Cantonment Man Fled Home Burglary With Stolen Microwave On His Bicycle, ECSO Says
September 29, 2022
A Cantonment man stole a microwave during a home burglary and then fled with the microwave on the handlebars of his bicycle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
A resident of Robinson Street told deputies that she just purchased two new Mainstays microwaves for $49 each. One was still in her vehicle and the other was placed inside her residence, which was being remodeled. As she turned Booker Street, she saw 55-year old Joe Herbert Knight, Jr., riding a black bicycle with a brand new, still in the box, Mainstays microwave on the handlebars, according to an arrest report. He denied stealing the microwave but returned it.
Knight and the victim are close relatives, and she told deputies that Knight had broken into her home about a week before, the report continues.
Deputies noted damage to an outside door and frame consistent with the door being pried open
Knight was charged with second degree felony burglary, larceny and criminal mischief with property damage. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond early Thursday morning.
Blue Wahoos Win Southern League Title
September 29, 2022
The Blue Wahoos just put a shining, championship bow Wednesday night on their special, 10th anniversary season.
Exhibiting the resiliency that carried them to this point, the Blue Wahoos got a fifth inning, grand slam, from infielder Cobie Fletcher-Vance to turn the game, then rode the strength of their pitching to cruise into an 11-4 win against the Tennessee Smokies in the deciding game of the Southern League championship series.
After losing Sunday’s first game 4-1 to the Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the Blue Wahoos won twice on the road at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tennessee – located east of Knoxville — to claim the first outright Southern League title in franchise history. They were co-champions in 2017 when weather concerns wiped out the championship series.
In their 10-year history, the Blue Wahoos have been to post-season six different times with three different affiliations. They became the Miami Marlins Double-A affiliate in 2021. Manager Kevin Randel won a championship as a player in the Marlins organization and now did as the Blue Wahoos manager.
The Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ long-time Double-A affiliate, who knocked off the Rocket City Trash Pandas – the league’s best record team — were seeking their first Southern League title since 1978.
Trailing 3-2 in the fifth, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases on two walks and an error. Fletcher-Vance then blasted the first pitch he saw from reliever Blake Whitney over the left field wall, just inside the foul pole and above the fence line.
They expande6-3 lead with a four-run seventh inning. The first five batters reached on hits, including Fletcher-Vance who drove in his fifth run in the game with a bases-loaded single. Pinch-hitter J.D. Osborne followed with a two-run double. The fourth run scored when reliever Riley Martin failed to catch a throw from his catcher Harrison Wenson after a pitch.
From that point, the bullpen finished it off. Sean Reynolds, the reliever star of back-to-back wins against the Montgomery Biscuits in the South Division series, recorded the final five outs to celebrate again with teammates.
The game began with an incredible start from Blue Wahoos 19-year-old star prospect Eury Perez. The 19-year-old Perez tied a Minor League Baseball record by striking out the first eight batters he faced.
But he ran into trouble with two outs in the third as the Smokies took a 3-2 lead, causing Perez to throw 40 pitches in that inning and requiring the bullpen to be summoned earlier than hoped.
The Blue Wahoos regained an emotional edge two innings later.
Nasim Nunez led off by hitting a grounder that Tennessee first baseman Nelson Maldanado mishandled for an error. Will Banfield followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. With one out, Griffin Conine checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch and the umpires agreed to load bases.
That moment became pivotal.
On the next pitch, Fletcher-Vance clubbed a sinker out of the ballpark and the Blue Wahoos never trailed again.
The Blue Wahoos were Southern League co-champions in 2017 with the Chattanooga Lookouts, after the league opted to cancel the title series due to concern with a hurricane approaching from the Gulf of Mexico.
This time, the Blue Wahoos twice won best-of-three series after dropping the first game. They forced a deciding game against the Montgomery Biscuits in the South Division series, after trailing 5-0 at one point. They won the deciding game 1-0 on a sensational game-saving catch from centerfielder Thomas Jones.
BLUE WAHOOS IN POST-SEASON
- 2015 Lost South Division Series 0-3 vs. Biloxi Shuckers
- 2016 Lost South Division Series 1-3 vs. Mississippi Braves
- 2017 Won Southern League Co-Championship 3-0 vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- 2018 Lost South Division Series 1-3 vs. Biloxi Shuckers
- 2019 Lost South Division Series 2-3 vs. Biloxi Shuckers
- 2021 Won South Division Series 2-1 vs. Montgomery Biscuits, Won Southern League Championship Series 2-1 vs. Tennessee Smokies.
