Green’s Dramatic Double Gives Wahoos One-Hitter Win
September 5, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos turned in a dominant pitching performance on Thursday night, and got just enough offense for a 2-0 victory over the Biloxi Shuckers.
Payton Green broke a scoreless tie with a two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning, and Jake Brooks, Gabe Bierman and Nigel Belgrave combined for a one-hit shutout as the Blue Wahoos kept their playoff hopes alive.
Brooks fanned five batters over 5.0 scoreless innings, with only a fifth-inning Zavier Warren double keeping the Blue Wahoos from a combined no-hitter. Bierman (W, 1-2) worked a pair of perfect frames to earn his first Double-A win, and Belgrave (S, 5) protected the late lead with a six-out save.
After failing to capitalize on opportunities against Shuckers starter Alexander Cornielle and leaving two runners in scoring position against reliever Raúl Alcantara in the seventh, the Blue Wahoos finally broke through in the eighth. With two outs, Dub Gleed drew a walk against Jesús Broca (L, 0-1) and advanced to second on a single from Mark Coley II. Green slashed a double to right-center, scoring both runners to put Pensacola ahead 2-0.
Belgrave retired the final six batters to complete the second Blue Wahoos one-hitter of the season, and their 14th in team history. Jacob Miller, Belgrave and Justin King also combined for a one-hitter in a 6-0 win at Rocket City on June 10.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos kept pace with first-place Montgomery in the second half South Division standings, trailing by 5.0 games with 9 to play in the regular season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday.
Century Changing Sanitation Providers For the First Time In 30 Years
September 4, 2025
For the first time in about 30 years, the Town of Century is poised to change sanitation providers in December, but the impact on citizen rates remains to be seen.
Without accepting bids, Century had continued to renew an agreement with annual increases with Republic Services. This year, however, the town sought a new provider. They received bids from two companies — BFI Waste Services, dba Republic Services of Escambia County, and Waste Pro of Florida.
An evaluation committee ranked Waste Pro significantly higher than Republic Services, with average scores of 93.5 and 72.3, respectively.
“Waste Pro of Florida, Inc. consistently scored the highest across all evaluators, with strengths in cost proposal, service plan, equipment, and community engagement,” according to a town document. “Republic Services was evaluated as adequate but with key weaknesses: missing a commercial pricing proposal, incomplete forms, and a weaker overall service plan.”
Currently, Republic collects weekly trash in Century, but the town provides all other sanitation services, including bulk waste and yard waste. Citizens pay $27.41, while the town pays Republic about $18; the difference compensates the town for the costs associated with the bulk and yard waste collections and disposals.
For the period beginning December 1, Republic bid $18.13 each for the approximately 700 containers collected weekly in Century.
Republic did not submit bids for the other services requested by the town, including recycling, yard waste, and bulk waste. Republic’s Robert Schultz told the council that his company is not equipped to provide those services in the local market.
Waste Pro’s bid was slightly higher at $19 per container for residential waste only, or $40 to include household waste, yard waste, bulk waste, and recycling — higher than the $27.41 currently paid by citizens. However, Waste Pro stated they could lower that price by altering the services provided, particularly by eliminating recycling.
This week, the Century Town Council voted 5-0 to affirm the evaluation committee’s recommendation of Waste Pro and authorized Mayor Ben Boutwell to negotiate a final franchise agreement. The changeover date between Republic and Waste Pro should be December 1. Both companies have committed to making the transition seamless for residents.
No other sanitation companies in the area submitted a bid, including the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA), which provides residential sanitation collection in the remainder of unincorporated Escambia County.
Pictured: The Century Town Council met this week. Also pictured: The Council heard rom representatives from Republic Services (inset above) and Waste Pro (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Corn Combine In Walnut Hill
September 4, 2025
A raging fire destroyed a corn combine in Walnut Hill on Wednesday.
The combine was being used to harvest corn in a field on South Highway 99 near Morgan Road when it caught fire just before 8 p.m.
The Walnut Hill Station of Fire Rescue responded and was able to save unharvested corn that remained in the field. The combine was a total loss.
There were no injuries reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Possessing And Distributing Fentanyl In Escambia County
September 4, 2025
An armed drug trafficker has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing fentanyl in Escambia County, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
Corderrius Terrelle McShane, 38, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“I applaud the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal ATF and DEA agents to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin.
Court documents showed McShane distributed 55.6 grams of fentanyl in November of 2024. Also, that same month, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle McShane was driving, during which officers located over 230 grams of fentanyl and a loaded firearm. McShane has prior felony convictions for possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, resisting law enforcement with violence, possession of cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
McShane faces up to life imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Sheriff’s Office Hosting Coffee With A Cop Friday Morning In Davisville
September 4, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will host Coffee With A Cop this Friday morning in Davisville.
The event will take place at the Rustic Rooster at 10251 Highway 97 (just north of West Highway 4) from 7:30 until 9:30 a.m.
Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s work in the community. It is a great way for Escambia County deputies and community members to come together, build relationships, and, of course, drink coffee.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Foundation and sponsors will provide a free cup of coffee to each attendee.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Whataburger Insight: New Century Administrator’s First Day Starts With Impromptu Breakfast Meeting
September 4, 2025
New Century Town Administrator Dave Murzin’s first day on the job started earlier than he had planned, meeting with local citizens at the Whataburger during breakfast.
