Wahoos Fall 11-5 To The Montgomery Biscuits
August 7, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos welcomed a host of new arrivals to their roster on Wednesday, but saw their five-game winning streak come to an end with an 11-5 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
After six players were added to Pensacola’s roster on Tuesday in advance of a game that was postponed, four made their Double-A debuts in the series opener. Eric Rataczak was 1-for-3 with an RBI double, Payton Green was 1-for-3 with a stolen base, Colby Shade was 1-for-4 with a double, and Colby Martin struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 debut relief inning.
The Biscuits jumped ahead 3-0 in the first, bringing home Colton Ledbetter on a catcher throwing error and scoring two more on a Tatem Levins double.
The Blue Wahoos chipped away at the deficit, scoring a run in the third inning on Rataczak’s RBI double and another in the top of the fourth when Fenwick Trimble doubled and scored on an errant throw on Green’s steal of second.
Pensacola starter Alex Williams (L, 3-2) ran into trouble in the fourth, facing five batters without recording an out before being lifted. Two-run singles from Homer Bush Jr. and Jadher Areinamo were followed by a Will Simpson two-run double, adding up to a six-run inning and a 9-2 Biscuits lead.
That would be more than enough for Montgomery starter Ty Cummings (W, 5-2), who worked 6.2 innings of three-run ball. Michael Snyder laced an RBI single, his third hit of the game, to give the Blue Wahoos a run back in the seventh, but a promising rally in the eighth yielded only two runs as the Biscuits bullpen successfully protected the comfortable lead for an 11-5 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Thursday with a doubleheader, making up Tuesday’s rainout with a pair of seven-inning games.
Century Greenlights $165K For Loan Payment, Emergency Sewer Repair And HVAC Replacement
August 7, 2025
The Century Town Council has approved transferring $165,498 from Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds to make a loan payment, pay for emergency sewer work, and replace the entire HVAC system at town hall.
The transfer includes $36,998 to make a payment due by September 1 to the Florida Department of Transportation on a $554,964 promissory note for a 2024, utility relocation project.
They will also use $63,500 to pay the Talcon Group for emergency sewer work along Highway 29.
Up to $65,000 will be used for a full HVAC system replacement at town hall, which will include new HVAC units and ductwork. The current units at town hall are over 15 years old, and one has completely failed.
Pictured: A box fan blows air from the cooler lobby into town council chambers on July 22 in Century. The HVAC unit for the council chambers has completely failed. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
High Speed FHP Chase Ends With Crash Near Jim Allen Elementary
August 6, 2025
A high speed chase Wednesday afternoon ended with the suspect crashing into a wooded area near Jim Allen Elementary School on Highway 95A.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper observed a sedan traveling at a high rate of speed on Highway 29 near Nine Mile Road and attempted a traffic stop. FHP said the driver started to slow before accelerating away from the trooper, reaching speeds of 96 mph on northbound Highway 29.
The driver veered onto Highway 95A before losing control while attempting to pass another vehicle, crashing through a fence and into a wooded area where the vehicle overturned.
The driver attempted to flee on foot and was tased by the trooper, according to FHP, and was tased a second time when he again tried to flee.
FHP said the driver received minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS for evaluation. The trooper was not injured.
The release of the 29-year-old male driver’s name and charges are pending his release from the hospital and booking into the Escambia County Jail.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice For Portion Of East Kingsfield, Majestic, Peaches Area
August 6, 2025
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) has issued a precautionary boil water notice is in effect for a portion of the Kingsfield Road area.
The boil water notice is in effect for :
- 2065-2160 East Kingsfield Road
- All of Peaches Lane
- All of Majestic Drive
- All of Majestic Court
This notice was issued after repairs were made to a broken 12-inch water main. Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours.
ECUA crews completed the repairs to the main and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
Escambia County Considers $200,000 Settlement In Century Woman’s Jail Death
August 6, 2025
Escambia County will decide Thursday if it will approve a $200,000 settlement in the death of a Century woman with special needs who died in the county jail in 2021.
The medical malpractice lawsuit was filed against Escambia County, which operates the jail, and West Florida Hospital. West Florida Hospital has already reached a confidential settlement.
