FHP Troopers Out In Force For Labor Day Weekend
September 3, 2022
There were just over 4,000 crashes with 171 injuries and 41 fatalities during Labor Day weekend 202 in Florida. Eight of those fatalities involved drugs or alcohol.
The Florida Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to exercise caution over this Labor Day weekend.
Labor Day weekend is a common signal to many as the unofficial end of summer; but for law enforcement across Florida, it signifies an increase in motorists traveling on the roadways and the importance of reminding drivers to stay safe and sober behind the wheel.
“FHP troopers will be out in force to remove impaired drivers and provide services to motorists who need assistance while traveling,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, FHP director. “No matter how you plan to celebrate this weekend, never drive impaired and always follow the rules of the road. Let’s make this a safe and happy Labor Day for all Floridians and visitors.”
FHP is offering the following tips for the holiday weekend:
- Don’t drive impaired. If you are planning to have alcoholic beverages, plan to have a designated driver or ride share service get you home safely. Never drive drug impaired.
- If you see an impaired or aggressive driver, call *FHP (*347) or 911.
- Obey speed limits and practice courtesy on the highway.
- Buckle up. Your seat belt is your vehicle’s best safety feature.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles are to be driven on unpaved roadways – never the highway.
- Don’t drive distracted. Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and mind on driving.
- Get plenty of rest before you get behind the wheel. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as impaired driving.
Tate Tops PHS 35-26 In Hot Saturday Morning Game (With Photo Gallery)
September 3, 2022
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pensacola High Tigers 35-26 in a hot Saturday morning high school football game.
The game was rescheduled from PHS on Friday night to Pete Gindl Stadium in Cantonment Saturday over security concerns, including a possible shooting threat as identified by Pensacola Police and the Escambia County School District.
There was an obviously heavier than normal law enforcement presence at Saturday morning’s game from both the Pensacola Police Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but there were no incidents. Officers mostly stood watch whilte joining fans in shaded locations around the stadium, trying to avoid the hot Saturday morning sun.
“It was a fun atmosphere, a great high school football game,” Tate head coach Rhett Summerford said. “Hats off to them (PHS) coming over here, and I thought it was a great day.”
FOR A PHOTO GALLERY, CLICK HERE.
The Aggies were first on the board on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Taite Davis to senior Carmelo Campbell. PHS answered with a score of their own in the first to round out the first quarter with a 7-6 Tate lead.
In the second, Davis found Jackson Perryclear for a 10-yard Aggie TD, putting Tate up 13 to 6. A botched PHS punt was recovered by Cameron Events, setting up the second touchdown of the morning for Perryclear. The Aggies were now on top 21-6.
“It was a hard-fought game,” first-year Tate head coach Rhett Summerford said after the win. “Both teams played hard the whole game, which is impressive. I was just proud of our guys as they just keep working and keep grinding, and it showed today.”
Next Friday night, it will be brother versus brother. Rhett Summerford’s Tate Aggies (1-1) will host the Northview Chiefs (2-0) coached by his brother Wes Summerford.
FOR A PHOTO GALLERY, CLICK HERE.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Beat Chattanooga In Two-Hit Shutout
September 3, 2022
Dax Fulton pitched 6.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos blanked the Chattanooga Lookouts 4-0 on Thursday night.
Fulton (W, 1-0) allowed only an infield single over the course of his dominant start, fanning eight batters as he completed 6.0 innings for just the second time in his professional career. A bullpen effort from Jefry Yan, Robinson Martínez and Sean Reynolds finished off a two-hit shutout performance.
The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Griffin Conine took Chattanooga starter Eduardo Salazar (L, 6-10) deep for his team-leading 22nd home run of the year. Conine now stands one homer shy of tying Pensacola’s single-season record of 23, set by Peyton Burdick in 2021.
J.D. Orr helped the Blue Wahoos double the lead in the fifth by singling, stealing second, taking third on a balk and scoring on a passed ball. Marcus Chiu brought the lead from 2-0 to 4-0 in the sixth with a two-run single against reliever J.C. Keys.
Fulton gave way to the bullpen in the seventh, and only a Daniel Vellojin single in the eighth prevented the Blue Wahoos from keeping the Lookouts off the bases for the remainder of the night.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Woman Crashes Near Canoe Creek Bridge On Highway 4
September 2, 2022
A woman was not seriously injured when she lost control and crashed her vehicle into a tree Thursday night.
The crash happened about 9:30 p.m. on West Highway 4 at the Canoe Creek bridge, about halfway between Bratt and Byrneville. She ran off the roadway, traveled into a ditch near the bridge, and crashed head-on into a tree. She refused transport to the hospital by MedStar EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Walnut and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Sweeps Flomaton In Three Straight (With Gallery)
September 2, 2022
The Northview Chiefs beat the Flomaton Hurricane in straight sets Thursday night in Bratt.
