Wahoos Come Up Short Again, Fall To Lookouts 3-1
May 26, 2013
Once again, the Blue Wahoos could not find the offense to support another strong starting performance, this time by Daniel Renken. The Chattanooga Lookouts scored a pair of runs late to down the Wahoos 3-1 at AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday night.
Renken allowed just one run over six strong innings, surrendered only three hits and struck out five, but did not record a decision. The lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Yasiel Puig drove home the tying run from third with a shallow sacrifice fly to centerfield. Renken walked the leadoff man in the inning, and he eventually came around to score to even the game at 1-1.
In the top of the sixth, Pensacola broke a scoreless tie when Theo Bowe belted a solo home run over the right-field wall for his first homer of the season. That was one of only four hits the Blue Wahoos would get on the night.
Chattanooga broke through with the winning runs in the eighth. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases after a leadoff double, setting the stage for Puig. Brian Pearl was summoned from the bullpen, inheriting the bases loaded mess, and Puig delivered a single up the middle to score two runs which proved to be the difference in the game. Both runs were charged to Wilkin De La Rosa (L, 1-2), who was saddled with the loss. Pensacola was retied quietly in the bottom of the ninth by Jose Dominguez who earned his second consecutive save.
Scott Elbert (W, 1-0) picked up the win for the Lookouts out of their bullpen. He worked a scoreless inning before the Lookouts did the damage in the eighth. Andres Santiago started for the Lookouts and allowed just the one run over 5.2 innings. He fanned a season-high seven batters.
The series continues from AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Sunday. The Blue Wahoos will start RHP Josh Smith (3-4, 3.66) against Lookouts RHP Steve Smith who will make his AA debut. He had pitched his first 11 games of the year with AAA Albuquerque. First pitch is set for 5:15 p.m. CT.
Charity Cabaret Benefits Tate Senior Fighting Cancer
May 26, 2013
A packed house at the Pensacola Little Theatre enjoyed some great entertainment Saturday night, all while helping Halee Boyd — a Tate High School senior who is fighting a rare form of cancer.
The “Hope 4 Halee Charity Cabaret” was hosted by Tori Patton, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Pensacola High School as her community service project. Patton and Boyd have been friends for years, both members of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus at one time.
Performances included several talented students and a set from the Broadening Education Thru Arts program.
Pictured top: A performance during the Hope 4 Halee Charity Cabaret Saturday night at the Pensacola Little Theatre. Pictured: Halee Boyd and her mom Mardi at the benefit event. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FCAT Writing, 3rd Grade Reading, Math Results Released
May 25, 2013
Friday, the Florida Department of Education released FCAT 2.0 writing results, along with third grade reading and math scores.
Escambia County overall results, along with results from individual schools in District 5, were as follows:
THIRD GRADE READING
In Escambia County, 55% of third grade students were proficient in reading, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Jim Allen Elementary, 52%
Bratt Elementary, 48%
Byrneville Elementary, 90%
Lipscomb Elementary, 66%
McArthur Elementary, 62%
Molino Park Elementary, 74%
Pine Meadow Elementary, 57%
Byrneville Elementary, with 90% proficient in third grade reading, was at second in the district to only Pensacola Beach Elementary.
THIRD GRADE MATH
In Escambia County, 52% of third grade students were proficient in math, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Jim Allen Elementary, 44%
Bratt Elementary, 63%
Byrneville Elementary, 95%
Lipscomb Elementary, 57%
McArthur Elementary, 50%
Molino Park Elementary, 76%
Pine Meadow Elementary, 54%
Byrneville Elementary, with 90% proficient in third grade math, was at second in the district to only Pensacola Beach Elementary.
FOURTH GRADE WRITING
In Escambia County, 47% of fourth grade students were proficient in writing, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Jim Allen Elementary, 78%
Bratt Elementary, 85%
Byrneville Elementary, 80%
Lipscomb Elementary, 77%
McArthur Elementary, 55%
Molino Park Elementary, 66%
Pine Meadow Elementary, 91%
EIGHTH GRADE WRITING
In Escambia County, 41% of eighth grade students were proficient in writing, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Ernest Ward Middle, 81%
Ransom Middle, 80%
Both Ernest Ward and Ransom were among the top scoring middle schools in the county.
