Moody, Patonis Urge Floridians Prepare As We Enter Peak Hurricane Season
August 16, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, Senator Ashley Moody and others officials stood together Friday in Defuniak Springs to use Floridians to prepare for early for potential tropical storm risks. Friday marked the start of peak hurricane season, and from August to October, 93% of hurricane landfalls on the U.S. Gulf and East coasts occur. They encouraged Floridians to not wait until a storm is imminent to make safety plans to protect their families or property.
“As the topics get busy and we draw closer to the height of hurricane season, the time is now to prepare for major storms. With record numbers of new Floridians who call our state home, be a good neighbor and check in on your those living next to you, especially new residents, to ensure they don’t need extra assistance in case of an evacuation,” Patronis said. “During an evacuation, don’t forget to make a plan for your pets as well – they’re part of the family, too. Our first responders work 24/7/365 to keep Floridians safe. Show your appreciation or them by ensuring they don’t have to come to your rescue because you chose not to heed local warnings and make the appropriate disaster preparations. Follow the tips below to ensure that you and your family are prepared for anything this hurricane season.”
“Floridians know well the destruction and devastation that a hurricane can inflict upon our communities,” Moody said. “Today is the first day of peak hurricane season, and I am urging everyone to make preparations now to ensure their families and homes are ready for a potential strike. When Florida is prepared, we can weather anything that comes our way.”
So far in the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, there have been five named storms, including Hurricane Erin. According to recent meteorology reports, Hurricane Erin is projected to make a turn away from Florida and have minimal impact, if any at all, on the Eastern U.S. Seaboard. NOAA projected an above-average active season this year, with 13 to 19 named storms, six to ten being hurricanes. NOAA also has predicted that there will be three to five major hurricanes.
Friday Nights More Like Friday Night Lightning As Preseason Games Are Canceled
August 16, 2025
The first Friday night lights of the season were more like Friday night lightning as the weather canceled preseason games at both Northview and Tate.
The games were first put on hold and spectators sent to their cars, but persistent lightning, some of it just a few hundred feet from the stadiums, led to eventual cancellations for safety reasons.
The high schools in Escambia County have WeatherStem systems on campus that provide real-time weather data, including the distance of lightning strikes. If the lightning is within 10 miles of a school, outdoor activities must end and everyone is moved to a safe location, such as inside a building or their vehicles. Everyone must be completely within the designated safe locations by the time the lightning is a six miles away from the school. The all clear is given 30 minutes after the last nearby lightning strike.
Northview and Ernest Ward Middle School were set to host Baker in a Kickoff Classic on Friday night. Now, the Chiefs will move forward into the regular season with a road trip to Destin at 7 p.m. on August 22. Their first home game back in Bratt is on August 29 against Opp.
Tate had planned to take on Pine Forest Friday night. Next Friday night, August 22, the Aggies will begin a three-game homestand against Fort Walton Beach, followed by Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. Their first road trip will be September 12 at Milton.
Pictured top: The WeatherStem station on above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle Fire At Grain Elevator In Walnut Hill
August 16, 2025
Fire broke out at Tensley Grain in Walnut Hill on Friday afternoon.
The fire was contained to a tower dryer—essentially a metal silo that is external to the main grain storage silos. The gas-powered dryer is designed to remove moisture from the corn before storage.
The Walnut Hill, Century, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the fire along with a tower truck from the Atmore Fire Department shortly before 4 p.m., but most responding units were canceled prior to arrival.
Firefighters stood by and grain elevator employees worked to move the grain into a “pit” and remove any burning corn from the dryer. Firefighters were on scene for nearly four hours.
There were no injuries reported.
Tensley Grain is the former Escambia Grain on Arthur Brown Road, near the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Shelf Cloud Over Ernest Ward Middle School
August 16, 2025
An impressive shelf cloud was visible Friday afternoon over Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill as strong storms rolled into the area. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wait Out Rain, Coley Comes Through In 2-1 Win
August 16, 2025
A clutch home run and a dominant appearance out of the bullpen gave the Pensacola Blue Wahoos a 2-1 win over the Birmingham Barons on a rainy Friday night in downtown Pensacola.
