Pensacola Philly Cheesesteak Restaurant Plans Nine Mile Road Expansion
August 4, 2025
A Pensacola restaurant is planning a new location on East Nine Mile Road across from Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Mojo’s Famous Philly, which has a location on North Pace Boulevard, plans to construct a 3,500-square-foot restaurant on a vacant .63-acre lot in the 700 block of East Nine Mile Road. The lot, located between a car wash and self storage facility, is currently vacant.
Plans filed with Escambia County indicate the restaurant will be drive-thru only and will not serve or sell alcohol. The restaurant serves wings, Philly cheesesteaks, and more.
The proposal is set for a pre-application meeting at 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6 at with the Escambia County Development Review Committee at 3363 West Park Place.
Escambia Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Sexual Battery Of A Child
August 4, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the sexual battery of a child.
Tracy Edward Williams pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery by a person in familial authority. He was also designated a sexual predator by Circuit Court Judge John Simon
Prosecutors said Williams admitted to sexually abusing a minor child in his custody over a period of several months in 2024.
Wahoos Win Fifth Straight In Rainy Season Finale
August 4, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos picked up their fifth win in a row Sunday afternoon, defeating the Biloxi Shuckers 8-4 in a rainy series finale.
After an 87-minute rain delay, the Blue Wahoos bats unleashed a barrage of runs in the first four innings. Kemp Alderman led the way with a 4-for-4 day, including two home runs, a double and five RBI in the win.
“We’re just seeing it big and trying to hit the ball hard,” Alderman said. “Swing at strikes, take the balls and score runs.”
The Ole Miss product got things going early, pulling a no-doubt, two-run homer out to left in the bottom of the first off of Biloxi’s KC Hunt (L, 6-7).
Josh Zamora added to the lead in the second with a two-run home run to left of his own in the second inning. The home run was Zamora’s eighth of the year and marked the team’s fourth of the series.
Alderman’s second home run came in the third, on a high fly ball down the right field line, just barely getting over the wall.
“[I’m] just trying to keep it simple and play the game like a kid,” Alderman said. “Have fun and try to do good, and help the team win.”
Biloxi’s offense pushed across a run quickly in the first thanks to a Blake Burke RBI single to left, scoring pinch-runner Adam Hall. The Shuckers added two more in the third, as Garrett Spain and Jheremy Vargas each picked up RBI groundouts after having runners on second and third with no outs.
The Wahoos found three more runs in the fourth. After a Jared Serna single up the middle to drive in Michael Snyder, Alderman unleashed a double off the wall in left-center to drive in two.
Biloxi added one in the fifth on a wild pitch by left-hander Justin King, allowing Ethan Murray to score from third.
Jacob Miller (W, 3-4) earned the win for the Blue Wahoos after tossing 5.0 innings of three-run ball, including three strikeouts.
Evan Fitterer notched his 259th career strikeout in a Blue Wahoos uniform in the seventh inning, setting a new franchise record for career strikeouts after tying the record of 258 on Wednesday.
The Wahoos bullpen continued its dominance on Sunday. King, Fitterer, Will Kempner and Josh Ekness combined for 4.0 innings of one-run relief to secure the Blue Wahoos’ fifth straight win.
“[We’re] just going out there and playing clean, good baseball, sticking together as a group and playing until the final out,” Alderman said.
With six weeks left in the regular season, the Blue Wahoos lead the race for the Southern League South second-half title over the Montgomery Biscuits by 6.5 games.
The Blue Wahoos will hit the road to take on the Biscuits for a six-game set next week, beginning on Tuesday. First pitch from Montgomery will be at 6:35 CT, as Alex Williams (3-1, 2.55 ERA) takes the mound for the Blue Wahoos.
Escambia School Board Votes To Increase Property Taxes As Enrollment Declines
August 3, 2025
The Escambia County School Board has voted to approve a tax increase. The 1.5 mill increase is expected to net around $52 million for the district.
The total proposed millage rate is 4.644 mills, which is 15.4% greater than the rollback rate that would generate the same funding as last fiscal year.
The increase passed 4-1, with District 1 member Kevin Adams casting the lone dissenting vote. “I told my constituents, if you support the half-cent sales tax, I will never raise your property taxes.”
Other board members say the increase was necessary due to declining enrollment and a reduction in state funding.
“We cannot put that burden onto the taxpayer,” Adams said, noting that he has never voted for a tax increase during his tenure and he would stick to a campaign promise.
The district says enrollment is down by about 4,200 students over the past five years, with much of that drop due to school vouchers. A decreased enrollment means a decrease in state funding based on the student count.
“We’ve been cutting back for years,” David Williams, District 3 School Board member, said. “We’ve been making do with less for years, and I think the public needs to understand this is nothing new to us. This is a means of last resort. We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t have to… we have been cutting and cutting and cutting.”
“We’ve got to get back on track to resize this district,” Adams said.
“It’s a tough spot that we are in here,” District 5 member Tom Harrell said. “This is something that has happened over a period of time, and we probably could have weathered this storm had we not had such a drastic reduction in funds for this year.”
Harrell, who describes himself as a strong conservative, said he decided a week ago to vote against the increase. “But now it’s my belief that we are in a critical position here.”
“I did it for the children,” Harrell added to explain his support of the increase. “I did it for the district. I did it because it was the right thing to do at this time and this place.”
