Mobile Tops Blue Wahoos In Extra Innings
June 6, 2015
The bats came to life for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Friday night as four batters registered multiple hits, but the Mobile BayBears prevailed on a walk-off walk in the 10th inning at Hank Aaron Stadium.
Mobile (28-26) scored three in the ninth to send the game into extra innings and then added another in the 10th to win 5-4 over rival Pensacola (22-31).
Pensacola scored four runs on 13 hits, including left fielder Jesse Winker going 3-5, second baseman Ryan Wright 2-5, right fielder Kyle Waldrop 2-4 with a solo home run, and first baseman Marquez Smith 2-3.
In the eighth, right fielder Kyle Waldrop crushed a solo homer to right center field to extend the Pensacola lead to 4-1. It was his first homer since he had back-to-back home run games May 13 and 14. He now has six homers and 30 RBIs on the year to lead the Wahoos.
However, Mobile had 13 hits, too, while scoring five runs. They scored three runs in the ninth inning to tie the score, 4-4, and send the game into extra innings. The BayBears got a double and two singles to start the ninth, including a single by Gerson Montilla that scored Sean Jamieson to pull Mobile within, 4-2. Tom Belza’s single scored Tarleton, 4-3, and then Montilla tied the game, 4-4, when Brandon Drury reached first on a fielder’s choice.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos had gone ahead in the third inning, 2-1, when it scored on back-to-back doubles. Wright doubled to left to drive in shortstop Zach Vincej that knotted the game, 1-1. Then Wright scored on a Winker double to center that put Pensacola up, 2-1. Pensacola added a run in the fourth when catcher Lou Marson doubled to left field to score Smith and put the Blue Wahoos ahead, 3-1.
Winker, the Cincinnati Reds No. 2 prospect, had his second straight multi-hit game knocking a double to drive in a run. He’s now hitting .400 over his last five games with four doubles and three RBIs.
Meanwhile Waldrop has hit in four of his last five games at a .294 clip (5-17) with a double and home run.
Pensacola starter Daniel Wright gave the team six strong innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Wright allowed his only run when Mobile scored in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Jack Reinheimer singled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a double by left fielder Tom Belza and scored on a ground out by second baseman Drury.
With a 4-1 lead in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos appeared on its way to its first back-to-back wins since it defeated the Jackson Generals and the Mississippi Braves May 25 and 26.
Andrew Truman “A.T.” Dunsford
June 6, 2015
Mr. Andrew Truman ‘A.T.’ Dunsford, age 84 of Foley, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley.
Mr. Dunsford was a native of Jay and a resident of Foley for 25 years coming from Century. During his working years he worked as a self-employed mechanic. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served in the Korean Conflict where he earned the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. He was a Mason and of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Dunsford of Foley; sons, Eddie (Brenda) Dunsford of Century, Butch (Karen) Nall of Century, Buster (Melinda) Nall of Century, Steven Nall of Foley and James Howard McCurdy of Bluff Springs; daughters, Cheryl (Ken) White of Atmore, June (Billy) Odom of Century, Faye (Billy Joe) Scott of Byrneville, Linda (Houston) Roberson of Flomaton; sister, Lavon LaCosta of Pensacola; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren..
Services will be held Monday, June 8, 2015, at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. with Rev. Harold Brown officiating.
Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery with Military Honors.
Pallbearers will be Keith Faulk, Gaylan Shelly, William Odom, Danny Fuller, Buster Nall, James Kornegay.
Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.flomatonfh.com.
Harold Monroe “Pete” Foster
June 6, 2015
Harold Monroe “Pete” Foster, 67, of Cantonment, took his last breath and woke up in Heaven to forever be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. He was born in Bay Minette, AL on October 9, 1947, to Rodie and Louise Foster. Pete graduated from JM Tate High School in June of 1966 and was then drafted into the U. S. Army in October of 1966. He served in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. Pete received the National Defense Service medal, the Vietnam Service medal with two Bronze Stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Pete married Linda Mauldin on March 31, 1967, and moved to Cantonment where they lived for 47 years. He was employed at NAS Pensacola as a carpenter until he had to medically retire after 25 years of service due to his diagnosis of terminal cancer in 2005.
