Fire Causes Minor Damage To Cantonment Home
April 7, 2014
Fire caused minor damage to a home in the 700 block of Escambia Avenue in Cantonment about 3:30 Sunday afternoon. There were no injures reported, and the exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 3-2 Sunday
April 7, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Tennessee Smokies 3-2 in front of the fourth straight sellout crowd to begin the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos (3-1) won the series behind spectacular pitching once again; the staff struck out 10 in the victory, bringing their league-lead to 50 on the season. The Smokies (1-3) had three errors in the game as they dropped their second straight to the Wahoos.
RHP Jon Moscot worked 4.1 innings in the start before being lifted because of a blister on his finger. In his shortened start, Moscot gave up five hits and 1 R/ER while striking out four. Moscot said after the game he is not concerned about missing his next start for Pensacola.
RHP Sean Black relieved Moscot in his first appearance of the season going 1.2 innings. Black struck out two without allowing a hit or a run. Drew Hayes earned his second save of the season despite giving up a 9th inning lead off home run to Dustin Geiger.
Returning Wahoo Yorman Rodriguez provided the tying and go-ahead RBI in the third and fourth inning with a sacrifice fly and a single to left field. Catcher Rossmel Perez got his first start of the year and responded with a great game scoring a run and hitting an RBI single.
RHP Ivan Pineyro started the contest for the Smokies going 4.0 innings and giving up 2 R/1ER. Pineyro added three walks and two strikeouts to his ledger. LHP Jeff Lorick had a strong day in relief pitching 2.0 IP giving up no runs, no hits and striking out two.
The Smokies scored their first run on a single from right fielder Jonathan Mota scoring Kris Bryant from second. Geiger cut the lead to just one in the 9th with his home run, but it wasn’t enough to top the Wahoos.
The Wahoos send the Reds’ sixth best prospect, Michael Lorenzen, to the bump for Monday’s 6:30 p.m. series finale. RHP Matt Loosen is scheduled to pitch for the Smokies.
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Tennessee Smokies 3-2 in Pensacola. Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Left Behind: One Injured In Single Vehicle Molino Wreck
April 6, 2014
One person was known to be injured in an accident early Sunday morning in Molino.
After a vehicle hit a tree near Highway 95A and Molino Road about 12:30 a.m., the driver reportedly fled the scene with the vehicle, leaving an injured passenger behind in the parking lot of the Molino First Stop convenience store.
The 19-year old male was transported to a Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”, according to Escambia County EMS.
The description of the vehicle and further details about the wreck were not immediately available from the Florida Highway Patrol as they continued their investigation.
Molino Library Celebrates First Year Of Service (With Photo Gallery)
April 6, 2014
The first anniversary of the Molino Branch Library was celebrated Saturday.
“It’s been a great first year, and the community has really welcomed the library,” said Darlene Howell, West Florida Library administrator.
The event included speeches, cake and ice cream, displays from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Florida Forest Service, the Molino Historical Society, local authors, children’s activities, a book fair and more.
Howell announced that the local Honeysuckle Garden Club is partnering with the Molino Branch Library for a children’s discovery garden, which will be under construction soon.
The Molino Mid County Historical Society, Barrineau Park Historical Society and the Friends of the Library received special recognition for their efforts at the Molino Branch Library.
The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450 Highway 95A (just south of Molino Road) in the Molino Community Complex, which opened back in October 2012.
Pictured top: Library Administrator Darlene Howell presents a certificate of appreciation to Lil King and the Molino Mid County Historical Society for the groups efforts at the Molino Branch Library. Pictured inset: The Dogwood Dulcimers provided entertainment for the event. Pictured below: Children make library books bags during a craft activity. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: NWE Opening Day (With Gallery)
April 6, 2014
Saturday was Opening Day for Northwest Escambia at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill with the first pitch tossed out by veteran and former Escambia County Judge Billy Ward.
For a photo gallery from Opening Day ceremonies, click here.
Does your child play at NWE? Send us photos and scores this season! Email news@northescambia.com.
Pictured top and below: Opening Day ceremonies for Northwest Escambia and Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Veteran and former judge Billy Ward tosses the first pitch. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Wins Escambia Academy Junior Varsity Tournament
April 6, 2014
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs won a weekend tournament hosted by Escambia Academy.
The JV Chiefs beat Escambia Academy 11-3 and went on to beat Monroe Academy 4-3 for the tournament title. In other tourney action, Monroe Academy beat Escambia Academy 12-0 for second place.
Northview will be in action at home in Bratt Tuesday night against Baker.
Flag Football Tourney: High School ROTC Units Face Off (With Gallery)
April 6, 2014
ROTC units from three area high schools squared off Saturday at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium at Northview High School in a coed flag football tournament.
The Northview Chiefs took first place in the Bratt tournament, followed by Escambia High Team One in second place, Pace High School in third and Escambia High Team 2 in fourth place.
Winning Northview team members were Eli Harbison, Dakota Craft, Jason Perritt, Andrew Clemmons, Jaylen Parker, Matt Cayson, Zarcarra Davis, Chelsea Ward and Tabitha Chavers.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: A Northview ROTC team beats an Escambia High School ROTC team during a coed tournament Saturday at Northview High School in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Event opening and team photos courtesy Natalie Nall for NorthEscambia.com.