TENTH GRADE WRITING
In Escambia County, 54% of tenth grade students were proficient in writing, scoring a 3.5 or greater. In District 5:
Northview High, 88%
Tate High, 83%
Northview High was second best, and Tate was third, in the county behind West Florida High at 94% in tenth grade writing.
FDLE: Accused Murderer May Be In Escambia Area
May 25, 2013
Law enforcement believes an accused murderer may be in the Escambia County area.
Ernest Larry Grandison, 43, is wanted by the Lake City Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on charges of felony homicide. Grandison is a habitual violent offender and citizens should not approach this individual, according to FDLE.
On Friday, April 27, 2012, the A&M Discount Beverage in Lake City, Florida, was robbed and the owner, Rajnikant Kantilal Pate was shot and killed during the robbery. Arrest warrants were obtained for James Leonard Johnson, Jr., and Ernest Larry Grandison. Johnson was arrested; however, Grandison still remains at large.
He is a black male, about 5-foot 11-inches tall, 240 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He may be driving a 2005 white, four-door Toyota with Florida tag D911NV, or a 2009 black Nissan Versa.
Burglar Shot By Homeowner Now In Escambia Jail
May 25, 2013
A week after being shot by a Walnut Hill homeowner, a Century man is now jailed in Escambia County.
Ricky Dewayne Taylor, age 33 of Front Street, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Friday afternoon on charges of burglary, larceny, criminal mischief property damage and battery. He was being held without bond as an out of state fugitive due to an outstanding warrant with another agency.
On May 17, a resident of the 3900 block of Rockaway Creek Road reported a burglary in progress at his home. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said he arrived home to find two intruders inside of the residence.
The homeowner held the suspects at gunpoint while he called the Sheriff’s Office. As the victim was speaking with dispatcher Taylor lunged toward him. The homeowner fired a .38 caliber revolver, striking Taylor in the leg. Taylor was alert and conscious when he was transferred to LifeFlight to be airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
After Taylor was released from the hospital, he was arrested the evening of May 21 in Escambia County, Ala., and then extradited to Florida to face outstanding warrants.
The female suspect, 35-year old Teresa Dianne Sunday, received a minor injury on her face from a ricochet; she was taken into custody at the scene and charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft. She remained in the Escambia County Jail early Saturday morning with bond set at $12,500.
Pictured top: Burglary suspect Ricky Taylor, shot in the leg, is loaded into an ambulance on Rockaway Creek Road Friday afternoon. Pictured inset and bottom: Taylor is transferred to LifeFlight. Pictured below: The scene of an alleged burglary that ended with the suspect being shot Friday afternoon in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive file photos, click to enlarge.
Taylor Roberson Becomes Third Chief To Sign With Jeff Davis Volleyball
May 25, 2013
Northview High School’s Taylor Roberson signed a volleyball scholarship Friday with Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Roberson became the third Chief to sign a volleyball scholarship this year with Jeff Davis, joining teammates Morgan Smith and Morgan Payne.
Pictured top: (bottom, L-R) Mom Tammy Ashcraft, Taylor Roberson, dad Wayne Roberson, (top) NHS volleyball coach Barbara Luker and Jeff Davis coach Allen Gainer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Two Sentenced For Convenience Store Robbery
May 25, 2013
Two Escambia County men were sentenced Friday for the 2012 robbery of a convenience store on Mobile Highway.
William Cody Latner and Dylan Michael White, were sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Jole Boles. William Cody Latner was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for robbery with a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and Dylan Michael White was sentenced to 11 years in state prison as a youthful offender for the armed robbery of a convenient store, as well as unrelated burglary charges.
The conviction stemmed from an armed robbery of Benn’s U-Save Foods on July 10, 2012. Defendants Latner and White entered the store and confronted the clerk with a firearm and demanded money. The suspects fled the area and were later identified as suspects on August 3, 2012. Days later both suspects were arrested following an interview by law enforcement.
Wahoos On Short End Of Pitchers’ Duel
May 25, 2013
The Chattanooga Lookouts broke a scoreless deadlock with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Joc Pederson singled home Rafael Ynoa giving the Lookouts all they needed in a 1-0 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday night at AT&T Field.
