Memorial Day: North Escambia Monuments Honor Those That Served
May 26, 2025
On Memorial Day, people across North Escambia and the country remember the brave men and women that have served and sacrificed all.
In North Escambia, there are several memorials that honor those that have served in the military. Below, we are highlighting some of the outdoor memorials that residents can visit today.
Continue scrolling; the article continues below the photos.
LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park
The LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park was dedicated in Bratt on November 8, 2011, in honor of the local Marine killed in action in August 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was just two weeks after his 19th birthday and only about a month after he arrived in Afghanistan.
The park features a memorial in Nelson’s honor. It is located on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
Century Veterans Wall of Honor
About four dozen of those that served from the Century area are honored on the Century Veterans Wall of Honor at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29. The memorial was dedicated on July 4, 2008 and also honors local soldiers killed in action.
The Century Veterans Wall of Honor is located in the Nadine McCaw Park at the corner of North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) and Hecker Road.
Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor
The largest such memorial in the North Escambia area, the Veterans Honor Wall has stood in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center since its dedication in 2003. There are about 300 names on the wall, including names of just over a dozen soldiers killed in action. The wall honors those from the Walnut Hill area that have served in the nation’s military.
The Walnut Hill Ruritan Club began planning the wall in late 2001, and they decided that it would be a community project at no cost to the veterans listed.
The late Billy R. Ward began to engrave the names with an antique machine the club purchased off the internet, and there were 220 names on the wall when it was dedicated in 2003. He spent a lot of time on the project, visiting the Wall South Memorial in Pensacola to get an idea what size the letters on the plaques should be.
On the Walnut Hill Veterans Honor Wall, everyone is equal. It was decided that no service rank would be include on the name plaques, just the branch and years of service.
Many of the veterans listed on the wall are now deceased.
The Walnut Hill Veterans Wall is located in front of the community center at 7850 Highway 97.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Molino Residents Frustrated Over Damaged Mailboxes
May 26, 2025
Molino residents are expressing frustration after multiple mailboxes were destroyed over the weekend.
They estimate that 15-25 mailboxes were damaged or destroyed in the area of Sunshine Hill Road, Crabtree Church Road, Gibson Road, and Chestnut Road.
Several residents reported that the mailboxes that were damaged by someone one a four-wheeler.
Any that may have video is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall To Barons, Suffer Rare Home Sweep
May 26, 2025
Sunday’s 6-2 loss marked the first six-game sweep of the Blue Wahoos at Blue Wahoos Stadium in franchise history.
After taking four of six from the Rocket City Trash Pandas in the first half of their 12-game homestand, the Blue Wahoos dropped six in a row to the Birmingham Barons.
Trailing 4-2 in the seventh with one out, the bases were loaded for the heart of the Blue Wahoos lineup. After enduring a week of offensive struggles, the Blue Wahoos were staring at one of their best opportunities all week. A foul out and popout later, Barons reliever Tyler Davis escaped without giving up a run after walking two and allowing one hit in the frame.
The squandered opportunity was one of many this week for the Blue Wahoos as they dropped six straight at home, and have now fallen to 23-22 with the race to the end of the first half heating up.
Birmingham’s bats jumped ahead in the top of the third against starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, as centerfielder Jacob Burke sent a fly ball out to left for a solo home run, his second round-tripper of the year.
The offense came alive for the Blue Wahoos in the fourth inning as they got their second look at Birmingham starter Riley Gowens (5-0) this week.
Designated Hitter Nathan Martorella led off with a double to left-center and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Mark Coley II. Dalvy Rosario picked up an RBI of his own with a single up the middle, his second hit of the day, to put the Wahoos ahead 2-1.
The runs for the Blue Wahoos broke a 15-inning streak of being shut out by the Barons’ pitching staff, dating back to the seventh inning of Friday night’s game.
After the Blue Wahoos took the lead in the fourth, the Barons rattled off one run in each of the next three innings to take a 4-2 lead. Rikuu Nishida tied it in the fifth with an RBI single, Jacob Gonzalez took the lead in the sixth with a solo home run to right and Adam Hackenberg hit a solo home run of his own in the seventh.
