Big Inning Downs Wahoos For Second Straight Game
May 7, 2026
The Blue Wahoos dropped their second straight game against Rocket City by a final score of 10-1.
Pensacola starter Alex Williams (L, 0-4) worked around a bases loaded jam in the top of the second before the ‘Hoos offense gave him a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, courtesy of a Fenwick Trimble RBI single that scored Emaarion Boyd.
That lead would last until Pensacola’s defensive woes would impact the top of the fifth inning. After a leadoff single from Mac McCroskey, Wahoos shortstop Cristian Hernández would drop a routine pop up off the bat of Arol Vera. Both those runners would come around to score on a couple of RBI fielder’s choices from Kyren Paris and Gustavo Campero.
Tucker Flint’s RBI single would drive Williams from the game after 4.1 innings. Luis Palacios would be immediately greeted by another dropped flyball, this time by Fenwick Trimble on a Raudi Rodriguez batted ball, scoring the fourth and final run of the inning.
The Trash Pandas would add six more runs the rest of the way, scoring one in the sixth and five in the ninth, batting nine while doing so. The Pensacola offense would go quiet for the remainder of the game, sealing their fate. Jose Rodriguez (W, 2-1) earned the win for Rocket City after going 6.0 innings and allowing just one run while striking out nine.
The bright spots came from Fenwick Trimble, who doubled and walked while going 3-3, and Colby Martin, who had his best outing of the year, pitching two scoreless innings on one hit and one walk.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Thursday evening.
written by Charlie Hobert
Transportation, Development And Concurrency Dominate North Escambia Community Forum
May 6, 2026
Transportation, development, and concurrency led the issues in a North Escambia community forum Tuesday evening at the Molino Community Center.
Nearly 60 people attended the forum where they had an opportunity to ask Florida Department of Transportation panelists about state road projects and transportation issues.
Residents asked questions and expressed their viewpoints on an April 28 NorthEscambia.com article about the proposed projects on the Regional Rural Transportation Plan (RRTP) 2026 Transportation Project Priorities list, including a feasibility study on six lanes for Highway 29 and potentially four lanes for Highway 97.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Many residents expressed concerns about the lack of concurrency—a growth management strategy ensuring that necessary public infrastructure—such as roads, water, sewer, and schools—is available to support new development at the time of, or shortly after, its construction.
Rep. Michelle Salzman said she found little appetite among her colleagues to mandate concurrency from the state-level.
“The meaningful response was that’s a local decision that a lot of counties opt into, and they do that,” she said. “I can promise you that it is on my priority list, but I am one of 120… I agree with you.”
In addition to Salzman and FDOT, officials and agencies attending included ECUA Board Chairman Kevin Stephens, ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody, Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, Molino Utilities, and Cottage Hill Water Works.
Noticeably absent, and drawing the ire of a large number of attendees, was Escambia County District 5 Commissioner and Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization Chairman Steven Barry. Salzman told the crowd that he was coaching T-ball.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Arrested In Molino For Alleged Abuse Of Teen Girl Over Several Years
May 6, 2026
A man arrested in Molino remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond for allegedly sexually assaulting an underage victim over several years.
Brandon Lee Everette Doss, 36, was taken into custody at a residence on Fairground Road by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, according to his arrest report. He faces three felony counts of sexual battery by a custodian on a victim between the ages of 12 and 17.
According to the arrest report, the investigation began after a school resource officer was alerted to the possible abuse by a guidance counselor. The victim provided sworn statements detailing a pattern of abuse that allegedly began when she was 13 years old.
The reported incidents, according to the report, include an initial assault occurring when the victim was 13, during which she was unable to defend herself due to a physical injury, an incident around the victim’s 16th birthday in 2025, and a recent assault on April 19. The victim told investigators that she would tell him to stop, but he did not.
Deputies noted that the victim became visibly distressed, shaking and crying, while recounting the events. Investigators determined the case met domestic violence criteria, as Doss lived with the victim “as if a family.”
Doss denied the allegations against him at the time of his arrest.
Lady Chiefs Dominate Blue Devils In Mercy Rule Regional Semifinal Shutout Win
May 6, 2026
The scoreboard operator was busy Tuesday evening as the Northview Lady Chiefs shut out the Holmes County Blue Devils 15-0 in a mercy rule shortened two and a half inning Rural Division regional semifinal game on Tuesday in Bratt.
