Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight
June 10, 2012
Blue Wahoos pitchers allowed just one unearned run in Pensacola’s 3-1 win over the Birmingham Barons on Saturday night at Regions Park in Hoover, Al. The win is the Blue Wahoos’ third straight win over the Barons and their fifth win in their last six games.
Pensacola did all of their damage in the top of the first. Ryan LaMarre led off the game with a solid single before Didi Gregorius doubled down the right field line which plated LaMarre all the way from first base. Gregorius came home later in the inning on a double by Josh Fellhauer. He later scored on a groundout by Yordanys Perez. After the Blue Wahoos claimed a 3-0 lead, the pitching took over.
Kyle Lotzkar went five innings in the start for Pensacola. The only run he allowed was Tyler Saladino after he reached on an error in the bottom of the second. Erik Morrison singled home Saladino for the Barons only run of the game, which was unearned. Lotzkar only allowed one more hit over his final three innings as he earned his third win of the season.
The bullpen took over in the sixth and allowed just two singles over the final four frames. Wilkin De La Rosa worked two scoreless innings allowing just one single. Curtis Partch came in to earn the save by working a pair of scoreless innings. He struck out two over his two innings. The save was his first of the season.
Birmingham starter Nester Molina didn’t allow more than one baserunner in an inning after the second. He was charged with all three first-inning Blue Wahoos runs in his fifth loss of the season.
The Blue Wahoos have already secured their first series win since beating Jacksonville three-out-of-five May 17-21 in Jacksonville. Pensacola improves to 6-2 against the Barons this season.
Pensacola will look for their fourth straight win on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Wahoos will send right-hander J.C. Sulbaran (4-4, 4.40) to the mound against Birmingham righty Brandon Kloess (2-2, 1.91). This will be the first start of the season for Kloess and the just the third of his career. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
Gallery: Dozens Of Reader Submitted Flood Photos
June 10, 2012
NorthEscambia.com readers and Facebook fans sent us dozens of flooding photos from across Escambia County Saturday.
To view a photo gallery of reader submitted photos, click here.
Do you have flood pictures to share? Email them to news@northescambia.com or visit our Facebook page and become a fan.
Pictured top: A flooded apartment complex in southwestern Escambia County. Pictured below: Walmart on Navy Boulevard. Reader photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Delays 8U Tourney At NWE; Games Monday
June 10, 2012
Saturday’s game was rained out in the 2012 8U Machine Pitch District Baseball Tournament at the Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park.
Atmore defeated Northwest Escambia 14-2 Friday night in game one. The tournament will continue Monday and Tuesday between Atmore, Tri-County and NWE.
The revised game schedule is as follows:
Monday
5:30 p.m. — Tri-County vs. Atmore
7:30 p.m. — Loser of the 5:30 game vs. NWE
Tuesday
5:30 p.m. — Teams TBA
7:30 p.m. — (if needed) Teams TBA
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 6-18, and free for children under 5.
Blue Wahoos All-Star Closer Advances To Triple-A Louisville
June 10, 2012

Blue Wahoos closer Donnie Joseph, who was recently named to the Southern League All-Star Team, has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville. Joseph leaves Double-A tied for the league lead in saves with 13, also good for tops among the entire Cincinnati Reds organization. Joseph was named the Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May just prior to getting named an all-star.
In 25 relief appearances for the Fish, Joseph owned a 4-2 record and a dazzling 0.93 ERA (3 ER in 29.0 IP).
“Donnie moving up to Triple-A, I think, is certainly well deserved and probably overdue,” said Blue Wahoos manager Jim Riggleman. “It was very generous of the Reds to keep him in Pensacola for as long as he was here. He did a great job. I think the key is he threw strikes. His slider speaks for itself, nobody really hit his slider. I didn’t see him last year, but looking at the walk totals, it appears that he threw more strikes this year to go along with his great slider, and he’s ready for the next step.”
To fill the spot on the roster, RHP Mark Serrano has been activated from the disabled list.
Pictured: Wahoos’ closer Donnie Joseph has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Hunter Safety Course Offered In Escambia County
June 10, 2012
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Escambia County.
The course will be held at W.J. Woodham Middle School at 150 East Burgess Road in Pensacola. Instruction will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on June 12, 14, 19 and 21. The range portion of the class will be June 23 from 7-10 a.m.
An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times. Students are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.
The hunter safety course is required for people born on or after June 1, 1975, to purchase a Florida hunting license. The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
People interested in attending this course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676. For more information on this course, call George Warthen at (850) 265-3676.
And The Race Is On – Final List Of Candidate For 2012
June 9, 2012
The races are set for the 2012 General Election in Escambia County.
