Firefighters Respond To Possible Natural Gas Pipeline Leak In Bratt
April 19, 2023
Firefighters responded to a possible gas leak from a natural gas valve station near Bratt Tuesday night.
A passerby reported the smell of gas on North Highway 99 near Amerson Drive about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded and found an extremely strong smell of gas coming from the high pressure Pensacola Energy pipeline. The valve station is located about 150 feet off the roadway in the yard of a residence.
Firefighters determined that if natural gas was leaking, it was not a high enough level to be extremely dangerous. There were no evacuations ordered.
Pensacola Energy was notified of the possible leak.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McAnally Has Two Grand Slams, Pitches Complete Game As Tate Beats Washington
April 19, 2023
Ethan McAnally had two grand slams Tuesday night at the Tate Aggies defeated Washington High 12-1 in five innings.
McAnally’s homers came in the first and fifth innings.
McAnally also earned the win with a complete game on the mound for Tate, allowing six hits and one run over five innings while striking out five.
Frank Randall, Clifton Quiggins, James Davis, Javin Floyd and Conner Hassell added on hit each for Tate.
The Aggies will host West Florida on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mesa Jr. Hits For Historic Cycle Wahoos 10-4 Loss
April 19, 2023
Little went right Tuesday for the Blue Wahoos, except for a special night by Victor Mesa Jr.
The 21-year-old centerfielder, rated No. 14 among the Miami Marlins’ top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, attained one of baseball’s rarest achievements by hitting for the cycle in the Blue Wahoos’ 10-4 loss against the Birmingham Barons at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Mesa Jr., a Havana, Cuba native, matched the Blue Wahoos franchise feat first attained by Donald Lutz on April 21, 2014 while part of the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.
Ironically, Mesa’s magnificence followed the Miami Marlins’ Luis Arraez, who played for the Blue Wahoos in 2019 as Minnesota Twins prospect, becoming last week the first Marlins player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
In this case, Mesa Jr. hit the cycle in the natural order of single, double, triple and homer on a 4-for-5 night at the plate. He struck out with the bases loaded in the ninth to end the game, but now has a team-high .395 average.
He drove in the game’s first run in the first inning with his two-out single, then followed with the extra base hits. With two outs in the eighth inning, Mesa Jr. clubbed the first pitch he saw and launched it 407 feet over the right-center wall.
Before a crowd of 3,456, his game was the boost on a tough way for the Blue Wahoos to begin their first full-week homestand.
Erratic pitching created a deep, early-inning hole.
It was the first “Doggone Tuesday” promotion, sponsored by Anderson Subaru, giving fans ability to bring their beloved pets into the ballpark and take in the game together.
The Barons (3-7) quickly took over, expanding a 2-1 lead by scoring four runs in the fourth inning on one hit.
Through five innings, three Blue Wahoos pitchers had combined to issue six walks, hit three batters, a wild pitch and another that was a passed ball. The Barons took advantage for an 8-1 lead. The Blue Wahoos wound up using five pitchers in the game.
The two teams will play Wednesday on Education Day — the first mid-week, matinee game in Blue Wahoos history. It will include school children ages kindergarten through fifth grade at the ballpark as part of special educational field trip. The Blue Wahoos will do it again on May 3 in their other Education Day game.
First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 11:05 p.m.
by Bill Vilona, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
NWE Little League Treasurer Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud
April 18, 2023
The former treasurer of the Northwest Escambia Little League at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill is accused of fraud and theft of money from the organization.
Paula Star Pugh, 48, was charged with grand theft $10,000 to $20,000 and fraud under $20,000. Both charges are third degree felonies. She was released on a $2,500 bond 22 minutes after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail Monday night.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pugh was the elected treasurer/bookkeeper since 2017 for Northwest Escambia Little League with the alleged thefts taking place from July 26, 2021, until December 9, 2022.
“During this time Pugh wrote checks on NWE’s account which she cashed for personal use, completed unauthorized debit transactions for personal use, and completed numerous ATM withdrawals for personal use,” the ECSO investigator wrote in his report, noting that Pugh had no receipt or explanation for the transactions.
According to a warrant affidavit, the transactions included numerous cash ATM withdrawals from an Atmore bank; purchases from Shell Oil and Papa John’s Pizza in Tampa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods Online; and eight checks payable to Cash that were signed by Pugh totaling $9,226. The transactions are detailed in the image below.
