Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Rained Out in Pensacola
August 25, 2022
Rain forced the postponement of Wednesday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The contest will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday, August 25, with first pitch of game one beginning at 4:05. Both games will be seven innings, and gates will open to all fans at 3:30.
Fans with tickets to Wednesday’s game may exchange them at the Blue Wahoos box office for tickets to a future 2022 Blue Wahoos regular season home game, subject to availability.
Fire Sparked By Clothes Dryer Damages Cantonment Townhome
August 24, 2022
An early morning fire damaged a townhome in Cantonment.
The fire was reported at 3:44 a.m. at the Pine Forest Oaks Townhomes in the 3300 block of Pine Forest Road. Firefighters arrived to find light smoke coming from the roof of one of the quadplexes and entered to find a fire in the laundry room of one unit.
The fire caused extensive damage in the laundry room and adjacent hallway. The fire caused a water pipe to burst, causing additional damage to an adjacent townhome. The occupants of both townhomes were displaced by the damage and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said the fire was caused by the clothes dryer.
There were no injuries reported.
The Ensley, Cantonment, Bellview, Osceola and Brent Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with Escambia County EMS.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Salzman Easily Defeats Hill In House District 1 Republican Race
August 24, 2022
Incumbent Michelle Salzman easily defeated challenger Mike Hill in the Florida House District 1 Republican primary on Tuesday. She will now face Democrat Franscine Mathis in the November general election.
Salzman received 65% of the vote to Hill’s 35%, or a margin of about 6,200 votes.
“It was a great victory for Northwest Florida,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com from her victory party Tuesday night. “All across the board, the right people won. We are going to pick up the pieces and head toward November and continue the momentum.”
Salzman defeated Hill in the 2020 GOP primary by about 1,000 votes — five percentage points. In her campaign, Salzman highlighted the fact that Hill failed to get any bill that he sponsored passed or any appropriation approved during his previous time in the Florida Legislature.
Sheriff Chip Simmons Addresses Molino Neighborhood Watch Group
August 24, 2022
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons spoke to the Molino Mid-County Neighborhood Watch about fighting crime in their neighborhood Monday evening.
The Molino Mid-County Neighborhood Watch group is scheduled to meet again on September 26 at the Molino Community Center on Highway 95A.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Primary Election Recap: Here’s Who Won The Primary Election, Local Results
August 24, 2022
Florida Governor
Democrat Charlie Crist defeated challenger Nikki Fried to face Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis in November.
U.S. House 1st Congressional District
Republic incumbent Matt Gaetz defeated challengers Mark Lombardo and Greg Merk. He will face Democrat Rebekah Jones in November. Jones defeated Peggy Schiller in the primary Tuesday.
State Senate District 1
Republican incumbent Doug Broxson received 76% of the vote Tuesday to win the primary over John Mills. He will face Democrat Charlie Nichols in November.
Florida House District 1
Incumbent Michelle Salzman won the Republican primary with 65% of the vote over Mike Hill with 35% of the ballots cast. Salzman will face Democratic Franscine Mathis in the general election in November.
Florida House District 2
Republican incumbent Alex Andrade beat Greg Litton Jordan Karr. Andrade will be up against Democrat Carollyn Rabeca Taylor on November 8.
Escambia County Judge Group 1
Scott Richie was elected as Escambia County judge Tuesday with 64.5% of the vote to 35.5% for Paul Hamlin.
Escambia County Commission District 2
Mike Kohler, a retired Navy captain, defeated Kevin Brown and Chance Walsh for the Escambia County Commission District 2 seat. Incumbent Doug Underhill did not seek reelection.
Escambia County Commission District 4
Incumbent Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender garnered 78.6% of the vote, beating Stan McDaniels. He will face Democrat Myra Van Hoose in the general election.
Escambia County School Board District 1
With nearly 72% of the vote, Escambia County School Board Chairman Kevin Adams retained his seat with a landslide victory over his challenger, Connor Mann.
Escambia County School Board District 2
Paul Fetsko, with 45.6% of the vote, and Ray Guillory, with 35.4%, will be in a November runoff. A third candidate, Kells Hetherington, received 18% of Tuesday’s vote.
Escambia County School Board District 3
Incumbent Laura Edler was defeated by former Pensacola High School principal David Williams.
Pensacola Mayor
D.C. Reeves was elected as Pensacola’s next mayor with 51.44% of the vote, defeating Jewel Cannada-Wynn (19.67%), Steve Sharp (16.06%) and Sherri Myers (12.83%).
Pensacola City Council District 2
Charles Bare (41.19%) and Char Powell (26.05%) will be in a runoff in November.
Pensacola City Council District 6
Allison Patton (42.70%) and Ann Hill (35.27% will be in a runoff in November.
13 Suspects Accused Of Traveling To Santa Rosa County For Sex With Underage Girls
August 24, 2022
There were 12 arrests with 45 felony charges after a child sex sting in Santa Rosa County, and one suspect is still on the run.
The suspects all believed they were communicating online with girls age 13-14 and traveled to Santa Rosa County to have sex with the minors, according to Sheriff Bob Johnson.
Treveon Mitchell of Pensacola, pictured above on the bottom row, fled when deputies tried to arrest him. He was later arrested.
Pictured above are suspects:
(Top row, L-R)
- Erick Menchaca, 33, DeFuniak Springs.
- Bryan Mejia, 22, Pensacola.
- Anthony Martinez, 32, Pace.
- Jose Leonardo-Ramirez, 30, Pensacola.
(Second row, L-R)
- Patrick Bradt, 50, Crestview.
- Tristan Thrower, 24, Pensacola.
- Andrew Walters, 29, Gulf Shores.
- Joshua Prows, 35, Milton.
(Third row, L-R)
- Zachary Frantz, 26, Pace.
- James Ray II, 45, Pensacola.
- Terry Deer, 57, Fairhope.
- Michael Preston, 40, Pensacola.
(Bottom row)
- Trevon Mitchell, 27, Pensacola.
Baker Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 24, 2022
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in three straight sets Tuesday night in Bratt, 25-13, 25-12, 25-18.
The Lady Chiefs also dropped their season opener Monday night 3-2 on the road at W.S. Neal.
The Northview Chiefs (0-2) will be on the road Thursday to play the Hoboes of Laurel Hill (0-1).
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall To Montgomery Biscuits
August 24, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played on-time and uninterrupted through a persistent rain on Tuesday night, but fell to the Montgomery Biscuits 9-5 in their series opener.
Paul McIntosh was 2-for-4 with a long two-run homer in the third inning to put Pensacola ahead 5-2, but that would be the last highlight for the Blue Wahoos. Montgomery scored seven unanswered runs, capped by a pair of late home runs from Diego Infante and Niko Hulsizer, as they cruised to victory.
The Biscuits jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Pensacola starter Zach King on a two-run single from Hulsizer. Davis Bradshaw evened the score for the Blue Wahoos with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning against Michael Mercado, and a Norel González RBI double in the third was followed by McIntosh’s homer.
Infante completed a fourth-inning comeback for Montgomery with an RBI single, and Greg Jones led off the fifth by drawing a walk against Zack Leban (L, 0-2). He promptly stole second, took third on a throwing error, and scored on a wild pitch to score the go-ahead run.
Pensacola collected just two hits over 5.2 scoreless innings against the Biscuits bullpen, and former Pensacola farmhand Cody Reed (W, 1-0) earned the win with 1.2 perfect innings of relief.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Grand Opening Date Set For New Bellview Library
August 23, 2022
A grand opening date has been set for the new Bellview Library.
A ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, September 16, according to Escambia County Library Services Director Todd Humble.
“It’s a great day in Bellview; it’s a great day in Escambia County, We are opening the first library in District 1, and it’s going to be an incredible facility and community amenity,” Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com Monday afternoon.
The $3.8 million plus library was due to open back in spring, but materials delays repeatedly pushed that date later.
The main portion of the library will consist of a large open space that is divided into areas such as a lobby, a story time area, a youth area and an adult reading area. This large open space will provide entrances to other support spaces such as multiple study rooms, staff rooms, a computer area and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) room. The development of the building’s façade was inspired by origami, the art of folding paper, which is why there are angles throughout the building.
At 12,000 square feet, the library is located on about four acres at 6425 Mobile Highway, near Bellview Elementary and Bellview Middle schools. About 2,000 square feet of the structure is a former bank; the remainder is a new addition.
On Saturday, September 17, the Bellview Library will host a 25th anniversary celebration of Harry Potter from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a big program,” Humble said. “There will be games and crafts.”
Pictured: The Bellview Library still under construction in June 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Indicted For Murder After Her Escambia Jail Cellmate Overdosed On Fentanyl
August 23, 2022
A woman has now been indicted for the fentanyl overdose death of her cellmate at the Escambia County Jail.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted 40-year old Pamela Faye Schwarz, 40, on charged of first degree murder by unlawful distribution of drugs, introduction of contraband into a county detention facility, tampering with evidence and possession of a controlled substance.
According to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Schwarz was remanded into custody from drug court and taken to the Escambia County Jail last May and placed into a cell with a 52-year old female later identified as Shirley Barney. There was no one else in the cell.
Prosecutors contend that the Defendant smuggled fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (synthetic fentanyl) into the jail and gave it to her cellmate who later died from an overdose of the drugs.
Instead of calling for help, Sheriff Chip Simmons said Schwarz helped her cellmate into bed before flushing the rest of the drugs down the toilet.
Several hours later, the victim was found unresponsive. Her death was caused by a fentanyl overdose, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Schwarz remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.