Escambia District Academic Teams Takes Second In Challenge Event
April 26, 2016
The Escambia County All-Star Academic Team fought their way into the finals of the 31st Commissioner’s Academic Challenge in Orlando before falling in the finals to Manatee County.
The All-Star Academic Team is composed of the top six high-school “quiz bowl” players in the Escambia School District. The students compete in rigorous academic competitions that focus on such subject areas as math, science, language arts, social studies, fine arts, and foreign language.
This year’s All-Star Academic Team consisted of the following players: Bryce Coots (senior – Tate), Meghan Kapur (junior – PHS), Lia Davis (junior – PHS), Samantha Brown (junior – Tate), Abby Lyons (sophomore- PHS), Lucas Liseth (sophomore – PHS), Ally Shah (sophomore – PHS), and Connor Zameska (freshman – PHS).
scambia County has earned six state titles, more than any other district in Division 1, which includes the 20 largest school districts in Florida.
Deputies Honored For DUI Enforcement
April 26, 2016
Three Escambia County deputies were recently honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Northwest Florida Affiliate.
Deputies Mitchell Stevens, Sam Shelley and Chad Roop where honored at MADD’s “Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance & Hope and Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony” as the top three deputies in DUI arrests at the ECSO during 2015.
Deputy Stevens has served with the ECSO since 2013, after prior service with another agency. He has served in various assignments within the patrol division and recently became a field training officer. Stevens made 20 DUI arrests in 2015 and issued 423 uniform traffic citations.
Deputy Shelley has served with the ECSO since 2006. He has served in various assignments within the patrol division. Shelley made 19 DUI arrests in 2015 and Issued 130 uniform traffic citations.
Deputy Roop has served with the ECSO since 2010. He has served in various assignments within the patrol division and was assigned to Traffic/DUI on in September 2015. Roop made 36 DUI arrests in 2015 and issued 118 uniform traffic citations.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Hots Shots 12U Softball Teams Wins Tiger Point Championship
April 26, 2016
The Molino Hot Shots 12U girls softball team recently won the 12U B Tiger Point Mid Season Tournament championship. The team is sponsored by the Molino Volunteer Fire Department. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Take Series Over Generals
April 26, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finally gave Amir Garrett his first Double-A victory by knocking three dingers and scoring nine runs Monday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Garrett left the game to a standing ovation from the crowd of 3,512, as he retired the last 12 batters he faced in the Blue Wahoos third straight victory over the Jackson Generals, 9-3.
“I didn’t even know what to do,” Garrett said sheepishly. “Do I throw my hands up and wave to the crowd? The Blue Wahoos fans really love baseball and they really love the Blue Wahoos. I appreciate that.”
Garrett, who is 1-2 in four starts with a 1.46 ERA, finally got some run support from his teammates this season. The southpaw, who is the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect, has allowed four earned runs in 24.2 innings pitched but the Blue Wahoos have backed him up with just three runs until Monday’s outburst.
“It’s a big thing to get that first win in Double-A,” said Garrett, who had season-highs of 6.2 innings pitched and nine strikeouts. He allowed just two hits. “I’m really happy. When we get on the board first, I’m very confident I can win the ballgame. These guys will come around most of the time for me. I’ll bet on that.”
The floodgates opened Monday with Pensacola winning its third straight game by having its first multiple home run game of the season. They blasted three with center fielder Tony Renda, right fielder Phillip Ervin and left fielder Sebastian Elizalde all knocking it out on a windy night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he’s confident with the team’s strong starting rotation that the Blue Wahoos can’t lose, if they hit like they have this series. The Blue Wahoos clinched the five-game series with Jackson by going up, 3-1, after breaking out with 32 hits in 102 at bats for a .314 batting average the past three games. That comes after hitting .167 in its last series against the Biloxi Shuckers on the road.
“With our pitching we just need a few runs,” Kelly said. “(Garrett) was super. He got stronger as the game went along.”
One of Garrett’s biggest strikeouts came in the fifth inning when he showed some emotion after striking out Jackson catcher Steve Baron after five foul balls and eight pitches. His career-high is 12 strikeouts, which he did last year with the High-A Daytona Tortugas and for the first time in 2013 with the Low-A Dayton Dragons.
“I threw everything at him but the kitchen sink,” Garrett said. “He was pushing my pitch count up. He’s a great hitter. These guys are more advanced. They don’t swing at too many pitches.”
Elizalde, who went 2-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs, said he was happy that the offense came through for Garrett. Elizalde, who hit his second home run this series, extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine games this season and is now 9-22, batting .409 during his streak.
“(Garrett) was really aggressive early in the count and was in a good groove,” said Elizalde, who extended his hitting streak to nine games. “I’m definitely happy we could help him get that first win.”
Pensacola right fielder Phillip Ervin started a two-out two run rally in the bottom of the first inning when he lined a stand up double to left field. Third baseman Eric Jagielo followed with a walk. That’s when left fielder Elizalde crushed a fly ball over Jackson center fielder Guillermo Heredia head that he chased down at the warning track, allowing both Ervin and Jagielo to score and put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-0.
Again in the second inning the Blue Wahoos scored two runs with two outs. Pensacola shortstop Calten Daal, playing in his first game after suffering a concussion in the season opener when a pitch hit him in the head, singled to center field. Center fielder Tony Renda then sent the ball over the left field wall for a two-out, two-run homer putting Pensacola up, 4-0.
