Fire Destroys Truck On Highway 95A
June 17, 2019
Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire in the 3000 block of Highway 95A adjacent to Highway 29 shortly after 2 p.m. Monday. A truck was destroyed by fire.
There were no injuries reported and no immediate word on the cause.. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Inmate Fatally Stabbed At Fountain Prison In Atmore
June 17, 2019
An inmate was fatally stabbed at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on Saturday.
At approximately 5:15 p.m., correctional officers found Jeremy Reshad Bailey, 29, inside a facility housing area suffering from a stab wound. Bailey was taken to an area hospital but later succumbed to his injury.
Officials identified 31-year-old Jarvis Terrell Taylor as a suspect in the stabbing. Taylor, who is serving a 30-year sentence on a 2007 first-degree robbery conviction in Montgomery County, faces a murder charge.
Bailey was serving a 7-year-sentence on a 2017 distribution of a controlled substance conviction in Jefferson County.
The incident remains under investigation.
Seat Belt Violation Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrest
June 17, 2019
A traffic stop for a seat belt violation ended with a Cantonment man behind bars on drug charges.
Benjamin Wayne Ritz, 24, was charged with possession of a crack cocaine, possession of a synthetic cannabinoid (spice), possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license revoked.
A deputy observed Ritz driving without wearing his seat belt on Virecent Road near Cottage Hill Road, and he conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy discovered Ritz’s drivers license was revoked in 2014. During a search of the vehicle, deputies discovered crack cocaine in small container in the vehicle’s center console, spice, a homemade smoking glass pipe and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver, according to an arrest report. A computer check showed the firearm was not stolen.
Ritz was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $6,000 bond. He also received a citation for not wearing a seat belt.
Got Moo? Check On The Moogician This Week At The Library
June 17, 2019
The Moogician will do everything dairy with magic and songs this week during the Summer Reading program at the library.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, June 18, 11 a.m. – Southwest Branch (held at Big Lagoon State Park)
Tuesday, June 18, 3 p.m. Tryon Branch Library
Wednesday, June 19, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
Wednesday, June 19, 3 p.m. – Pensacola Library
Thursday, June 20, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
Friday, June 21, 11 a.m. – Tryon Branch Library
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms Possible All Week
June 17, 2019
Here is our official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Weekly Traffic Alerts – Where To Expect Delays
June 17, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions this week on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, June 16 through Saturday, June 22.
- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue removing the old southbound bridge. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Drivers may encounter traffic and noise disruptions near the Gulf Breeze bridge approach from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19 as crews place asphalt for the new eastbound U.S. 98 travel lanes from the bridge to Hampton Inn. Flaggers will be on site to direct vehicles in and out of the three impacted driveways. Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, June 16 through Sunday, June 23:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- State Road (S.R.) 727 (Fairfield Drive) from South of Usher Circle to North of Hestia Place- Traffic on Fairfield Drive from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place will be shifted from its current alignment to the west Tuesday, June 18 as crews complete the installation of the box culvert under the roadway. Motorists can expect intermittent lane restrictions to occur from 8:30 p.m. Monday, June 17 to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18 as crews prepare to transition traffic. The north entrance to Usher Circle will also be temporarily closed to traffic during the drainage operation. Residents will utilize the south entrance of Usher Circle. The temporary lane shift and road closure is anticipated to take place for approximately three weeks.
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch- Activities associated with the bridge replacement project on C.R. 168 over Unnamed Branch, Northwest of Century, continue. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities continue. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Drivers may encounter traffic and noise disruptions near the Gulf Breeze bridge approach from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday, June 18 and Wednesday, June 19 as crews place asphalt for the new eastbound U.S. 98 travel lanes from the bridge to Hampton Inn. Flaggers will be on site to direct vehicles in and out of the three impacted driveways. Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, June 16 through Sunday, June 23:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from the Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) –The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for I-10 and Avalon Boulevard between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, June 16:
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday as crews perform construction activities.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday as crews work to place final striping, rumble strips, and to finish work list items.
