Blue Wahoos Clinch First Half Title With 10-6 Win At Biloxi
June 24, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos clinched the First Half South Division title with a thrilling 10-6 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday night.
The Blue Wahoos are headed to the postseason for the sixth time in team history, their first time since 2019, and have claimed their first division title since 2017.
Zach McCambley (W, 3-4) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed only two runs over 5.2 innings in a clutch performance. The Blue Wahoos scored five runs in the ninth, enough to withstand a four-run Biloxi rally in the bottom half, to lock in their playoff spot.
After four scoreless innings, the Blue Wahoos took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI single from Bubba Hollins and an RBI double from Devin Hairston against Nick Bennett (L, 3-6). They extended the lead to 5-0 in the sixth thanks to a two-run double from Paul McIntosh and a pivotal passed ball that brought home another run.
McCambley didn’t allow a run until the sixth, when Jakson Reetz hit a two-out, two-run single to bring the score to 5-2, but Anthony Maldonado entered and came through with a strikeout of Felix Valerio to keep the Shuckers at bay.
Biloxi threatened again in the eighth, but Jefry Yan escaped a jam with an inning-ending double play against Thomas Dillard to preserve the 5-2 lead.
The Blue Wahoos exploded for five runs in the ninth against J.T. Hintzen, highlighted by another two-run double from McIntosh to take a 10-2 lead. Colton Hock allowed four runs on five hits in the ninth, but struck out Jason Lopez to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
FHP Seeks Possible Witness To Fatal Highway 29 Wreck In Molino
June 23, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a possible witness to a fatal crash that happened on Highway 29 in Molino about 12:40 p.m. on June 10.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a driver lost control as his southbound Ford F150 pulling a utility trailer crossed over the median and overturned multiple times, coming to rest into the northbound lanes of Highway 29 between Highway 196 and Chance Road. Lance Smith, age 39 of Cantonment, was ejected and pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS. A 16-year male passenger from Molino was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
Troopers said they are looking for a man that possibly witnessed the crash but did not call 911 or stay to provide a statement to law enforcement.
“He is NOT in trouble, we would just like to speak with him about what he observed that day,” FHP Lt. Jason King wrote in an email Thursday morning.
The possible witness was driving a dark colored (possibly black) Dodge Ram four door pickup truck with what appeared to be tinted windows, and possibly with a tool box in the bed. The actual truck is pictured above.
The driver was described as being about six-feet tall, about 250-300 pounds with short hair that is gray or salt-and-pepper colored. He is about 40-50 years old. Troopers believe is is familiar with the area of the crash and is possibly from the local area.
“This person is under no investigation. We would just like to speak with him as to what he observed that day,” King stressed.
Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at (850) 484-5000 and ask for, or leave a message for, Corporal A. Roeber or Corporal C. Knowles.
Pictured: A fatal crash on Highway 29 in Molino the afternoon of June. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Aggravated Assault, Robbery For Allegedly Snatching A $3 Lighter
June 23, 2022
A Cantonment woman is facing felony charges after she allegedly pulled a knife on a woman and stole a lighter worth just $3.
Sandra Renee Lewis, 58, was charged with second degree felony robbery by sudden snatching with a weapon, and third degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Lewis accused the victim of stealing her cigarettes and lighter.
The victim was walking on Lake Street in Cantonment when Lewis approached. She then pulled a pocket knife, showed the blade and threatened to harm the victim, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Lewis then reached and snatched the lighter from the woman’s waistband, the report continues.
Deputies were able to recover the lighter from Lewis, which was valued at $3, and return it to the victim.
On the way to the jail, Lewis made several statements about physically harming and killing the victim when she gets out of jail, according to the ECSO.
She was released on a $20,000 bond.
Jay’s Bray-Hendricks Park Closing July 1 For $4.5 Million In Improvements
June 23, 2022
The Bray-Hendricks Park in Jay will close July 1 for a $4.5 million renovation and improvement project.
The project will include a central concession stand encircled by four baseball and softball fields, two t-ball fields, two basketball courts, four tennis courts, soccer fields, a multi-use football field and amphitheater. New restrooms
and picnic pavilions will also be added to the sports complex.
The current playground and outdoor fitness court facilities will remain.
The park will be closed to the public on July 1 to begin demolition and disposal. Construction is estimated to be completed in one year.
The park project will be funded by the State of Florida, Santa Rosa County, Town of Jay and grant sources.
The Town of Jay will not host a fireworks show this year due to the construction and fireworks show cost.
Man Arrested For Damaging Two ECSO Vehicles
June 23, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has now arrested the man they say damaged two ECSO vehicles last week.
As we first reported, it happened at an apartment complex in the 8000 block of Pine Forest Road on June 15
Ceth Gates, 25, is charged with criminal mischief property damage and burglary. His bond was set at $70,000.
Pensacola Fitness Shooting Suspect Indicted For First Degree Premeditated Murder
June 23, 2022
An Escambia County grand jury has indicted the man accused of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend last month at Pensacola Fitness.
