Blue Wahoos Lose Twice, But Magic Number Shrinks To Three
June 17, 2023
The weather changed from dangerous to welcoming. The ballpark was full again. And those Hawaiian shirts remain in demand.
These were wins in what became a double loss on the field Friday for the Blue Wahoos against the Mississippi Braves.
After the M-Braves first rallied for a 6-5 win in 10 innings in the resumption of Thursday’s suspended game, they kept hot bats rolling in clubbing 18 hits, including a pair of grand slams, plus a 3-run blast in their 15-3 win in Friday’s scheduled game.
Both outcomes dulled the mood among a capacity crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Giveaway Friday. The supply of ultra-popular Hawaiian shirts from sponsor Kona Brewing Company were distributed in less than 10 minutes. The first group of fans formed a line an hour and a half before the gates opened.
But despite twin defeats, the Blue Wahoos (37-24) actually gained closer to the finish of the first half division race. The Montgomery Biscuits swept a doubleheader against the Biloxi Shuckers, thus trimming the magic number to 3 in the Blue Wahoos’ quest to repeat as Southern League First Half South Division winners.
They maintain a six-game lead over Biloxi with eight games left in the schedule. The Biscuits (7 games back) and M-Braves (7.5) are close to elimination.
Veteran major-league pitcher Johnny Cueto made his second injury rehab start Friday on a path to return to the Miami Marlins. It did not go well.
Cueto gave up a trio of first-inning singles after one out. The next batter, M-Braves first baseman Cade Bunnell, blasted a Cueto pitch over the right-field berm for a grand slam.
Cueto finished the night working into the fourth inning, as planned, but allowed seven hits and five fly ball outs. He struck out one batter and threw 62 pitches.
Blue Wahoos fans provided an ovation as Cueto exited in the fourth inning and he acknowledged the crowd by tipping his hand and signaling his appreciation.
The Blue Wahoos pulled within 4-3 in the sixth inning on Griffin Conine’s two-run homer, his 11th HR this season.
From that point, however, the bullpen was rocked.
The M-Braves exploded for five runs in the seventh and eighth innings against relievers Jonathan Bermudez and Brady Puckett. They combined to yield 10 hits.
The suspended game resumed in the top of the seventh Friday tied at 3-3 and without fans when it began at 5 p.m. – an half hour before gates opened.
The game had been stopped at 8:22 p.m. Thursday night when the first band of severe storms struck and stayed through the night.
Blue Wahoos reliever Josan Méndez got the final out of the seventh and retired the M-Braves in the eighth. Conine hit a solo home run to provide a 4-3 lead in the seventh.
But in the ninth, the M-Braves’ Hudson Potts led off with a game-tying home run against Cristian Charle. It forced the extra inning and the M-Braves got a two-out, two-run homer from Luke Waddell.
The Blue Wahoos got an RBI sacrifice fly from Nasim Nuñez and had two runners on, but the M-Braves’ Alec Barger struck out Cody Morissette to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos will try to regain a series lead on Saturday in the fifth game of the series.
Luis Palacios (4-1, 4.55) will be on the mound against the M-Braves’ Domingo Robles (4-4, 3.68).
Thousands Left Without Power As EREC, FPL Crews Work Into The Night
June 16, 2023
Storms that moved through the area Friday morning left thousands without power.
Florida Power & Light reported 1,825 customers in Escambia County without power as of 9 p.m., down by several thousand from earlier in the day. FPL did have a restoration timeline available.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported over 6,500 customers without power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties — approaching over half of their meters — after the morning storms.
By 9 p.m. EREC reported about 1,100 members without power as they continue to work around the clock. EREC said there are additional concerns as more storms move toward the area Friday night. Additional contract crews have arrived to help in the restoration process.
EREC explained how power is restored:
In order to restore power to the largest number of members as quickly and safely as possible…
- EREC crews assess damages to ensure sections of line are completely free of debris before determining how to proceed.
- Work is performed on substations and major feeder lines to maximize efficiency.
- Critical facilities such as hospitals, communication hubs, police and fire stations are restored.
