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.
Six Charged After ‘Criminal Outlaw’ Biker Gang Beats Man During ‘Vicious Bar Brawl’ In Century
June 14, 2022
Six people have now been arrested for what the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is calling a “vicious bar brawl” that occurred May 7 in Century. Several of the suspects are “documented criminal outlaw motorcycle gang members”, according to ECSO.
One person was transported to the hospital following the violent fight at Odom’s Bar in the 9500 block of North Century Boulevard. The victim was found outside the bar covered in blood with several injuries to his face, according to deputies.Surveillance video is below.
John Percy Johnson, age 45 of Century; Bradley Scott Griener, age 31 of McDavid; Brody Luke Trainer, age 44 of Gulf Breeze; Robert Tyler Dean, age 54 of Pace; and Preston David Perry, age 31 of Pace were each charged with aggravated battery. Dean, Perry and Trainer were also charged with additional felony battery and/or assault counts. All five were released from jail on bonds ranging from $25,000 to $150,000.
The sixth suspect, 44-year old Steven R Jay Arnold of Brewton, turned himself in at the jail Monday on charges of aggravated battery with the use of a deadly weapon, aggravated battery for causing great bodily harm, and aggravated assault for use of a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.
The victim’s girlfriend told deputies that he was attacked by several bikers outside the bar where six or seven alleged bikers were kicking and stomping him. One allegedly pointed a gun during the attack.
The victim told investigators that he had been having an ongoing issue with “Percy Johnson” and the two ran into each other at the bar. He said Johnson told him to step outside where he was attacked by approximately five bikers wearing Outlaw motorcycle gang clothing. In addition to punching, kicking and stomping him, “one of the individuals pressed a firearm into his eyeball and stated they would kill him if he talked to the police and that not to mess with their biker family”, an arrest report states.
After the victim made a statement that he was going to sue the bar, a man believed to be the bar’s bouncer along with three or four other males began to beat him again, the report states. After the attacks, the girlfriend was approached by a white female wearing a biker vest who informed her that if she talked to law enforcement, it would “not be pretty for her”, the report continues.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office obtained search warrants and seized video recordings from the bar.
An ECSO investigator said in his report that the videos show the victim and Johnson walk outside the bar, followed by at least seven other people, most of whom were wearing insignia consistent with criminal outlaw motorcycle gangs to include the Southern Saints and Outlaws.
The altercation was captured on video (posted below), showing the victim kicked, punched, and stomped on several times by numerous individuals, the ECSO report states. The victim remains on the ground for over 15 minutes, apparently unconscious until medical personnel arrive on scene.
The victim suffered a broken arm, broken nasal cavities and lost feeling in his lower back and leg, he told deputies. He stated that when the gun was pressed into his eye, he was told “If you talk to the police, we will kill you”.
The five suspects were released from jail on bonds as follows: Johnson -$25,000; Griener – $35,000; Trainer – $150,000; Dean – $65,000; Perry – $85,000; Arnold – $65,000.
Video below has no sound.
26-Year Old Killed In Sorrento Road Wreck
June 14, 2022
An Escambia County man was killed on a crash Monday afternoon on Sorrento Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 26-year old man was traveling westbound on Sorrento Road near Nighthawk Lane when he failed to maintain a single lane and crossed the centerline. His Chevrolet Impala collided with a Lexus RX driven by a 67-year old Pensacola woman.
The 26-year old was pronounced deceased at the scene. The woman was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Century Man Accused Of The Battery Of An Older Adult In Wheelchair
June 14, 2022
A Century man is accused of the battery of an older adult in a wheelchair.
Phillip Blake Moore, 34, was charged with felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
Moore allegedly punched the victim in the side of his head, grabbed him around his neck and “slammed him in his wheelchair”, according to an arrest report.
“I located Moore inside the residence lying in his bed speaking incoherently. Due to previous dealings I have had with Moore, I know this is a normal behavior for him so I did not attempt to ask Moore any questions,” the responding deputy wrote.
The victim was able to leave the house and call for help. He refused treatment from EMS.
Moore remained in the Escambia County Jail early Tuesday with bond set at $25,000.
Woman Run Over By Her SUV When She Reportedly Tried To Save A Turtle
June 14, 2022
A woman was seriously injured Monday afternoon when she stopped to save a turtle and was run over by her own vehicle.
The accident happened about 5:10 p.m. on Jacks Branch Road just north of Annie Bell Drive.
A witness said the adult female stopped quickly in the roadway and got out of her SUV to save a turtle on the road. She apparently failed to put the vehicle in park, and it continued forward. The witness said the woman was unable to get out of the way, and the SUV rolled over her while she was in the roadway.
The woman was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital by ShandsCair medical helicopter.
The SUV continued off the roadway and down a slight hill where it was stopped near a residence.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment and Beulah stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The outcome for the turtle was not known.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NEP 10U And 16U Win Their Divisions In GCGSA Softball Tournament
June 14, 2022
NEP Blue 10U and NEP Blue 16U softball teams both won their divisions at the Gulf Coast Girls Softball Association All-Star Tournament in Molino.
Complete tournament results for NEP were as follows:
- 8U — 4th
- 10U Blue — 1st
- 10U Gold — 2nd
- 12U — 4th
- 16U Blue — 1st
- 16U Gold — 2nd
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Recreational Red Snapper Season Begins June 17
June 14, 2022
The recreational red snapper season will start June 17 in Gulf state and federal waters off Florida and remain open through July 31 with 12 days in the fall.
“We are excited about Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent announcement of this year’s 57-day Gulf red snapper season, which is the longest we’ve had since the FWC began managing the season in state and federal waters,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Rodney Barreto.
For-hire operations that do not have a federal reef fish permit may also participate in the season but are limited to fishing for red snapper in Gulf state waters only.
Multiple Car Burglaries Under Investigation In Cantonment
June 13, 2022
Multiple car burglaries are under investigation in Cantonment.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said several car burglaries occurred early Monday morning and five more happened June 7 in the area of Kingsfield Road, Chemstrand Road and Old Chemstrand Road. All of the vehicles were reported to be unlocked.
The pictured vehicle 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.
