Huntsville Stars Edge The Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-2
July 27, 2012
Huntsville center field Josh Prince dropped down a suicide squeeze bunt in the seventh inning for what turned out to be the game-winning play, while left fielder Khris Davis launched his seventh homer of the season to lead the Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Thursday evening at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
It was the fifth straight win for Huntsville, who also clinched a series victory and improved to 16-17 in the second half, while the Fish fell to 18-15 mark since the league’s All-Star Break. The sellout was the 33rd of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 52nd home opening this year.
For the third straight night, Pensacola scored the game’s first run, with LF Donald Lutz leading off the second frame by launching a longball to right center. The homer was the second since the left-handed slugger joined to Wahoos and gave the Fish the early 1-0 advantage.
Huntsville however answered back with single tallies in the third and fourth frames to take a 2-1 lead. Prince reached with a one-out double, before eventually coming plateward on SS Tommy Manzella’s RBI single to right. The Stars subsequently scored in the next inning when Davis drove a solo homer to left, his seventh of 2012.
The Blue Wahoos would then even the count at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. 3B David Vidal doubled to deep center and moved to third on Lutz’s single prior to a Stars fielding miscue, which brought home Vidal. Lutz later attempted to score on a fly out to right, but was gunned down by RF Kentrail Davis after Lutz ran into C Adam Weisenburger, who held on to the throw at the plate.
Huntsville would then break the draw in the seventh to grab the lead for good. 3B Hainly Statia led off with a base knock, took second on Kentrail Davis’ single and third on an error, before Prince put down the suicide squeeze bunt to bring across Statia.
Manzella (2-5, 1 RBI) and Statia (2-4,1 R) each recorded two base knocks to pace the Stars, while Lutz (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI) led the Blue Wahoos with his three hits. 1B Beau Mills collected a hit in the sixth frame to extend his team-record on-base streak to 29 contests.
Huntsville starting pitcher Josh Stinson (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO) earned the win to up his record to 11-5, while right-handers Darren Byrd (2.0 IP, 1 SO) and Brandon Kintzler (1.0 IP) combined for three perfect innings in support of Stinson. Byrd recorded his ninth hold of the season, while Kitzler notched his fifth save of 2012.
Pensacola starter Daniel Corcino (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision despite yielding just two earned runs on five hits in his six innings, while LHP Wilkin De La Rosa (0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 SO) suffered the loss for the Blue Wahoos.
The Blue Wahoos and Stars are slated to meet again on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. Pensacola is expected to give the nod to RHP J.C. Sulbaran, while RHP Evan Anundensen is slated to toe the rubber for Huntsville.
By Andrew Green
Pictured: Daniel Corcino yielded just two runs in six innings in Pensacola’s 3-2 loss Thursday night. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Preteen Seriously Injured In Gonzalez Crash
July 26, 2012
A preteen was seriously injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Gonzalez.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 37-year old Melissa Ann Carver of Pensacola was eastbound on Old Chemstrand Road west of Mill Creek Trail in heavy rain when she lost control and ran off the road into the front yard of a home. The right side of her 2002 GMC Envoy struck a large tree, seriously injuring backseat passenger Chance P. Durdan, 12.
Carver and a second passenger, 12-year old Steven R. Durdan, received minor injuries. All three were transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Carver was cited for traveling too fast for conditions, according to the FHP.
The Cantonment, Molino and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the accident, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: Three people were injured in this crash Thursday afternoon on Old Chemstrand Road, including a 12-year old in serious condition. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Suspect Arrested In Multiple Cantonment Buglaries
July 26, 2012
A man suspected of multiple burglaries in the Cantonment area is now behind bars.
Joseph Logan Banks, age 22 of Winners Circle in Cantonment, is charged with several counts of burglary, larceny and criminal mischief. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail on a $127,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Banks is accused of committing several residential burglaries in the Cantonment area. He allegedly burglarized multiple home, stealing jewelry and other items.
