Unidentified Man Struck, Killed By SUV In Escambia County
July 29, 2024
A man died after being hit by a SUV Saturday night in Escambia County.
A red GMC Terrain driven by a 46-year old Pensacola woman collided with a pedestrian about 11:08 p.m. in the area of Beverly Parkway and Armenia Drive, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The unknown age male pedestrian, who has not yet been identified, was transported to Baptist Hospital by Escambia County EMS where he was pronounced deceased.
FHP is continuing their investigation.
Florida’s Two Week Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Underway
July 29, 2024
Florida’s two-week back to school sales tax holiday started Monday.
The holiday will include two weekends and continue until Sunday, August 11.
Many school supplies (including laptops and tablets) and clothing will be exempt from Florida’s usual 6% sales tax rate.
Shoppers can save on most items under a certain dollar amount. For instance, clothing must cost $100 or less per item, school supplies must cost $50 or less, personal computers and tablets $1,500 or less, and learning aids and jigsaw puzzles $30 or less.
There are many school supplies you can purchase tax-free in the state during the sales tax holiday, but here are a few highlights:
- Hats, shoes, shorts, pants, shirts, underwear, socks, and raincoats
- Backpacks, book bags, handbags, purses, and lunch boxes
- Cleated and spiked shoes and swimsuits
- Notebooks, scissors, pens, pencils, and calculators
- Printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, and routers
- Electronic books, flashcards, puzzle books, and matching games
- Hair accessories, wallets, and belts
For a details list of what does, and does not, qualify, click or tap here.
Do Online Purchases Qualify?
Online purchases can qualify, but delivery to a Florida address is required.
What Is Not Included?
While many eligible items are included in the two-week tax holiday, there are a few exceptions.
- Accessories like jewelry and watches are not tax-free nor are many types of gloves. A few additional exclusions apply.
- Clothing. Umbrellas and protective masks are taxable, as are roller skates, rented formal clothing, and non-prescription sunglasses and goggles.
- School supplies. Taxable items include printer or computer paper, and books not otherwise exempt.
- Electronics. Many electronics are taxable, including computer bags, CDs and DVDs, computers for recreational use, regular batteries (e.g. not for medical use), smartphones, surge protectors, tablet covers, game controllers, and digital cameras.
- Miscellaneous items. Furniture, luggage, garment bags, suitcases, and any rentals of eligible items are taxable and excluded from the tax-free holiday.
The sales tax holiday does not apply to:
- Any item of clothing with a sales price of more than $100
- Any school supply item with a sales price of more than $50
- Books that are not otherwise exempt
- Computers and computer-related accessories with a sales price of more than $1,500
- Computers and computer-related accessories purchased for commercial purposes
- Rentals of any eligible items
- Repairs or alterations of any eligible items
- Sales of any eligible items within a theme park or entertainment complex, public lodging establishment,
- or airports
Man Killed In Highway 4 Crash Near Jay
July 29, 2024
A Milton man was killed early Saturday morning in a single vehicle crash just east of Jay.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 64-year-old man was traveling east on Highway 4 near Pitnic Road when he left the roadway and overturned and collided with several trees. The vehicle came to rest on its left side on the shoulder of the road.
The crash happened about 2:27 a.m.
Further details, including the man’s name, were not released by FHP.
Florida Average Gas Prices Decline Slightly After Drop In Oil Prices
July 29, 2024
Florida gas prices rose 11 cents early last week reaching $3.55 per gallon. The state average then reversed course, declining 7 cents during the past four days. On Sunday, the state average was $3.40 per gallon. That’s about 3 cents more than a week ago.
“Gas prices could move even lower, after a big drop in oil prices last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Recent fuel reports show China’s crude oil imports are declining. This has driven prices lower, on concerns that global fuel demand is softening.”
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $3.11. Sunday night, a low of $2.89 was available at several Pensacola stations, including on Pine Forest Road, Kenmore Road and Mobile Highway. In North Escambia, Sunday night’s low price was $2.99 at stations on South Highway 29.
