Man, 22, Killed In Single Vehicle Crash In Beulah
August 30, 2025
A Thursday night single-vehicle crash in Beulah claimed the life of a 22-year-old Pensacola man.
At about 10:48 p.m., the man was traveling south on Beulah Road just south of Helms Road when his Honda Prelude ran off the road and struck several trees, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he passed away.
File photo.
Chattanooga Wildness Gives Wahoos A Walk-Off Win
August 30, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos took advantage of erratic pitching in the ninth inning of Friday’s game against the Chattanooga Lookouts, securing a 2-1 walk-off win on two walks, two wild pitches and a bases-loaded hit batsman.
Jared Serna backed away from an inside 2-2 pitch from Lenny Torres Jr., but the Chattanooga reliever’s offering clipped the Pensacola shortstop to force in Payton Green from third base with the winning run. Green had started the ninth-inning rally with a two-out single off Brandon Komar (L, 2-5), and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches alongside walks to Spencer Bramwell and Michael Snyder.
The victory marked Pensacola’s seventh walk-off of the season, and their third by means other than a game-ending hit. It also helped the Blue Wahoos gain ground in the second half South Division standings, drawing to within 2.5 games of the first-place Montgomery Biscuits, who were rained out on Friday.
The Blue Wahoos struck first in the first inning, getting two runners aboard against Lookouts starter Julian Garcia on a passed ball and a walk before Tony Bullard ripped an RBI double over the left field wall on a bounce. The Chattanooga righty would settle in after that, allowing just the one unearned run over 5.0 innings in his first affiliated MiLB appearance since 2022.
Pensacola starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr had his longest start in almost two months, working 5.1 innings of three-hit ball and allowing only one run on a third-inning RBI single from Jay Allen II. Ortiz-Mayr was relieved in the sixth by Justin King, who contributed 1.2 hitless innings of relief to keep the game tied 1-1.
Colby Martin (W, 1-0) took over in the eighth, and stranded a pair of singles in the ninth with a strikeout of Lookouts designated hitter Cam Collier. The game appeared to be headed for extra innings before Pensacola’s two-out rally ended the night in dramatic fashion.
After the game, the Blue Wahoos revealed the winner of their highly-publicized car giveaway presented by Hill-Kelly Dodge. Marian Olson, seated in section 100, won a 2025 Jeep Compass and was presented the keys in front of a crowd of 4200 fans.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Saturday night. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Cantonment Man Charged With Molesting A Girl Under Age 12
August 29, 2025
A 54-year-old Cantonment man has been charged with molesting a young girl.
John Daniel White of Night Mares Lane was charged with felony lewd or lascivious molestation of a person less than age 12 and lewd or lascivious exhibition with a victim 16 or under. If convicted as charged, he faces up to life in prison.
According to an arrest report, the Florida Department of Children and Families contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office about a sexual battery complaint.
The alleged victim participated in a forensic interview at the Gulf Coast Kid’s House during which the child stated that White would touch her while pleasuring himself, according to the arrest report. “He told her not to tell anyone, or else he would call 911, which made her feel scared,” the report states.
When confronted about the allegations by a Sheriff’s Office investigator, White questioned the validity of the child’s allegations. His wife told deputies that she did not remember a time that White was ever alone with the child, and that he was out of town frequently for work.
The ECSO investigator found probable cause of the charges due to “consistent and detailed disclosure,” the report states.
The report indicates White surrendered at the Escambia County Jail on the charges this week, and he remained in the jail without bond.
Escambia County Approves New Church School In Walnut Hill
August 29, 2025
The Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) has approved plans for a new school in Walnut Hill, a joint project of two chuches.
Walnut Hill School is planned for nearly 65 acres in the 5000 block of Sandy Hollow Road. Most of the property is owned jointly by the Southern Harbor Mennonite Church on West Highway 4 and the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church on Highway 97.
Plans approved this week by the DRC show the project includes an 18,184 square foot school building with a gravel parking lot and a stormwater pond. Access to the school will only be from Sandy Hollow Road.
