Former Northview Coach Jeremy Greenwell Named J.U. Blacksher Offensive Coordinator
June 13, 2026
Former Northview High School Coach Jeremy Greenwell has been named the new offensive coordinator for the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs in Uriah, Alabama.
Greenwell is the former head baseball coach at Northview, former football coach at Ernest Ward Middle School, and, most recently a football coach at West Florida High School.
Pictured: New J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs offensive coordinator Jeremy Greenwell with his family — wife Savannah and children Coy and Joanna. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Homer Not Enough For Wahoos In 6-3 Loss To Clingstones
June 13, 2026
Aiva Arquette hit his third home run in as many weeks for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, but mid-inning bullpen woes proved costly in a 6-3 loss to the Columbus Clingstones on Friday night.
Columbus took a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr by stringing together four consecutive two-out singles, capped by run-scoring hits from Keshawn Ogans and Patrick Clohisy.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away against Columbus starter Lucas Braun (W, 1-3), as Arquette hit a solo homer in the fourth and Jay Beshears hit a game-tying RBI single in the fifth to bring the score to 2-2.
The game turned in the fifth, as Colby Martin (L, 2-3) struggled to find his command in relief for the Blue Wahoos. The righty allowed a two-out hit-by-pitch and a single before Logan Braunschweig hit a go-ahead RBI single for a 3-2 lead. A pair of bases-loaded walks followed, putting the Clingstones ahead 5-2.
Drew Compton added a sacrifice fly in the seventh against Blue Wahoos reliever Michael Perez for a 6-2 Columbus advantage. The Blue Wahoos got a run back in the eighth with a Ryan Ignoffo RBI double, but Samuel Strickland (S, 2) quieted the rally and worked around a single in the ninth to earn a five-out save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Saturday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Development Plans Filed For $25 Million John R. Jones Ballpark Upgrades
June 12, 2026
Preliminary plans have been filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) for planned John R. Jones Complex upgrades on Nine Mile Road.
The $25 million project will include:
- $20 million – Artificial turf for 20 Fields
- Approx. $1 million per field
- 18 multi-dimensional diamond fields,
- Plus, two rectangular multi-use fields
- $500,000 – Landscaping & Common Areas
- Flower beds and aesthetic landscaping
- $1.2 million – Sidewalks & Parking Upgrades
- Entryway and sidewalk connectivity
- $1 million – Fence, Shade & Dugout Work
- Overall fence work, shade areas & dugout upgrades
- $1.5 million – Concessions & Building Upgrades
- Remodeling and upgrading buildings.
- Miscellaneous Expenses – $400,000
- Various Aesthetic Upgrades
- Design – Permits or Consulting Fees – $400,000
- Potential fees for design or consulting
In January 2025, the Escambia County Commission approved a Tourist Development Tax (TDT) Revenue Note not exceeding $25,100,000 for capital improvements at the John R. Jones Park and Sports Arena. The annual debt service for the bank loan will be paid from Escambia County TDT with a structured level annual debt service of approximately $2.495 million over an approximate 15-year period which ends on October 1, 2039.
According to the plan, the upgraded park will attract hundreds of teams, players and fans for tournaments and be competitive with similar facilities in nearby communities such as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Panama City, Fort Walton Beach, Daphne, and more.
To date, the project has only reached the internal review process with the DRC and has not yet been set for a public meeting.
Cantonment Man Charged With Dirt Bike Theft, Burglary
June 12, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested this week after allegedly stealing a dirt bike from a local property.
Jordan Garrett, 30, was charged with felony burglary of an unoccupied structure and felony grand theft of a motor vehicle.
According to an arrest report, a deputy responded to a residence on Jacks Branch Road regarding a stolen vehicle. A green 2023 Kawasaki dirt bike had been secured inside a shop on the property earlier that evening. A witness later noticed the shop doors open and heard a dirt bike operating nearby.
While patrolling the vicinity, a deputy located and stopped Garrett riding a matching dirt bike northbound on Green Tree Circle, the report states.
Garrett remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond because his bond was revoked revoked in a pending assault case.
Standoff Ends In Arrest After Suspect Attempts To Run Over Trooper
June 12, 2026
A pursuit ended in a barricade situation and arrest Thursday afternoon after a traffic on Michigan Avenue and Valle Escondido Drive turned into a standoff.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a trooper attempted to pull over a vehicle at approximately 12:02 p.m.. The driver, identified as Wesley Spencer, attempted to run over the trooper with his vehicle before fleeing the scene.
FHP pursued Spencer to his residence, where he brandished a firearm as he exited the vehicle. Spencer then barricaded himself inside the home with a handgun.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, and negotiators spoke with Spencer for over an hour. The Florida Highway Patrol SRT and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team deployed tear gas into the residence, forcing Spencer outside.
Spencer, age 43 of Aurora, Colorado, was taken into custody by the FHP without further incident. He faces charges of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, with additional charges pending. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Cantonment Woman Gets Probation On DUI Charge For Hitting Worker On Beulah Road
June 12, 2026
A Cantonment woman was recently convicted of DUI involving property damage or personal injury, for striking a construction worker on Beulah Road, north of Nine Mile Road in March.