In early July, the U.S. price for crude traded at around $83 per barrel. Oil has since declined a total of 8% through the past three weeks. The biggest weekly drop occurred last week. Oil prices fell nearly $3 per barrel (4%). Friday’s closing price was $77.16 a barrel. Oil hasn’t traded this low since the first week of June. During that time, the average gas price in Florida was around $3.30 a gallon.
Blue Wahoos Drop Homestand Finale, Split Series With Shuckers
July 29, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos wrapped up their second longest stretch of home games, which featured some big crowds, breakthrough events and cooperative weather during the nine-game period.
On the field, however, the Blue Wahoos wished for a few more wins.
After taking three of the first four games against the Biloxi Shuckers, the weekend and homestand ended in a glum way in a 6-1 loss Sunday before 3,987 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It earned the Shuckers (47-47 overall, 17-10 in second half) a split in the series, following their 8-4 win Saturday night. Sunday’s win also enabled Biloxi to split the second half matchups (6-6) against the Blue Wahoos (52-43, 14-13) – a tiebreaker the Blue Wahoos missed claiming if the teams tie in a second-half divisional race.
When the Blue Wahoos next return home, it will be mid-August, following a back-to-back set of road trips beginning on Tuesday against the Chattanooga Lookouts, followed by the last-ever trip to Trustmark Park to play the Mississippi Braves. The M-Braves are moving to Columbus, Georgia following this season.
In going 3-6 at home the past two weeks, a familiar theme emerged. The Blue Wahoos lacked big innings and extra-base hits with runners on base.
Sunday, the Blue Wahoos left 11 runners on base and produced just five hits.
Patrick Monteverde delivered a quality start, working six innings and allowing just two earned runs with four strikeouts. He absorbed a hard-luck loss.
Meanwhile, the Shuckers’ Jacob Misiorowski, the Milwaukee Brewers No. 2 rated prospect whose status is rising, made his second start of the week, checking the Blue Wahoos on just one hit with three strikeouts, three walks in 3.2 innings.
The Shuckers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on a bloop single and a wild pitch.
The Blue Wahoos missed a big chance in the fifth inning when loading the bases with one out. Shuckers reliever Will Childers then got Joe Mack to hit a slow roller back toward the mound for an easy force-out at the plate, and Jacob Berry popped out to end the inning.
Paul McIntosh drove home the Blue Wahoos’ lone run in the seventh with his two-out single that scored Jakob Marsee, who had reached on a walk.
The Shuckers broke open the game with a 4-run rally in the ninth, taking advantage of a fielding error and walk to string together hits against Blue Wahoos reliever Woo Suk-Go, who has struggled since joining the team.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Chattanooga Lookouts
WHEN: Tuesday Thru Sunday (Aug. 4)
WHERE: AT&T Field, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
FOLLOWING WEEK: The Blue Wahoos will then travel to face the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Miss. from Aug. 6-Aug. 11.
One Person Injured In Crash Near Walnut Hill
July 28, 2024
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Saturday night near Walnut Hill.
The crash happened at about 9:25 p.m. p.m. on O.C. Phillips Road, off Highway 97A, about seven miles from Walnut Hill.
An adult male lost control and collided with a utility pole. The vehicle came to rest on its roof on the paved portion of the roadway.
The man was transported by ambulance to an area hospital following the wreck.
The crash snapped a utility pole and downed powerlines, causing an outage for about 50 Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers on O.C. Phillips and Pineville roads.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue were dispatched, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Highway 29 Construction Zone Traffic Shift Delayed (Again)
July 28, 2024
An anticipated traffic shift in a Highway 29 construction zone in Century has once again been delayed again.
The Florida Department of Transpiration previously announced the shift would take place on July 15, then July 25. And now, FDOT says the contractor plans to shift traffic to newly constructed lanes on Thursday, August 1.
An unmarked Town of Century water pipe, a damaged water line and weather have all delayed the project.
NorthEscambaia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chumuckla Highway And Pace Road Lane Closures Begin Monday
July 28, 2024
Lane closures on Chumuckla Highway and Pace Road (at Alyssa’s) in Pace will begin on Monday, July 29 through Wednesday, July 31, to install cross-drains. Installation is part of a project to add turn lanes on Chumuckla Highway and Pace Road. Both lane closures will happen near the roadway intersection.