Authorities Search Septic Tank For Body Of Woman Missing For 9 Years
July 26, 2012
Alabama authorities continued their search Wednesday for Melinda Wall McGhee, an Atmore area woman that has been missing for over nine years.
The Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department used cadaver dogs to search a septic tank on Ewing Farm Road about five miles northwest of Atmore and just a short distance from the Kent Road home at which McGhee was last seen in 2003.
“We searched at an old home place that we had never searched before after getting a tip,” Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said.
After pumping the septic tank, Lambert said nothing suspicious was found.
McGhee, then 31, returned to her home about 8 a.m. on March 24, 2003, after working the night shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home.
Her husband, Troy McGhee, was at work at Masland Carpets in Atmore. Their two children were at a babysitter, and Troy’s son from a previous relationship was at a dentist’s office. At about 8:30 the morning of March 24, 2003, Melinda McGhee spoke to her mother on the phone. It was the last time anyone known to Melinda would ever hear from her.
At about 4:00 that afternoon, husband Troy came home to find Melinda missing. There was blood and evidence of a violent struggle inside the home. He reported his wife missing.
Melinda’s vehicle was found parked near the house with her keys locked inside. Her purse and cellular phone were inside the residence. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
“We are still actively pursuing leads and investigating this case,” Lambert said. “If anyone has any information, even the tiniest or most minute detail, please call us. We want answers so we can bring closure for this family.”
Over the years, there have been several searches for Melinda’s body or clues into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
In March 2009, authorities searched an area off Perry Lane in Wawbeek for clues in Melinda’s disappearance. Perry Lane is about a mile north of Highway 31 off Sardis Church Road near Old Atmore Road. The location is about three miles north of the Florida/Alabama line . On the last day of January 2009, authorities searched a water-filled gravel pit off Jack Springs Roads near the Judson Cemetery between Atmore and Poarch. All of the searches have turned up empty.
Anyone with information on McGhee’s disappearance is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 809-0741 or their local law enforcement agency.
Pictured above: Two photos of Melinda Wall McGhee who went missing in March 2003.
School Sales Tax Holidays Coming In Florida And Alabama
July 26, 2012
Back to school sales tax holidays are coming up soon, giving shoppers a chance to save a bit on clothing and school supplies.
Florida’s sales tax holiday will be August 3-5 with no tax on purchases of clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies that are $15 or less. For complete information, click here (pdf).
Alabama’s sales tax holiday will also be August 3-5 with no state sales tax on clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies that are $15 or less. Note that Atmore will not participate in the sales tax holiday and will still charge local sales tax. For a list of exempt items in Alabama, click here (pdf).
Escambia Man Convicted, Sentenced To Life For Murder
July 26, 2012
A 24-year old Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday after he was convicted of a 2008 murder.
It took a Escambia County Jury just a few hours to return the first degree murder verdict against Daniel Levi Ward.
He shot and killed Linda Tate inside of her home on Blue Angel Parkway in October of 2008. Family members believed Ward intended to steal prescription Oxycontin from Tate when he shot her.
Ward was charged with the murder in 2010 after new information from witnesses and a DNA test. He was reportedly unaware a warrant had been issued for his arrest when he was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in a shopping center parking lot at Chemstrand and Nine Mile roads.
Deputies Recover Burglar’s Finger At Crime Scene
July 26, 2012
The story of an early morning burglar that left his finger behind is definitely not for the squeamish.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a J&J Towing on Pace Boulevard when a 15-year old’s finger was cut off by the barbed wire that lines the top of an eight-foot fence around the facility.
Deputies say the suspect jumped the fence and realized he had lost his finger. He climbed back over the fence and began yelling for help and asking two witnesses to help him look for his finger.
The witnesses called an ambulance. When EMS arrived, it was determined that the finger was still inside the fenced in area of the business. A deputy responded, collected the finger and turned it over to EMS. The suspect and his finger were taken to a local hospital.