The new building is set replace the aging Walnut Hill School located on Highway 97.
Building permits are the next step in the county process before construction can begin.
Homers Not Enough As Wahoos Fall To Lookouts
August 29, 2025
witten by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos have thrived at home this season with a low-scoring attack and late-inning battle of bullpens.
But not right now.
The Chattanooga Lookouts expanded a one-run lead off an eighth-inning miscue, then again turned to their stellar closer Trevor Kuncl to seal a 5-3 win Thursday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It was the Lookouts’ (65-54, 27-26 in second half) third win in four games this week – two of these finished by Kuncl, who recorded his 20th save Thursday as one of the top relievers in Minor League Baseball.
Taking on their customary alternate identity on Thursdays as the Pensacola Mullets, the loss dropped the Blue Wahoos into a second-place tie with the Columbus Clingstones and three games back of the Montgomery Biscuits in the Southern League South Division race. The Biscuits had a 3-1 win against Biloxi to expand their lead.
For Pensacola, this was a game lost despite 10 hits, plus a sizeable number of hard-contact outs that could have changed the outcome.
One of those was the final out in the game.
The Blue Wahoos’ most dangerous hitter, Kemp Alderman, faced Kuncl representing the tying run at the plate with Jared Serna on base. Alderman squared up a fastball from Kuncl with two outs and sent it to the base of the right field wall, where Chattanooga’s Austin Hendrick snared it to end the game.
Alderman had blasted a solo homer over the left field wall in the first inning.
The Lookouts took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on Ethan O’Donnell’s solo homer off Blue Wahoos starter Will Schomberg, who made his Double-A debut after joining the team Aug. 19 from High-A level Beloit Sky Carp.
In the game-defining eighth inning, Blue Wahoos first baseman Tony Bullard made an errant throw on a grounder with reliever Josh Ekness running to cover first base. The ball rolled toward the dugout, allowing a run to score and runners going to second and third.
The Lookouts’ top prospect, third baseman Cam Collier, then followed with his third hit, a two-run single to open a 5-1 lead.
Bullard got two of those runs back with his opposite-field homer into the right field berm in the bottom of the eighth. The next two batters, Payton Green and Colby Shade, both singled. But Lookouts reliever Simon Miller struck out Emaarion Boyd to end the inning.
Serna, Bullard and Shade all had multiple hits for the Blue Wahoos. Collier was one of five multi-hit nights for the Lookouts, who collected 12 hits in the game.
The seven-game series, which included a makeup game doubleheader Wednesday, will continue on Friday night with the Blue Wahoos’ Orlando Ortiz-Mayr on the mound.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
WHEN: Friday Thru Sunday.
GAMETIMES: Friday and Saturday games at 6:05 p.m., Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
UWF Receives $32.5 Million Triumph Grant For Cybersecurity, Computational Research Hub
August 29, 2025
The University of West Florida is positioned to further its robust research presence in Northwest Florida following the approval of a $32,515,120 grant proposal, subject to negotiating a term sheet and legal contract, from the Triumph Gulf Coast board of directors. The investment will accelerate the growth of UWF’s Institute for Analytics and Industry Advancement, or IAIA, and the Center for Cybersecurity, as well as establish a new Center for Computational Intelligence.
“This grant marks a pivotal step forward for UWF and our region,” said UWF Provost Dr. Jaromy Kuhl. “By expanding our capacity in cybersecurity and computational intelligence research, we are positioning Northwest Florida as a national leader in innovation. The work being done here will not only advance discovery and technology but will also strengthen our economy. We are grateful for the support from Triumph in our efforts to elevate our region to new heights.”
IAIA helps prepare individuals with technical skills to address workforce needs in data science, cybersecurity and engineering. The institute has concentrations in predictive and cognitive analytics, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, automation and computing. The areas of focus are intended to advance the research and scientific contribution of UWF, enabling it to move beyond simply teaching college classes and enable research faculty and staff to provide partnerships with businesses across key industry sectors. The Institute is also home to the UWF Predictive Analytics and Modeling Lab, where user-friendly analytics tools are developed for data-driven decision-making and predictions.