Pete gave his life to the Lord at the age of 19. He loved the Lord and served him for the remainder of his life. Pete was a member of Victory Assembly of God Church and served as a Deacon for many years. He used his carpentry talent to assist in the construction of the church building. Pete was an avid bass fisherman. He loved to fish, camp, collect antique fishing lures, and travel. He also loved his antique cars which included his ‘59 Chevy pickup truck and his Model A car. Pete was a wonderful husband and father and was dearly cherished and loved by his wife and two daughters.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rodie Alonzo Foster; and his baby brother, Rodie Alonzo Foster, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda Elease Mauldin Foster of Cantonment; daughters, Stephanie (Kevin) Chase of Gulf Breeze and Robin Stephens of Milton; five grandchildren, Kristopher Chase, Anthony Bennett, Zakary Bennett, Mary Crutchfield, and Seth Chase; one great-grandson, Kolton Chase; mother, Louise Carnley; brother, David (Linda) Foster; sisters, Barbara Sue (Stanley) Carnley and Jessie Mae (Ronnie) Gilbert; two stepbrothers, Adon (Sharon) Carnley and Wayne Carnley; one stepsister, Faye (Fred) Johnson and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family would like to thank Regency Hospice for their wonderful support and care as well as the many family and friends that have prayed, visited, and brought food.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 2015, at Victory Assembly of God with Pastor Jeff McKee, officiating.
Burial will follow in Pensacola Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be David Baggett, David Cantrell, John Daugherty, Tommy McCrory, Lewis Arnette, Sonny Hicks, Billy Hall, and Jerry Eddins.
Honorary pallbearers will be Adon Carnley, Fred Johnson and Paul Pettis.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Sewer Overflow On Washington Street Cleaned Up
June 5, 2015
A Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSOs) occurred on Thursday at 203 Washington Street after an 8-inch sewer force was struck by lightning. The overflow was estimated at 80,000 gallons, of which 78,000 gallons were recovered and transported to the ECUA’s Central Water reclamation Facility for proper treatment and disposal.
ECUA crews repaired the break and the overflow area was then cleaned and disinfected with a biocide agent that abated any contamination concerns, per state protocol. The Escambia County Health Department, the State Warning Point, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection were notified.
Firefighters Battle Bratt Brush Fire
June 5, 2015
Firefighters battled a brush fire in Bratt this afternoon.
The fire in about two acres of pine trees off Ashcraft Road near North Highway 99 was reported about 12:45 p.m. and quickly contained. Firefighters from the Walnut Hill, Century and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were dispatched to the blaze, along with the Atmore Fire Department.
There were no structures threatened and no injures reported.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Appeals Court Denies ‘Stand Your Ground’ Murder Defense For Molino Mom
June 5, 2015
A state appeals court has rejected a Molino mom’s “stand your ground” defense in the murder of her husband.
The Florida First District Court of Appeals refused to dismiss the second degree murder case against 45-year old Rebecca A. Rogers for allegedly shooting her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers in August 2013. Her attorneys previously made a motion to dismiss the case in circuit, saying Rogers acted within the parameters of Florida’s self-defense “stand your ground” law. That motion was also denied.
The ruling from the appeals court Thursday won’t allow her to claim she acted under the “stand you ground” law, but it specifically does not prohibit Rogers from claiming self-defense at trial.
Rebecca Rogers allegedly shot her husband twice in the back and once in the head inside the couple’s home in the 3400 block of Highway 29 in Molino. She told a 911 dispatcher that her husband choked her and then she shot him.
Deputies arrived to find Rebecca Rogers standing outside the home. They found Jason Rogers lying unconscious in the back bedroom of the home on his stomach with what appeared to be a gunshot to his head. According to the report, he also suffered two other gunshot wounds to the back. He died at a local hospital about two days later.
The couple had four daughters, one of which testified last year at a preliminary hearing that her father had several guns in the home. “As far as I know, he was going to get them and he was…my mom believed he was going to kill her. So, she was protecting herself,” she said.
Rogers remains free on a $300,000 bond. She is currently set to appear in court again in July.
Escambia School Buses: 5 Million Miles, Only 3 Minor At-Fault Wrecks
June 5, 2015
Statistics released Thursday showed that Escambia County School District bus drivers were involved in only three at-fault wrecks during the 2014-2015 school year, down from 25 six years ago.
“Six years ago, the total was 25 at-fault accidents for the year. With the district driving five million miles per year, it was hard to tell whether that was a good number or a bad number. Even at 25 at-fault traffic accidents per five million miles, that was a rate of one per 200,000 miles, which is the equivalent of more than 10 years of driving for the average person,” explained Robert Doss, ECSD’s director of transportation. “Still, it seemed like a large number to me.”“Having been a Marine pilot, I tend to take the Naval Aviation attitude about it and focus on the fact that one accident is too many because of the harm that one accident might do.”
The district’s transportation department has focused driver training on expecting the unexpected, and that even an accident that is another driver’s fault might could still be prevented by an attentive driver.
“Our bus drivers are the first member of our staff many of our students see in the morning, and the last one they see after school.” Superintendent of School Malcolm Thomas said. “We are very proud of the hundreds of highly professional bus operators who do all they can to give our students a safe trip to and from school.”
Town Of Century Begins Budget Work
June 5, 2015
The Town of Century got an early start on their 2015-2016 budget setting process with a Thursday afternoon special council workshop meeting with department heads.