- EREC crews rebuild and restore power lines and delivery equipment mile by mile until every member has access to power.
Pictured above and immediately below: Power poles and power lines on the EREC system hang just above the ground and very near Highway 97 near Pelt Road Friday morning. Pictured bottom: Many of the outages were also caused by downed lines like this one on Pine Forest Road near Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Killed When Tornado Downs Tree Onto Escambia Home
June 16, 2023
One person was killed in a tornado during Thursday night’s severe weather in Escambia County.
The fatality occurred at 8:38 p.m. in the 500 block of Coker Lane off West Jackson Street in West Pensacola.
Escambia County Public Safety said the fatality occurred at 8:38 p.m. when a tree fell on top of a residential structure due to a tornado in the area.
Public Safety said the victim was trapped beneath the tree inside the home. They were pronounced deceased at the scene. A name has not been released.
Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Signs State Budget With $1.257 Million To Replace Century’s Freedom Road Bridge; $628K Toward Failed Prison Water Well
June 16, 2023
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state’s $117 billion budget Thursday that included funds for replacement of the Freedom Road Bridge in Century and half the money needed to replace a failed town water well serving the Century Correctional Institution.
The spending plan included $1.257 million for the bridge and over $628,000 for the water well.
Freedom Road Bridge
The 2023-24 Florida budget includes $1,257,000 to replace a Town of Century bridge on Freedom Road.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured above).
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
According to the legislative funding request by Rep. Michelle Salzman, replacing the bridge will improve emergency vehicle access, provide a shorter and more direct route to the nearest hospital in Jay for some residents, and provide better access for residents in the area.
It is anticipated that the $1.297 million will cover construction and other costs like engineering and surveying. No matching funds are required from the town, and it is estimated that the project could be complete by the end of 2024.
Town of Century Well No. 3
The budget includes $628,500 to replace the Town of Century’s Well No. 3, which exclusively serves Century Correctional Institution, half of the $1.297 million that was requested.
After multiple problems, the well suffered a catastrophic failure during the summer of 2022 and no longer provided water to the prison for staff and inmates. A shaft shattered into a dozen or more pieces and fell to the bottom of the well.
Water service was restored through a permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system that was completed in late May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison. The interconnect was installed after the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the prison suffered a repairable failure in early May 2020. That forced the town to use two-inch fire hoses from a Central Water Works fire hydrant on the south side of Tedder Road to the prison on the north side of the road until a permanent solution was in place and the well was repaired.
A temporary pump provides some water, but it must be supplemented by water from the two wells that supply the town’s citizens or from the Center Water Works interconnect. “Operation of these additional
supplies is manually controlled and subject to interruptions,” according to Rep. Michelle Salzman’s funding request.
Pictured top and inset: The failed Freedom Road bridge in Century. Pictured bottom inset: The Town of Century water tower above the failed water well that serves the Century Correctional Institution. Pictured below: At one point, water flowed across Tedder Road through these fire hoses to provide service for the prison. An interconnect under the roadway now provides a backup water supply. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First Deer In Florida Confirmed With Chronic Wasting Disease. Here’s What To Know.
June 16, 2023
The first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said road-killed 4.5-year-old female white-tailed deer in Holmes County sampled during routine surveillance activities has tested positive. It is the first known case of CWD in Florida, a contagious disease of the brain and central nervous system that is fatal to deer.
The FWC and its agency partners take CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
The FWC has been monitoring free-ranging deer since 2002 to detect CWD. During that time, the FWC has tested approximately 17,500 hunter-killed, road-killed and sick or diseased deer for CWD.
The FWC and its agency partners said they are taking CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
The FWC has been monitoring free-ranging deer since 2002 to detect CWD. During that time, the FWC has tested approximately 17,500 hunter-killed, road-killed and sick or diseased deer for CWD
“Working with FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) and our other partners, I’m hopeful that our combined efforts will limit the effects this will have on Florida’s deer population and preserve our exceptional hunting opportunities for future generations statewide,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young.