The top-seeded Chiefs move on to the regional finals on May 12. Northview will host the winner of Wednesday’s Jay at Chipley game.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Mikayla McAnally surrendered three hits and no runs over two and a half innings, striking out seven and walking none.
Kylee Langham went 2-3 at the plate for the Lady Chiefs. McAnally, Addysen Bolen, Langham, Daviona Randolph, Avery Stuckey, and Aubrey Hadley each had two RBIs.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Allie Penton, click to enlarge.
Century Punts Million Dollar Housing Grant Application Questions Until Next Week
May 6, 2026
The Century Town Council on Tuesday night decided to delay final application decisions for a million dollar housing rehabilitation grant application until next week.
On April 28, the council voted to apply for a $1 million, grant to provide housing rehabilitation for low-to-moderate income residents, but they left application details for this week’s meeting.
The council must decide how many homes will be rehabilitated and the target cost per house for the application. Grant applications are competitive among governments in the state and scored on a point system. If the town spends $62,000 or less per home, the application will receive 100 points in scoring; if they go over $79,000 per home, they will lose 100 points. Last week’s discussion was around 16 to 17 homes but could change with further discussion.
The council will hold a special called workshop next Tuesday, May 12, at 6:15 p.m. to make final decisions.
If awarded, funding through the State of Florida’s FFY 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation Program will pay for the demolition or replacement of homes owned by low to moderate income residents within the town limits.
If the town receives the grant, $820,000 will go directly into housing rehabilitation, $30,000 will be allocated for temporary relocation of residents, and $150,000 will pay for grant administration.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jalia Lassiter Named SEC Player Of The Week
May 6, 2026
Flomaton High School graduate and Atmore native Jalia Lassiter was named the SEC Player of the Week.
Lassiter led LSU with nine total hits, highlighted by three multi-hit games in the 4-0 weekend for the Fighting Tigers. The senior had a .600 batting average and paced the team with a 1.000 slugging percentage after tallying four extra-base hits (three doubles and a homer). Lassiter capped off an eight-run second inning with a two-run blast in the 16-0 victory over McNeese before recording multiple hits in all three games of the series against Auburn. Lassiter had two base knocks, including a run-scoring single and a two-run home run robbery in the series opener. She followed that with a career-best four hits and scored three runs in the historic 25-0 victory and logged her second three-RBI game of the week. Lassiter concluded the weekend with a 2-for-4 performance in the finale, helping LSU secure the sweep.
Lassiter is the seventh LSU Tiger to record multiple seasons with 60 hits and 50 runs, and her 58 runs this season rank No. 7 in the SEC. The senior leads LSU with a .361 average and 13 doubles, and has eight home runs this season, a personal career-best.
Early Lead Slips Aways As Wahoos Fall To Trash Pandas
May 6, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos were well-positioned to win their sixth game in a row on Tuesday night, but saw an early 6-0 lead vanish in a 9-6 loss to the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead against Rocket City starter Joel Hurtado, turning a leadoff error in the second inning into a 1-0 lead on a Dylan Jasso RBI single. They added another in the third inning on a Ryan Ignoffo RBI single, and capitalized on a two-out error in the fourth to score four unearned runs thanks to a three-run double from Dillon Lewis.
Staked to a 6-0 lead, Blue Wahoos pitcher Jacob Miller saw his dominant start come to a screeching halt in the fifth. A leadoff error from third baseman Ian Lewis Jr. opened the door for a three-run frame, as Nick Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly, Harold Coll hit an RBI double, and Wade Meckler hit an RBI single. Tucker Flint made a bid for a game-tying hit, but Blue Wahoos left fielder Brendan Jones made a diving catch to leave the bases loaded and preserve a 6-3 edge.
Rocket City got a run back in the sixth on a Matthew Lugo triple and Rodriguez groundout, and took the lead in the seventh. After reliever Kade Bragg (L, 1-1) hit Lugo to load the bases with two outs, Rodriguez lashed a three-run triple to right-center field off Nigel Belgrave for a 7-6 lead. Rodriguez scored on a passed ball to extend the Rocket City lead to 8-6.