Noon Friday was the qualification deadline. With no opposition, several candidates will automatically be reelected. They are: David Stafford as supervisor of elections; Patty Hightower, school board District 4; Bill Slayton, school board District 5; Norman Jeffrey DeWeese, Anne B. Bennett and Stephen M. Jones to the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District; P.C. Wu to the Pensacola City Council; and Thomas Campanella to the Santa Rosa Island Authority.
One prefiled District 5 Escambia County Commission candidate is now out of that race; Dennis H.E. Wiggins (NPA) of Century withdrew from the race. That left a field of five Republicans in the primary — Sam Archer, Glenn Austin, Steven Barry, Pat Burkett, and Jim A. Taylor. They will face off winner takes all style in the Republican Primary, with the top candidate headed to the General Election to face Packy Mitchell (NPA).
In the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office race, the addition of Mindy Lynn Pare as a write-in candidate will force a closed Republican Primary between incumbent David Morgan and challenger John Powell.
Here is the final is of candidates in other races for 2012 General Election in Escambia County:
Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Pam Childers, Rep.
- Ernie Lee Magaha, Rep.
- Henry John Misiak, Write-In
Sheriff
- David Morgan, Rep.
- John R. Powell, Rep.
- Mindy Lynn Pare, Write-in
Property Appraiser
- Charles M. Green IV, Rep.
- Chris Jones, Dem.
Tax Collector
- Mike Whitehead, Rep.
- Janet Holley, Dem.
Superintendent of Schools
- Malcolm Thomas, Rep.
- Claudia Brown-Curry, Dem.
Supervisor of Elections
- David Stafford, Rep.
County Commissioner, Dist 1
- Jesse Casey, Rep.
- Wilson Robertson, Rep.
- Bobby Spencer, NPA
County Commissioner, Dist 3
- Tiffany Washington, Rep.
- Lumon May, Dem.
- Clinton Earl Powell Sr., Dem.
- Annie Thomas Walker, Dem.
- John R. Johnson, NPA
- Hugh G. King, Sr., NPA
- Derek L. Stromas, Write-in
County Commissioner, Dist 5
- Sam Archer, Rep.
- Glenn Austin, Rep.
- Steven Barry, Rep.
- Pat Burkett, Rep.
- Jim A. Taylor, Rep.
- Packy Mitchell, NPA
School Board, Dist 4
- Patty Hightower (Nonpartisan)
School Board, Dist 5
- Bill Slayton (Nonpartisan)
ECUA, Dist 1
- Vicki H. Campbell, Rep.
- Logan Fink, Rep.
- Tom Brame, NPA
- Elizabeth Susan Campbell, NPA
- JImaes Michael Kirland, NPA
ECUA, Dist 3
- Calvin Avant, Dem.
- Benell English, Dem.
- Elvin McCorvey, Dem.
- Clorissti Mitchell, Dem.
ECUA, Dist 5
- Barry B. Tweedie, Rep.
- Larry Walker, Rep.
- Charlou Williams, Rep.
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 2
- Norman Jeffrey DeWeese (Nonpartisan)
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 3
- Anne B. Bennett (Nonpartisan)
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Group 5
- Stephen M. Jones (Nonpartisan)
State Senator District 2
- Greg Evers, Rep.
- Joshua W. Hartigan, Write-in
State Representative, District 1
- Clay Ingram, Rep.
- Gloria Ann Wiggins, Dem.
State Representative, District 2
- Jeremy M. Bosso, Rep.
- C.V. (Clay) Ford, Rep.
City Council, At-Large B
- Charles L. Bare (Nonpartisan)
- Victor Cross (Nonpartisan)
- Sam Hall (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 1
- P.C. Wu (Nonpartisan)
City Council, Dist 3
- Maren Laycock DeWeese (Nonpartisan)
- Andy Terhaar (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 5
- John Jerralds (Nonpartisan)
- Gerald C. Wingate (Nonpartisan)
City Council, District 7
- Jewel Cannada-Wynn (Nonpartisan)
- Robbie Andrews (Nonpartisan)
- Jimmie Perkins (Nonpartisan)
Santa Rosa Island Authority
- Thomas Campanella (Nonpartisan)
Man Facing Attempted Murder Charges After Car Burglary Spree
June 9, 2012
A suspected car burglar is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly opened fire on people that caught him in the act of breaking into cars in one Escambia County neighborhood.
Jeremiah J. Jones, 18, was charged with three counts of attempted felony murder, about a dozen burglary charges, two counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, criminal mischief, five counts of armed burglary, grand theft of a firearm, felony possession of marijuana and six counts of discharging a firearm. He was being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $917,750.
