Molino 16U Team Wins Mid Season Pace Tourney
April 23, 2015
Molino softball 16U Pensacola Honda recently won the “A bracket” of the mid-season tournament in Pace with an undefeated record. This was the first time that a Molino softball team had won a mid-season tournament in the “A bracket”. Pictured are team members (front, L-R) Kendall Enfinger, Tori Herrington, Aubree Love, Kayla Godwin, Siobaun English, (middle) Rose Flowers, Ivy New, Claire Pierce, Krystal Whitehead, Kirsten Warlick, (third row) Summer Hodo, Breana Hundley, Katie Snyder, Elyssa McQuaid and coaches (back row) David Snyder, Scott Herrington and Scott Pierce. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Federal Prison On Armed Drug Trafficking Charges
April 23, 2015
An Escambia County man is headed to prison on federal armed drug trafficking charges.
Marheem R. Smith, 24, was sentenced to 8 ½ years in federal prison by Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
In October 2014, while attempting to arrest Smith on state charges of aggravated assault and firearm violations, law enforcement officers discovered a loaded Ruger .45 caliber pistol and bags of cocaine located inside a vehicle underneath where Smith was seated. Additionally, the officers found approximately $1,000 and a digital scale on Smith’s person. Inside an apartment linked to Smith, law enforcement seized more than 34 grams of cocaine and materials to convert powder cocaine into crack cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office as part of the ATF Gun Crime Response Team.
Barons Beat Wahoos
April 23, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (3-8) made it interesting in the end, but fell to the Birmingham Barons (6-6) by a score of 3-2 in midday Southern League action.
The Wahoos were in a hole early, trailing 3-0 after five innings. A pair of runs in the eighth brought them to within a run, but Barons reliever Cody Winiarski earned his first save of the season with three consecutive strikeouts in the top half of the ninth.
Birmingham starter Myles Jaye (1-1) earned the win with six scoreless innings to open the game. Wahoos starter Daniel Wright (0-2) earned the loss, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts. Wahoos reliever Layne Somsen came in relief of Wright to pitch three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four batters.
First baseman Marquez Smith led the way at the plate for the Wahoos, going 2-3 and scoring a run in his second consecutive multi-hit game. Catcher Chris Berset added the lone RBI of the day for the Wahoos with a single in the eighth. Right fielder Jason Coats led the way for Birmingham, going 2-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
The Barons struck first in the bottom half of the second with an RBI double from Coats. The Wahoos were able to avoid further damage after catching Coats in a rundown and a subsequent strikeout from Daniel Wright.
The Wahoos were able to put runners at the corners with one out in the top half of the third, but a pickoff, a walk and a fly out left two runners stranded.
The Barons were able to load the bases in the top of the fifth and capitalized with a two RBI single from third baseman Marcus Lemon. With the score at 3-0, the Barons loaded the bases once again with a Jacob May infield single. However, a strikeout and a groundout put the inning to an end.
The Wahoos got on the board in the eighth inning, as Berset was able to drive Smith home with a single to left center. After a Zach Vincej double put runners at second and third, a wild pitch from Barons reliever Onelki Garcia allowed Berset to score and make it 3-2.
The Wahoos are back in action tomorrow for the fourth game of the series in Birmingham at 7:05 pm.
Holman Prison Placed On Lockdown After Fatal Inmate Stabbing
April 22, 2015
Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore was placed on lockdown following a homicide Wednesday.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said inmate Lawrence Utley, 67, was fatally stabbed inside the facility by another inmate.
Robert Aaron Williams, 58, was detained as a suspect in the stabbing. Williams is serving a life sentence for a 2014 murder conviction in Mobile County.
Utley had served 30 years of a life sentence for a 1985 sodomy conviction in Mobile County.
One Injured In Highway 97 Rollover Accident
April 22, 2015
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Wednesday morning in Walnut Hill.
The driver of a GMC pickup lost control on Highway 97 just south of South Highway 99 and overturned about 8:50 a.m.. The male driver was transported by ambulance to West Florida Hospital in Pensacola with injuries that were not considered life threatening. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance responded to the crash. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four County Bridges In North Escambia Set For Replacement By State
April 22, 2015
The Florida Department of Transportation will replace four bridges on county roads in Escambia County. Contracts will be let in the near future after the Escambia County Commission signs off on the projects, and the commission agrees that the county will maintain the bridges following construction by the state. The bridges will be replaced at the state’s expense.
The bridges have reached a level of deterioration making them next on the FDOT’s 5-Year Work Plan.
The bridges are:
- Highway196 (Barrineau Park Road) Bridge over Jacks Branch (between Highway 95A and Dewey Rose Lane) was constructed in 1949 and has an average daily traffic county of 537 vehicles.
- North Highway 99 Bridge over Pine Barren Creek (located just north of Gobbler Road/Oak Grove Park) was constructed in 1955. It has an average daily traffic count of 1,234 vehicles.
- Sandy Hollow Road Bridge over Sandy Hollow Creek (traffic count and construction date not available).
- Highway 99A Bridge (Arthur Brown Road) over Boggy Creek (near Walnut Hill Baptist Church) was constructed in 1969 and has an average daily traffic county of 537.
A construction start date has not yet been announced for the bridge replacement projects.
Pictured top: A steel truss was installed to support the bridge over Pine Barren Creek on North Highway 99 in Bratt in early 2011. Otherwise, the 60-year old bridge is supported by wood pilings. Pictured below: The North Highway 99 bridge over Pine Barren Creek. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Killed In Escambia Crash
April 22, 2015
A man was killed into a single motorcycle crash Tuesday night in Escambia County.
Timmothy D. Showalter, age 26 of Pace, lost control of his 2007 Yamaha motorcycle on Barrancas Avenue about 8:33 p.m., struck a curb and then hit a large sign post.
He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Escambia County EMS.
Three Molino Park Students Win Florida DEP Earth Day Poster Contest
April 22, 2015
The Molino Park Elementary School students were the winners of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Northwest District Earth Day Poster Contest. In celebration of Earth Day, the department invited fourth and fifth grade students from Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to creatively illustrate the importance of protecting Florida’s beautiful natural environment: air, water, land and ecosystems.
Winners were:
Escambia County
- First Place: Carolyn Wilbanks – Molino Park Elementary
- Second Place: Cody Chavers – Molino Park Elementary
- Third Place: Sarah Sconiers – Molino Park Elementary
Santa Rosa County
- First Place: Gwyneth Jackson – Gulf Breeze Elementary
- Second Place: Sean Johnson – Pea Ridge Elementary
- Third Place: Lindsey Castor – Bagdad Elementary
Pictured top: DEP Escambia County Earth Day poster contest winners, all from Molino Park Elementary, are (L-R) Carolyn Wilbanks, first; Cody Chavers, second; and Sara Sconiers, third. Their posters are below. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First place Escambia County poster by Carlolyn Wilbanks (above).
Second place Escambia County poster by Cody Chavers (above).
Third place Escambia County poster by Sara Sconiers (above).
Firefighters Respond To Kingsfield Road Factory
April 22, 2015
Multiple fire stations responded to smoke inside a Kingsfield Road factory early Tuesday evening. There was no immediate word of the source of the smoke or any damages at Plastic Coated Papers. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos by Jacob Hutson and Shawna Price, click to enlarge.
Abundant Life Assembly Church Receives Century Community Pride Award
April 22, 2015
The latest Century Community Pride Award was recently presented to Abundant Life Assembly of God Church. The award was presented by the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.