Unknown Injuries In Early Morning Highway 97 Crash
April 10, 2012
It was not immediately known if anyone was injured in a single vehicle crash on Highway 97 early Tuesday morning.
A passerby discovered a Ford Expedition on its side next to Highway 97 between Tungoil Road and Hendrix Lane about 4:35 a.m. First responders were unable to locate a patient after a complete search of an adjacent brushy area.
It appeared the driver of the SUV was northbound on Highway 97 when they lost control, ran off the roadway and then over-corrected, crossing both lanes and traveling into a ditch where the vehicle overturned.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the accident.
Pictured above and below: A single vehicle crash early Tuesday morning on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Firefighters were able to find a Bible and an umbrella in a nearby wooded area, but no driver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘Slick’ Arrested In Connection With Walnut Hill Battery
April 10, 2012
An Atmore man has now been arrested in connection with an incident in which two women allegedly tased a man during an armed disturbance in Walnut Hill.
Slick Kenneth Corey, 43, was charged with felony aggravated battery for his alleged involvement in the altercation last month on Rigby Road. Windy Hall Hudson, age 28 of Century, and Wanda R. McGhee, age 44 of Atmore, were both previously arrested for felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon after the incident.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed disturbance in which the victim said he was sitting on the porch with his girlfriend and the homeowner. He told deputies that McGhee, who is his estranged wife, along with Hudson and a man he knew only as “Slick” pulled up in the driveway.
The victim said “Slick” headed toward him in an agitated state and punched him in the face and then grabbed him around the neck in a chokehold, according to an arrest report.
While the victim was down on the ground in the chokehold, a witness told deputies that McGhee began to use a taser to tase the victim repeatedly while Hudson kicked him. The witness said Hudson grabbed the taser and also tased the victim. “Slick” and the two women then left the residence.
Deputies later made contact with the women at the Grey Goose Lounge on Highway 97. Hudson refused to answer questions, while McGhee told deputies that her estranged husband had swung at the unnamed male first, starting the fight.
Both women refused to provide the identity of the man known as “Slick”, according to their arrest reports. But the Sheriff’s Office was able to determine that “Slick” was Slick Kenneth Corey and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Hall and Corey were released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond, while McGhee was released on a $5,000 bond.
Softball: Northview Beats Washington
April 10, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated Washington High School Monday evening in Pensacola, 7-1.
The Lady Chiefs will play their last home games of the regular season on Tuesday, with the JV at 4:00 and the varsity at 6:00. On Thursday, the varsity will travel to Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala., for their last regular season game at 3:30.
Inmate Beaten To Death By Cellmate
April 10, 2012
An inmate death at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution is under investigation by the Florida Department of Corrections and the State Attorney’s Office.
Ricky D. Martin, age 24, died Sunday at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was found beaten March 30, the day after he arrived at Santa Rosa CI. Preliminary information indicated Martin was attacked by his cellmate, Shawn Rogers.
The incident will go to a grand jury.
Martin, who was from Collier County, was serving time for 2007 conviction on charges of grand theft, armed burglary, trafficking in stolen property and four counts of grand theft of a firearm.
Rogers is serving a life sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon and a 15-year sentence for aggravated battery with deadly weapon.
Rising Gas Prices Impact Century’s Budget
April 10, 2012
Local governments are not immune to rising gas prices.
The latest financial reports for the town of Century show the town had budgeted $18,800 for fuel costs for town operated vehicles. But, the town’s fuel expenditures were actually $21,400 — an increase of $2,600.
The increase did not have an extremely adverse impact on the town’s budget bottom line, with February numbers showing the town actually came in about $28,000 under budget.
Heating System Upgrades At Northview High Complete, Over Budget
April 10, 2012
Repairs are complete on a heating piping system for the gym at Northview High School. Work began last year on a project that was awarded to low bidder Comfort Systems USA Southeast for $58,253.
The project came in over-budget at $69,344, according to school district documents. Next week, the Escambia County School Board is expected to approve the final payment to Comfort Systems for the work.
The repairs were necessary due to deterioration of old piping between the main school building and the gym.
Pictured: Repairs on a heating water piping system for the gym at Northview High School as seen late last November. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Want To Raise Chickens? This Program Is For You
April 10, 2012
Are you interested in having fresh eggs on your table and raising chickens on your property? Then an upcoming class has the information you need to know.
A “Small Flock Egg Production and Management” meeting will be held Monday, April 16 in Molino and Tuesday, April 17 in Jay.
The event will include information on local laws and resources, important facts to know about feeding chickens, housing, egg production, breed selection, health management and food safety. Guest speakers will be Dr. Gary Butcher and Dr. Richard Miles, both UF IFAS poultry specialists.