- U.S. 98 (Gulf Breeze Parkway) Utility Work- Motorists will encounter westbound lane restrictions just west of Gulf Islands National Seashore from 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 19 as crews replace a broken power pole.
- I-10 over Blackwater Bay Routine Bridge Maintenance- Drivers will encounter alternating east and westbound lane restrictions on I-10 over Blackwater Bay from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20 as crews perform routine maintenance.
- U. S. 98 Utility Operations between Pala Alto Avenue in Santa Rosa County and Woodland Avenue in Okaloosa County – Drivers will encounter intermittent and alternating lane restrictions on U.S. 98 between Pala Alto Avenue in Santa Rosa County and Woodland Avenue in Okaloosa County from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Thursday, June 20 as Pike Electric completes routine maintenance on power lines. In addition, there will be intermittent daytime shoulder closures.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Friday, to Thursday, July 30 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road– All north and southbound travel lanes, between Hickory Hammock Road and two miles south of the Yellow River are now open and the speed limit is now 65 mph. Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures as crews complete construction activities and the speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the active work zones.
- U.S. 98 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures as crews complete striping operations. Work will take place at night during off peak hours.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Water To Be Turned Off For Hours Along Part Of Muscogee Road
June 17, 2019
**This boil water notice was lifted Friday, June 21**
Water service will be interrupted for several hours Monday night for many Farm Hill Utilities customers.
Water service will turned off at about 8 p.m. along Muscogee Road from Hicks Street to Stinnis Street and be off for an estimated 6-8 hours , according to the utility, due to an Escambia County project.
Upon restoration of service, a precautionary boil water notice will be in effect. All water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes should be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
The precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Linnie Barnhill Johnson
June 17, 2019
Mrs. Linnie Barnhill Johnson, age 94, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2019 in Atmore, Alabama.
Mrs. Johnson was a native of Milton, FL and had resided in Atmore, AL for most of her life. She was a Christian Mother, loving family lady, very loving and giving to family and friends, employed with Vanity Fair and was a caregiver for many years. She was of the Pentecostal Faith. She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Cornelia Barnhill; husbands, Ira Carpenter, Clay Whitehead and Roy Johnson; one son, Jerry Carpenter; two daughters, Edna Mae Carpenter and Marilyn Welch; four sisters and four brothers.
She is survived her three sons, Melvin Carpenter of Perdido, AL, Steve (Gayle) Carpenter of Atmore, AL and Raymond (Rebecca) Carpenter of Bratt, FL; one brother, W.C. (Doris) Barnhill of Molino, FL; twelve grandchildren; thirty-two great grandchildren and fifteen great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Sis. Eloise Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Smokies Top The Blue Wahoos
June 17, 2019
The difficult finish to their first half season left the Pensacola Blue Wahoos ready to embrace the all star break.
In a game Sunday which characterized a rough, past couple weeks, the Blue Wahoos were unable to generate offense in the early innings, then couldn’t produce a bigger rally at the end, resulting in a 3-2 loss against the Tennessee Smokies at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
It left the Blue Wahoos (38-32), who had started the year with a franchise-best eight consecutive series wins, having dropped eight of their last 10 games and five of their last six series matchups. They finished three games behind first place Biloxi (41-29) in the Southern League South Division.
“The roster we have, the players are doing their best, but baseball can just happen like that,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego.
After 70 games, mixed with just four days off, the Southern League season takes a three-day pause for all teams before the second half starts on Thursday with reset records back to start point and a new playoff chase.
“Everybody is waiting for this,” said Borrego, as his players quickly dressed to exit for various destinations. “It’s three days break.. Our bullpen will be fresh now. We will have five starters (pitching rotation). For the coaches, too, it will be good to refresh, regroup.”
