Lookouts Top The Wahoos
August 22, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (30-24, 55-67) fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts (24-28, 67-53) by a score of 7-2 Friday night to force a Saturday rubber match. 4,572 witnessed the game at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Despite the loss, the Blue Wahoos gained full control of first place in the Southern League South Standings. Mobile dropped both games of a doubleheader against Jacksonville as Mississippi fell in their game to Birmingham. Mobile and Mississippi are tied for second, half a game behind Pensacola.
Wahoos starter Cody Reed (3-2) earned the loss as he allowed four runs on nine hits through 5.0 innings. D.J. Baxendale (6-4) earned the win for the Lookouts, also pitching 5.0 innings but only allowing a run on five hits.
The Wahoos’ offense was highlighted by Alex Blandino’s ground-rule double in the third inning. Blandino lifted a ball opposite-field that carried beyond the reach of Travis Harrison and bounced over the wall in right. It would be the only RBI of the night for the Wahoos.
The Lookouts jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Adam Brett Walker doubled down the line in left.
The Wahoos tried to respond in the bottom half after a Marquez Smith double put two runners in scoring position. A strikeout, however, brought an end to the inning.
Chattanooga pounced again in the third with a pair of runs, one of which came on a Shannon Wilkerson solo homer to left-center.
The Lookouts made it 4-0 in the fifth after Walker’s second double of the game. The inning would be Reed’s last of the night.
Pensacola got on the board in the fifth inning, as Blandino’s ground-rule double brought Ryan Wright home from second. However, the Wahoos left a pair of runners stranded in scoring position.
Levi Michael extended the lead by three runs in the sixth with a deep opposite-field shot to right field, making the score 7-1 in favor of the Lookouts.
The Wahoos put another one on the board in the bottom of the ninth as Beau Amaral scored on a wild pitch.
No Injuries As Driver Slams Into SUV And House
August 21, 2015
There were no injuries when the driver of a SUV hit a vehicle on Highway 29 and then struck a house Friday morning near McDavid.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 20-year old Kelby E. Killam of Century fell asleep, causing the accident. He was northbound on Highway 29 approaching Cox Road in a 2001 GMC Yukon when he failed to slow and struck the back of 1998 Ford Explorer driven by 30-year old Sean Silcox of McDavid and also occupied by passenger Alexandria Silcox, 31.
The Yukon then struck left the roadway, struck a culvert and went airborne, colliding with the bed cover on top of the bed of a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado that was legally parked in a driveway. The Yukon then continued through a fence and into the house. Part of the Yukon ended up in the living room of the home and struck the outside wall of a bathroom where resident Edna Darby said she was just getting into her bathtub.
There were no injuries to anyone involved in the crash. Killam was cited with careless driving by the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged In Drug-Related Shooting; Second Suspect Sought
August 21, 2015
A Cantonment man has been charged and deputies are looking for a second suspect in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Ferry Pass Elementary School.
At 4:30 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting on Fairburn Street. Deputies said Collin Ray Anderson was found with non-life threatening injuries in what they described as a drug-related shooting.
Preston Adam Ennis, age 19 of Cantonment, was arrested and charged with robbery and battery. He was later released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,500 bond.
Investigators are also looking for Trevor Amos Brown on robbery, battery and weapons charges in the incident. Anyone with information on his whereabouts on or on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Chestnut Road Bridge In Molino To Undergo Repairs
August 21, 2015
The Chestnut Road bridge at Dry Creek, located in Molino, will undergo repairs and maintenance beginning Monday.
The bridge on Chestnut Road is one-eighth of a mile north of Molino Road.
Project duration for repairs and maintenance is estimated to last 30 days, weather permitting. During construction, there will be single-lane closures with flagman present. The current posted load for this bridge is five tons.
Appeals Court Turns Down Teachers In Evaluation Case
August 21, 2015
A federal appeals court has turned down a request that it reconsider a decision upholding a controversial Florida law that tied teacher evaluations to student performance.
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order rejecting the request from teachers unions and individual educators. The court last month upheld the law — dubbed the “Student Success Act” — saying it did not violate constitutional rights for the state or a school district to base part of a teacher’s evaluation on tests that the teacher’s students took in other subjects or on tests taken by children not taught by that teacher. That prompted the plaintiffs in the case to file a motion for rehearing, contending that the court misconstrued an attorney’s argument and that part of the ruling was “built entirely on a false factual premise.”
A U.S. district judge also ruled against the plaintiffs in the case, which was filed against the State Board of Education and three school districts.
