Sunshine, Middle 90s For Your Friday
August 9, 2024
There is heat advisory in effect again for Friday.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 109. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. North wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Free Women’s College Soccer Match Saturday Evening At Ashton Brosnaham Park
August 9, 2024
Women’s college soccer is coming to Ashton Brosnaham Park Athletic Park Saturday evening, and admission is free.
The Louisiana State University and the University of Southern Mississippi women’s soccer teams will play an exhibition match at 7:30 p.m. on the park’s stadium field.
The 2024 SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament will return to Escambia County November 3-10. The top 12 SEC women’s soccer teams will compete for their championship at the Ashton Brosnaham.
Pictured: The inaugural Western Gate Collegiate Soccer Showdown featured matchups between the Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers with free admission last April at Ashton Brosnaham Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ninth-Inning Rally Lifts Wahoos To 4-2 Win Over Braves
August 9, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
After being stymied for eight innings against the Mississippi Braves, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos came to life in the ninth inning of Thursday’s game for a comeback 4-2 win.
Down to their final two outs and trailing 1-0 in the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos got the tying run aboard when Graham Pauley grounded a single up the middle against Jake McSteen (L, 1-5). Joe Mack blasted a double deep to right-center, putting two runners in scoring position. Reliever Elison Joseph, who had earned a one-out save on Wednesday, surrendered a game-tying RBI single to Nathan Martorella before issuing a bases-loaded walk to Harrison Spohn and a run-scoring hit-by-pitch to Andrew Pintar that proved to be the difference.
The game was a low-scoring affair until the ninth. Braves starter Lucas Braun held the Blue Wahoos to five hits over a career-high 7.2 scoreless innings, while Evan Fitterer allowed only an unearned run over 5.0 solid innings in his return performance from Triple-A Jacksonville.
After scoreless relief from Tyler Eckberg and Justin King (W, 2-0) kept the game within reach, the Blue Wahoos rallied for their four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Woo-Suk Go (S, 1) allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a pair of infield errors, but held on to earn his first Blue Wahoos save and lock down a 4-2 win.
The Blue Wahoos gained a game on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers, who fell 10-3 in Montgomery and are now 2.0 games ahead of Pensacola in the South Division with 33 games remaining in the regular season.
The series in Mississippi continues on Friday. First pitch from Trustmark Park is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT.
Woman Charged After Allegedly Shooting At Ex-Girlfriend In Cantonment
August 8, 2024
A woman was arrested Thursday morning after she allegedly opened fire from a vehicle near several people in a Cantonment neighborhood.
Hailey Marie Star Smith, 23, was charged with four counts felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and intimidation. She was booked into the Escambia.com County Jail without bond.
About 3:20 a.m., Smith pulled up to a residence in he 1000 block of Woodlake Driver near Goldenrod Road and fired a gun at her ex-girlfriend while several other people were nearby, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The ex-girlfriend then fired back, according to deputies.
No one was hit by the gunfire, and there were no injuries.
Here’s A Sneak Peek At The Playland, Pavilion For New Park At Former IP Golf Course
August 8, 2024
Last week, we told you that the Escambia County Commission was purchasing a new playland and pavilion for a new park. And today, we have a sneak peek at the playground design.
In April, Escambia County leased the 68-acre former International Paper golf course in Cantonment to develop it into a park.
The Escambia County Commission approved the purchase of a play structure and 704 square feet recreational shelter with tables for the property. The total was $369,775.76 for purchase and installation of the GameTime equipment. The recreational area will be open to the public free of charge during daylight hours once completed and opened.
The playground renderings pictured here are the design and colors that will be installed, according to Escambia County Recreation Director Michael Rhodes. The pavilion is also pictured below. (The backgrounds are, of course, just computer generated and not the actual park in Cantonment.)
The purchase will be funded from the Cantonment Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
The golf course has been closed since 2017. Escambia County plans to use the land for disc golf and walking trails in addition to the pavilion and playground. The park will be open only during daylight hours.
Under the lease agreement for, Escambia County will pay a $5,000 lease fee the first year with an annual increase of 5% with the lease reading $6,077.53 by year five.
The property was previously known as the Champion Golf Club.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Smokey Bear Celebrates 80th Birthday At Molino Library (With Gallery)
August 8, 2024
“Only you can prevent forest fires!”
Smokey Bear celebrated his 80th birthday with an event Wednesday at the Molino Branch Library.