All three runs were charged to left-hander Luis Palacios (1-2), who was saddled with the loss on Sunday.
The Barons added some insurance in the eighth, as they added two unearned runs against right-hander Jesse Bergin to push their lead to 6-2.
After Gonzalez reached on a throwing error by Jared Serna, Caden Connor picked up an RBI after sneaking a ball just past the reach of Serna, while Mario Camiletti knocked in Gonzalez on a single to right.
After going 4-8 over their 12-game homestand, the Blue Wahoos will turn their attention to a six-game set in Montgomery, Alabama, against the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Montgomery Biscuits
WHEN: Tuesday through Sunday (June 1).
WHERE: Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery, Alabama.
GAMETIMES: The games on Tuesday through Friday will start at 6:35 p.m., Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s game starts at 3:33 p.m.
Man Charged With Attempted Murder After High-Speed Chase And Shooting
May 25, 2025
An Atmore man is facing attempted murder and felony fleeing charges after a shooting incident followed by a high-speed pursuit.
James Antonio Johnson, 24, of Atmore, turned himself in to authorities.
At approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, Atmore Police Officers responded to reports of multiple shots fired in the area of Sowell Avenue and Trout Street. The victim and witnesses provided dispatch with a description of a vehicle fleeing the scene.
An Atmore Police Officer en route to the shooting location observed a vehicle matching the description leaving the area. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop and made eye contact with the driver, whom he recognized as James Antonio Johnson. Johnson then dramatically accelerated, reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour on Carver Avenue as he attempted to evade the officer. The officer briefly lost sight of Johnson’s vehicle before locating it abandoned at a nearby residence.
Upon interviewing the victim of the shooting, Johnson was positively identified as the individual who had fired shots at their vehicle. Investigators processed the scene, recovering 27 spent shell casings from two different caliber firearms.
Johnson was charged with attempted murder and felony fleeing a law enforcement officer. Johnson was subsequently transported to the Escambia County, AL Detention Center.
Authorities have indicated that another person of interest has been identified in connection with the shooting, and arrest warrants for that suspect are expected to be obtained. The investigation into the incident remains open.
Search For Felony Suspect Turns Up Empty In Dogwood Park
May 25, 2025
The search for a suspect turned up empty Saturday night in Dogwood Park after several hours.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect abandoned a stolen vehicle in the area of Highway 97 and Holly Park Lane, not far from the Dogwood Park Baptist Church. Thanks to OnStar tracking, deputies located the truck after it was reported stolen.
Deputies set up a perimeter and searched for the suspect using a drone and K-9. The search was called off after several hours.
The only available description was a shorter white male possible in his 30s.
The truck was recovered.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Book Drop Is Back At The Molino Library
May 25, 2025
The ribbon has been “cut” on a new book drop at the Molino Library.
The previous book drop (pictured below) had been out of service and was replaced.
The Molini Branch Library is located at 6450-A Highway 95A, in the Molino Community Center. The book drop is located out front on the right (south) end of the building, closest to the tax collector and property appraiser offices.
Pictured top: The ribbon cutting for the new book return (courtesy photo). Pictured below: The former book drop had been out of service (NorthEscambia.com photo). Click to enlarge.
Two Escambia County Ambulances Involved In Three-Vehicle Crash
May 25, 2025
Two Escambia County EMS ambulances were involved in a crash Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the two ambulances were traveling east on Blue Angel Parkway and approached stopped traffic near Longleaf Creek Drive. The first ambulance stopped, as did a Nissan SUV. The second ambulance driver, a 23-year-old male failed to observe the stopped traffic and collided with the SUV. The collision pushed the SUV into the first ambulance. The driver of the SUV, a 51-year-old Escambia County man was transported to the hospital for evaluation of minor injuries.