Ryan Dennick allowed the run in the sixth, but it was his only blemish in an otherwise stellar start. The Wahoos lefty was strong through six innings allowing just the one run on six hits while fanning five. He retired 10 Lookouts in a row following a leadoff double by Blake Smith in the second inning. The next Chattanooga hit came in the sixth when Ynoa singled with a man out before he eventually scored.
Offensively the Wahoos were stymied by Lookouts pitching all night. The Blue Wahoos mustered just three hits, including back-to-back singles by Travis Mattair and Devin Lohman in the second inning. A strikeout and an inning-ending double play left the Wahoos without a tally following the threat. Pensacola’s only other opportunity came in the seventh when a single from Ryan LaMarre and a hit by pitch of Lohman put two on with one out. Despite a double steal, Pensacola was held off the board in the inning.
Dennick (L, 2-4) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos, while Rob Rasmussen (W, 3-2) earned the win out of the Lookouts bullpen. Rasmussen, normally a starter, worked two innings in relief of Chris Reed who pitched five scoreless innings for Chattanooga. Jose Dominguez (S, 1) shut out the Blue Wahoos in the ninth to earn the save.
The loss extends the Blue Wahoos losing streak to a franchise high six games.
The series continues from AT&T Field in Chattanooga on Saturday. The Blue Wahoos will start RHP Daniel Renken (1-3, 4.37) against Lookouts RHP Andrew Santiago (2-5, 6.31). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. CT.
story by Kevin Burke
Alabama High Speed Chase Ends With Century Manhunt
May 24, 2013
A high speed chase that began Thursday in Brewton, AL, ended with an unsuccessful manhunt in Century.
Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff Grover Smith said officers attempted to serve an outstanding Florida arrest warrant on the suspect, later identified as 20-year old Akino Jama Jackson of Century, at a Brewton motel.
He was picked up in a Dodge Stratus by his alleged girlfriend, Smith said, fleeing the motel and nearly striking two officers. Alabama authorities gave chase along Highway 31 toward Flomaton. Somewhere along the way, he switched places with his girlfriend. With Jackson now behind the wheel, Smith said the chase reached speeds over 100 mph as it neared Flomaton. Alabama deputies deployed a spike strip before the chase reached Florida, but he avoided it.
The chase crossed into Florida on Fannie Road, with Escambia County (AL) deputies and the Flomaton Police Department still in pursuit as Jackson continued south on Jefferson Avenue. Smith said he ordered his officers to “back off” the chase and wait for assistance from Florida authorities.
Due to a “miscommunication” between agencies, Smith said his deputies continued to follow the car south through Century believing Escambia County, FL, deputies would take over the chase.
But Escambia County, FL, has a strict no-chase policy that virtually eliminates involvement in any pursuit. The policy reportedly did not come into play Thursday, as Alabama authorities lost sight of the Dodge Stratus as they fell back. Florida deputies never arrived in the area in time to join in a pursuit or even follow the vehicle.
Authorities located the vehicle a short time later in an overgrown area of a lot at the corner of Gilford Avenue and Bonwell Street. The occupants had fled on foot, and a K-9 unit from the Escambia County Road Prison was called to assist in a manhunt. Authorities were unable to locate Jackson after a complete search of the area.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Akino Jama Jackson is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top and below: A manhunt Thursday afternoon in Century following an Alabama high speed chase. Pictured inset: The suspects vehicle parked in an overgrown area at the corner of Gilford Avenue and Bonwell Street. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Arrested For Vehicular Manslaughter For Olive Road Crash
May 24, 2013
An Escambia County woman has been charged in connection with a traffic death on Olive Road last month.
Candace Marie McArthur, 25, was arrested Thursday on a charge of vehicular homicide. She was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol said at 2:18 a.m. on April 28, 25-year old McArthur was closely following another vehicle westbound on Olive Road. Troopers said McArthur had been involved in an altercation with the other unidentified driver earlier in the evening.
The driver of the other vehicle switched into the opposite lane and braked to avoid McArthur’s 2002 Chevrolet Impala. McArthur lost control and over-corrected. The Impala slid across Olive Road and onto the shoulder before hitting tree.
McArthur was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries. Her passenger, 19-year old Cassidy Dunaway was transported to Sacred Heart in critical condition and was pronounced deceased the following day.