NWE first reported the misuse of funds to law enforcement on December 20, 2022, and an investigation was launched by the ECSO. Over the next several weeks, an ECSO investigator and ballpark officials examined the league’s financial records and built a ledger of transactions attributed to Pugh with no receipt or explanation, the report states. Deputies said the NWE board attempted at least twice to meet with Pugh and obtain receipts, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
The investigation also indicated that a ball tournament completed on June 13, 2022, yielded receipts/cash profit of $10,012.66. According to the warrant affidavit: Pugh sent a text message on June 13 that a deposit of $2,690 would be made the following day. On June 14, a deposit was made at NWE’s bank in Atmore for $1,557.10. “The difference in the amount to be deposited and the amount actually deposited could not be explained,” the report notes.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said numerous attempts were made by phone and in person by the investigator to contact Pugh with no result, until she returned contact on March 7, 2023. Pugh’s statements to law enforcement were redacted from the warrant affidavit.
According to the school’s website, Pugh is an English 2 teacher at Northview High School. None of the charges are related to her employment, Northview High School, or the school district.
“We have been made aware of this situation and are proceeding with our normal disciplinary procedures, in accordance with statute,” Escambia County Public Schools spokesman Cody Strother told NorthEscambia.com. “Without commenting on any specific case, generally, the process would be a suspension with pay, pending an investigation, and then a suspension without pay. All of this, however, would be based on the outcome of any investigation.”
Editor’s note: Northwest Escambia Little League is not affiliated with Northwest Escambia (NWE) Football & Cheer at Bradberry Park.
Motorcycle, Semi Collide On Highway 97; One Critically Injured
April 18, 2023
A motorcyclist was critically injured after colliding with a semi-truck about daybreak Tuesday in Davisville.
The log truck pulled from West Highway 4 onto Highway 97 into the path of the northbound motorcycle, according to authorities. The motorcyclist was ejected as motorcycle went under the unloaded trailer and was dragged across Highway 97. The motorcycle reportedly did not have a headlight on at the time.
The 65-year old male biker from Atmore was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital as a “trauma alert”.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Trafficking Meth; Possession Of Fentanyl, THC And Pot In Escambia Park
April 18, 2023
A Molino man has been charged with trafficking meth and possession of fentanyl, THC and marijuana in an Escambia County Park.
Christian Bleier Irvin, 28, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription (two counts; fentanyl and THC), possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 12:35 a.m. Saturday, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy on patrol found Irvin parked in the middle of Atwood Park on Kipling Street, near a sign indicating the park is closed from sunset to sunrise. Deputies found 20.9 grams of marijuana, 18 grams of methamphetamine, 0.5 grams fentanyl, THC and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, according to an arrest report. He denied having any knowledge of the items in the vehicle.
Irvin remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $58,000.
Highway 97 Wreck Involves Car, Pickup And A Boat
April 18, 2023
A wreck in Walnut Hill Monday afternoon involved a pickup truck, a car, and a boat.
The crash happened about 5:15 p.m. on Highway 97 just south of South Highway 99.
According to witnesses, the driver of a Ford F150 towing a boat swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting a Pontiac Grand Am. The vehicles did collide, with the Grand Am coming to rest in a front yard. The pickup continued across a ditch, crashing into a power pole. The boat broke loose from its trailer, with a portion of the hull coming to rest in the bed of the pickup.
At least two people from the car were injured and transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS. No one in the pickup truck was injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released information about which driver was at fault.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Open To The Public Again This Weekend
April 18, 2023
Naval Air Station Pensacola will open to the public again this weekend.
NAS Pensacola will open to the public this weekend, April 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. through the West Gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real ID or passport.
While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center to individuals with family interred at the cemetery.
Foreign nationals will not be allowed access. Guests with boat trailers will not be allowed to enter. Access will be dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
- No visitors with boats or boat trailers.
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card.
The base was last open to the public March 25-26.
Molino Man Arrested On Drug Charges After Argument In Alabama
April 18, 2023
A Molino man was taken into custody on drug charges after an altercation at what locals refer to as “the main light” in downtown Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department responded to a reported dispute between two individuals at the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 31, where they encountered 38-year-old Robert Lee Jones.
“At the time of our interaction with Jones, our officers observed him behaving strangely and exhibiting a heightened sense of concern towards a backpack he was carrying,” said Atmore PD Sgt. Darrell McMann. Upon conducting a search, police discovered a glass tube containing charred residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Jones was subsequently charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center, but later released on bond.
Coffee Shop In The Works For Walnut Hill
April 18, 2023
A coffee shop may be coming to Walnut Hill.
The “North Brew” would be located at 7270 Highway 97, about a third of a mile north of South Highway 99 and Dollar General.
Plans filed with the Escambia County Development Services Department by a Walnut Hill resident show the coffee shop would be located in an existing 220 square foot building behind a small building that is North End Jiu Jitsu. The plans show a gravel driveway circling to the building with a covered service window and covered outdoor seating.
The coffee shop is in pre-application status before the Escambia Development Review Committee, which meets next on April 19. Multiple additional steps in the review and permitting process will be required, and the applicant may choose to never complete the project.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
