Wahoos Ride Homers To Opening Day Win
April 5, 2013
The Blue Wahoos opened up their 2013 season with a bang, smacking four home runs en route to a 7-3 triumph over the Tennessee Smokies. The sellout crowd of 5,038 was the first of the season and 41st in 69 home dates in the history of the Pensacola franchise.
Pensacola was in control for nearly the entire game thanks to its balanced attack and powerful hitting. Travis Mattair started the show launching the first pitch he saw in Double-A deep over the left field wall in the second inning. Bryson Smith followed suit a frame later, sending a line drive shot over the left field fence to square the game at two. In the fourth, it was Tucker Barnhart who crushed on 0-1 pitch off the batter’s eye in center field to put the Wahoos on top 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. Donald Lutz joined the home run party in the seventh, lifting an opposite field shot to left to open the score up to 5-2.
The Wahoos also had RBI’s from Ryan LaMarre, with an RBI groundout in the fourth, and Devin Lohman, who added a two-RBI single in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Tennessee’s offense centered around shortstop Arismendy Alcantara. The Dominican native accounted for all three of the Smokies’ RBI’s, including a two-out, two-run tater in the top of third that gave Tennessee it’s only lead of the game at 2-1.
Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win for Pensacola, tossing five innings of four-hit ball while strking out four and allowing two runs. Yohan Pino, Drew Hayes, and Lee Hyde all earned holds in relief, with Hyde getting the powerful Justin Bour to ground out with the tying runs in scoring position in the top of the eighth.
Tennessee starter Dallas Beeler was harmed by three home runs in 5.1 innings and took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
The balanced Wahoos attack saw eight of the nine starters record at least one base hit, including the pitcher Rogers. Barnhart and Brodie Greene attributed two base hits apiece while Lohman had the lone multi-RBI game.
The series continues tomorrow as Josh Smith takes the hill for the Wahoos against Alberto Cabrera for the Smokies. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Story By Kevin Burke
Pictured: The Blue Wahoos opened their season Thursday night with a win over the Tennessee Smokies. Photos by Gary McCraken, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Chipley
April 5, 2013
The Northview Chiefs beat Chipley 4-2 Thursday night on the road.
Daulton Tullis went seven innings, striking out nine and giving up four hits. Kevin Vaughan was 2-4 at the plate.
The varsity Chiefs will travel to Freeport on Tuesday, April 9 before returning home to Bratt on Thursday, April 11 against the Baker Gators.
Mattie Mae Steadham Driver
April 5, 2013
Mattie Mae Steadham Driver, 75 of McDavid, passed away on April 2, 2013, in Pensacola, surrounded by her family. Mattie was born in McCullough, Alabama on September 4, 1937, to Wallace and Della Steadham. She was a lifelong resident of McDavid and retired after approximately 35 years from Monsanto. She was blessed with a talent of growing beautiful flowers and cooking for others. She enjoyed being outdoors, working in her yard, fishing with her grandchildren and visiting with family and friends. Mattie is preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Della Steadham, a sister, two brothers Bob and Ben Steadham, her son, and grandson Rusty Fisher.
She is survived by her daughters, Rita (John) Fisher of Pensacola and Sue (Dwight) Hopkins of McDavid; three grandchildren, Helena Hopkins of McDavid, SGT. Hopkins, Tristan (SPC Hopkins Melanie) of Ansbach, Germany and Brandon Fisher of Pensacola; one brother, “Bo” Dudley Steadham of McDavid; sister, Margaret Kimmons of Jay; many nieces and nephews and best friend, Jean Boatner of Pensacola.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 6, 2013, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mitch Herring officiating. Burial will follow in Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers will include SGT. Hopkins, Tristan, Brandon Fisher, Kenny McDonald, Jack Boatner, David Boatner, Alfred “Bubba” Kimmons, Jeff Steadham and Doug Walker.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tate Cheerleading Tryouts To Be Held Next Week
April 5, 2013
Tate High School Cheerleading tryouts will be held April 8-12 in the Tate gym after school. Information packets can be picked up at Tate’s main office or online by clicking here.
Florida Alimony Overhaul Clears Senate, Ready For Full House
April 5, 2013
The Senate on Thursday approved a bill that will revamp the state’s alimony laws, with supporting saying it will give greater certainty to the amounts of alimony payments between former spouses. Senators voted 29-11 to approved the measure sponsored by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel.
The bill, for example, ends the concept of permanent alimony and also creates standards for the award of alimony based on the lengths of marriages. Stargel said she has tried to create a “fair framework” with the bill.
But Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said she thinks the bill will have “bad, unintended consequences” and that it could create problems for women with children.
The House version of the overhaul has cleared committees and is ready to go to the full House.