The FWC is asking anyone who sees a sick, abnormally thin deer or finds a deer dead from unknown causes to call the CWD hotline, 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282) and report the animal’s location.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans or livestock under natural conditions. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend consuming meat from animals that test positive for CWD or from any sick animal.
“We take very seriously our responsibility to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health issues in Florida – all to safeguard our agriculture industry and our world-renowned wildlife and natural resources,” said FDACS Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Ensuring the health of Florida’s deer population is a team effort, and we will continue to work diligently with our state and federal partners to respond.”
CWD is a contagious disease believed to be caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. It is a fatal disease for all members of the deer family and is currently documented in white-tailed deer, mule deer, sika deer, elk, moose and caribou. Signs of the disease usually appear 1.5 to 3 years after initial exposure and can include extreme weight loss and abnormal behaviors such as listlessness, lowering of the head, inattentiveness toward people, walking in circles, staggering and standing with a wide stance.
Controlling the spread of CWD is difficult once it becomes established in a natural population. Because prions shed by infected deer persist in the environment, the best chance for controlling CWD is acting quickly after it’s been detected to prevent more animals from becoming infected. CWD can be transmitted directly – from animal to animal – or indirectly from the environment. Multiple management strategies will be employed to control the spread of the disease.
The FWC along with its partners – the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study – will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.
Escambia Man Gets 35 Years, $1 Million In Fines For Trafficking In Fentanyl, Meth, Heroin
June 16, 2023
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison on drug charges.
Circuit Court Judge Linda Nobles sentenced Adrian Kiwane Hale for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer with lights and sirens activated, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutors said 25 years of the sentence must be served day for day as a statutory minimum mandatory for trafficking in heroin and trafficking in fentanyl.
The judge also imposed over $1 million in mandatory fines under Florida’s drug trafficking laws.
During the early morning hours of September 14, 2022, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted a routine traffic stop on a white Volkswagen Passat, but the vehicle fled. Deputies were able to visually identify the driver as Hale.
A short time later, Hale was apprehended on foot and carrying a backpack. The backpack contained over 150 grams of heroin, over 39 grams of fentanyl, over 14 grams of methamphetamine, a scale, and numerous plastic baggies, according to prosecutors. The keys to the Volkswagen were also recovered, and the vehicle was found less than 1,000 feet away.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Hale guilty as charged on all counts.
“Drug traffickers who further put the community at risk by brazenly fleeing from police warrant a substantial prison sentence,” prosecuting attorney Christopher Patterson argued at the sentencing hearing.
ECSO Sgt. Greg NeSmith Honored For 30 Years Of Service
June 16, 2023
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons recognized Sgt. Greg NeSmith for 30 years of service to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos, Braves Suspended Due To Weather
June 16, 2023
Thursday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Mississippi Braves was suspended due to rain with the score tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning.
The game will be resumed at 5:05 p.m. Friday with no fans admitted.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for Friday’s regular game scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m.
Wreck, Vehicle Fire Slow Morning Commute At I-10, Pine Forest
June 15, 2023
A wreck and resulting vehicle fire slowed traffic for commuters Thursday morning.
Escambia County Fire Rescue and EMS responded to a vehicle fire at the on-ramp from Pine Forest Road to I-10 about 7:50 a.m. where they found a car fully engulfed in fire.
“The vehicle on fire appeared to be in a rear-end type of collision,” said Davis Wood, Escambia County Public Safety spokesperson.
Two people were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
“At this time, it’s unknown what specifically caused the fire,” Wood said.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Update: Man Critical, Boy Serious After Van Rear-Ends Dump Truck On Highway 29
June 15, 2023
Two people were seriously injured in a crash between a passenger van and a dump truck Thursday on Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the northbound van collided with the rear of the dump truck as it was slowing to make a U-turn across the median near a produce stand on Highway 29 just south of Power Boulevard and the Central Commerce Park.
The 29-year old man from Fort Worth, Texas, was extricated from the van and airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition. His 11-year old male passenger was transported by Escambia County EMS in serious condition. The dump truck driver, a 50-year old woman from Milton, was not injured.
Northbound traffic on Highway 29 was at a complete standstill for over two hours due to the crash.
Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