Cost for the event is $5. The class will be presented Monday, April 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Highland Baptist Church in Molino and Tuesday, April 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jay Community Center.
To register, call Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or the Santa Rosa County Extension at (850) 675-3701.
Flomaton Wins No. 20 In A Row, Two-Run Homer For Watson
April 10, 2012
The No.4 ranked Flomaton Hurricanes defeated W.S. Neal on the road Monday night 5-4 for their 20th straight win. The Hurricanes improved their record to 21-3 with the win.
Joseph Parker (6-1) got the start and the win, and Brian Settles took the lose for the Eagles. The bats were hot for the Hurricanes including Zack Watson with at two run homer and a double, and James Dean and Hunter Bonds each with two singles.
Zack Watson closed the game and got the save for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes will travel to Cottage Hill Thursday and play the last two area games of the year, first at 4:00 and second at 6:00.
Batting:
Andrew Cash 0-1 RBI, R
Hunter Bonds 2-4 2 1B, SB, R
James Dean 2-4 2 1B, RBI, SB, R
Zack Watson 2-4 2B, HR, 2RBI, R
Trey Weeks 2-3 2 1B
Jacob Newton 1-4 1B, R
Cody Nolan 1-2 1B
Pitching:
Joseph Parker 2IP 1W, 2 hits allowed 0ER W
Tyler Harris 2IP 3K 0 hits allowed 0ER ND
Zack Watson 3IP 8K 1W 0 hits allowed 0ER S
Pensacola Tops Biscuits 6-5
April 10, 2012
Blue Wahoos first baseman Mike Costanzo hit a third-inning grand slam off the right field video board, while right fielder Josh Fellhauer hit an eighth inning RBI single to give Pensacola a 6-5 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits in front of a capacity crowd of 5,038 on Monday night at Pensacola’s bay-front stadium. The crowd was the fifth straight sell-out to start the season.
The win gave the Blue Wahoos a 4-1 series win over the Biscuits to cap the opening homestand of their inaugural season.
With the game tied at 5-5 in the eighth, left fielder Cody Puckett singled to left with two outs and then stole second to set the stage for Fellhauer. The 23-year-old lined a 3-1 pitch into left to bring home Puckett for what turned out to be the difference.
After Pensacola center fielder Ryan LaMarre led off the third with a walk, shortstop Didi Rodriguez and designated hitter Joel Guzman singled to load the bases for Costanzo, who launched a 1-0 pitch in the right field scoreboard to make it 4-1. It was the first home run of the year for Costanzo and his first grand slam since April 11, 2011, when he did so for the Carolina Mudcats against the Mobile BayBears.
Montgomery made things interesting with a pair of solo home runs from right fielder Henry Wrigley, while designated hitter Cole Figueroa blasted his second roundtripper of the year in the sixth. It was Wrigley’s first multi-homer game since July 7, 2010, when he launched two longballs for the Biscuits versus Mobile.
Blue Wahoos reliever Justin Freeman (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) earned the victory in relief after allowing an earned run on two hits in his two frames, while Biscuits RHP Jim Paduch (2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss after giving up a run on two hits in the final 2.1 innings. LHP Clayton Tanner (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) finished off the game for Pensacola to notch his first save of the season.
Catcher Mark Fleury (2-4, 1 2B), along with Gregorius (2-4, 1 R), Rodriguez (2-4) and Puckett (2-3, 1 R, 1BB) all tallied multi-hit efforts for the Blue Wahoos, while Figueroa and Wrigley recorded two hits for the Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos will now travel on the road for the first time this season, with a five-game series with the Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, at Hank Aaron Stadium. First pitch for the series opener Tuesday night is set for 7:05 pm, with RHP Pedro Villarreal getting the nod for Pensacola. He is scheduled to be opposed by top prospect RHP Trevor Bauer.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: Mike Costanzo hit a grand slam for the Wahoos Tuesday. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Ice Flyers Set For SPHL President’s Cup Finals
April 10, 2012
The Penacola Ice Flyers will be taking on the Columbus Cottonmouths in the 2012 SPHL President’s Cup finals.
Game one will be at the Columbus Civic Center on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. EST. Game two will be Saturday night back in Pensacola with the regular 7:05 p.m. CST puck drop. Game three, if necessary, will be played in Columbus on Sunday April 15 at 4:00 p.m. EST.
To advance to the finals, the Ice Flyers defeated the Mississippi Surge in a sweep of the first round and then swept the Knoxville Ice Bears in the semi finals this past weekend. The Cottonmouths swept the Louisiana IceGators in the first round before sweeping the Huntsville Havoc in the semis.
Tickets for Game two in Pensacola are now available at the Pensacola Civic Center Box Office or at any Ticketmaster locations.