She was sentenced to 12 months probation, under a plea agreement, ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and to attend DUI school or a drug rehabilitation program. Her driver’s license was also suspended for six months.
Crystal Jane McKnight, 43, was driving a pickup truck when she struck a construction worker with the vehicle’s mirror. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, McKnight attempted to leave the scene but was stopped by the victim, who followed her in his work truck.
Responding troopers noted that McKnight smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, and was slurring her words, according to an arrest report. She reportedly struggled to maintain her balance and nearly fell during initial contact.
McKnight consented to field sobriety exercises, during which investigators observed multiple signs of impairment, including failing to maintain balance and struggling to follow instructions. Following her arrest by troopers, McKnight provided breath samples that registered blood alcohol levels of .144 and .142, both well above the legal limit in Florida, the report states.
Northview Valedictorian Braylan Shelly Named to All-Florida Academic Team
June 12, 2026
Northview High School 2026 valedictorian Braylan Shelly was selected to the 2026 All-Florida Academic Team. As a dual enrollment student at Pensacola State College, she was one of three main campus students chosen.
All-Florida Academic Team recipients are recognized by the Florida College System for their academic achievement, leadership, and service to their community.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Matheus, Belgrave Lead Blue Wahoos To Wild Extra-Inning Win
June 12, 2026
In a game filled with ups, downs, and three ejections, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Columbus Clingstones 6-5 in 11 innings on Thursday night.
Juan Matheus was the offensive star for Pensacola, blasting a three-run homer in the fourth inning against rehabbing major leaguer Hurston Waldrep and delivering a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 10th inning.
The night began as a pitcher’s duel between Waldrep and Eliazar Dishmey, the reigning Southern League Pitcher of the Week making his third career start for the Blue Wahoos. Archer Brookman took Dishmey deep with a solo homer in the second inning, but that would be the only hit allowed by the young righty over 5.0 solid innings.
After a perfect first trip through the order, Waldrep ran into trouble in the fourth. Ryan Ignoffo brought home Aiva Arquette with a game-tying RBI single, and Matheus followed with a three-run homer to put the Blue Wahoos ahead 4-1.
The Clingstones chipped away against the Pensacola bullpen, as Patrick Clohisy hit a solo homer off Jake Christianson in the sixth and David McCabe hit a game-tying RBI single in the eighth against Jack Sellinger.
Kade Bragg left the bases loaded in the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth despite an unusual sequence in which Blue Wahoos defensive coach Cam Vega was ejected by home plate umpire Pedro Torres for arguing balls and strikes.
In the top of the 10th, Matheus delivered again with an RBI double to give the Blue Wahoos a 5-4 lead. Matheus was stranded at third by Brett Sears, who allowed just an unearned run over 6.0 innings of long relief for the Clingstones, giving Pensacola’s Nigel Belgrave (W, 2-4) little margin for error in the bottom half of the inning. Belgrave retired all three men he faced, but uncorked a wild pitch to score Keshawn Ogans and force an 11th inning.
The Blue Wahoos didn’t get the big hit they were looking for in the 11th against Tyler LaPorte (L, 0-2), but Emaarion Boyd sprinted home from third base on a two-out passed ball from Brookman behind the plate to put Pensacola ahead 6-5.
Belgrave came back out for the bottom of the 11th once again trying to protect a one-run lead, and executed both on the mound and by fielding his position. He foiled a Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. sacrifice bunt attempt, firing to third base to throw out Brookman, and then one batter later lobbed a perfect toss to Dylan Jasso to retire Drew Compton on a dribbler up the first base line. With Kilpatrick at third as the tying run, Belgrave struck out Ambioris Tavarez on a check swing to end a hard-fought Blue Wahoos win.
Blue Wahoos manager Nelson Prada and catcher Ryan Ignoffo were both ejected by third base umpire Warren Eubanks arguing a Kilpatrick stolen base in the 11th. Combined with Vega’s ninth-inning dismissal, they marked the first three ejections handed to the Blue Wahoos this season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Friday night.
written by Erik Bremer
NHC Monitoring First Disturbance Of The Season; No Threat To Florida
June 11, 2026
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the first Atlantic tropical disturbance of the 2026 hurricane season, and it poses no threat to Northwest Florida.
Forecasters said a broad area of low pressure is likely to form over the Bay of Campeche on Friday from a westward-moving tropical wave currently located over the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
Conditions are forecast to be only a 10% chance for development before the system moves inland over eastern Mexico late Saturday or Sunday.
State Fire Marshal Investigating Wednesday Night Combine Fire
June 11, 2026
The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a combine on Wednesday night just south of Century.
The fire was reported in a field about 200 feet off North Century Boulevard on Thompson Road just before 10 p.m.
Firefighters brought the equipment fire and a resulting oat field fire under control in about 20 minutes. The Florida State Fire Marshal was called to investigate the cause of the blaze.
The combine was not in operation at the time of the fire and had not been operated for several hours.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
Photos by Kyle Baumann for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
