Blue Wahoos Implement Metal Detectors, Other Screening For This Season
April 2, 2024
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos have announced new enhanced safety measures at Blue Wahoos Stadium ahead of the 2024 season as part of their continued effort to improve fan experience and remain aligned with Major League Baseball’s facility operating standards.
Beginning on Tuesday, April 2 for their exhibition game against the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey, the Blue Wahoos will install metal detection and screening systems around the stadium’s main entrances. At the ballpark’s primary home plate entrance, the Wahoos have installed three automatic screening systems. The wire-free, high-convenience systems are currently used by eight different Major League Baseball clubs, including the Blue Wahoos’ MLB affiliate Miami Marlins. At stadium group entrances, the Blue Wahoos have installed two CEIA USA Metal Detection and Security Screening systems. The installed systems are part of a near-$100,000 investment by Blue Wahoos owners Quint and Rishy Studer to improve and prioritize fan and player safety.
“This move is consistent with our goal of making fans feel safe,” said owner Quint Studer. “Some years back, we expanded ballpark netting to the foul poles at a time when few teams were doing it. Over and over again, as foul balls that could have injured a fan were stopped by netting, that decision proved to be the right one. Prevention of harm is the key. Taking the lead from the Marlins and other MLB clubs in placing the most up-to-date detection system makes sense. We don’t ever want to be in the position of ‘we wish we had.’ This also supports the talented security staff, police officers and emergency personnel who are on site at every game.”
The Blue Wahoos remain wholly committed to fan and player safety as a top priority and are confident the new measures will ensure that Blue Wahoos fans and players can enjoy a fun, safe, and firearm-free experience.
The Blue Wahoos will host the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey in an exhibition series April 2 and 3, with Opening Day of the 2024 Southern League season coming Friday, April 5 at home against the Mississippi Braves. S
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Founded in 2012, they have won Southern League Championships in 2017 and 2022. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people in their community, and to make Pensacola the best place to live in the world.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
$236 Million, 6-Year Major Project Beginning To Totally Rebuild Entire I-10, Highway 29 Interchange
April 1, 2024
A major $236 million Florida Department of Transportation reconstruction project is beginning to completely rebuild the I-10 and Highway 29 interchange.
It will include construction of all-new I-10 travel lanes and about a dozen bridges over six years.
For a complete graphical look at project details, click here.
FDOT said 62,000 commuters travel through the corridor daily.
The project includes the following shown on the map above (the numbers correspond to the map, click to enlarge):
- Construction of six new main lanes on I-10 through the center of the interchange, requiring six new bridges.
- Five existing I-10 bridges will be converted, and one new bridge will be constructed for ramps.
- Remove the I-10 loop ramp from I-10 to northbound Highway 29.
- Construct extended two-lane ramps east of the interchange.
- Replace the existing North Palafox and CSX bridges to accommodate widening of I-10.
- Modify the Highway 29 at Dairy Road intersection to allow eastbound and westbound traffic to I-10 from Diamond Dairy.
- Construct stormwater ponds (shown in blue on the map above).
The first steps of planning the massive project started in November 2005. The anticipated completion is the summer of 2030.
Noise walls will be constructed along I-10 to separate the roadway from the Hope Manor, Oak Forest/Lost Creek, Robins Ridge and Willow Tree Acres neighborhoods.
During the six-years of construction, nighttime single lane closures will occur on I-10 and Highway 29 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. At least one travel lane will be open at all times. During construction, drivers on I-10 and Highway 29 will periodically encounter temporary detours and lane shifts. Traffic pacing operations will also be used to slow I-10 traffic between Nine Mile Road and Scenic Highway between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday. The pacing operations will be used instead of full I-10 closures.
The I-10 speed limit will be reduced from the current 60 mph to 50 mph.
FDOT just recently completed a $6.3 million project to resurface Highway 29 from Brent Lane to north of I-10, upgrade traffic signals and make Americans With Disability Act improvements.
For a complete graphical look at project details, click here.
FDOT will hold a hybrid public meeting from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. on April 4 at the Marie Young Wedgewood Community Center at 6405 Wagner Road in Pensacola.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
All Escambia River Recreation Sites Have Reopened
April 1, 2024
The Northwest Florida Water Management District has reopened all recreation sites in the Escambia River Water Management Area that had been closed due to flooding.
The Bluff Springs, Cotton Lake, and Williams Lake sites are now open.
Recreation sites have reopened after a temporary closure due to flooding on the Escambia River. NorthEscambia.com file phot, click to enlarge.
Child Injured In Jay House Fire
April 1, 2024
A child was injured in a weekend house fire in Jay, according to the Jay Fire Department.
