ECUA Recycling Projected To Return September 29
September 10, 2022
ECUA recycling services continue to be temporarily suspended.
The ECUA Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) was closed in June after an equipment failure, and repair parts have been delayed due to supply chain issues.
ECUA’s latest update projects the recycling facility will be reopened the week of September 26, with the first recycling materials processed from ECUA customers on Thursday, September 29.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Score Recap
September 10, 2022
Here’s a recap of Thursday and Friday night football scores from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 34, Tate 25 [Story, photos...]
- Pace 42, West Florida 14
- Jay 37, Franklin County 0
- Milton 47, Washington (delayed to Saturday)
- Escambia 12, Gulf Breeze 10
- Navarre 37, Rickards 6
- Pensacola Catholic 49, St. Stanislaus (Miss.) 27
- Baker 21, Bozeman 20
- Pine Forest 41, Pensacola 8 (Saturday)
ALABAMA
- St. Michael Catholic 42, Escambia County (Atmore) 13
- T.R. Miller 32, Jackson 29
- W.S. Neal 41, Monroe County 12 (Thursday)
- Cottage Hill Christian 20, Flomaton 16 (Thursday)
- Banks Academy 23, Escambia Academy 12 (Thursday)
Pictured: Northview beat Tate 34-25 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Conine Ties Home Run Record As Blue Wahoos Sweep Doubleheader
September 10, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept their doubleheader from the Tennessee Smokies on Friday night, winning 5-4 in a tense game one and exploding for a 12-7 win in game two.
Griffin Conine launched his 23rd home run in the first inning of game two to tie the record for the most home runs in a single season in Blue Wahoos history, equaling Peyton Burdick’s total in 2021. Conine also claimed the top spot on the franchise’s RBI leaderboard with 70 RBI on the year, passing Travis Mattair’s 69 RBI in 2014.
In game one, Dax Fulton was dominant with eight strikeouts over 4.0 hitless innings before Marcus Chiu broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the fifth. Demetrius Sims added an RBI single before Conine forced in another run with a bases-loaded walk to put Pensacola ahead 3-0.
After a long layoff, Fulton came back out for the bottom of the fifth and promptly served up a three-run homer to Jake Washer to tie the game 3-3. Zack Leban (W, 1-3) allowed a leadoff walk to come around in the sixth on a Bryce Ball sacrifice fly to put the Smokies in front 4-3, but in the top of the seventh and final inning Will Banfield delivered one final big hit for the Blue Wahoos. Down to their final two outs, the catcher took Jarod Wright (L, 0-1) deep for a go-ahead two-run home run as the Blue Wahoos took a 5-4 lead for good.
In game two, Conine’s early blast was countered by a four-run second for the Smokies against A.J. Ladwig (W, 8-5). Chase Strumpf hit an RBI single, Cole Roederer hit a two-run homer, and Zach Davis scored on a Conine throwing error as the Smokies took a 4-2 lead. Miguel Amaya extended the lead to 5-2 with a solo home run in the third.
In the top of the fourth, the Blue Wahoos charged back to tie the game on a two-run double from Bubba Hollins and an RBI single from J.D. Osborne. Knotted up 5-5 going to the sixth, Pensacola took advantage of erratic control from the Smokies bullpen to push across seven runs on only four hits. Osborne brought home the first run of the inning when Ben Hecht (L, 1-2) hit him with a pitch with the bases loaded, and RBI singles from Davis Bradshaw, Paul McIntosh, Norel González and Bubba Hollins contributed to Pensacola’s biggest inning since late May.
Friday marked Pensacola’s first doubleheader sweep after splitting their first six twin bills of the season.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Tanker Truck Burns On I-10 (With Video)
September 9, 2022
A fuel tanker fire closed I-10 early Friday morning.
The truck fire erupted about 12:25 a.m. on I-10 westbound at I-110. The cab of the tanker truck was fully engulfed in fire when Escambia County Fire Rescue arrived.
Firefighters quickly attacked the fire from across several traffic lanes using a fire truck’s high-capacity deck gun. That limited the major damage to the truck’s cab.
The tanker had been unloaded prior to the fire, but about 200 gallons of residual fuel spilled onto the interstate.
The driver of the vehicle escaped the fire and was transported by Escambia County EMS to a local hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the fire and has not released further details.
The Ensley, Ferry Pass, Brent, Osceola and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Escaped State Work Release Inmate Recaptured Friday Afternoon
September 9, 2022
An escaped state prisoner has been recaptured.
Cory A. Robinson, 22, escaped from the Pensacola CRC at 6:15 p.m. on L Street in Pensacola.
Robinson was serving a 2-year, 6-month sentence out of Bay County for burglary, grand theft and grand theft auto.
Century’s Approval Of 151% Property Tax Increase Delayed By Absent Councilman
September 9, 2022
The Town of Century’s attempt to tentatively approve a budget and property tax increase were stalled Thursday night after one council member was a no show.
The town is proposing a property tax rate that is 151.68% increase over what’s known as the rolled back rate. A millage rate higher than the rolled-back rate is defined by the State of Florida as a tax increase.