‘Warning Shot’ Bill Heads To Governor Scott For Signature
April 6, 2014
The Florida Senate has approved a proposal that has become known as the “warning shot” bill, which would allow people to show guns and fire warning shots if they feel threatened.
The House also has approved the bill, which is now ready to go to Gov. Rick Scott. The Senate passed the House measure (HB 89) by a vote of 32-7.
The bill would add immunity for threats to use force to Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.
“WSenate Criminal Justice Chairman Greg Evers, a Baker Republican who sponsored the bill, said it “fixes a problem with the inappropriate 10-20-Life sentences when law-abiding citizens are defending themselves. The current law does not regulate the threatened use of force. This bill does just that.”
Under the 10-20-Life law, possessing a gun while committing certain crimes is punishable by at least 10 years in prison, discharging a gun while committing those crimes is punishable by at least 20 years in prison, and hurting or killing someone during those crimes is punishable by 25 years to life in prison.
The House sponsor of HB 89, Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, has said the bill was inspired by the case of Marissa Alexander, a Jacksonville woman who was sentenced to 20 years in prison under 10-20-Life for firing a warning shot during a domestic dispute.
Combee’s attempt last year to tweak 10-20-Life to allow threats of force in self defense failed due to opposition from law enforcement. This year, instead, he turned to “stand your ground” — with apparent success.
Senate Democrats tried to amend the bill to require the state to keep open records of cases in which the law is used.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, offered the amendment, which would have removed a provision in the House bill that would allow records to be expunged if people who claim “stand your ground” are found innocent.
Smith said keeping open the records would make the law’s success or failure easier to track.
“If it’s being used incorrectly, you can make changes,” Smith said.
“We need this information to set the right policies going forward,” agreed Sen. Darren Soto, an Orlando Democrat. “What are we afraid of, to have the right information, so that if we do need to adjust the law, we’ll have the information we need?”
But Sen. Charlie Dean, an Inverness Republican and a former Citrus County sheriff, said people who are forced to defend themselves shouldn’t have a criminal record as a result.
“If you’re innocent, that automatically should expunge your name, and you shouldn’t have to defend your name the rest of your life,” Dean said.
Smith’s amendment failed on a voice vote.
The debate touched on several high-profile Florida incidents that involved guns, including the shooting deaths of Trayvon Martin in Sanford and Jordan Davis in Jacksonville, both in 2012.
Sen. Arthenia Joyner, who voted against the original “stand your ground” law as a House member in 2005, recalled that at the time, she predicted it would “open Pandora’s box and in that box would be death for someone — not realizing that my words at that time were prophetic, because it has happened.”
Joyner blamed the war on drugs of the Reagan era for several tough-on-crime laws “that have outlived their usefulness.”
But Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, noted that he was the House speaker in 1999, when the Legislature passed the 10-20-Life and “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” laws, which cracked down on Florida felons.
“I am told by the law enforcement people that those laws have actually affected the amount of serious crime in the state of Florida, and it’s actually come down from 1999 to today,” Thrasher said.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
First Annual Barrineau Park Heritage & Bluegrass Festival Held (With Gallery)
April 6, 2014
The Barrineau Park Historical Society held the First Annual Barrineau Park Heritage & Bluegrass Festival Friday and Saturday. The festival included entertainment from a variety of Bluegrass bands, food, crafters, historical booths and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Barrineau Park Historical Society held the First Annual Barrineau Park Heritage & Bluegrass Festival Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Cruise To 5-0 Victory In Rain Shortened Game
April 6, 2014
In front of the third straight sell-out crowd to start the season, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos blew out the Tennessee Smokies 5-0 in a rain-shortened game Saturday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium in Pensacola. The Blue Wahoos’ (2-1) pitching staff was spectacular giving up just two hits to the Smokies (1-2). RHP Robert Stephenson dazzled in his 2014 debut striking out a career-high 11 batters.
Cincinnati Reds’ RHP Jonathan Broxton started for the Wahoos for the second straight night throwing one scoreless inning. Stephenson, the Reds’ top prospect, came on in relief and struck out 11 batters in just five innings of work. Stephenson’s 11 strikeouts were a career high and he tied J.C. Sulbaran for the second most in club history.
RHP Daniel Renken pitched a scoreless top half of the seventh before the umpires decided to call the game due to steady rain that had been falling since the second inning.
Shortstop Devin Lohman hit the Wahoos’ first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the 6th inning that gave them a 5-0 lead. First baseman Steve Selsky and second baseman Rey Navarro had back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth to give the Wahoos a 3-0 lead.
Chicago Cubs rehabber RHP Jake Arrieta pitched three innings during his rehab start giving up 1 R/0ER while striking out three. Arrieta was saddled with the loss despite giving up just one unearned run. RHP Corey Black pitched 2 innings giving up five hits and the two-run home run to Lohman.
Centerfielder Rubi Silva and catcher Charles Cutler were the only Smokies to register a hit in the contest.
The Wahoos will throw RHP Jon Moscot Sunday at 4:00 p.m. RHP Ivan Pineyro is scheduled to pitch for the Smokies.
by Tommy Thrall
Photos by Michael Spooneybarger/Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