Charges are pending against the 15-year old at this time. His name has not been released pending his arrest due to his age.
Driver Charged With DUI After Pedestrian Hit By Vehicle On Hwy 95A
July 26, 2012
A Cantonment woman was charged with driving under the influence by the Florida Highway Patrol after she allegedly hit a pedestrian Wednesday night in Cantonment.
The accident happened about 10:30 p.m. on Highway 95A just north of Highway 29, near the Gee Willies convenience store.
Melissa D. Kettering, age 38 of Crowndale Road, apparently struck the pedestrian with the driver’s side of her Mercury car, knocking a rear view mirror off the car. The pedestrian was transported by ambulance to a Pensacola area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The name of the pedestrian has not yet been released.
The Cantonment and Molino stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and below: The driver of this Mercury struck a pedestrian on Highway 95A in Cantonment Wednesday night. Pictured inset: The driver was given a series of field sobriety tests. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Race: Both Morgan And Powell’s Campaign Finance Reports Headed To Grand Jury
July 26, 2012
ARCHIVED STORY — July 26, 2012
Campaign finance reports from both Republican candidates for Escambia County Sheriff will be presented to an Escambia County grand jury on Monday.
The State Attorney’s Office announced Monday that the grand jury would review John Powell’s campaign finance reports after claims were made by incumbent David Morgan. And on Wednesday, the State Attorney’s Office said the grand jury would also review Morgan’s campaign finance reports.
Citing the secrecy of grand juries in Florida, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said his office could not say why Morgan’s campaign finance report would be presented.
Due to a letter from Morgan to State Attorney Bill Eddins, the nature of the allegations against Powell became public.
In that letter, Morgan asserts that about 30 cash contributions made to Powell’s campaign that were in excess of the legal $50 per person cash limit.
Powell said Monday afternoon that he has cooperated fully with the State Attorney’s Office investigation and that any mistakes were just that — honest mistakes that were being corrected with any cash contributions in excess of the $50 rule being refunded to contributors.
If the grand jury were to find any wrongdoing on the part of either candidate, a resolution in the case is not likely before the August 14 primary.
$750K In Grants Rehabilitate About A Dozen Century Homes
July 26, 2012
The Town of Century is wrapping up two grants totaling three-quarters of a million dollars that was used to rehabilitate about a dozen homes in the town.
The town was awarded a $650,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to rehabilitate or replace homes that are currently occupied by persons of low or moderate income. The town also received $100,000 in Residential Construction Mitigation Program Funds for hurricane retrofits.
Homes rehabilitated under the program were:
- 210 East Street, Myrtice Lowe, — Bill Walter Construction, $42,786
- 221 East Street, Frankie Lowe et al, — Bill Walter Construction, $36,592
- 7640 Mayo Street, Hattie Odom — Thompson Contractor Resources, $57,915
- 540 East Pond Street, Roy and Rosie Pearl Hale, Motes Construction, $86,465
- 6 Howard Street, Cullie Mae Carter — Motes Construction, Inc., $64,817
- 521 East Hecker Road, Ollie Kelly — Thompson Contractor Resources, $68,102
- 411 Cedar Street, Dorothy Newton — John Claude, General Contractor, $38,215
- 7820 Jefferson Avenue, Elsie Reaves — Parker Custom Homes, $79,120
- 300 Front Street, Charles H. and Wanda Therrell — Mike Motes Builders, $59,000
- 571 Church Street, Maryland P. Bridges – Bill Walther Construction, $47,875
- 301 East Hecker, Richard and Eva Carter — Mike Motes Builders, $32,000
Additional funds from the grants were using for relocation costs, inspections, environmental reviews, lead testing, surveys and other associated expenses.
Pictured above and below: Before and after pictures of a house at 540 East Pont Street in Century that was rehabilitated using grant money. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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