“It was early, not even 7:30 when I got to Century, and I decided to stop by Whataburger for breakfast,” Murzin said. “Hey, I recognize you from NorthEscambia.com. Why don’t you come over and talk to these guys?”
He said the group consisted of longtime area residents who asked how Century could be restored to the vibrant community that they remember, with a solid local economy.
“They said we need industry in here,” he said. “And they understand that we need to do something for a speculative industrial building to lure that industry.”
Related Story: Former Rep. Dave Murzin Inks Contract As Century’s First Town Administrator
Murzin said he spent the rest of the day, day one of his two-year contract, around town with Mayor Ben Boutwell learning about today’s Century and making a list of things to do.
“It’s a long list, and I’m still writing,” he quipped.
Pictured: New Century Town Administrator Dave Murzin after signing his employment contract Tuesday night at Century Town Hall. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Milbrandt Makes Strong Debut, But Wahoos Fall Again In Biloxi
September 4, 2025
Karson Milbrandt looked impressive in his Double-A debut for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night, but an early lead slipped away in a 5-2 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers.
Milbrandt, at 21 the youngest player on the Blue Wahoos and the #20 prospect in the Marlins organization according to MLB Pipeline, struck out four batters over 4.2 innings after joining the club from High-A Beloit.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the third inning against Shuckers starter Brett Wichrowski (W, 3-6), turning two walks and a Wichrowski throwing error into the game’s first run before Dub Gleed stayed hot with an RBI single. Gleed, who went 4-for-4 on Monday, collected three hits on Wednesday before being retired in his fourth at-bat. His streak of seven hits in as many at-bats was the most for a Blue Wahoos player since Jerar Encarnación, who matched the feat across two games in May 2022.
Milbrandt was scoreless entering the bottom of the fifth, when back-to-back RBI singles from Mike Boeve and Matthew Wood with two outs in the inning tied the game 2-2 and marked the end of his start.
Though Colby Martin (L, 1-1) stranded two of Milbrandt’s runners to escape a jam in the fifth, he left the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth inning for Evan Fitterer. A bases-loaded walk to Brock Wilken forced in the go-ahead run, giving the Shuckers a 3-2 lead.
Biloxi added insurance in the seventh and eighth innings, and Travis MacGregor (S, 2) worked a hitless ninth to earn the save in a 5-2 final. Though the Blue Wahoos are 12-11 against the Shuckers this season, they are now 2-9 in their games at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos are now 5.0 games behind first-place Montgomery in the second half South Division standings with 10 games to play in the regular season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Thursday.
No Injuries In Minor Cantonment School Bus Collision
September 3, 2025
There were no injuries in a very minor collision between a school bus and a pickup truck Wednesday morning in Cantonment.
It happened around 8:15 a.m. on Highway 29 south of Muscogee Road and involved an Escambia County Public School bus and a pickup truck. The only damage was minor scrapes on both vehicles.
Bus No. 27-21 was transporting students to Tate High School. Everyone involved refused transport to the hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet released the cause of the collision.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tax Collector’s Molino Office Is Now Appointment Only
September 3, 2025
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Molino and Downtown office are now appointment only as of today, September 3, in an effort to enhance efficiency and reduce wait times.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford said offering appointments at these locations will allow his office to better meet demand, eliminating spikes in traffic and decreasing or eliminate long wait times.
The new appointments are time-specific, replacing the previous “join the line” program which placed people in line in the order they joined.
“We will be able to serve as many or more people with appointment and setting timeframes,” Lunsford told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon when Molino still had numerous appointment slots open for Wednesday.
Lunsford also hopes to see citizens take advantage of more services that are available without the need to visit a tax collector office.
“There were probably 100 people in line this morning (Tuesday) doing transactions that they did not need to be in line for, that could have been completed online, by mail, or in a drive-thru,” Lunsford said. “We spend an enormous amount of time in the office on simple stuff.”
Click here to make an appointment.
Many tax collector services are available online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com, including:
- Tag renewals
- Electronic title printing
- Property tax payments
- Business tax receipt renewals
In addition, drive-thru services are available at the Molino, Brentwood, and Downtown offices, providing another fast and convenient option for completing transactions. There is no additional fee to pay online using an eCheck.
“We are going to do our dangest to get to everybody as fast as we can,” the tax collector added.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Two Suspects In Retail Boot Theft
September 3, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking two suspects in connection with alleged retail thefts from The Boot Store in late August.
Deputies said 50-year-old LaCarter Millionder and 49-year-old Angel Scott were caught on video taking merchandise from the store on August 22.
The store alleges that $1,000 in boots were stolen from the business on Pine Forest Road.
Deputies said Milloder already had active warrants for thefts and violation of community control, while Scott was already wanted on three active warrants for petit theft, which have now been upgraded to felonies.
The Boot Store originally alleged in a social media post that a third individual was involved in the thefts, but the ECSO said Tuesday that she was not.
“Upon reviewing the store’s video surveillance, it was determined that the white female previously posted to The Boot Store social media page as a ‘potential suspect’ was not involved in any theft and did not appear to be working in conjunction with Millionder and Scott,” the ECSO said in a statement.