Northview Seniors Celebrate Senior Sunrise
August 3, 2025
Members of the Northview High School Class of 2026 celebrated “Senior Sunrise” on Saturday morning to mark the beginning of the upcoming school year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Daughter Of Deputy Killed By Drunk Driver Honored With Wahoos ‘Home Run For Life’
August 3, 2025
The daughter of an off-duty deputy killed by a drunk driver in 2022 was honored Saturday night at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos game.
In honoring Lauren Ray for her recovery from tragedy, the Sacred Heart “Home Run For Life” event Saturday brought another reminder of the horrors caused by drunk driving. Ray and her father, Escambia County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Kevin Ray of Cantonment, were traveling back from a Troy University football game when their car was struck near Laurel Hill.
Her father, who was driving, sustained fatal injuries. Lauren was in the passenger seat and spent nearly two months at an ICU in central Florida, having sustained injuries including a traumatic brain injury, two broken femurs, a broken left arm, a punctured lung, damage to her ribs, and some facial fractures.
After her discharge and return to Pensacola, she was assisted by the physical therapy team at Ascension Sacred Heart Rehabilitation center to help her complete her recovery process. Now, three years later, she is nearly fully recovered and healthy.
Saturday night, she circled the bases at Blue Wahoos Stadium in a Home Run for Life. Her Blue Wahoos jersey was numbered “602″ — his father’s radio number at the ECSO.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Multiple Counts Of Attempted Murder In Brewton
August 3, 2025
An Atmore man has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in Brewton.
The Brewton Police Department charged 36-year-old Tylee Ikeem Brown with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. The charges, according to BPD, are related to two separate shootings that occured in Brewton in December 2024.
Brown was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
Brewton Police have not released further details.
Escambia Felon Gets Federal Prison For Weapon Possession
August 3, 2025
An Escambia County felon has been sentenced in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Brandon Martez Black, 27 was sentenced to 100 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
On June 8, 2024, Black, a felon with prior drug trafficking convictions, fled in a vehicle from the Florida Highway Patrol (“FHP”) after an attempted traffic stop on Longleaf Drive. FHP was able to disable Black’s vehicle after performing a PIT manuver. Black fled on foot and threw a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol over a fence into a residential backyard, which was later recovered by law enforcement.
White Continues Strikeout Binge, Wahoos Win Fourth Straight
August 3, 2025
Blue Wahoos’ top-rated prospect Thomas White came within one pitch – his 99th of the night — from earning his first Double-A level victory.
But the team result turned out well.
White, the 20-year-old lefthander with a glowing future, again overcame a rocky third inning in his third home start, then worked into the fifth to help Pensacola produce a 4-2 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers, amid the backdrop of the normal Fireworks Saturday capacity crowd (5,038) at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With two outs in the fifth, White threw a two-strike pitch that was called a ball – the Blue Wahoos dugout disagreed – leading to Biloxi’s Darrien Miller lacing a single on White’s next offering. That 100th pitch, by far the most White has thrown in his professional career, ended his night one out short of qualifying for the win.
But Luis Palacios again followed with stellar relief, earning his third win with 2.1 shutout innings and no hits allowed.
“I feel like I executed pretty well,” said White, the Miami Marlins’ No. 1 rated prospect, No. 22 rated across all levels of Minor League Baseball by MLB Pipeline.
A week after striking out 14 of 17 batters he faced in a no-decision on the road against the Knoxville Smokies, White had seven strikeouts Saturday with two walks and six hits allowed.
His performance was defined by how he got through the third inning. After giving up a leadoff double, then a flyout, the next four Shuckers batters reached base. Three consecutive singles plated a pair of runs and cut the Blue Wahoos lead to 3-2.
With the bases loaded, White got a pair of flyouts to end the inning, enabling him to make his longest home start. He worked through the fourth and fifth without damage. He finished with an impressive 71 strikes in 100 pitches thrown.
“Just to attack the hitters and let the defense go to work,” said White, reflecting on his outing in a post-game, on field interview for the crowd. “Respect how good (Biloxi hitters) are, but let that (his pitching repertoire) stuff play.
“(Double-A hitters) are definitely more patient. But as long as I fill up the zone, I am pretty confident it will turn out pretty good for me.”
The win clinched the series against the Shuckers, winners of the first half Southern League divisional race, plus extended the Blue Wahoos (20-11, 54-46 overall) second-half lead as the series concludes Sunday.
As for the Blue Wahoos, this continues their strong second half. With 38 games remaining, they have not dropped a series and have won the past three.
“Momentum,” said White, speaking on what winning the homestand does. “Just carry it week to week and letting the team stack good days and keeping it up as best you can.”
The Blue Wahoos produced a 3-run rally for White in the second inning. Josh Zamora’s one-out single was followed by Tony Bullard’s double to put runners on second and third. Mark Coley II followed with a two-run single, then newcomer catcher Connor Caskenette singled home the third run.
The Blue Wahoos added a run in the seventh when Coley II stole third and scored on a throwing error. The Blue Wahoos bullpen ran their record to 41-1 when leading after seven innings. Palacios was followed by Nigel Belgrave, who earned his third save by pitching the final two innings without allowing a hit and striking out two.
Alabama Crash Claims Life Of Bratt Man
August 2, 2025
A two-vehicle crash north of Atmore claimed the life of a Bratt man on Friday afternoon.
Marion Cooper, 61, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 2:03 p.m. crash on Highway 21, near Huxford Road. Cooper apparently went through a stop sign on Huxford Road and into the path of a semi-truck traveling on Highway 21. His Crown Victoria became lodged under the truck’s trailer. The driver of the truck was not injured.
Early reports indicated that Cooper may have suffered a medical emergency before the crash.
Alabama State Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Photo by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.