The fire was reported about 4 a.m. Saturday on Scott Street, just north of Highway 4.
The Jay, Berrydale and Allentown Stations of Santa Rosa County, the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Lifeguard EMS and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded.
Firefighters arrived to find the home fully involved, and the home was a total loss.
The occupants were able to escape the fire, but one child was injured and transported by EMS to the hospital.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Killed In Single Vehicle Highway 21 Crash
April 1, 2024
One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday night near Atmore.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said 60-year-old Delloyd Johnson, Jr., was fatally injured when the 1998 Ford Ranger he was driving left the roadway and struck a ditch. Johnson was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene, troopers said.
The crash happened on Highway 21 near Atmore at about 8:20 Saturday.
The investigation is continuing.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Gas Prices Jump 12 Cents; Set New 2024 High
April 1, 2024
Florida gas prices jumped again last week, reacting to gains in the futures market in the week before. In full, the state average rose 12 cents per gallon, reaching a new 2024 high of $3.62 per gallon.
Despite the recent increase, pump prices are following a similar trend to what drivers saw last spring. Sunday’s state average of $3.59 per gallons 11 cents more than what drivers paid this time last year. However, the current price is below last year’s springtime high of $3.72 – which was recorded on April 21.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.27, and a low of $3.09 could found at a station on west Nine Mile Road. North Escambia prices bottomed out Sunday night at $3.15 per gallon at a Highway 29 station in Cantonment.
According to AAA, factors contributing to upward pressure in the fuel market:
- Gasoline demand strengthens in the spring as temperatures rise and Americans travel for spring break.
- Refineries are conducting seasonal maintenance, which can affect gasoline production and/or supplies.
- Summer gasoline is moving into the market, which is more expensive to produce.
- The global oil supply market is tight. Although the United States is producing oil at record levels again, OPEC+ extended production cuts to lower global supplies and prop-up oil prices.
- Geopolitical tensions fuel global demand concerns, after recent Ukraine drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.
“Fuel prices made modest gains in the futures market last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Analysts believe OPEC and its allies will not lift production cuts before June, even as seasonal fuel demand is projected to grow.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ice Flyers Comeback Attempt In Home Finale Foiled By Macon Mayhem In 4-3 Loss
April 1, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers were hoping their scheduled home finale would put an Easter Sunday bow on a season of record-setting attendance and fan experience memories.
But the Macon Mayhem had other ideas.
On an afternoon that followed Macon’s overtime win Saturday night at Birmingham — thwarting the Bulls from clinching the league regular-season crown — the Mayhem jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second period Sunday and held on for a 4-3 victory against the Ice Flyers at the Pensacola Bay Center.
A crowd of 3,609 on Friends and Family Day boosted the Ice Flyers season attendance to 148,588 for the 28-game home schedule. It was by far the largest season attendance in the team’s 15-year franchise history.
Unfortunately for the Ice Flyers, they weren’t able to close it out with a win. They will now finish the 56-game schedule on the road next weekend at Fayetteville, which is battling to hold on to fourth place and home-ice for the first round of the playoffs.
Both teams Sunday were playing in their third game in three days. The Ice Flyers (25-25,4 OT losses) split their two-game series against Evansville the previous nights at the Bay Center, while Macon (15-32, 7 OT losses), which will finish in last place in the 10-team Southern Professional Hockey League, split two games at Birmingham.
“We got outplayed by a team that shouldn’t have outplayed us,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “It’s unacceptable. It was a very disappointing weekend to lose two home games. I care a lot about it. It’s frustrating. I just don’t feel that level was there (Sunday) from our group.”
The game recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The game’s first penalty led to the Ice Flyers first goal.
Macon’s Sacha Roy was whistled for tripping twice in the same sequence with 13:55 remaining. And 45 seconds later, Reggie Millette wristed a shot into the net, following a faceoff won by Garrett Milan in the Mayhem zone. Milan got the puck to Zac Herrmann, who found Millette open for the shot.
Less than two minutes later, Macon tied the game.
David Nippard rifled a shot that bounced off Ice Flyers’ goaltender Reid Cooper’s chest protector and the puck went over his shoulder and rolled into the net.
Cooper became a pro hockey buzz last April when the Washington Capitals signed the former NCAA Division III star goaltender to a contract — and he dressed for an NHL game as the backup goaltender.
Cooper was making his first start for the Ice Flyers. He played a total of 14 pro games, all in the higher level ECHL in 2023 and earlier this season before the Ice Flyers signed him.
Exactly three minutes later, the Mayhem took a 2-1 lead into the intermission when Roy’s shot from inside the blueline got through traffic and past Cooper with 8:40 remaining.