A key component of the project is the creation of the Center for Computational Intelligence, or CCI, within the Institute. The new center will serve as a world-class hub for advanced computational research, uniting faculty, researchers, students and industry partners around the development of next-generation technologies.
CCI will focus on designing and applying computational models and systems capable of performing complex tasks — work that supports breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, computational chemistry and bioinformatics. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, CCI will accelerate innovations with direct applications in healthcare, energy, environmental monitoring, personalized education and defense.
The grant will also allow UWF’s Center for Cybersecurity to leverage its role as a national leader in cybersecurity research and education programs to enable transformational impact across Northwest Florida and strengthen the region’s economic and workforce development. The Center will integrate AI into its initiatives and expand collaborations with defense, private sectors and regional partners to develop innovative solutions and provide long-lasting benefits to Northwest Florida.
In addition, the grant will help fund expansion of the new sciences and engineering building to provide added space for the Center for Cybersecurity and CCI, as well as the renovation of the Laboratory Sciences Annex to house advanced computational research labs. The overall project is projected to cost $130,204,292 over a 10-year period.
Molino Wreck Brings Down Power Lines Early Thursday
August 28, 2025
A single vehicle rollover crash brought down power lines early Thursday morning in Molino.
The driver of a Chevrolet Silverado ran off Highway 95A near Schaag Road about 5:40 a.m. and collided with a power pole, breaking the pole and sending power lines to the ground.
The driver was reportedly able to exit the truck on their own.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. Escambia County EMS and the Molino Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
FPL worked for hours to make repairs; there was no immediate word on the number of people who may have lost power.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Narcotics Trafficking
August 28, 2025
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to federal prison on narcotics trafficking charge.
Bennie Charles Deloach, age 36 of Hazard Lane, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is plaguing our community and threatening the health and safety of our citizens,” United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin said. “I deeply appreciate the hard work of our state and federal law enforcement partners to help keep drug traffickers like this defendant off our streets, and my office will not hesitate to aggressively prosecute these offenses to safeguard our community.”
According to court records, a Pensacola Police Department Officer attempted to stop Deloach’s vehicle, as Deloach had active felony warrants. Deloach fled from the officer, hitting a pole and a parked vehicle, and then got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers located narcotics, including a large amount of methamphetamine, in a backpack Deloach dropped, as well as more narcotics in the vehicle. The methamphetamine weighed over 830 grams.
“Effective law enforcement in the war on drugs isn’t just about reacting to crime … it’s about anticipating it, disrupting the supply chains, and working together with all of our law enforcement partners to stop it,” said Pensacola Police Department acting Chief Kristin Brown. “Illegal use of drugs in our community is something that cannot be tolerated, and we will use all avenues in the war on drugs.”
“Those who distribute methamphetamine in Florida will be held accountable,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The health and safety of our Florida communities is my top priority – always.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
Quarter Million Little Tabs, Big Impact: Molino Park Elementary Helps Families At Ronald McDonald House
August 28, 2025
Last school year, the students, faculty and families at Molino Park Elementary School collected 196 pounds of pop tabs—those little pull tabs off the tops of aluminum drink cans—to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida.
The charity recycles the aluminum tabs, with the proceeds contributing to their mission of keeping families close to their children receiving medical treatment.
Just how many pop tabs is that? With an estimated 1,267 tabs per pound, Molino Park’s donation is just under a quarter million pop tabs!
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Crash Slows Traffic Wednesday Evening
August 28, 2025
There were no critical injuries reported in a two-vehicle crash that slowed traffic on southbound Highway 29 on Wednesday evening.
The crash happened about 6:40 p.m. on Highway 29 just south of West Roberts Road, near the Circle K.
The front of a Chevrolet Blazer collided with the side of a Chevrolet 2500 HD pickup, with the Blazer then striking a street sign. The crash blocked the southbound lane of the highway for about an hour.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
The Ensley Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