The FHP indicated that each ambulance had a passenger, but the report did not indicate if the passengers were EMS staff or patients.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Names Students Of The Month
May 25, 2025
Tate High School has named Students of the Month. They are Jeremiah Rivers and Emani Carpenter. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Memorial Day Closures, Trash Collection Updates
May 25, 2025
Escambia County
Below is a listing of Escambia County offices and departments closed Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day:
- Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (all departments)
- Escambia County Administration
- Escambia County Area Transit Administrative Offices and Customer Service
- Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare and Animal Shelter
- Escambia County Extension Office
- Escambia County Waste Services Administration and Perdido Landfill
- West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (all offices)
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
- Escambia County Tax Collector
ECAT Bus Schedule
- ECAT will not run regular bus service or FlexTransit service on Monday, May 26.
- Pensacola Beach Trolleys will operate on Monday, May 26 from 4 p.m. until midnight.
- Regular ECAT service will resume on Tuesday, May 27.
ECUA
- ECUA business offices will be closed on Monday, May 26.
- All residential sanitation services will remain on their regular schedule with no changes.
- Mainland commercial sanitation collections will be serviced one day later than usual for the remainder of the week due to the landfill closure on Monday.
Town Of Century, Cities Of Pensacola, Jay
- All city own offices and departments will be closed
- Trash will be collected on day later — on Thursday rather than Wednesday — by Republic Services.
Fulton Fantastic, But Bats Kept Quiet In Wahoos’ Fifth Straight Loss
May 25, 2025
The showcase pitching matchup between touted prospects exceeded expectations.
But game itself continued the Blue Wahoos struggling week-long narrative.
Unable to seize a first-inning opportunity, then held to just two hits, the Blue Wahoos fell 2-0 against the Birmingham Barons for a fifth consecutive loss, before a customary sellout crowd of 5,038 Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the first Saturday night home loss this season on Fireworks Saturday.
But the night contained a wide variety of crowd-buzzing entertainment elements, beginning with Star Wars Night featuring 17 authentic costumed Star Wars characters who posed for pictures and visited with fans along the second-level concourse. The Blue Wahoos wore Star Wars jerseys auctioned during the game.
The other activities included a pregame parade of youth scouts from the Northwest Florida Chapter of Scouting America, a mid-game salute to an area nurse, then a post-game marriage proposal from a U.S. Marine Corps member moments before the two launched the post-game fireworks show.
The massive crowd witnessed two of baseball’s former acclaimed high school pitchers, lefthanders Dax Fulton for the Blue Wahoos and 6-foot-10 Noah Schultz for the Barons – now a few years into pro careers – produce a duel of zeroes.
The Barons (24-18), leaders in the Southern League North Division, manufactured an unearned, first-inning run, which proved all they would need.
Schultz, the Chicago White Sox No. 1 prospect, rated the No. 15 overall prospect in Minor League Baseball by MLB Pipeline, had his best start this season. He was Chicago’s top draft pick in 2022 out of high school in Oswego, Illinois.
On this night, he went five innings, allowed just one hit, struck out four and walked three batters.
Two of those walks were back-to-back to begin the Blue Wahoos’ first inning. But Schultz then got Nathan Martorella to hit into a double play and got cleanup hitter Kemp Alderman out on a grounder to first.
Fulton, meanwhile, followed his last quality start with another. After giving up consecutive singles to start the game, he never faced another threat, and went six innings for the first time this season.
He finished allowing eight hits, all singles, no walks, struck out seven and left trailing 1-0. It further supported his strong comeback after missing all of last season from elbow surgery and most of the 2023 season when arm issues developed.
The Blue Wahoos (23-21), who have lost 12 of their past 16 games, had another chance against Schultz in the fourth inning when Alderman singled with one out and Zamora walked. That hit was the only one Schultz allowed.
But Schultz struck out Mark Coley II and got Johnny Olmstead to ground out to end the inning.
The Barons used three relievers behind Schultz. They combined to give up just one hit, no walks and struck out eight batters. The Blue Wahoos had only one baserunner in the last four innings.
In the ninth inning, Birmingham reliever Peyton Pallette ended the game on nine pitches, including striking out the final two batters he faced.
The Barons got the second run on a homer by Jacob Gonzalez in the eighth inning off Dale Stanavich, who worked the final two innings.
The Blue Wahoos will try to avoid being swept in a six-game homestand for the first time since this format started in 2021 in Sunday’s series finale against Birmingham.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Homestand Finale
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIME: 4:05 p.m. start.