Gustavo Campero tacked on insurance with a solo homer in the ninth that the Blue Wahoos contended was foul down the right field line. The Trash Pandas bullpen, led by 2.1 scoreless innings from Lucas Mahlstedt (W, 1-0) and a lockdown ninth from Kenyon Yovan (S, 3), held the Blue Wahoos to just one hit over the final five innings.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Wednesday morning with an Education Day matchup. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.
written by Erik Bremer
PensaKeyla! Pensacola’s Keyla Richardson Makes American Idol Top 3
May 5, 2026
Pensacola’s Keyla Richardson has reached the top 3 on American Idol, which means Keyla Fest is on for Wednesday.
Monday night, Richardson performed Ike & Tina Turner’s “River Deep – Mountain High” and Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City.”
“Ms. PensaKeyla” is how host Ryan Seacrest announced her in the top 3.
Now, the free Keyla Fest is on for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hunter Amphitheater, just behind the Blue Wahoos Stadium. The amphitheater tickets are all gone, but as of late Monday night, free tickets were still available for overflow seating inside Wahoos Stadium:
https://www.milb.com/pensacola/tickets/americanidol
Richardson is joined in the top 3 with Hannah Harper and Jordan McCullough. The winner we will be named live on Monday, May 11, locally on WEAR 3.
More details will be posted here on NorthEscambia.com.
Photos: Disney/Eric McCandless
Cantonment Woman, Working As Daycare Director, Charged With Failing To Report Child Abuse
May 5, 2026
A Cantonment woman, director of a Pensacola daycare, has been charged with failing to report the suspected abuse of two children.
Teanesha Latoria Woods, 40, was charged with felony failing to report suspected child abuse. She was released on a $3,000 bond. According to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, she was director of Children’s Pointe Learning Academy in Escambia County, where two allegedly abused children attended.
“What we found out was that on three different occasions, abuse was suspected, it was documented and even photographed,” Simmons said. “Unfortunately, Ms. Woods did not report this suspected abuse to the DCF hotline as required by law.”
Woods’ arrest follows the arrest of Dynisha Blunt and Etantania Williams on April 27 for child neglect with great bodily harm of a child they fostered.
Blunt and Williams were suspected of abusing a 3-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl in their co-parenting foster care. Blunt took the 3-year-old to a local hospital with serious injuries.
“Blunt brought the child to West Florida Hospital suffering from life-threatening injuries to the head and face, consistent with severe abuse,” the ECSO said. “As hospital staff initiated an investigation, Blunt removed the child from the hospital and fled the area. The child was located a short time later and received medical treatment.”
Blunt’s arrest report alleged the following injuries:
Injuries for Victim 1
- Bruising to the right temple and cheek
- Abrasions on his mouth and chin
- Bruising on the back right of his head, and also missing hair
- Bruising on left ear, left temple, and along his spine
- Abrasions on his right shoulder and the right side of his back
- Bruising on the left side of his chest
- Abrasions and bruising along his left arm and left abdomen
- Bi-lateral knee bruising
- Abrasions on his right ankle
- Bi-lateral burns to his buttocks
- Abrasions to his right thigh
- Bi-lateral abrasions to his feet
- Swelling to the right of his head, caused by a hematoma
- Believed to be malnourished
Injuries for Victim 2
- Bruising to the left front forehead
- Bruising to her right cheek
- Bruising to her right upper arm
- Bruising to her left shoulder
- Bruising to her left hand
- Bruising to her fingers on her left hand
- Bruising on both thighs and lower legs
- Bruising on her right foot
- Bruising on her buttocks
- Bruising on her right axillary (armpit)
- A torn frenulum
- Laceration on her lower lip
“The medical team in the room stated that it looks like he has not eaten in days with the way that he has been eating,” the arrest report states about one child.
Escambia County Man Indicted On Federal Fentanyl, Meth Charges After Undercover Sting
May 5, 2026
An Escambia County man has been indicted on federal drug distribution charges after allegedly selling drugs to an undercover law enforcement officer.
Kamron Jasmane Fountain, 22, was indicted on three counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana.
Fountain allegedly sold a large quantity of fentanyl, along with methamphetamine and marijuana to the undercover Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy in January.
His trial is scheduled for June 22 at the federal courthouse in Pensacola.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
Fountain remains in jail without bond.