The tax increase is so great that the state requires a unanimous vote of the body for approval, or a special referendum at the ballot box.
Council member Leonard White did not attend Thursday night’s meeting, and the council waited 30 minutes for his arrival.
Town Clerk Leslie Howington said she did not hear from White on Thursday, but he is employed at Century Correctional Institution where he is not allowed to have his phone for security reasons. She stated that she had been told that the prison had gone into a “class 2″ lockdown at noon Thursday while he was presumed to be at work.
Howington said she would check with the Florida Department of Revenue to determine how the town should proceed with a rescheduled hearing.
Pictured above: Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. (light blue shirt) waits for a meeting to begin while three other council members pass the time on their phones Thursday night. They were waiting in hopes that council member Leonard White would arrive. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flags At Half Staff To Honor Of Queen Elizabeth II
September 9, 2022
Following the Death of Queen Elizabeth II at age 96 on Thursday, flags were ordered to half staff at federal buildings by President Joe Biden.
Gov. Ron DeSantis also ordered flags in Florida to half staff at all local and state buildings and grounds.
Flags will remain at half staff until sunset on the day of interment.
Pictured: The flag at half staff Thursday night between the Century Town Hall (left) and the Century Branch of the West Florida Library. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Murder Charge Dropped Against Woman After Co-defendant Is Acquitted
September 9, 2022
A first degree premeditated murder charges has been dismissed against a woman accused in the shooting death of her daughter’s boyfriend in 2021.
Dawn Sluder was released from the Escambia County Jail where she had been held since February 2021.
The dismissal came after Jonathon Taylor Hobbs of Cantonment walked out of the Escambia County Jail Saturday a free man, following his acquittal on a first-degree premeditated murder.
Hobbs, 29 was accused of the shooting death of 35-year old Danny Blackmon, Jr., on February 1, 2021. He would have faced up to life in prison if the jury had convicted him.
During his trial, Hobbs claimed he shot Blackmon in self defense on Lawson Lane off Jacks Branch Road.
Hobbs was with Sluder, who was trying to get her then 18-year old daughter away from Blackmon. Sluder believed Blackmon was holding her against her will, but the daughter testified that was not true.
Hobbs testified that Blackmon approached him in an aggressive manner, threatening to kill him and Sluder.
“He took three steps coming at me, pulling something out of his pocket,” Hobbs said in court. “It was a black object. I thought it was a gun. but it wasn’t. It turned out to be a phone. I raised my gun, and I blacked out. I believe I was in shock, and I just shot. That’s all I did.”
Blackmon was shot five times, including once when he was already on the ground, according to prosecutors.
Driver Charged With DUI After Crashing Through Molino Road Guardrail
September 9, 2022
A driver was charged with DUI after he crashed through a guardrail on Molino Road Thursday afternoon.
David Lee Williams, age 49 of Pace, was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with DUI alcohol or drugs third violation within 10 years and smuggling a controlled substance into the Escambia County Jail. His bond was set at $15,000.
Williams lost control of his vehicle on Molino Road near Veazey Lane about 5 p.m., left the roadway, and crashed through a guardrail. The vehicle came to rest overturned in a deep ditch. There were no passengers or other vehicles involved in the crash.
Further details have not been released.
The Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Rally Late To Top Smokies 11-6
September 9, 2022
Trailing 6-0 after six innings, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos embarked on a furious rally to defeat the Tennessee Smokies on Thursday night by a score of 11-6.
Norel González hit a grand slam in the seventh, and Paul McIntosh highlighted a four-hit game with a two-run homer in the eighth as the Blue Wahoos evened up their series against the Smokies one game apiece.
Tennessee struck first in the third inning when Jake Slaughter’s two-out fly ball to left field was lost in the twilight for an RBI double. Chase Strumpf took starter Patrick Monteverde deep for a three-run homer in the third, and Miguel Amaya connected on an RBI double against reliever Robinson Martínez to put the Smokies up 6-0.
Pensacola couldn’t solve Smokies starter Riley Thompson, leaving five men aboard over 5.0 scoreless innings. Against Peyton Remy in the seventh, however, they loaded the bases with a hit batsman and a pair of walks before McIntosh got the Blue Wahoos on the board with an RBI single on a 3-0 pitch. Eduarniel Nuñez (L, 0-1) entered to face González, who blasted his second grand slam of the season to put the Blue Wahoos within a run at 6-5.
After a scoreless seventh from Chandler Jozwiak (W, 1-0), the Blue Wahoos bats got back to work in the eighth. Davis Bradshaw led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on a game-tying RBI double from Marcus Chiu. One batter later, Thomas Jones put Pensacola ahead with an RBI double of his own past a drawn-in infield. Demetrius Sims added an RBI single before McIntosh hit his two-run homer to cap Pensacola’s second five-run inning in a row.
McIntosh drew a bases-loaded walk for an insurance run in the ninth before Sean Reynolds, pitching multiple innings for the first time at Double-A, closed things out on the mound.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies with a doubleheader on Friday at Smokies Stadium.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos