Molino 8U Softball Finishes Second In Tournament
June 16, 2022
Molino Ballpark’s 8U All-Stars finished second in the recent Gulf Coast Girls Softball Association All-Star Tournament. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Johnston Walks It Off Again In 5-4, 11-Inning Wahoos Win
June 16, 2022
Troy Johnston was the hero again for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Wednesday night, providing a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th for a 5-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies.
Johnston, who was 3-for-6 on the night, slashed a base hit into the left field corner to score Bubba Hollins with the winning run. It was Pensacola’s sixth walk-off win of the season, and fifth in their past eight home games.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their 4.5-game lead in the South Division with 10 to play in the first half.
Eury Pérez was sharp his his start for Pensacola, allowing only one run on four hits over 5.0 innings with 5 strikeouts. He departed with a 3-1 lead thanks to a three-run homer from Thomas Jones in the second inning.
The Smokies rallied against reliever Eli Villalobos, scoring a run on a wild pitch in the sixth and two more in the seventh on a Bradlee Beesley RBI single and Matt Mervis fielder’s choice to take a 4-3 lead.
Griffin Conine tied the game in the eighth with a solo blast, his ninth of the year. Colton Hock (W, 5-2) pitched brilliantly, working three perfect innings and striking out four while stranding the placed runner at second base in both the 10th and 11th innings.
The Blue Wahoos couldn’t convert in the 10th, but quickly established a rally in the 11th against Nicholas Padilla (L, 1-1). Bubba Hollins reached on a fielder’s choice and Ray-Patrick Didder walked before Johnston’s walk-off hit.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Tennessee Smokies on Thursday.
by Eric Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Mike Hill Files In House District 1 Race Against Rep. Michelle Salzman
June 15, 2022
Former Rep. Mike Hill wants his old job back. He has filed paperwork to run in the Republican primary for the seat currently held by District 1 Rep. Michelle Salzman.
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 in the Florida Legislature.
“I’ve really enjoyed being able to build relationships throughout from local, to state and federal level officials and serving the constituents,” Salzman told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon. “We were able to get some really good conservative legislation passed, and bring home a record amount of dollars to our communities. I can continue our momentum for our infrastructure, fighting for our firefighters and public safety, and making sure that all children have access to good quality, choice education.”
Hill did not respond to a NorthEscambia.com phone call and text seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
Hill, a local insurance agent, was first elected during a 2013 special election in House District 2. He ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2016. In 2018, he ran for House District 1, defeating Rebecca Bydlak after releasing a video recorded at the Confederate monument in downtown Pensacola claiming that he would bring the Donald Trump Hollywood star to Pensacola. That never happened, and now the monument has been dismantled.
Salzman has qualified for the GOP ballot, meeting the petition requirement. According to the Florida Division of Elections, Hill filed on Tuesday, but has not yet fully qualified. The deadline is noon Friday.
Residents Get Help With Government Issues During Molino Constituent Services Day
June 15, 2022
Local residents were able to receive the assistance they needed from various government offices during a Constituent Services Day in Molino Tuesday.
Rep. Michelle Salzman coordinated the event the Molino Community Center. Staff members were on hand from the offices of U.S. Senator Rick Scott, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz and Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry. ECUA, Florida Power & Light, and Flood Defenders also took part.
“I need a new roof and have to deal with insurance, but can’t have insurance without the roof. It needs to be ready for the hurricane season,” Paula Maria Brown said. She stopped by to learn more from Salzmans’ office about the My Safe Florida Home program. She said the Constituent Services work day was a great idea to give citizens access to their representatives.
“It brings people together. It bring our leaders, our officers, our representatives to our neighborhood. We get to meet with them, and it’s such a great pleasure and a great privilege,” Brown said.
Gaetz District Aid Jason Boatwright said he was able to assist with a wide variety of issues, including hearing aides for a veteran and a Purple Heart issue for another veteran.
Over 80 people took part in Tuesday’s event, and Salzman said she hopes to coordinate another Constituent Services work day later this year.
Salzman also took the time to teach a little civics lesson to a young man that wanted to meet her.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins Named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor Of The Year
June 15, 2022
Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins has been named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor of the Year.
Jay High School FFA advisor Kaylen Finley was also among the five statewide nominees.
The award recognizes educators who have made a positive difference in the lives of their students. Individuals nominated must have taught for at least three years and have provided outstanding service to their FFA chapter, agricultural industry, and agricultural education.
The announcement was made Tuesday night at the 94th Florida FFA State Convention at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.
Pictured above: Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins was named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor of the Year. Pictured below: Jenkins celebrates with her Beulah Middle FFA members Tuesday night in Orlando. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Cantonment Vehicle Burglary Suspects Caught On Camera Using Stolen Credit Card
June 15, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate several car burglaries in Cantonment and Gonzalez.
As we previously reported, the burglaries occurred early Monday morning in the area of Kingsfield Road, Chemstrand Road, and Old Chemstrand Road. All of the vehicles were reported to be unlocked.
Investigators said the suspects in these newly released photos used a credit card that was stolen from one of the vehicles to make a purchase at a store located in the 200 block of Highway 29.