Pensacola’s Ervin generated a run in the third inning when he walked to lead off the third inning, stole second base, went to third on a Jagielo sacrifice fly ball to right field, and scored when Elizalde hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, giving the Blue Wahoos a 5-0 lead.
Lloyd Wilbur Barry, Jr.
April 26, 2016
Lloyd Wilbur Barry, Jr. of Pensacola joined his previously passed loved ones on April 19, 2016. He was a devoted husband to Patricia and father to Linda (Stephen), David (Roni) and Steven (Ellen). He will be greatly missed by them, his five grandchildren, Keith (Kasey), Tyler, Erica (David), Trevor and Sloane; two sisters, Helen and Jackie; and brother-in-heart, James.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd; mother, Grace; sister, Frances; daughter, Sharon; and granddaughter, Sheila.
He was born in Brooker, FL on March 29, 1940. Wilbur was raised on a farm with no name, as he always liked to call it. He was an All-State football player for Bradford County High School and graduated in 1958. He was awarded an academic scholarship to the University of Florida and married that same year. Wilbur later earned his B.A. in accounting. During that time, he also served America as a member of the Army National Guard.
He made Pensacola his home in 1978 and soon opened Smokey’s Real Pit Bar-B-Que on Highway 29 where he cultivated a second family. Table D6 at lunchtime will never be the same.
All who knew him knew Wilbur to be an enthusiastic Gators sports fan. He loved classic country music and often traveled to Nashville to support rising musicians in their endeavors. He also donated generously to local causes.
A memorial service was held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North on Highway 29 at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2016.
A graveside service will be held near Gainesville, FL on a later date.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Atmore Police Detail High Speed Chase That Ended With Wreck On Bratt Dirt Road
April 25, 2016
[UPDATED] A high speed police chase that began in Atmore Sunday night ended with a rollover crash on a dirt road in Florida.
The Atmore Police Department reportedly chased the Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck into Florida at speeds reaching up to 100 mph on North Highway 99 just before 11 p.m.
Atmore Police said they attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Colorado on Highway 31 West for an expired tag, no seat belt and no tag lights. Additionally a check of the tag revealed it was on the wrong vehicle. After attempting to initiate the traffic stop, the vehicle sped off at a high rate of speed.
The driver swerved into patrol units several times attempting to run them off the road, according to Atmore Police, while continuing at a high rate of speed and ignoring traffic controls.
As the pursuit continued south on Highway 99, the driver turned onto Cecils Road, a dirt road about 1.2 miles south of the state line in Bratt. The driver, later identified as 36-year old Tabatha Faye Boutwell of Walnut Hill, lost control on the sandy road and overturned into a field about 400 feet later.
The pickup was occupied by Boutwell and two juveniles, all of which initially refused medical treatment. Over an hour after the crash, Boutwell began to complain of injuries and was transported to by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital. The two juveniles were taken to a nearby relative’s home.
Boutwell was treated and released into the custody of the Florida Highway Patrol on a charge of reckless driving with property damage. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola with bond set at $2,500. It was later determined that the pickup was stolen earlier in the week from Escambia County, AL.
Charges are pending against Boutwell in Alabama for attempting to commit murder, receiving stolen property, attempting to elude a police officer and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County EMS, the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the incident.
Pictured above and inset: A high speed chase by Atmore Police into Florida ended with this rollover crash on a dirt road near Bratt Sunday night. Pictured immediately below: The female driver (in a plaid shirt) is questioned by law enforcement after the accident. Pictured bottom: More of the accident scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Warm Week Ahead
April 25, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Fire Destroys Molino Shed
April 25, 2016
Fire destroyed a storage shed in Molino Sunday afternoon.
The blaze was reported as being behind the Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office in the Molino Community Complex, but it was actually about 2,000 feet away near a wooded area. Fire trucks had a difficult time reaching the blaze down a long, narrow driveway over 1,500 feet of Molino Road.
The cause of the fire was not known.
The shed was totally destroyed. It was located on a piece of property off the 6300 block of Molino Road.
Ransom Middle’s Grant Gill Named Escambia Student Volunteer Of The Year
April 25, 2016
The Escambia County School District Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year is Grant Gill from Ransom Middle School. Gill volunteers at McArthur Elementary School.
For the past three years, Grant has started each school day two hours early before catching his bus to Ransom for the day. At McArthur, he volunteers with a very special group - Amanda Jansen’s Pre-K class for students with autism.
Grant begins each day by greeting the students at their bus and assisting them to their classroom to unpack and prepare for the day. He helps in the cafeteria with their breakfast and returns with them to their class.
“Grant has one special boy who has become very attached to him. Dorian and his mom are here today to celebrate Grant’s award,”Marty Stanovich, executive director of The First Tee of NW Florida, said. Stanovich led a recent program to honor Grant and other volunteers in the Escambia County School District. “The two are inseparable and his mother is so very grateful for the work he has done for her special little boy. Grant says he may pursue a career in teaching special education.”
Pictured top: (L-R) Escambia County School Board members Jeff Bergosh and Bill Slayton, Grant Gill and his friend Dorian, and Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured inset: Escambia County School District Outstanding Student Volunteer of the Year Grant Gill from Ransom Middle School and his special friend Dorian. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Walnut Hill Crash
April 25, 2016
There were no injuries in a single vehicle accident near Walnut Hill late Sunday night.
Just after 11 p.m. the driver of a pickup truck lost control on Highway 97A near Corley Road, left the roadway and struck several trees. All three occupants of the refused medical treatment at the scene.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