The West Florida Public Libraries and the Florida Forest Service hosted the 80th birthday celebration for Smokey. Children enjoyed a video and hearing the story about Smokey’s early life.
Children had a chance to meet Smokey and pose for a photo, and the library’’s mascot owl Who also made a special appearance.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reverb By Hard Rock Pensacola Planned For Maritime Park
August 8, 2024
Hard Road International has announced development plans for a Reverb by Hard Rock Pensacola location at Maritime Park
Developers plan to break ground in 2026 and open by 2029. The announcement came a day before the Pensacola City Council votes on the 100-year lease.
Hard Rock Pensacola will feature more than 125 hotel technology-enhanced rooms, a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, lobby bar and lounge, quick service restaurant and fitness center. An exclusive Reverb City Guide for Pensacola will feature local artist-curated lists of favorite drinks, dining, and entertainment locations throughout the local area. Additionally, the property will host a podcast recording studio for local talent and creators as well as a meeting space for conferences.
The property will be located downtown at Maritime Park along Pensacola Bay with views of the water and Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The project is expected to create an economic boost to the area and generate over 500 construction and 75 permanent hospitality employment opportunities with competitive pay.
“Hard Rock is thrilled to keep growing our REVERB hotel portfolio with what will be the second planned property in Florida, this time in the heart of Pensacola Bay. We have full confidence in our partner, the Dawson Company, to deliver a best-in-class hotel based on their four decades of proven experience executing complex and catalytic projects throughout the eastern United States, and their extensive knowledge of the Pensacola market,” said Todd Hricko, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Hotel Development at Hard Rock International.
The Dawson Company is a second generation Pensacola-based development firm.
Other partners contributing to the development include Pensacola native, NFL Hall of Famer and real estate entrepreneur, Emmitt Smith, CEO at EJ Smith Enterprises.
FHP Charges Man With DUI, Hit And Run, Battery In Road Rage Incident
August 8, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol has charged an Escambia County man in connection with a road rage incident.
Mitchell Hayden Coffey, 62, was charged with aggravated battery, hit and run, driving under the influence, providing false information and refusal to submit.
Troopers said Coffey and a 34-year-old male driver were involved in an altercation on Graves Road off East Olive Road after almost being involved in a collision where a death threat was made. The two parties separated before Coffey went to his home but reentered the roadway when he observed the other driver on the road.
FHP said Coffey intentionally collided with the other driver’s vehicle three times. He then retrieved a handgun from inside his home and placed it in his vehicle, they said.
Coffey remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $41,000.
Pine Forest Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest For Possession of Gun, Drugs
August 8, 2024
Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested a convicted felon out on parole on gun and drugs charges after a traffic stop on Pine Forest Road.
About 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, a FHP trooper clocked a copper Dodge Charger traveling 76 mph in a 45 mph zone on Pine Forest Road. The trooper conducted a traffic stop and reported a strong smell of burnt marijuana from the vehicle.
Oderious Anthony Merritt, 34, was charged with possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of drugs (meth) with intent to sell, possession of drugs (heroin) with intent to sell, possession of drugs (marijuana) with intent to sell, and possession of a controlled substance without prescription. He was also cited for speed and illegal window tint.
FHP said Merritt stated he had a medical marijuana card; however, his actions were not consistent with the conversation. Following the arrival of a second trooper, a thorough investigation of Merritt and vehicle were conducted, leading to the probable cause to search the vehicle.
Troopers reported finding 386 grams of cocaine, 188 grams of heroin, 39 grams of marijuana and three grams of methamphetamine. In addition to the drugs, the driver was discovered to be a convicted felon currently out on parole and was in possession of loaded handgun, FHP said.
Merritt was arrested without incident and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $60,000.
Escambia, FL, Man Arrested On Drug Charges In Atmore
August 8, 2024
An Escambia County, Florida, man was arrested on multiple drug charges in Atmore.
The Atmore Police Department responded to reported disturbance at a residence on Lindberg Avenue.
That’s what they found 55-year-old Jonathan McGhee standing in the yard screaming, Sgt. Darrell McMann said. He said offers were able to see a “large” marijuana plant in a vehicle in the driveway, and there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence.
Atmore Police Department Narcotics Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence and the vehicles in the driveway. APD said agents discovered methamphetamine, suboxone, “numerous items commonly used to ingest narcotics”, and “evidence indicating the manufacturing of controlled substances”.
McGhee was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance second degree, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
McGhee was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.