Mark Coley II came up big for the Blue Wahoos, launching a solo home run over the left field wall to give Pensacola the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
“I was just trying to get the head out, be more on time,” Coley said of his second home run of the year. “First at-bat, I was kind of late, so just adjustments again, catch everything out in front.”
Coley was certainly on time, pulling a breaking ball from Birmingham’s Jordan Mikel (L, 2-2) 111 mph down the left field line to give the Blue Wahoos their first lead of the series after three lopsided losses to start the week.
Birmingham struck first for the fourth time in four games, scratching across a run on an RBI single from Mario Camilletti to score Braden Montgomery in the second inning.
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr turned in a solid 4.2 innings for the Blue Wahoos, allowing one earned run while striking out three hitters. Ortiz-Mayr exited the game in the fifth with the bases loaded, but right-hander Jesse Bergin escaped the jam after inducing a groundball to second of the bat of DJ Gladney.
After the end of the fifth inning, the game entered a 34-minute rain delay with Birmingham leading 1-0.
Left-hander Justin King took the mound for the Blue Wahoos to begin the sixth inning coming out of the delay, striking out the side in order.
Birmingham’s Riley Gowens hurled 5.0 innings of shutout, one-hit baseball, including five strikeouts on 67 pitches. Though the Barons starter warmed up after the delay, the length of the break caused an early end to his night.
Ryan Ignoffo tied things up in the bottom of the sixth at one apiece for the Blue Wahoos, sending a ground ball by the glove of a diving Jason Matthews at third base, allowing Kemp Alderman to score from second.
After King was removed with an apparent injury, Nigel Belgrave (W, 5-1) entered on short notice and had a strong outing for the Blue Wahoos. With 3.0 innings of shutout relief, Belgrave earned the win after striking out four Barons on the way to the Blue Wahoos’ 57th win of the year.
Pensacola’s win keeps their division lead of 2.0 games intact, as second-place Montgomery defeated Chattanooga 2-0 Friday night.
The Blue Wahoos and Barons will square off Saturday night in what is projected to be a battle of highly touted left-handers. Thomas White (1-1, 2.05 ERA), the number one prospect in the Marlins organization, will make the start for Pensacola against Birmingham’s Shane Murphy (8-4, 1.32 ERA) with a 6:05 first pitch.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.
And Then There Were Four – Century Interviews Town Administrator Candidates
August 15, 2025
On Thursday evening, the Century Town Council interviewed four applicants to be the next Century town administrator, and announced that a fifth candidate had withdrawn from consideration.
The council conducted all interviews virtually, regardless of where the candidate resides, in an effort to not favor local area candidates.
The council interviewed former state representative and businessman Dave Murzin of Pensacola; former Treasure Island, Florida, administrator Charles Anderson, who noted he is now living in Navarre; Baldwin County grants director Brian Underwood of Fairhope; and Peter Cavalli of Tampa, a businessman and former town manager for Kenneth City, Florida.
A fifth applicant, Timothy Day of Cape Coral, Florida, informed the town Thursday that he was withdrawing from consideration.
The council also, dissolved the selection committee, which had consisted of Mayor Ben Boutwell and council members Henry Cunningham and John Bass. The dissolution allows the mayor to speak with each member of the town council individually about their applicant choices. Boutwell, Cunningham, Bass and council Sparkie Harrison attended the meeting in-person, while council members Dynette Lewis and Shelisa Abraham were out of town and attended virtually.
Under the town charter, the mayor must make the employment recommendations to the council for approval or disapproval; the council is unable to otherwise approve someone. Boutwell is expected to make his recommendation at the regular council meeting next Tuesday.
Pictured first below: The four remaining applicants for Century town administrator (the images are poor quality, photographed unenlarged on a TV screen during virtual interviews). Other photos; Members of the Century Town Council interview administrator applicants Tuesday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Charged With Child Cruelty
August 15, 2025
A McDavid man was charged with child cruelty after an alleged family altercation.
Govan Shane Alexander, 53, was charged with a single count of felony child cruelty. According to an arrest report, Alexander, the victim and another family member had been fighting, and he told the victim to meet him outside. A witness told deputies that the Alexander held the victim down by his hair on the ground.
The victim told deputies that Alexander charged him, punched him in the face, blooding his nose and held him down. Deputies noted in their report that the victim had blood on his arms and his shirt was stretched, consistent with his statements.
Alexander appeared to be under the influence of alcohol to deputies, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. His statement to deputies and the child’s age were redacted from the report.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
Alexander was release from the Escambia County Jail late Thursday night on a $5,000 bond.
Countdown To Friday Night Lights: Northview Holds ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 15, 2025
As football season draws near, Northview High School held their annual Meet the Chiefs on Thursday evening.
During the event, moved indoors due to weather, fans had a chance to meet the Northview Chiefs, cheerleaders, and Tribal Beat band. They were also introduced to players and cheerleaders from Ernest Ward Middle School and area youth teams.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek Has Reopened
August 15, 2025
Interstate Circle Bridge over Eight Mile Creek has reopened to traffic, restoring connection for local residents and daily commuters.
This bridge reconstruction project addressed aging infrastructure to increase safety and mobility in the region. The original bridge was constructed in 1970 and considered functionally obsolete.
The newly reconstructed bridge features two 10-foot travel lanes (one in each direction), 5-foot paved shoulders and new traffic railing that meets current standards.
Although the bridge is open to traffic, additional construction activities may continue until the project is fully complete. Temporary single-lane closures may occur on Interstate Circle Monday through Friday, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., as crews finalize stormwater management and other site improvements
The $3.2 million project is currently estimated for completion in late 2025.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Bullied By Barons In 9-0 Defeat
August 15, 2025
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos entered this week knowing their matchup against the Birmingham Barons, the Southern League’s best-record team, would be a tall order.
It’s proven so far to be mountainous.
The Barons (68-43 overall, 30-12 second half) continued their onslaught Thursday in a 9-0 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium, extending their season win streak in this ballpark to nine consecutive games.
They pounded out 12 hits, giving them 48 in three games, along with scoring a combined 31 runs against Blue Wahoos pitchers in jumping to a 3-0 lead in the series. Back in May, the Barons became the first team to sweep a six-game series against the Blue Wahoos in this stadium since the format began in 2021.
Despite the loss, the Blue Wahoos actually expanded their first-place lead in the Southern League South Division. The Chattanooga Lookouts swept a double-header against the Montgomery Biscuits to give the Blue Wahoos a 2.0-game lead atop the division.
An American flag image brought more cheers at the end of the show. It’s the second year the Blue Wahoos arranged this event.
Hours earlier, the game began for the Blue Wahoos with some good vibes on the field.
After starter Dax Fulton pitched out of two-on, one-out jam in the first inning by striking out the next two Barons’ batters, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with two out in the bottom half of the inning.
Shortstop Payton Green hit a chopper to third, fielded cleanly by the Barons’ Jason Matthews for the third out.
From this point, the next Blue Wahoos batter to reach base didn’t happen until the eighth inning. It was a string of 18 consecutive hitters retired in order by the Barons’ pitching staff. The Blue Wahoos were held to just three hits.
Fulton ran into trouble in the second inning when he walked the first two batters. William Bergolla followed with a two-run single.
Braden Montgomery, the No. 1 rated prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization, continued with his hot bat in this series with a run-scoring hit for a 3-0 lead. Montgomery went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
The Barons expanded to a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning against Fulton when a two-out walk was followed by Caden Connor’s triple, then a double by D.J. Gladney.
Blue Wahoos newcomer Yiddi Cappe, who joined the team last week, ended the team’s baserunner drought by reaching on a walk in the eighth inning.
The series continues Friday, a Giveaway Friday with a blue floral Hawaiian shirt for the first 1,000 fans ages 21-older. The Blue Wahoos will have Orlando Oritz-Mayr on the mound against Birmingham Riley Gowens.
The Barons have now won 25 of their last 30 games in a streak that began on July 8 and included 12 consecutive wins.
GAME NOTABLES
— The loss dropped the Blue Wahoos to 3-12 this season against the Barons, who won the Southern League title last season and have a team stacked with players ranked among the organization’s top 30 prospects.
— Reliever Luarbert Arias, who began the season with the Miami Marlins, returned to Blue Wahoos Stadium and pitched a scoreless ninth inning as he begins a comeback to past form.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Birmingham Barons vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Friday and Saturday night games will start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m.