The 2023 Blue Wahoos season will open on April 7, 2023.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
School Advisory Council: Vote For Tate Members, Northview And Ransom Seek Volunteers
September 29, 2022
Each school in Escambia County has a School Advisory Council. Northview High School and Ransom Middle School are currently looking for volunteers, and Tate High School parents ar being e asked to vote on SAC members.
Northview High School
Northview High School is seeking volunteers for its 2022-2023 School Advisory Council. The council meets four times each year after school. Interested parents and community members should call (850) 761-6000.
Tate High School
Tate High School currently has four open parent/guardian positions on their School Advisory Council. Tate parents/guardians are ask to vote four parents to join the 2022-2023 SAC. The online ballot closed at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 30. Parents, grandparents, and guardians of Tate students are allowed to vote.
Ransom Middle School
School Advisory Council applications are currently being accepted at Ransom Middle School. Applications are due by October 28.
Local Students Gather For ‘See You At The Pole’
September 29, 2022
Students across the area took part in the annual See You at the Pole event Wednesday.
Students gathered as school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a national student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government and the nation.
At Tate High School, the SYATP is sponsored by First Priority and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
About 50 students gathered for the First Priority STATP at Beulah Middle School where they prayed for the community, the nation and its leaders, the school, teachers, peers, parents and friends.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Pictured top: See You at the Pole at Northview High School (top), Tate High School (below) and a unique view (pictured bottom) of SYATP at Beulah Middle School student Harrison Vernier, publicist for the First Priority Group. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Disaster Fund Activated For Hurricane Ian Victims; Here’s How To Help
September 29, 2022
The Florida Disaster Fund has been activated to support Florida’s communities impacted by Hurricane Ian.
The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to provide financial assistance to our communities as they respond to and recover from times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with public, private, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities. To contribute, visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.
“The Governor and I are thankful for the graciousness of those looking to assist Florida’s communities in their time of need,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I am pleased to announce that Volunteer Florida has activated the Florida Disaster Fund so that people can donate directly to those affected by Hurricane Ian. We greatly appreciate the kindness and generosity of organizations and individuals from across the country looking to support Floridians, thank you.”
Donations to the Florida Disaster Fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and are tax-deductible.
Donations may be made by credit card on the secure website www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or by check to the below address. Checks should be made payable to the Volunteer Florida Foundation and should include “Florida Disaster Fund” in the memo line.
Volunteer Florida Foundation
Attention: Florida Disaster Fund
1545 Raymond Diehl Road Suite 250
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Century Council Member White Resigns Hours Before Tax Increase Vote
September 28, 2022
A Century council member resigned from office Tuesday hours before the council tentatively approved a property tax increase.
Council member Leonard White resigned early Tuesday afternoon, citing time constraints due to his job as correctional officer at the Century Correctional Institution.
“In this current working climate that so many employers are facing, my job has taken an unexpected toll on me with shift changes, short staff, and other matters I do not have control over,” White’s resignation letter stated. “Today, I realized with sadness that, to benefit of the Town, I must tender my resignation from Council Seat No. 3 effective immediately.” (To read White’s complete resignation letter, click here.)
“Century is my home; the place I want to help grow and be better,” he wrote.
White was elected as a political newcomer in 2020 to a term that ends the first Monday of January 2023. No one qualified to seek the seat on this year’s ballot.
Earlier this month, the council was unable to tentatively approve a budget and property tax increase after White was unable to attend a meeting due to a conflict with his job. Over the past year, he has been forced to miss numerous meetings due to his DOC job. That even led the council to move meetings from Monday to Tuesday in order to accomodate White.
With White officially off the council, that left four members present Tuesday evening for the unanimous vote needed to approve a property tax increase.
The council tentatively approved a .9204 millage rate, a 151.68% increase over the rolled back rate of 0.3657 mills. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase.
The tax increase is so great that the state required a unanimous vote of the body for approval, or a special referendum at the ballot box.
The tax increase and a new budget will become official after a final hearing and affirmative vote on October 3.
Pictured: Century council member Leonard White, who resigned Tuesday, at a July 2022 meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Here Are The Library Books That Teacher, School Board Member Want Reviewed
September 28, 2022
As we first reported Monday, the Language Arts Department chair at Northview High School and the chairman of the Escambia County School Board are calling for the immediate removal of about 115 books from school libraries until they can be reviewed.
Vicki Baggett has taught for over 30 years, with the last two decades at Northview. She’s compiled a growing list of over 115 books that she says are inappropriate in schools, mostly due to sexual language and graphic drawings that she believes actually violate Florida’s obscenity laws.
School Board Chairman Kevin Adams has called for the removal of the books until they can go before a review committee. They are not calling for the books to be banned, unless they violate state or federal obscenity laws. They do, however, want parental permission for students to read any of the books that pass a committee.