Alia Wardell’s mother, Melania Smith, filed the lawsuit in January 2024 on behalf of her deceased daughter for allegedly failing to provide the life-saving medications needed to control Wardell’s diabetes and other serious medical conditions.
“Defendant West Florida Hospital’s nurse knew she was discharging Ms. Wardell in an unsafe manner, charting that she knew this patient would not do well because she needed constant monitoring hemodynamically and can get worse quickly,” the lawsuit states. “The nurse heard the patient say: ‘I can’t go to jail; I’ll die there.’”
The suit states the hospital discharged Wardell “in an unsafe manner and failed to ensure that the receiving facility was aware of her health needs, medications, and doses, specifically the life-threatening danger to Ms. Wardell for failing to take Desmopressin.” It further claims the hospital did not ensure that the Escambia County Jail was aware of the medications she was taking and the danger if she did not receive them.
The lawsuit states that a county EMT at the jail assessed Wardell and charted that she “does not have nor has been treated for diabetes…(and) failed to discover Ms. Wardell had prescriptions for the life-saving medications Desmopressin and Hydrocortisone.”
After a confrontation with another inmate, Wardell was assessed by an LPN who stated that she “had no preexisting conditions and not currently on any medications,” according to the suit, which further alleges that the jail failed to provide the medications.
The lawsuit claims the jail and hospital caused Wardell “to suffer severe physical and mental injuries, and death, as a direct result of their deliberate indifference.”
Wardell’s Hospitalization and Arrest
Wardell was seen in the West Florida Hospital emergency room on November 16, 2021, after being discharged with an altered mental status, adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis and other complaints. While in the emergency room, she asked to go to the bathroom, and a nurse discovered about five minutes later that she had fallen asleep in the bathroom on the floor, the lawsuit states. While the nurse was waking her, she allegedly became combative and was admitted under the Baker Act. She was discharged into the custody of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies on November 22, 2021, and taken to the Escambia County Jail.
She was charged with a November 17, 2021, incident in which she allegedly attacked nurses at West Florida Hospital. She was charged with five felony counts of battery for assaulting staff at the emergency room.
On November 28, 2021, she was found cyanotic and unresponsive in her cell and was not breathing when she was transported by Escambia County EMS to Baptist Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The Proposed Settlement
Escambia County’s insurance carrier has recommended a settlement payout from insurance of $200,000 to settle all present and future claims and in exchange for a release and hold harmless agreement. The county has already paid a portion of the deductible and will be responsible for payment of the balance.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will consider the settlement recommendation from the County Attorney’s Office. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at 221 Palafox Place, in Pensacola. The settlement is one of the final items on the agenda and is expected to be considered very near the end of the meeting.
Escambia Man Gets Federal Prison Time Following Bicycle Traffic Stop
August 6, 2025
An convicted Escambia County man was sentenced in federal court for possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Julius Maurice Dean, 46, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
“Thanks to the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, this violent felon has been removed from our streets,” U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said. “My office remains fully committed to keeping our community safe by aggressively prosecuting these criminals and ensuring they are held accountable for breaking the law.”
According to court records, Dean provided a false name to law enforcement and fled from an officer on foot after a traffic stop was conducted on his bicycle traveling on the wrong side of the roadway in the area of Pensacola Boulevard and Van Pelt Lane. After being apprehended, law enforcement located a loaded, stolen firearm on Dean’s person as well as illegal narcotics. Dean has prior felony convictions for bank robbery, possession of a controlled substance, driving while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and grand theft of a firearm.
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Century Picks Top 5 Town Administrator Applicants
August 6, 2025
Tuesday night, the Century Town Council narrowed the list of candidates for a new town administrator and set a date for interviews.
The mayor and council members each submitted names, with the top five making the cut. They are:
Charles Anderson
Timothy Day
Brian Luis Underwood
Peter Cavalli
Lisa Rouse
The council set public interviews for Thursday, August 14 at 6 p.m. Following the suggestion of council member John Bass, all interviews will be virtual “so there’s no competitive advantage” to a candidate who appears in person. Between now and August 14, each council member has the opportunity to individually interview the candidates on the phone.