Kennon Nicholas Farrow, 39, was indicted on charges of first degree premeditated murder with a firearm, violation of an injunction against domestic violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for the fatal shooting May 24 at Pensacola Fitness on North 9th Avenue at Creighton Road.
At 4:25 a.m., Farrow allegedly entered the gym armed with a handgun and fired several shots at 48-year Carla Elaine Williams. She was hit multiple times and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Farrow fled the scene and was later arrested during a traffic stop at Nine Mile Road at Beulah Road.
Williams (pictured below) was a beloved associate math professor and former basketball star at Pensacola State College. She worked at PSC for over 24 years in athletics, collegiate high, and the math and computer science departments.
ECSO Seizes Drugs, Guns, Money, Jewelry, Cars And More In Big Raid
June 23, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized several pounds of methamphetamine, 32 grams of fentanyl, guns, vehicles, and thousands of dollars of cash and jewelry in a major narcotics raid.
The ECSO Narcotics Unit and SWAT team served search warrants at five different homes in the county. Three of the homes were in the 3800-block of West Jordan Street, one in the 2400-block of West Belmont Street and one in the 8000-block of Cayenne Way.
At the five addresses, narcotics investigators located 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of marijuana, 32 grams of fentanyl, 8.1 grams of cocaine, 8.5 grams of marijuana edibles, 13.4 grams of MDMA, 4.2 grams of heroin, 5.6 grams of oxycodone, a quantity of promethazine, two pints of promethazine with codeine mixed, $17,947 in cash, and 10 guns.
Investigators also seized five vehicles all believed to be used in drug trade: a 2019 Toyota Camry, 2019 Nissan SUV, 2021 Mitsubishi SUV, 2019 Honda, and a 2021 Maserati utility vehicle. Nearly $100,000 in jewelry and other assets were also seized.
This operation was conducted with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspectors Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pensacola Police Department, and the United States Army – National Guard.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office named seven suspects:
- Andrea Howard, 33
- Larry Hartley, 34
- Cubie Ball, 32
- Anthony Moore, 31
- Kellie Langle, 40
- Marcus Faggard, 51
- Kewauntez Matthews, 29
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Late Rally Sinks Wahoos In Loss To Shuckers
June 23, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had a prime opportunity to clinch their first half division crown on Wednesday, but saw a late lead slip away in a 5-4 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers.
The Blue Wahoos still need to win only one of their four remaining first-half games against the Shuckers to claim a postseason berth.
Eury Pérez was ambushed by the Shuckers in the first, as Joey Wiemer hit a two-run home run on just the second pitch of his start to put Biloxi ahead 2-0. The young righty settled down after that, striking out six batters and completing 5.0 innings with no further damage.
Paul McIntosh got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a solo homer in the fourth, and a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fifth from Troy Johnston tied the game 2-2.
José Devers tripled in the seventh against Carlos Luna (W, 2-4), and Ray-Patrick Didder followed with a go-ahead two-run homer to put Pensacola ahead 4-2. That lead would not last long, however, as Eli Villalobos surrendered a two-run double to Noah Campbell in the bottom of the inning to tie the game up 4-4.
In the eighth, Jakson Reetz took Josh Simpson (L, 3-1) deep for his 15th home run of the season to put Biloxi ahead for good. Zach Vennaro (S, 7) worked a quick ninth to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Thursday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
With No Candidates, How Will Century Fill Two Council Seats?
June 22, 2022
It appears two Century town council seats will be empty come January because the incumbents are not running again, and no one else qualified as candidates for the seats.
No one qualified by the state-mandated noon deadline on June 17 to run for Seat 3, currently held by Leonard White, and Seat 4, currently held by James Smith, Jr.
Century’s attorney, Matt Dannheisser, has offered a “preliminary thought” on how the seats can be filled, according to a council agenda. He said the seats will simply become vacant at the first council meeting in January. At that meeting, incumbent Sandra McMurray Jackson will be sworn in for another term; she was the only candidate to qualify for her seat and was automatically elected.
Then, at that January meeting, the three sitting council members will appoint two people to the vacant seats, as allowed by the town charter. The charter then specifies a special election will be set for 60 to 90 days later for the two seats.
Dannheisser is expected to provide a formal written recommendation to the town in about two weeks.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon that it will be up to the town to follow their charter to fill the seats. He said the town will be responsible for the cost of the special election.
Registration Deadline Is Thursday For Tate Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp
June 22, 2022
The Tate High School Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp is coming up next week, and the registration deadline is Thursday.
The registration forms and payment are due by Thursday, June 23. The camp will take place at Tate Monday, June 27 through Wednesday, June 29 from 8 a.m. until noon each day. The Tate Aggies cheerleaders will teach athletes the proper stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques and motion placement, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. There will also be fun games, engaging activities, snacks and drinks.
For registration information, click or tap here.
File photo.