Each department head met with the three council members that attended the meeting — Ann Brooks, Ben Boutwell and Sandra McMurray Jackson — and Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant. They reviewed their departmental budgets from the current budget year and looked at needs for the upcoming year.
Additional budget workshops are planned for several upcoming Thursdays — June 11 and 18, and Thursday July 9. An additional budget workshop will Thursday, July 16, if needed. All meetings will be held at 1:30 p.m. on the listed dates in the council chambers at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
Final approval for the budget will come in September, with Century’s 2015-2016 fiscal year beginning October 1.
The Town of Century’s budget for the current fiscal year is $5.1 million.
Pictured: Century Street Department Director Larry Murphy (blue shirt) discusses his budget with council members (L-R) Ann Brooks, Sandra McMurray Jackson and Ben Boutwell, and (right) accountant Robert Hudson, Thursday afternoon. NorthEcambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Wyatt Named Coach Of The Year; Perkins Runner-Up For State Miss Softball
June 5, 2015
Tate High School’s Tate coach Melinda Wyatt has been named the overall coach of the year and Tori Perkins has been named runner-up for Florida’s Miss Softball, the state’s top player, by the Florida Dairy Farmers.
Perkins was a member of this year’s Class 7A state championship team. She has committed to the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Wyatt coached that Class 7A state championship team. She had been at Tate for 11 years.
Pictured: Tori Perkins (L) shortly after Tate won the Class 7A softball championship, and Coach Melinda Wyatt (right) tosses a ceremonial first pitch for the Blue Wahoos. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
WWII’s Decisive Battle: Midway Remembered At Pensacola NAS
June 5, 2015
Area Navy commands and the local community remembered the Battle of Midway during a ceremony held at the National Museum of Naval Aviation on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Thursday.
Hosted by the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), the commemoration ceremony honored the service of those who fought in the decisive World War II battle 73 years ago.
Capt. Katherine Erb, CNATT commanding officer welcomed the guests and noted that observances like the Battle of Midway commemoration play an important part in highlighting the Navy’s history.
“Part of our mission as naval professionals is to preserve and celebrate our rich naval history and heritage,” said Erb. “Understanding our past is key to developing strategies to handle the challenges of the future, and is fundamental to building and operating the Navy and Marine Corps forces our nation requires.”
Considered by many military historians to be the turning point of World War II in the Pacific theater, the Battle of Midway was fought in the vicinity of Midway Island June 4-7, 1942. As a response to their sending planes to attack the U.S. base at Midway, Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers were fatally damaged by dive bombers from USS Enterprise (CV 6) and USS Yorktown (CV 5). Four Japanese carriers were sunk, and 3,057 Japanese personnel were killed in the conflict, at the cost of the Yorktown and 307 American personnel. Compelled by their losses, the Japanese were forced to abandon their plans to capture Midway and retired westward. This decisive in for the U.S brought an end to Japanese naval superiority in the Pacific.
Col. Eric Buer, commanding officer of Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21, was the guest speaker for the Battle of Midway commemoration and focused his remarks on how America’s young men and their machines were able to triumph over a seemly unsurmountable force and invincible foe. He addressed the standing-room-only crowd that included several surviving veterans of Midway.
“We are here today not only to remember the great importance of the Battle of Midway, but to remember those who suffered and sacrificed, and those like our shipmates here in the front row who continue to sacrifice,” said Buer. “The story of Midway is about courage, about hope, about conviction and about leadership.”
During the ceremony, a wreath was placed to honor the memories of those who lost their lives during the battle. Midway veteran guests at the event included Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic Gordon Pierce, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Wiley Bartlett, Radioman 1st Class James Stofer, Petty Officer Leon Resmondo and Barbara Wheeler, wife of the late Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Charles Wheeler.
For Pierce, attending the ceremony was bittersweet. It brought back memories of his shipmates, many of whom have passed away in recent years. “When I think back to previous years’ ceremonies, it saddens me to think of how many of my fellow Sailors are gone now and cannot be here,” he said.
CNATT is the largest learning center under the Naval Education and Training Command and is accredited by the Council on Education. Its mission is to develop, deliver, and support the aviation technical training necessary to meet validated fleet requirements through a continuum of professional and personal growth for Sailors and Marines. In the CNATT enterprise, there are 17 subordinate commands across 27 locations around the world.
by Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Command
Pictured: ) Rear Adm. Mike White, commander of the Naval Education and Training Command shakes the hand of Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic Gordon Pierce following the Battle of Midway commemoration ceremony at the National Museum of Naval Aviation Thursday. Pierce was a 19-year-old Sailor on the USS Yorktown (CV 5) at Midway. Pictured inset: A standing-room-only crowd participated in the Battle of Midway commemoration ceremony at the National Museum of Naval Aviation Thursday. U.S. Navy photos by Ed Barker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.