be paid the county.
Escambia County will make payment on Century’s behalf using county operating reserve funds up to a total of $75,000.
“The Town of Century wishes to thank Escambia County Board of Commissioners for its generosity in helping the town pay for cleanup expenses related to the tornado,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said Wednesday.
Pictured: Tornado debris is loaded into a dumpster on Front Street in Century on March 1. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Man Found To Be Stabbed After Cantonment Wreck Now Jailed
May 12, 2016
A man found to be stabbed after a wreck in Cantonment late last month has now been arrested.
Edward Allen Boyd, age 48 of Cantonment, was charged this week with battery and burglary of an occupied dwelling. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $150,000.
Boyd crashed his Kia Sportage into a utility pole near Tree Street, just south of Muscogee Road about 1:15 a.m. on April 30. He was found lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the road, suffering from multiple stab woulds.
Deputies said that before the accident, he burst into his ex-girlfriend’s home in the 800 block of Highway 95A and attacked a male inside the residence. The ex-girlfriend grabbed a survival knife and defended the man, according to an arrest report, stabbing Boyd multiple times in the back.
Boyd then fled the scene in his vehicle and was involved the traffic crash.
Deputies said the ex-girlfriend will not face any charges for stabbing Boyd.
Tate Cheerleaders Hold Spring Cheer Camp For Ages 5-12
May 12, 2016
The Tate High School cheerleaders will host a Lil’ Aggies Spring Cheer Camp on May 21 from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Fryman Gym for ages 5-12.
The cost is $25; the deadline to register is Friday, with a possible deadline extension.
The Lil’ Aggies Spring Cheer Clinic will teach athletes proper stretch techniques, Tate sideline cheers and chants, Tate sideline dances, proper jump techniques, and motion placement. Athletes will be placed according to age level. Snacks will be provided. There will be a parent/guardian showcase from 11:30 a.m. until noon.
For more information see a Tate cheerleader or email jking5@escambia.k12.fl.us.
For more information and a registration form, click here.
Flomaton’s Andrew Cash Inks Baseball Scholarship With South Alabama
May 12, 2016
Flomaton High School senior Andrew Cash signed baseball scholarship with the University of South Alabama on Wednesday. He was a six year starter for the Flomaton High School baseball team. He played middle infield, center field, and pitcher during his time at Flomaton. He will likely play center fielder at USA.
He was also a four-year starter for Flomaton’s football team, beginning his career as a wide receiver/running back as a freshman, sophomore, and junior, and finishing his career as a quarterback as a senior, leading the canes to quarterfinal berth.
Pictured top: (standing, L-R) Athletic Director Scott Robinson, Head Baseball Coach Wes Sessions, brother Alex Cash, mother Debbie Cash, father Robert Cash, and Head Football Coach Doug Vickery, and (seated) Andrew Cash. Cash is pictured below with brother Alex, mother Debbie and father Robert. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Required Tdap Vaccine Offered At Ernest Ward, Ransom Middle Schools
May 12, 2016
The Escambia County School District is making it easier and cost-free for students to receive a required vaccination before school starts next fall.
Incoming seventh grade students in Florida are required to have a Tdap immunization before starting the school year.
The Escambia County School District has teamed up with Healthy Schools to offer the Tdap vaccine on May 18 at Ernest Ward and Ransom middle schools with no out of pocket cost. Consent forms have been sent home with current sixth grade students. Parents should return the completed form with either “Yes” or No” marked.
Tdap is a combination vaccine that protects against three potentially life-threatening bacterial diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
Man Charged With Hitting Woman With Vehicle, Trying To Run Over First Responders
May 11, 2016
A Cantonment man has been arrested after running over a woman, fleeing from police and then returning to the scene to try to run over first responders.
David Neil Slocovich, 26, was arrested on multiple charges Wednesday morning after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a woman had been struck by a vehicle in the 400 block of Well Line Road. Witnesses told deputies that they heard the female victim and Slocovich arguing before he put the vehicle into reverse and backed over the woman.
A responding deputy noticed the suspect’s green Lincoln traveling on Highway 29 and began to pursue the vehicle. Slocovich would not stop and drove back to Well Line Road where he tried to run over the EMS personnel and deputies rendering aid to the victim. Everyone got out of the way and there were no additional injuries, deputies said. Slocovich was arrested after he drove the vehicle into the tree line.
He was charged with three counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery domestic violence, aggravated assault, battery with intent to harm, vehicle theft, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
Slocovich was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The female was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No further information on her condition was made available.
Partnership To Bring Pediatric Services To Cantonment
May 11, 2016
Plans are underway for Escambia County Community Clinics to bring pediatric services to Cantonment.
ECCC will ink a five year lease on seven to eight thousand square feet of space in the former Winn Dixie at 470 Highway 29. Under a partnership discussed Tuesday by the Escambia County Commission, Escambia County will spend up to $250,000 to build out the clinic, along with space for the Healthy Start program.
“There is not currently a pediatrician in District 5 that accepts Medicaid,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “I am excited because this is an opportunity to provide for 6,000 pediatric medical visits in a community that drastically needs it.” Projections are for the clinic to provides visits for 6,000 children the first year and about 7,500 the second year.
The $250,000 price tag for the build out will come out of a working reserves fund that still have $564,000 in it, Barry said.
It is anticipated that the Escambia County Commission will approved the partnership with ECCC at their May 19 meeting, with construction work beginning as soon as possible.