Deputies believe Jones was involved in more than 15 vehicle burglaries. During one of the many incidents in the Bellview community early Friday morning, residents heard noises and went outside with flashlights to confront Jones. Jones then fired several shots at the victims before running off, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“Deputies saturated the area when another call of a burglary in progresses was received,” said Deputy Matt Baxter, “Jones was then taken into custody without further incident. At the time of arrest Jones was still in possession of the firearm.”
Investigators do not believe that Jones is involved in numerous vehicle burglaries reported earlier in the week.
More charges are pending the vehicle burglary cases, Baxter said.
Weekend Gardening: Expert Tips For The Month Of June
June 9, 2012
Here are gardening tips for the month of June from the Santa Rosa County Extension Service:
Flowers
- Annuals to plant include celosia, coleus, crossandra, hollyhock, impatiens (pictured above), kalanchoe, nicotiana, ornamental pepper, portulaca, salvia, torenia, vinca and zinnia.
- Sow seeds of sunflowers. They are easy to grow if you have a sunny spot. Look for some of the new, dwarf varieties that can also be used as cut flowers.
- Remove old blooms (deadheading) to make flowers bloom longer.
- Allow the foliage on spring bulbs to grow. Do not cut it off until it turns yellow and falls over.
Trees and Shrubs
- Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sq ft of canopy area or landscape area.
- Do any necessary pruning of junipers this month.
- Finish pruning the spring flowering shrubs such as azaleas, camellias, spiraeas, wisteria and forsythia by early June.
- This is the month to reproduce plants by budding.
- Check mulch around ornamental plants to be sure it’s two inches thick. Add mulch as needed to help keep weeds down and conserve water. Keep mulch one to two inches away from trunk or stem.
- Inspect maple trees, especially silver maple for infestations of maple soft scale. Look for a white substance with some black on one end. Individual maple scales are about 1/4 inch in diameter and resemble bird droppings. They occur mostly on leaves and can cause defoliation unless controlled.
- Inspect the undersides of azalea leaves for spider mites and lace bugs. If dry weather conditions exist, these insects can do some serious damage if not controlled.
- Check conifers for signs of bagworms. Call your local Extension Service for control measures.
Fruits and Nuts
- Harvest peaches, nectarines and plums as soon as they mature, before the squirrels and birds get to them
Vegetable Garden
- Side dress vegetable gardens with fertilizer containing nitrogen and potassium. A fertilizer such as a 15-0-15 can be used. Use approximately 2-3 cupfuls (1 to 1 ½ pounds) per 100 feet of row.
- Increase watering frequency and amount as tomatoes load up with fruit.
- Vegetables that can be planted outdoors include eggplant, lima beans, okra, southern peas, peppers and sweet potatoes.
- Sweet potatoes are started from plants or “draws”. Be sure to purchase only certified weevil free sweet potato plants.
- Check for the following pests and control them if necessary: tomato fruitworm, stinkbugs on vegetables and aphids on all new growth
Lawns
- Check for the lawn pests and control them if necessary: Spittlebugs in centipedegrass. They are more attracted to especially lush areas of the yard such as along septic drain fields and in areas where excessive nitrogen fertilizer has been used. Chinch bugs in St. Augustinegrass Sod webworm in all turf
- Start monitoring for mole cricket infestations and prepare for treatment.
Unopposed: Bill Slayton Wins District 5 Seat
June 9, 2012
District 5 Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton won a second term in office Friday. No other candidate qualified to run for the seat by the Friday noon deadline for the 2012 General Election.
I’ve had 50 years in the Escambia County School District, from a student to an employee to a board member,” Slayton said Friday afternoon. “I’m very pleased with the inroads and successes we are seeing, especially in District 5.”
Recent FCAT and state End of Course exam results often showed a District 5 school from North Escambia at or near the top of the county’s schools in a variety of subjects.
“We have to raise the rest of the county to the level of District 5,” he said.
Slayton is a retired educator, with 36 years experience as an employee in the Escambia School District at Tate High School as a teacher, administrator, assistant principal and principal. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a Masters of Education Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and an administrative certification from the University of West Florida.
He was a political newcomer four years ago when he was first elected to the school board, defeating Tom Harrell by about five percentage points.
Another school board member, District 4’s Patty Hightower is also returning to the board unopposed after no one qualified to run against her by Friday,
Rep. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas does have a challenger. Dem. Claudia Brown-Curry has qualified to run against him.
“We have the potential that the same board and superintendent will be in place for eight years,” Slayton said. “That’s super important. We agree and disagree in the right spirit and get things done.”
Cantonment Cowboy Football Registration Open
June 9, 2012
Registration is now open for the fall football season for the Cantonment Cowboys.
Players can register each Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon through August 4 at the Cantonment Cowboys Football Field at 681 Well Line Road.
For more information, visit www.cantonmentcowboys.org or www.facebook.com/CantonmentCowboys.