Northview defeated Flomaton 25-17, 25-20, 25-21.
The Chiefs (1-3) will host Jay (4-1) next Tuesday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Rotary Presents ‘Service Above Self’ Award To First Responder Craig Ammons
September 2, 2022
The Rotary Club of Cantonment has presented their “Service Above Self Award” to first responder Craig Ammons.
In December, Ammons retired as a captain for Escambia County Fire Rescue after 36 years. He took just six weeks off before continuing his 42-year safety career by going to work as a paramedic with Lifeguard Ambulance Service in Santa Rosa County,
Ammons began his career with Escambia County as a paramedic in 1985 and moved to the fire department in 2000 where he began as a firefighter and worked his way through the ranks to captain.
During his career with Escambia County, he worked through emergencies that included hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, floods, the oil spill, the recent pandemic and more.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One-Run Magic Runs Out In 3-2 Wahoos Loss To Lookouts
September 2, 2022
After tense one-run wins on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday night by a score of 3-2.
Michael Siani’s go-ahead home run in the eighth helped the Lookouts collect just their second win in nine games against the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola’s Patrick Monteverde and Chattanooga’s Joe Boyle traded zeroes through the first three innings before the Blue Wahoos struck first in the fourth inning on a Davis Bradshaw RBI single. The lead wouldn’t last long, as Garrett Wolforth laced a two-run double in the fifth to put the Lookouts ahead 2-1.
Pensacola tied the game in the sixth with an RBI single from Cobie Fletcher-Vance, but left the bases loaded as reliever Connor Curlis worked out of the jam to preserve the tie.
Chandler Jozwiak struck out six of the seven batters he faced in relief for the Blue Wahoos, who threatened in the eighth but did not score against Ryan Nutof (W, 6-2). Nutof didn’t retire a batter, but singles from Will Banfield and Fletcher-Vance were erased on the basepaths as the Blue Wahoos squandered an opportunity to reclaim the lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Siani took Zack Leban (L, 0-3) deep for a solo home run, his second in as many ballgames. Pedro Garcia (S, 12) allowed a pair of two-out singles in the ninth to give Pensacola one last chance, but Paul McIntosh struck out looking to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Escambia Gas Station Shooting Suspected Arrested
September 1, 2022
The man wanted for a shooting at an Escambia County gas station on Tuesday has been arrested.
Shannon Wheat, Jr., 21, was booked into the Escambia County Jail Thursday afternoon charged with attempted homicide and deadly missiles.
The shooting occurred about 11:45 a.m. at the Beacon store on Mobile Highway near New Warrington Road. The victim was shot several times and transported to an area hospital. An update on his condition was not available.
Investigators released a surveillance image of Wheat (below) from the gas station.
Wheat listed his current address as Old Corry Field Road in Pensacola. According to jail records, he has a previous known address in Atmore.
Blue Angels Homecoming Show Returning To NAS Pensacola
September 1, 2022
The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is returning to NAS Pensacola on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12.
This will be first homecoming air show on NAS Pensacola since 2019; the base closed to public access following the December 2019 terrorist attack on the base. It has since reopened only to Department of Defense ID card holders and their guests.
This year’s air show will celebrate the theme: 100 Years of Carrier Aviation. In March of 1922, the USS Jupiter was recommissioned as the USS Langley, the first aircraft carrier, catapulting Naval Aviation to the forefront of Naval operations. This year, planes will be flying in honor of this momentous anniversary. Chief among those flying for this celebration will be the Blue Angels.
The Blue Angels will fly at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There will not be a Night Show this year, but other performers have already committed to the show. A Special Operations Paratrooper team will be parachuting out of Fat Albert, the Blue Angels’ C-130 Hercules.
The show will start at 9:30 a.m. both days, with gates opening at 8:00 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. Reserved seating will be available for an additional fee, but guests are encouraged to bring their own seating
NorthEscambia.com photo by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
A Trial Date Has Been Set For Mom Accused In Tate Homecoming Queen Scandal
September 1, 2022
A trial date has been set for the former school official accused of illegally accessing student information to help her daughter win the Tate High School homecoming queen crown.
Laura Carroll appeared in an Escambia County courtroom Wednesday
Carroll was given eight days to enter into a plea deal. Otherwise, her case is set for trial with jury selection beginning at 8:30 a.m. on September 19.
Carroll, former assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, and her daughter Emily Rose Grover were charged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in March 2021 with one count each of felony offenses against users of computers, computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices; felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device, felony criminal use of personally identifiable information, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
In January, Grover entered a pre-trial diversion program that resulted in the charges against her being dismissed in March 2022.