Baggett provided us with a 14-page list of the books, detailing exactly what she believes is wrong. The list was emailed to Escambia School District officials in four parts, beginning August 5 and ending September 14.
Due to the explicit descriptions on her list, we have chosen to make the book list available in two versions. The first is an edited list that details only the name of each book, the author and an indication if is available in elementary, middle or high school libraries in Escambia County. We are also making an unedited version available, exactly as Baggett presented to the school district.
For the edited list, without graphic descriptions, click or tap here.
The following link will load the complete, unedited list. It contains vulgarities, numerous graphic sexual references, references to bestiality and other material that some readers may find disturbing. It is not appropriate for all ages. Clicking the link signifies that you are 18 or older. For the unedited list, click or tap here.
Both lists are information as provided by Baggett to the school district. The accuracy of the information in both documents has not been independently verified by us. It is being presented as a copy of public records.
For an earlier story with more details, click or tap here.
ECUA Approves Water, Sewer And Sanitation Rate Increase, Plus Extra Sanitation Fee
September 28, 2022
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) on Tuesday formally approved rate increase for sanitation, water and wastewater services, plus an additional sanitation fee that will all go into effect on October 1.
Sanitation Rate Increase And Fee
ECUA approved a sanitation (garbage) rate increase of 6% plus the addition of a $1 per month fee to fund the construction of a new sanitation transfer station on Pine Forest Road. Customers will continue to pay the $1 per month until the transfer station is paid off, which is currently projected to be in 2043.
ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody said Tuesday that ECUA customers may not be completely on the hook for the cost of the transfer station. He said ECUA will ask the local state legislative delegation to seek a $3 million appropriation toward the total cost that would eliminate several years of the $1 per month fee payment for customers. Exact calculations on the cost are not yet complete.
The rate increase applies to the collection fee. For the average family with one 90-gallon container, the monthly rate will increase from $26.39 to $27.67, plus the $1 fee for the transfer station. The transfer station location is the current ECUA complex at Godwin Lane and Pine Forest Road.
The motion approving the sanitation rate increase and the $1 fee passed 4-0 with board member Louis Benson absent.
Proposed Water And Wastewater Rate Increase
The ECUA board also approved a 5% rate increase for water and wastewater. For an average customer using 6,000 gallons, the increase will be less than $1 per month for water and about $2 for wastewater.
The rate increase for water and wastewater passed 4-0 with board member Louis Benson absent.
Formal Felony Fraud Charge Filed Against Contractor Matthew Banks
September 28, 2022
A felony fraud charge has been formally filed against contractor Matthew Banks.
Banks was arrested back in August in Okaloosa County on a larceny charge from the Pensacola Police Department for failing to provide a refund. Now, the State Attorney’s Office has formally charged Banks with felony fraud.
A Pensacola resident paid Banks $6,740 by check for a renovation on North G Street in Pensacola. Banks, according to police, never started work and would not provide a refund despite the homeowner’s demand.
It is the only known formal criminal charge against Banks. However, the contractor oversight boards in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have taken multiple actions against him and ordered him to pay well over $1 million in restitution.
State officials have said they expect additional criminal charges will be filed against Banks as an investigation continues.
Blue Wahoos Still Alive In Championship Series After 7-1 Win Over Smokies
September 28, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos forced a winner-take-all Game Three of the Southern League Championship Series on Tuesday night, defeating the Tennessee Smokies by a score of 7-1.
Trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning with two outs, the Blue Wahoos exploded for seven runs against the Tennessee bullpen. The win sets up a decisive game in Tennessee on Wednesday with the Southern League Championship on the line.
Patrick Monteverde (W, 1-0) was sharp for Pensacola, delivering 5.0 solid innings, though he surrendered an RBI double to Yonathan Perlaza in the third to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee starter Riley Thompson was even better, tossing 5.0 scoreless frames for the Smokies, but was failed by his bullpen. Will Banfield led off the sixth with a double against Dalton Stambaugh, and Cobie Fletcher-Vance tied the game with a two-out RBI single against Michael McAvene (L, 0-1). Things snowballed on McAvene in his Double-A debut, as Davis Bradshaw and Marcus Chiu singled to load the bases before Thomas Jones drew a walk to force in the go-ahead run.
Demetrius Sims followed with a chopper to deep third that was thrown into foul territory, scoring two more runs to extend the lead to 4-1. RBI singles from Banfield and Norel González capped the seven-run outburst, putting the Blue Wahoos ahead for good.
Cody Mincey and Andrew McInvale worked the final four innings in relief of Monteverde to close out the win.
Game three of the Southern League Championship Series from Smokies Stadium takes place Wednesday evening.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos