Purr In The Park: Cat Night As The Wahoos Open Series With Win Over Biscuits
July 2, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Six innings into the night, the Blue Wahoos were heading down a familiar path of frustration against the Montgomery Biscuits.
This was the first “Purr In The Park” night in team history with fans allowed to bring their cats. But heat and humidity limited the number of pets.
Paul McIntosh changed that fate with one big swing.
His two-run, game-tying homer in the seventh inning became a much-needed emotional lift, followed by another break that led to a 3-2 win against the Biscuits in the only Monday game of the season for the Blue Wahoos. It made for a desired start to the Fourth of July week for the Blue Wahoos against their league divisional rivals.
“Yeah, it was awesome,” McIntosh said. “We hung around and we capitalized on it.”
McIntosh pounced on a first-pitch fastball from Biscuits reliever Patrick Wicklander and sent the ball over the left-center wall to ignite a crowd of 3,535, as well as the home team dugout.
Joe Mack led off the seventh inning by working a walk from Wicklander. Up stepped McIntosh with a clear mindset.
“I was just waiting for a fastball over the plate and I made sure not to miss it.” McIntosh said. “Going into that [at-bat], I had seen [Wicklander] a bunch, and he’s had success against me and I just wanted to make sure I got up there and saw a good pitch and made a good swing on it.”
He did. And it connected.
The Biscuits had won nine of these previous 12 meetings, all in Montgomery. It was the difference in the Biscuits edging out the Blue Wahoos for the South Division first half win and post-season playoff berth.
But in their stadium Monday, the Blue Wahoos received the usual array of strong pitching to stay within striking distance.
After McIntosh tied the game, the Blue Wahoos got the go-ahead run in the eighth without putting the ball in play.
Jakob Marsee reached on a one-out walk against reliever Keyshawn Askew. He then scored on three wild pitches with the Blue Wahoos’ Jacob Berry at the plate.
The third wild pitch came on a three-ball count, causing Marsee to race home while Berry went to first.
Blue Wahoos reliever Raffi Vizcaíno then closed out the game by retiring the Biscuits in order to get his eighth save. He was preceded by Dale Stanavich, who entered in the seven when Zach McCambley suffered an injury.
With rapid warmup and a 3-2 count, Stanavich struck out the Biscuits’ Matthew Dyer, who drove in the game’s first run in the third inning. Stanavich (2-0) then retired four of the next five batters he faced to earn his second win.
Blue Wahoos starter Adam Laskey worked five innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five.
The Blue Wahoos had just two hits until McIntosh’s blast, but the game stayed close.
“This is a special pitching staff,” McIntosh said. “I’ve had the liberty of having really special pitching staff last couple years in Pensacola, but man these guys keep us in games.”
The three-game home series will continue Tuesday and Wednesday before the Blue Wahoos then head to Montgomery for games Thursday through Saturday.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Tuesday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Semi Truck Driver Cited After Molino Highway 97 Crash That Injured Two
July 1, 2024
A semi-truck driver was cited by troopers after a crash with a pickup truck midday Monday in Molino.
The crash happened about 11:40 a.m. on Highway 97 at Gibson Road. The Florida Highway Patrol said the northbound semi h attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Gibson Road. The pickup driver, also northbound, “initiated a pass in a lawful passing zone”, FHP said.
The semi turned in front of the pickup causing the front of the pickup to collide with the left side of the cab of the semi. The pickup truck left the roadway and crashed into a wooded area at the intersection, while the truck came to rest in the opposite ditch after striking a utility pole.
The oversize load semi-truck was hauling building trusses.
The 76-year-old male driver and 66-year-old passenger of the pickup were transported to West Florida Hospital by Escambia County EMS. The semi driver, a 62-year-old from Alabama, was not injured.
FHP said the driver of the semi was cited for an improper left turn.
The McDavid, Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the wreck, The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Felony Suspect In Custody After Standoff On Highway 97
July 1, 2024
A felony suspect was taken into custody just after 8 p.m. Sunday after an hours-long standoff with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Walnut Hill.
John Edward McDowell, 48, was taken into custody after the four to five hour standoff. He eventually exited the home and was arrested without incident on Alabama warrants, including violation of probation and two warrants for failure to appear. He was booked into the Escambia County (FL) Jail in Pensacola to await extradition back to Alabama and charged with interfering with the custody of a minor..
The ECSO said they received a tip that the man was at a residence on Highway 97 north of Wiggins Lake Road. Deputies responded to serve the warrant, but the ECSO said he refused to exit the home.
Deputies said they knocked and announced their presence on a public address system, but he never responded.
Dozens of ECSO units responded, along with their SWAT team and negotiators. A spokesperson said no shots were fired during the standoff.
During the incident, the sheriff’s office closed Highway 97 and detoured traffic onto Highway 99A (at Ernest Ward Middle School) to the south of the scene and Highway 164 to the north.
Escambia Sex Offender Sentenced To Federal Prison For New Child Porn Offenses
July 1, 2024
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to online receipt of child pornography.
Donovan Eugene Whidden, 21, was sentenced this week.
In September 2023, authorities received cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led back to Whidden’s residence. Law enforcement was aware that Whidden was on state court probation for a conviction for Promoting Sexual performance by a child in 2022. A search warrant was obtained for his residence, and law enforcement located evidence of Whidden utilizing the media platform Discord to upload and obtain child pornography. Whidden also used a cloud storage platform to maintain his child pornography.
“Protecting innocent children from sexual predators remains one of our highest priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. “I commend our law enforcement partners and prosecutors who work tirelessly to identify these predators and bring them to justice so that they may never exploit a child again. Due to their collective efforts, our community is safer, and this repeat offender is exactly where he belongs – behind bars.”
Whidden’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions.
4th of July Gas Prices Likely To Be Higher Than Last Year, AAA Says
July 1, 2024
Florida gas prices jumped nine cents last week. The state average then reversed course, declining seven cents per gallon through the weekend, AAA said.
Sunday’s state average was $3.38 per gallon. That’s 12 cents per gallon more than what holiday travelers paid on Independence Day in 2023.
Escambia County’s average was $3.16 Sunday night, with a low of $2.93 at a station on East Nine Mile Road. In North Escambia, a low of $2.96 was available Sunday night at one station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Gas prices remain pretty volatile as 3.9 million Floridians prepare to take a road trip for Independence Day,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although we have seen some price swings in recent weeks, it’s not likely significant enough to impact people’s travel plans. Oil prices have flattened out, which should limit any significant jumps at the pump in the coming days.”
Childers Won’t Appeal Order Keeping Him Out Of Supervisor of Elections Race
July 1, 2024
Attorney Bruce Childers announced on social media that he will not appeal a judge’s decision on Friday that will keep him off the ballot for Escambia County supervisor of elections.
Circuit Judge Jennifer Frydrychowicz denied his emergency motion to him back on the ballot after he was disqualified by incumbent Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender for failing to file a full public financial disclosure Form 6 by the close of qualifying.
Childers said he never received a call about any issues, which is something he claims should have been done, according to the Florida statute that states a qualifying officer shall make every reasonable effort to notify the candidate of missing or incomplete items.
“I do not find any basis in law for taking such a bold step as to overrule the supervisor of elections,” Frydrychowicz said as she issued a verbal order.
Childers said he would not appear because, “by the time it got to the appellate court, be a moot issue”.
“While I had hoped for a different result, I must accept this court’s decision and move on with my life,” Childers wrote on Facebook. “I want to say thank you for all of your support, your prayers, your kindness, and for being there with us. It may sound counter-intuitive to say, but right now I feel I am a very lucky man to be a part of this community.
Bender is automatically elected as the only qualified candidate for Supervisor of Elections.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Split Road Series With Biloxi
July 1, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (41-33) closed out a week on the road on a positive note with a 5-1 victory at Biloxi on Sunday night.