By The News Service of Florida
ECUA’s Water Selected As ‘Best Tasting’ In Region
April 5, 2013
ECUA’s drinking water was selected as the “2013 Best Tasting Water” winner in a taste-test competition held recently in Destin. The annual event was sponsored by Region IX of the Florida Section/American Water Works Association (FS/AWWA).
Region IX is comprised of all water utilities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The FS/AWWA is divided into 12 Regions, each hosting their own regional competition. Participation in the Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest is open only to water providers within the geographical region who have not experienced any violations in the federal or state safe drinking water regulatory requirements. Destin Water users hosted the event and provided a panel of impartial judges. Each water sample was evaluated for taste, odor, color, and clarity.
“ECUA water has been recognized as the best-tasting water in the Florida Panhandle for the fourth time in seven years. Our Water Department staff have done us all proud,” said ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker.
As a four-time winner of the Region IX competition, ECUA will now compete against the other 11 FS/AWWA Regions’ winners in the state-wide competition later this month in Orlando at the Florida Water Resource Conference.
Pictured: One of ECUA’s 32 water wells located on Tate Road in Cantonment. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Michael Chase Kaylor
April 5, 2013
Michael Chase Kaylor, age 18, of Damascus Road in Brewton, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2013. He was a native and life long resident of Escambia County, Alabama. Chase was a member of Pleasant Hill Holiness Church. He was a former student of W.S. Neal High School. He was a senior at Sparta Academy and played on the Sparta Academy football team as well as the All Star football team. He was Enrolled at La Grange College in the nursing program, and was musically talented with the guitar, violin, piano.
Michael was preceded in death by his grandfather, Walter Dennison and brother, Jordan Kaylor.
Survivors include his mother, Angelia Cardwell Kaylor of Brewton; father, Mike Kaylor of Linden, Alabama ; four brothers, Jonathan (Sarah) Stricklin of Brewton, Caleb Kaylor of Brewton, Trent Kaylor of Monroeville, and Hunter Mullins of Brewton; three sisters, Shanea Kaylor, Jaidan Kaylor and Hannah Kaylor, all of Brewton; grandparents, Johnny and Barbara Cardwell of Brewton; grandmother, Joyce Ann Dennison of Linden; nephew, Hunter Stricklin of Brewton, special family, Tripp, Angie, and Jacob Hendrix of Evergreen and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a multitude of friends.
Visitation will be held Monday night April 8, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at W.S. Neal High School Auditorium in East Brewton.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Herman Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Weaver Cemetery.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is directing.
Pensacola Christens New Fire Boat
April 5, 2013
The Pensacola Fire Department christened a new fire boat Thursday morning.
“The City of Pensacola is very proud of our first-class fire department,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. “As we look to continue developing our downtown waterfront and growing business at our Port, this new amenity and the enhanced protection it provides is invaluable.”
The 36-foot “Fire Boat One” was purchased with $612,000 from the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program. The boat will allow the Pensacola Fire Department to provide firefighting as well as medical and rescue services across Pensacola’s waterfront and Pensacola Bay, as well as to surrounding communities like Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach if necessary. “This fire boat is truly a regional asset,” said Mayor Hayward.
Over the years, the City of Pensacola has had several serious waterfront fires. In the 1940s and 1950s, a series of fires destroyed many of Pensacola’s waterfront docks and port facilities. More recently, in 2008, the popular Oar House restaurant on Bayou Chico caught fire.
Fire Boat One has a top speed of 45 miles per hour and a maximum pump capacity of 2,000 gallons per minute.
Pictured: The Pensacola Fire Department’s new Fire Boat One was christened Thursday morning. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Keith Allen Rolin
April 5, 2013
Mr. Keith Allen Rolin, 41, passed away on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Atmore.
Mr. Rolin was a native of Atmore and a resident of Canoe, AL for most of his life.
Survivors include his parents, Clarence & Dianne Rolin of Canoe; wife, Anja Scheel Rolin of Germany; two brothers, Kenneth Wayne Rolin and Johnny Ray (Tonya) Rolin, both of Canoe; and one sister, Debra (Clayton) Coon of Atmore.
Funeral services will be Sunday, April 7, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel with Rev. Martin Gehman officiating.
Burial will follow at the New Home Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 7, 2013, from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.
No Serious Injuries In Pine Forest, Longleaf Crash
April 4, 2013
There were no serious injuries in a Thursday morning wreck that tied up traffic near Pine Forest and West Florida high schools, and Longleaf Elementary.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 47-year old Timothy L. Wilson was southbound on Pine Forest Road at Longleaf Drive about 7:35 a.m. when he turned in front of a 2004 Cadillac Deville driven by 31-year old Toccara S Shine-Dees. Wilson’s Ford Explorer overturned onto its left side, while the Cadillac struck a pedestrian control signal.
Wilson and his passenger, 15-year old Dylan J. Shepherd, were not injured. Shine-Dees suffered minor injuries and was transported to West Florida Hospital.
Wilson was cited by the FHP for turning left in front of approaching traffic.