The Ice Flyers’ Spencer Kennedy created the other noteworthy moment of the period. He got tangled with Macon’s Dan Winslow, took exception to a hold around his neck and dropped Winslow with a flurry of punches. Teammate Billy Jerry jumped in and Kennedy threw some punches at him as well.
It produced seven minutes in penalties for Kennedy and gave Macon a five minute power play that the Ice Flyers killed off.
SECOND PERIOD
This is when the game was ultimately decided.
The Mayhem scored two goals less than two minutes apart and it caused Graham to pull Cooper from the game after Macon took a 4-1 lead with 13:46 remaining. He faced 16 shots, stopping 12.
The Ice Flyers No. 1 goalie, Stephen Mundinger, who played between the pipes the previous two nights, was unexpectedly summoned to finish the game Mundinger stopped all 14 shots he faced to help get the Ice Flyers re-energized.
Houston Wilson started the momentum with his shot through traffic with 2:54 remaining in the period, cutting the deficit to 4-2 at second intermission.
THIRD PERIOD
Less than three minutes into the period, Macon thought it had scored when a shot hit the pipe and the goal lamp came on. After the officials stopped play for video review, their initial decision of no goal was confirmed.
That led to the Ice Flyers Reggie Millette putting home a rebound on a shot from Mitch Atkins with 14:26 remaining. Suddenly, the crowd was making an impact and the Ice Flyers seemed positioned for a complete comeback.
But in the final four minutes, the Ice Flyers managed just three shots on goal, including the final 1:19 when Mundinger was pulled during a timeout for an extra attacker.
It was Macon’s fourth win against the Ice Flyers in the 10 games between the teams.
NOTABLES:
— With Sunday’s attendance, the Ice Flyers finished their 28-game home games with an average of 5,307 per-game. Only the Huntsville Havoc, the league’s attendance leader, has a better per-game average and total attendance in the SPHL.
— Following the game, the Ice Flyers signed autographs for fans on the second-level concourse.
— During the first intermission, the Ice Flyers front office staff had their moment in a contest shooting pucks from the blue line into an empty net.
— The Ice Flyers have clinched the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and will face either Birmingham or Peoria in the first round of the playoffs that can begin the week of April 8-14.
QUOTABLES:
Ice Flyers Coach Gary Graham: “The first two (Macon) goals were very lucky. The shots went off a player and went into the net. So, they had a little bit of puck luck early. And again, for the new goalie (Cooper), his first game when I had to pull him, he didn’t get a chance to do a lot for us.
“And any goalie is going to be upset which is normal. They are passionate guys, they are competitors, which I respect. For me, it wasn’t his play, it was more about trying to wake my team up. Sometimes for a coach it’s a gut feel and we did start playing a little bitter out of that. I’m upset that his first game was like that, but I have a lot of confidence in both of them, so that’s not going to waver at all moving forward.
On Ice Flyers Struggles:
“For me it’s the same thing over and over again. You look at a team, Macon, they shoot the puck from everywhere. They have two of the top five goal scorers in the league. They shoot and shoot and they get to the net. Every game, we have chances in the slot, we look for something cute on the back post, it’s been the same problem all year. We don’t have pure goal scorers on this team. We don’t have guys who want to shoot the puck.”
NEXT FACEOFF
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Fayetteville Marksmen
WHEN: April 5-6
WHERE: Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, N.C.
Worshipers Gather For Easter Sunrise Services
March 31, 2024
Worshipers gathered for sunrise services across Escambia County on Easter Sunday morning.
The largest sunrise service in Escambia County was the Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Community Sonrise Service at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Other services included the a Beulah Community Sunrise Service at the Navy Federal Recreation Park on Nine Mile Road.
The services were to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, an important event to the faithful. According to the Bible:
Matthew 28:1-20
Resurrection Morning
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. 5
But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie
11 As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
The Great Commission
16 The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
from the Holman Christian Standard Bible
Pictured top and bottom: The 2023 Community Sonrise Service at Blue Wahoos Stadium.. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Runamuck Ranch Family Day In Bratt
March 31, 2024
Saturday was Family Day at Runamuck Ranch in Bratt.
The ranch, known for thousands of lights and goats in pajamas at Christmas, opened Saturday for families to enjoy a beautiful spring day.
Visitors were able to see and pet miniature cows, miniature donkeys, goats and other small farm animals. There were also games and activities, roasted marshmallows, vendors, hayrides and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders ‘Egg’ Yards Across North Escambia
March 31, 2024
Kids across North Escambia found eggs hidden in their yards Easter morning with the help of the Tate High School cheerleaders.
Tate Cheer held an “Egg My Yard” fundraiser. For donations that started at $20, the cheerleaders hid pre-filled eggs Saturday night in yards north of Nine Mile Road.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