The council plans to choose their next administrator at their regular meeting on August 19.
According to the job description, the salary range for the position is $112,000 to $137,000, with the likely salary offer between the minimum of $112,000 and the midpoint of the range, or about $124,500.
Here is brief information on each of the finalists:
- Charles V. Anderson (Saint Petersburg, FL): Anderson is the former city manager for Treasure Island, Florida, where he led disaster recovery efforts and managed multimillion-dollar budgets. With decades of military and local government experience, he specializes in crisis management, infrastructure planning, and personnel leadership.
- Peter Cavalli (Tampa, FL): Cavalli is the founder of Tampa Bay Training, LLC, and a former town manager for Kenneth City, Florida. He has extensive experience in public works, emergency management, and workforce development, as well as training programs for municipalities and private sector clients.
- Timothy J. Day (Cape Coral, FL): A former district manager for multiple Community Development Districts in Florida, Day brings over 30 years of experience in city/town management, law enforcement, and public safety. He has managed utility modernization projects, FEMA disaster recovery efforts, and financial audits for municipalities. He also served as a City Council member in Cape Coral for nine years.
- Lisa Rouse (Pensacola, FL): Rouse is the director of operations and marketing for two technology firms and a public sector consultant. She specializes in financial systems, utility oversight, and personnel development. A Pensacola resident, she is deeply involved in local civic groups and community engagement.
- Brian Louis Underwood (Fairhope, AL): Currently serving as grants director for Baldwin County Commission, Underwood has managed multimillion-dollar grant programs for infrastructure and disaster recovery. He previously served as executive director of the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program and has extensive experience in strategic planning, environmental stewardship, and intergovernmental coordination.
Editor’s note: Information for each applicant is a brief summary taken from more complete resumes, applications and/or cover letters submitted to the Town of Century. Applicant’s information and claims were not independently verified by NorthEscambia.com staff.
Escambia School Guardians Prepare To Protect In The New School Year
August 6, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools guardians are preparing for the first day of school.
The guardians serve as armed campus security officers. They are ECPS employees trained by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and their sole mission is to protect students and staff in public schools across Escambia County.
Ideal candidates for guardians have prior law enforcement and/or military experience and must have a passion for working with children.
The guardians go through an extensive training curriculum with the Sheriff’s Office that prepares them to safeguard schools.
Guardians recently returned to the ECSO range to sharpen their marksmanship, and to prepare for various school-security scenarios. Eight new guardians (pictured top) recently graduated after completing a minimum of 144 hours of training provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Professional Development unit, with an emphasis on firearms training.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Postponed In Montgomery
August 6, 2025
Tuesday’s game between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits was postponed due to wet grounds at Riverwalk Stadium.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday in Montgomery, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
The doubleheader will consist of two seven-inning games, with game two starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Molino Man Charged With Grand Theft For Alleged Stolen Bass Boat
August 6, 2025
A Molino man was charged this week in connection with the theft of a bass boat last month.
Richard Allen Newcomer, 42, was charged with felony grand theft after Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies reportedly located the stolen vessel at his residence.
The investigation began on July 13, when deputies responded to a report of a stolen 15-foot 1989 Blazer bass boat from a property in Escambia County. The boat, valued at $1,000, was equipped with an Evinrude outboard engine and sat on a black metal trailer. The victim informed deputies that the boat had been taken during the early morning hours.
A neighbor reported hearing a loud scraping sound around 4 a.m. on the day of the theft. He then observed a dark-colored pickup truck pulling a damaged trailer with a boat on it. A large scrape mark on the roadway leading from the victim’s property corroborated his account.
Further investigation led deputies to identify Newcomer as the suspect. Deputies later located the stolen boat and a dark-colored pickup truck matching the witness’s description at Newcomer’s residence on Schifko Road.
After being read his Miranda rights, Newcomer claimed a man named “Boone”had brought the boat to him for repairs, and he was unaware it was stolen. Deputies subsequently identified and located “Boone”, and he was eliminated as a suspect.
Newcomer was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.