After a rain delay pushed the game’s start back by over two hours, the Wahoos and Shuckers (33-40) played a seven-inning series finale. Despite the dreary conditions, Pensacola’s bats thundered out of the gate versus Biloxi starter Jacob Misiorowski (L, 2-3).
With one out in the top of the first inning, third baseman Jacob Berry smacked his second home run in as many swings – including Saturday’s go-ahead blast in the ninth inning – with a solo shot put the Wahoos in front 1-0. In the second inning, left fielder Tanner Allen provided power of his own with a two-run homer to extend the lead to 3-0. The blast was Allen’s first since April 18. Biloxi answered with a run in the home second, but Wahoos catcher Joe Mack got Pensacola back on the board in the following half-inning with the Blue Wahoos’ third home run in as many innings. Mack’s solo homer was his 14th on the year, tying him for the Southern League lead.
The early power surge was more than enough for Wahoos lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez (W, 3-3), who turned in his third quality start of the year in a Pensacola uniform (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 K). Righthander Matt Pushard closed out a scoreless seventh to lock down the 5-1 win and send the Wahoos back home with a road series split.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Monday, July 1 to face the Montgomery Biscuits. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
440 Lot Development Planned For Highway 29 Near Cedar Tree Lane
June 30, 2024
A new residential development is planned for Highway 29 between Cedar Tree Lane and Neal Road, west of Highway 29 in Cantonment.
A development proposal submitted by a Pensacola engineering firm with a total of 440 lots on 131 acres to be constructed in three phases.
If approved, plans call for construction to begin in the fall of 2024 on the first phase with 130 lots on 40.5 acres, a second phase to begin the spring of 2025 with 96 lots on 40.2 acres and a third phase started in the summer of 2025 with 214 lots of 50.4 acres. Each phase is estimated to take about one year for completion of construction.
The final application went before the Escambia County Development Review committee last week. The master plan was tabled for the county to meet with the engineers to discuss a few remaining issues, according to the county.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Rep. Salzman To Host Constituent Services Day July 9 With Multiple Officials, Agencies
June 30, 2024
The office of Florida House Representative Michelle Salzman, in partnership with local, state, and federal officials will host in-person mobile office hours on July 9 to assist constituents with casework issues. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of the district offices a more convenient way to receive county, state, and federal casework assistance.
In addition to elected offices, the event will include representatives from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Pensacola Vet center, and VA services from the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System.
“I am excited to host this upcoming community outreach event. It gives elected officials the opportunity to reach out to our constituents and help with their government related issues,” Salzman said.
The Constituent Services Day event will take place July 9 from 2-4 p.m. at “The Table” located at 275 West Airport Blvd, Unit B in Pensacola.
Pictured: Rep. Michelle Salzman hosted a Constituent Services Day last June at Beulah Freewill Baptist Church. File photos.
Uber Driver Killed, Two Navy Sailors Seriously Injured In Escambia County Crash
June 30, 2024
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 60-year-old Uber driver died and two U.S. Navy sailors were seriously injured in a crash Saturday morning in Escambia Count.
FHP said the Uber driver was in a Subaru sedan with two sailors as passengers — a 28-year-old New York man, and a 22-year-old Iowa man — just after 4 a.m.
Troopers said as the Uber was traveling south on Navy Boulevard, a Hyundai driven by a 19-year-old Pensacola woman on Gulf Beach Highway failed to stop at a red light.
“According to multiple witnesses, this driver had a steady red traffic signal which the driver failed to obey,’ FHP Said.
The front of the Hyundai collided with the right side of the Subaru.
The driver of the Subaru was pronounced deceased at the scene. The passengers were both transported by ground ambulance as trauma patients. The driver of the Hyundai was also transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
U.S. Navy command from Pensacola NAS were notified about the sailors.
FHP Traffic Homicide Investigators are continuing their investigation.
File photo.