Detours during installation on Chumuckla Highway include:
- Traffic moving south along Chumuckla Highway will be detoured to Pace Road and Pace Patriot Boulevard.
- Traffic moving north along Chumuckla Highway will be detoured to Rodella Street.
Once installation shifts to Pace Road, detours will include:
- Traffic moving south along Chumuckla Highway will be detoured to Norris Road and Pace Patriot Boulevard.
- Residents of Pace Road will detour to Pace Patriot Boulevard.
- Traffic moving north along Chumuckla Highway will still detour to Rodella Street.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Escambia Man Charged With Repeatedly Abusing Kitten
July 28, 2024
An 18-year-old Escambia County man has been charged with repeatedly abusing a three-week old kitten.
Eli Adrian Lee McIntyre was charged with felony animal cruelty. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
McIntyre’s roommate provided the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office with four videos he alleged showed McIntyre abusing the kitten.
The first video reportedly showed McIntyre wrapping a phone charging cord around the neck of the kitten and pulling it up. Another showed the kitten having a seizure on the floor after McIntyre allegedly threw it against a wall. The other videos showed McIntyre grabbing the kitten by the neck and placing it inside a 12-pack box, and taking it in and out of a freezer, according to an arrest report.
The roommate told deputies that these were not the only abuse incidents, and McIntyre became aggressive after attempts to make him stop.
There was no update provided on the kitten’s condition in the arrest report.
Blue Wahoos Fall Behind Early, Drop Saturday’s Game To Shuckers
July 28, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The first three runs the Biloxi Shuckers scored Saturday occurred on a grounder that hit an umpire, a just-missed double play, and a full-swing slow roller that stayed inside the third base line.
That third inning proved an omen of the night for the Blue Wahoos.
The Shuckers ballooned their 3-0 lead into a 8-4 victory, making postgame fireworks the biggest thrill for the usual sellout Saturday crowd of 5,038 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the third time in five games this week against Biloxi with an 8-4 final score. This time, however, the Shuckers stayed on top after taking a 7-1 lead into the seventh inning stretch.
The Blue Wahoos created their one moment of intrigue in that at-bat. They scored runs when Jacob Berry led off with a double. Nathan Martorella walked. Shane Sasaki followed with an RBI double.
A wild pitch scored Martorella. Dalvy Rosario’s sacrifice fly scored Sasaki and suddenly it was a 3-run deficit. The inning ended with Jakob Marsee at third when Zach Zubia struck out.
The Blue Wahoos did not get a baserunner in the final two innings.
But the crowd remained as Blue Wahoos popular emcee “Downtown Dave” Presnell proclaimed, “Blue Wahoos fans, we didn’t win the game, but we’ll win the fireworks.”
The Blue Wahoos (52-42 overall, 14-12 second half) will get a second chance in Sunday’s series finale at 4:05 p.m. to win this homestand series against the Shuckers (46-47, 16-10).
Saturday, besides some unfortunate bounces, they faced a strong outing from Biloxi righthanded starter Logan Henderson, rated the No. 16 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Henderson (5-2, 3.38 ERA), worked six innings, allowing just three hits, one run, and striking out six.
The Blue Wahoos’ lone run off Henderson was Joe Mack’s 16th home run to lead off the fourth inning. It was his 14th homer since May 28.
Blue Wahoos starter Jeff Lindgren, who lasted just four innings, may have gotten out of the third inning without much damage if not for tough luck. With one out, a hard grounder hit by Brock Wilson hit the base umpire’s leg, causing the play to be ruled a single with a run scored.
It could have been a double play. The next batter, Ernesto Martinez Jr., then beat the relay throw to fend off a double play and score another run. Eric Brown Jr. then had a slow grounder stay fair inside the third base line for another RBI hit.
The Shuckers then blew out the game with Xavier Warren’s two-run homer off Lindgren in the fourth inning and Lamar Sparks’ 2-run homer off Anderson Pilar in the fifth.
Sunday’s game will be the Blue Wahoos’ final game this season against Biloxi. The Blue Wahoos have controlled the series with a 15-7 record, but only hold a 6-5 edge in the second half. A win in the finale would give the Blue Wahoos a tie-breaker advantage should the two teams tie for the second half division win and playoff spot.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium