Perdido Gators Win Beachside Blast Tournament
July 17, 2012
The Perdido Gators wonUSFA Beachside Blasttournament this past weekend in Pace.
The 14U girls fast pitch softball team went undefeated this past weekend, allowing a total of only six runs throughout the tournament. Area girls from Northview, Tate, West Florida, Escambia, Pace, and Gulf Breeze high schools make up the Perdido Gators softball team.
The Gators will be headed to Orlando in August to compete in the USSSA World Series.
Pictured: Members of the Perdido Gators (bottom row, L-R) Ashley Young, Kota Berry, Sara Spears, Kristin Gunter, Morgan Peppers, (top row) Lauren Brennan, Angel Lathan, Olivia Printiss, Sydney Ezelle, Ali Cutaio, Mallory Ryan. Coaches are Tracey Ezelle, Greg Spears, Eddie Ryan, and Jeff Cutaio. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Homeless Man Steals Car, Rams Police Cruiser, Tosses Sawed Off Shotgun
July 17, 2012
Multiple charges were filed on a homeless man Sunday after he fled from police in a stolen car, rammed an officer’s car with the vehicle and threw a sawed-off shotgun onto the ground while running from officers.
William E. Waters, 19, no permanent address, was charged with fleeing/eluding police, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, resisting without violence, and not having a driver’s license.
The incident began around 12:15 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of “I” and Cervantes streets after Pensacola Police Officer Chris Grantham spotted the stolen vehicle.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle at Barcelona and Cervantes streets but Waters, who was driving the car, refused to stop.
The stolen Lincoln Towncar collided with the front of a cruiser at Spring and Cervantes streets, and continued eluding officers until it stopped in a grassy lot southwest of Jackson and “D” streets where the driver fled.
Officer Charles Decker and Officer David Hausner and his K-9 Kyros found Waters hiding in a yard in the 500 block of North “D” Street.
During a search of the area, officers found a loaded sawed-off shotgun wrapped in a white T-shirt that one of the officers had seen the suspect throw to the ground during a foot chase.
Waters was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $66,500.
Covenant Hospice Seeks Volunteers
July 17, 2012
Covenant Hospice is seeking individuals and groups to join its award-winning volunteer team.
A training workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Covenant Hospice branch office, located at 6479 Caroline St., Suite B in Milton. The workshop is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.
Covenant Hospice Volunteer Training will present an overview of hospice care and volunteer choices. Individuals and groups are needed to provide support for Covenant programs including office work, community outreach, and fundraising. Patient and family support volunteers are needed to provide friendly visits, companionship, breaks for caregivers, light housekeeping, transportation, assistance with yard work or home repair, and more. Active duty military and veteran volunteers are needed to support Covenant’s We Honor Veteran’s Program. Working and retired professionals are also needed to share their expertise.
Covenant provides a flexible volunteer schedule with opportunities for one time, periodic or weekly volunteer assignments. Volunteers receive ongoing educational opportunities and are honored annually for their contributions. To register or to learn more, call Hope Ripley or Sharon Oakes at (850) 202-5802 or 202-5948.
Nearly 2,500 volunteers support 13 branch locations throughout Florida and Alabama. Covenant’s volunteer program received three Awards of Excellence from Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Annual surveys indicate 98 percent of Covenant’s volunteers are highly satisfied with their volunteer experiences. Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate services to patients and loved ones during times of life-limiting illnesses.
Suns Shut Down Wahoos 2-1
July 17, 2012
Jacksonville starting pitcher Graham Taylor held the Blue Wahoos to just three hits in six shutout innings of work, while catcher Kyle Skipworth launched his eighth homer of the year in the sixth, as the Suns defeated Pensacola 2-1 on Monday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, Jacksonville improved to an 11-14 record in the second half and take a 2-1 lead in the series, while Pensacola fell to 15-10 since the league’s All-Star Break.
Taylor (6.0 IP, 3 H, 4 SO) held the Fish bats quiet throughout his six solid frames, yielding just three hits while fanning four to earn the win and bump his season tally to 5-8. Relievers Joshua Schmidt (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) and A.J. Ramos (1.0 IP, 1 SO) each fired a scoreless inning of relief in support of Taylor, with Schmidt notching his seventh hold and Ramos his 11th save. Pensacola starter J.C. Sulbaran (4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-7 on the year.
Jacksonville struck first in the third for the early 1-0 lead. Taylor began the frame with a leadoff single to left before LF Jake Smolinski walked and SS Chris Gutierrez singled to load the bases for 3B Paul Gran. With a full count, Gran took the payoff pitch outside for ball four to bring home Taylor and push the Suns ahead. Jacksonville would then double their advantage in the sixth when Skipworth launched his eighth home run of the year over the right field fence.
Pensacola would then plate their lone score in the following frame thanks to a longball of their own. 1B Beau Mills mashed the 1-0 pitch to deep right field, putting the scoreboard in jeopardy for his seventh homer of the year. It was the second roundtripper in as many nights for Mills, and his fifth in the month of July.
Taylor (2-2, 1 R) and Gutierrez (2-4, 1 BB) each collected a pair of hits for the Suns in the win, while Mills (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) was the lone Blue Wahoos batter to record a multi-hit effort. Taylor had come into the contest hitless in his first 18 at bats this year before reaching on singles in both appearances Monday night.
Jacksonville and Pensacola will meet Tuesday night for the final time this year, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. The Fish are slated to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound for the series finale, while the Suns are expected to give the nod to RHP Matthew Neil.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Surveillance Photos Released From Hwy 29 Tom Thumb Robbery
July 16, 2012
Surveillance photos have been released from an early Sunday morning armed robbery at a Highway 29 convenience store.
The Tom Thumb store at Highway 29 and Roberts Road was robbed at gunpoint about 5:30 a.m. The suspect was described as a black male wearing a black and white checkered hoodie.
Deputies said the armed man demanded money, the clerk complied and the suspect fled the store.
There were no injuries reported.
The first Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the store within about two minutes. The deputies quickly established a perimeter around the store, and a K-9 was called to assist in the search for the suspect.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Cantonment Man Trapped Under Flipped Jeep
July 16, 2012
Two people were injured when they flipped their Jeep Sunday evening on a Cantonment dirt road, trapping one man underneath.
The accident happened about 6:40 in the 1500 block of Becks Lake Road, about 2.5 miles east of Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 44-year old David W. Oglesby of Cantonment lost control, flipped his 1976 Jeep and struck a tree. He was thrown and pinned underneath the vehicle.
Oglesby was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. His passenger, 51-year old Catherine Peterson of Cantonment, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Neither person was wearing a seat belt, according to FHP.
Pictured above and below: A Cantonment man was trapped under a flipped Jeep Sunday evening in Cantonment. Pictured inset: A man was airlifted by Lifeflight from a golf course on Highway 29 in Cantonment. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Deputy Injured In Fight
July 16, 2012
An Escambia County deputy is recovering after being injured in a fight Saturday night on Pensacola Beach.
Deputy Terry Hammock responded to the area of Via De Luna and Calle Traviesa to investigate a suspicious vehicle. He made contact with the driver, who was speaking irrationally and could not answer the deputy’s questions. The driver was unable to provide identification or name the owner the vehicle.
The driver was later identified as 34-year old Richard Leland Massey of Milton.
Massey resisted Hammock’s commands and began to fight with the deputy, the Sheriff’s Office said. Hammock was able to hold Massey on the ground until other officers could arrive to assist him.
Hammock received minor injuries during the altercation and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The Sheriff’s Office said Sunday afternoon that his condition was not known.
Massey was charged with resisting an officer with violence and booked into the Escambia County Jail. He was later released on a $5,000 bond.
Go Little Chiefs: Northview Plans Mini Cheerleading Clinic
July 16, 2012
The Northview High School cheerleaders will host a mini cheerleading camp for children age 4 through the eighth grade.
The camp will be held from 3 until 5 p.m. on July 25, July 26 and August 2.
The cost will be $30 for camp and $10 for a shirt. The shirts will be slightly different than last year’s, but will not be required. Registration begins at 2:30 on July 25.
Camp attendees will learn chants, cheers, stunts and a dance. Refreshments will be be provided. Parents are invited to see their child’s performance on August 2, and they will also perform at the first home Northview Chiefs football game. A review session date will be scheduled prior to the football game performance.
For more information, contact Megan or Tammy at (850) 327-6681 or any Northview cheerleader.
Pictured: Northview High mini cheerleaders perform last football season. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters, Late EMT Nathan Berry Honored
July 16, 2012
First responders in Escambia County, Ala., honored their own last week during their annual appreciation banquet.
Among those honored were 22-year old EMT Nathan Berry who was killed in an off-duty traffic accident south of Jay last month. The award was accepted by his wife, Tiffany Berry.
Berry, a certified firefighter and paramedic, dedicated his life to serving the public in emergency services. He was a former employee of Atmore Ambulance and was currently a supervisor for Lifeguard EMS in Santa Rosa County. He was a volunteer member of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department near Flomaton, and was a firefighter for Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Century Station.
During the event, Allan Rice, executive director of the Alabama Fire Collage, spoke on the reality of disasters and the importance of readiness.
Pictured: (L-R) EMS Person of the Year the late Nathan Berry accepted by his wife Tiffany, Career Firefighter of the Year Daniel Love, Atmore Fire Department; Male Firefighter of the Year Christopher Burch, Appleton VFD; and Female Firefighter of the Year Cindy Jackson, McCall VFD. Photo by Emilie Mims for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Swimming Lessons Available
July 16, 2012
The registration for the final session of swimming lessons at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore is in progress and will continue until classes are filled.
Classes are offered Monday through Friday for one hour each day. Classes are held at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Classes are also available on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5:15 until 6:45.
The cost is $35 per student per class. Please contact Austin Rogers at (251) 368-8280 during pool hours.