The pictured vehicle below was seen in the area during these burglaries. The ECSO said one of the individuals in the vehicle appears to be a white male wearing a long-sleeved Champion shirt, blue shorts, black shoes, and a blue ski mask.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Trial Underway For Cantonment Man Charged With Murdering His Navy Wife In 2001
June 15, 2022
Trial is underway this week for a Cantonment man indicted in 2020 for the murder of his wife over two decades ago.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted Gregory Paul Malarik, now 59, for first degree premeditated murder with a firearm. His trial before Judge John Simon is expected to continue through at least Thursday.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Malarik for the 2001 murder of his wife, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Malarik. Gregory Malarik, a former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, was employed by the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The body of Sherri Lynn Malarik was found September 22, 2001, at about 8 a.m. inside a Dodge Caravan in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie and Movie Gallery at 1550 South Highway 29, less than three miles from the couple’s home. She was found by her brother-in-law, Jeff Leake.
“It was unlocked, I opened it and I was screaming ‘Sherri’ and I touched her and kind of shook her arm a little bit,” Leake said. “She didn’t move.”
An autopsy found that she was murdered – shot twice in the head with a .25 caliber handgun. She was found in the floorboard of the van. Forensic evidence indicated that she was shot while seated in the passenger seat.
The investigation revealed he was engaged in an extramarital affair with Jennifer Spohn who, at that time, was his co-worker. Spohn later disclosed that he wanted to end the marriage but, having previously been married, did not want to go through another divorce proceeding. She related a conversation to investigators in which Gregory Malarick suggested he should just kill Sherri.
Investigators said they believed Gregory Malarik drove Sherri Malarik to the Winn Dixie in the minivan. Gregory told Sphon to meet him later that evening at the Winn Dixie to pick him up. When Spohn arrived at Winn Dixie at the appointed time, Gregory was there with the van, got into her vehicle, and told her to drive normally. Once out on Highway 29, Gregory discarded what appeared to be a long-haired wig. Spohn then dropped Gregory off at the marital residence.
Swabs taken from his hands the day of the murder were positive for gunshot residue, and pants believed to have been worn the night of the murder were found to have gunpowder in the left front pocket, the report states.
In 2017, a NCIS investigator examined phone records from the Malarik residence from the night of September 21, 2001. He found that multiple calls were made at 6:29 p.m., 7:59 p.m., 8 p.m. at 8:47 p.m. “This provided two periods of time sufficient for Malarik to have committed the homicide, transported (Sherri) Malarik’s body to Winn Dixie, and returned home,” the report states.
The .25 caliber handgun used in the murder was never recovered, but the investigation revealed Gregory Malarik owned such a weapon at the time of the homicide.
The arrest report states that emails recovered show Gregory Malarik and his mistress had discussed “how to trick a polygraph” as early July 31, 2001.
An email from Sherri Malarik to her sister stated: “I believe that there is spiritual warfare going on in my home and Greg just can’t see it…He is simply upset because he feel that I put other people before him when I listed to the possibility of masonry being something other than it seems…He feels as if I betrayed him. Please keep us in your prayers…we need all the help we can get.”
Spohn was re-interviewed in May 7, 2002, and gave a similar account to her 2001 statements. Spohn was interviewed again on March 6, 2020, during which she gave testimony that was inconsistent with her original statement, the arrest report states, leading investigators to believe her original statement about returning a lawn mower was a cover story. Those statements were redacted. Investigators believe she assisted in the homicide and the destruction of evidence which had been preplanned, possibility for several months as indicated by emails.
Spohn was offered immunity for her testimony.
NWE All-Stars Win 10U District Championship
June 15, 2022
The Northwest Escambia 10U All-Stars won the Cal Ripken 10U District 7 Championship. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Extend Their South Division Lead With Shutout Of Tennessee
June 15, 2022
A.J. Ladwig continued his dominant month with 7.0 shutout innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos blanked the Tennessee Smokies 3-0 on Tuesday night.
At one hour and 55 minutes, the contest was the second-fastest nine-inning game in team history and the fastest at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos extended their lead in the South Division to 4.0 with 11 to play in the first half, pending other results in the league.
Ladwig (W, 2-0) allowed a Chase Strumpf first-pitch double off the center field wall to begin the ballgame, but stranded him at third in a sign of things to come. The Smokies out-hit the Blue Wahoos 7 to 4, but went 0-for-6 with men in scoring position.
After two perfect innings from Smokies starter Ryan Jensen, Dalton Stambaugh (L, 3-1) took over and continued to keep the Blue Wahoos in check. Pensacola’s first hit left the yard, however, as Troy Johnston went deep off the scoreboard in right field in the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead.
Ladwig needed only 82 pitches to breeze through seven shutout innings, giving him 13.0 innings in the month of June without an earned run.
Pensacola added two more in the seventh on a two-run single from Norel González, and that was more than enough for Josh Simpson (S, 1). The lefty struck out four batters for a six-out save, his first of the season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Tennessee Smokies on Wednesday.
by Eric Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Delayed Bellview Library Expected To Open In August (With Gallery)
June 14, 2022
The completion of the new Bellview Library is overdue, but the grand opening day is getting closer.
‘We are knocking on the door,” Escambia County Interim Administrator Wes Moreno said. “We are still waiting on some windows and such to come in.”
The $3.8 million plus library was due to open in the spring, but materials delays have pushed that date out to likely August.
“We wish it was coming together a little bit faster, but like every other project we’re doing right now, we are waiting on materials,” Moreno said. One of the biggest delays has been windows; several triangular window openings around the building are covered with plywood.
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.
“This is a long-needed amenity for the west side of Pensacola and District 1,” D1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said. “It’s been a longtime coming, and I’ll be proud to get it done.”
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.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