Lawmaker Seeks To Ban Confederate Flag At Government Sites
August 21, 2015
A Democratic lawmaker this week filed a proposal that would ban the display of Confederate flags on state and local government property in Florida. Under the bill, filed Wednesday by state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, any flags now flying would have to come down.
The bill says the ban would apply to “the flag or emblem of the Confederate States of America or any flag or emblem used by the Confederate States of America or its military or naval forces at any time within the years 1860 to 1865.”
The flag issue has been heavily debated since a racially motivated massacre of nine black churchgoers in June in Charleston, S.C. With the flag continuing to fly at some local-government sites in Florida, Thompson said it’s time for lawmakers to act.
“We haven’t seen the county level move to remove the flag,” she said. But House Local & Federal Affairs Chairman Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said the bill will die if it comes to the committee he leads. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve gotten tied up in this discussion of cultural cleansing,” Baxley said. “The problem is once you start moving on this, then it goes to monuments, then it goes to roads, then it goes to disturbing graves.” The bill (SB 154) is filed for the 2016 legislative session, which starts in January.
by The News Service of Florida
Giant American Flag Raised Over Flomaton
August 21, 2015
Flomaton is patriotic small town with a big heart– and now a really big American flag. The giant American flag was raised Thursday the intersection of Highway 113 and Highway 31.
The flag is 25 x 40 feet flying on an 86-foot tall pole at local business Rowland Tires.
Owner Christopher Rowland, who grew up in Flomaton, said he wanted to give something back to his town and show his gratitude to the many men and women that have sacrificed to keep our country free.
The community quickly responded to giant flag, taking to Facebook to thank the store.
“This is awesome! God bless our little town,” one person wrote. “From a veteran from Flomaton, I thank you so much. This is beautiful,” said another. “Actually brought a tear when Old Glory was flying in the wind this afternoon, beautiful sight,” wrote another resident.
Several other businesses and individuals help make the Old Glory display possible: Jimmy White and Deep South Crane, Campbell Sand and Gravel, Steve Stanton, Jason Beasley, Frank Beasley, Pete Salazar, American Concrete and Brantley Contractors.
Pictured top: A giant American flag at Highway 113 and Highway 31 in Flomaton, AL. Pictured inset: The flagpole was lifted into place by Deep South Cranes on Wednesday. Pictured below: The flag was raised during a special ceremony Thursday afternoon. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Are You Ready For Some Football? Prep Play Begins Tonight
August 21, 2015
It’s finally time for Friday night high school football, with kickoff classics in Florida and the regular season in Alabama.
Here’s a schedule of area games:
FLORIDA
Washington at Northview, 7:30 p.m.
PHS at Tate, 7:30 p.m.
West Florida at Pine Forest, 7:30 p.m.
Baker at Jay, 7 p.m.
Catholic at Niceville, 7 p.m.
Pace at Choctawhatchee, 7 p.m.
Navarre at Dothan (Ala.), 7 p.m.
ALABAMA
Chickasaw at Flomaton
Andalusia at T.R. Miller
Baldwin County at Escambia County (Atmore)
Edgewood 33, Escambia Academy 21 (Thurs)
Milton 21 WS Neal 14 (Thurs)
Hurricane Danny Churns Along; Local Forecast Has More Rain
August 21, 2015
The latest information on Hurricane Danny is in the graphic above. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Escambia 4-H Youth Win At State Competition
August 21, 2015
Members of 4-H from Escambia County won several awards in recent state competitions.
This year, Escambia County 4-H participated in a variety of events and four youth to state level competitions at 4-H University – a week-long overnight event for senior 4-H youth ages 14-18 at the University of Florida. Attendees participated in educational workshops led by UF faculty and explored career opportunities, interacted with youth from all over the state and worked on life skills that will help them become productive and engaged citizens within their very own community.
Winners from Escambia County are Danielle Tinker and Michelle Tinker, who took a 1st place/blue ribbon in Team Demonstrated/Illustrated Talk in Animal Industry; Amanda Tanner taking a 1st place/blue ribbon in Public Speaking. Danielle Tinker and Karrigan Scott with a 1st place/blue ribbon in Share the Fun.
In the category of Senior Photography, Amanda Tanner won 1st place in Flora, 2nd place in 4-H Theme and Evan Bush took 1st place in 4-H Theme. For Intermediate Photography, Ami Rodgers won 1st place in Flora, 2nd place in Architectural Design, and 2nd place for Photo Story. In addition to winning in competitive events, Danielle Tinker was also elected Florida 4-H state treasurer and also won a travel scholarship to the National 4-H Congress.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.