The Southern League All-Star game is Tuesday night (6:35 p.m.) at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss, hosted by the Shuckers, whose turn to host the game happened to fall this season.
Three Blue Wahoos players, leading hitter Travis Blankenhorn, right fielder Jaylin Davis and versatile infielder-catcher Caleb Hamilton will be playing in the game.
Borrego said Blankenhorn and Davis will also participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby at MGM Park.
“I’m so excited for them. They earned that,” Borrego said.
Three other Blue Wahoos players, pitchers Griffin Jax, who worked into the fourth inning as Sunday’s starter, along with injured pitchers Brusdar Graterol and Ryan Mason, were named to the South All-Stars, but won’t play due to their health status.
The all-star break is affording Borrego a chance to return to his home in Fort Myers where his wife and children reside. It will be an extended break for Borrego and Justin Willard, one of the team’s two pitching coaches, both of whom are utilizing the Minnesota Twins minor-league staff option to take five additional days off as vacation.
Hitting coach Steve Singleton will manage the team when the second half begins Thursday with a five-game series on the road against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Cibney Bello, the Blue Wahoos, other pitching coach, will be helping as the assistant manager in that series.
Borrego and Willard will resume their roles when the Blue Wahoos return to Pensacola on June 25 to begin a nine-day, two-opponent homestand that ends July 3.
“You get the five days (vacation) and the organization said you can take it any time,” Borrego said. “My plan was to make to the playoffs, go on vacation and have a good time.
“We had chances (to win first half), but we still have the chance now with second half. We will try to get the second half, get in the playoffs and go try to win the (Southern League) championship.”
Borrego said the roster will be bolstered by the return of Alex Kirilloff, the Twins’ No. 2 overall prospect, who joined the team May 2, then went back on the injured list June 3.
“He’ll be ready for that first game (Thursday) back,” Borrego said. “He had live BP (batting practice) yesterday and he looked good, so he will be ready.”
In addition, Borrego expects the return of third baseman Brian Schales, who played only 18 games at the beginning of the season, batting .241, but with 13 RBI and three homers. The Blue Wahoos also figure to have a set pitching rotation, following Griffin Jax’ solid outing Sunday and the boost provided by Brian Sammons and Charlie Barnes, elevated in late May from the Fort Myers Miracle.
And there may be a couple other players added from Fort Myers, the Twins’ High-A affiliate, who led that team to the first half Florida State League division crown.
“We’ll be a different team,” Borrego said. “We’ll be able to build with different players.”
The Blue Wahoos were hoping to finish with a series win Sunday, amid a sun-splashed crowd of 4,348 which pushed the team’s first half attendance past 148,000 – third best in the Southern League behind much larger Jacksonville and Birmingham.
The game was scoreless until Tennessee (33-36) pushed across a run in the fourth inning off Jax, the Air Force Academy graduate, who had his longest outing since May 16. With two runners on, none out, Jax got the next two batters out, then Andro Cutura, a spot starter, followed by ending the inning on a strikeout.
“I am so happy for him. I like what I saw,” said Borrego on Jax’ outing. “We missed this guy in the first half with a couple outings, because of injury. But I think he’s back, so I was glad to see him pitching really well and we will be fine with him for the second half.”
The Smokes scored two runs in the seventh inning off Cutura on Roberto Cara’s two-run single.
But in the bottom of the seventh, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with one out. Jordan Gore drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Tanner English hit an RBI single. But the inning ended when Blankenhorn struck out.
The Blue Wahoos had two runners on in the eight with one out, but Smokies reliever Tommy Nance ended the inning by getting Jimmy Kerrigan and Michael Davis to fly out.
In the ninth, the Blue Wahoos went down in order against Nance.
“We’re trying to put the offenses together in these last couple games, but it didn’t happen,” said Borrego, whose team lost 2-1 Saturday night. All five games in the series were decided by one run and the first three games went into extra-innings.
English and Randy Cesar both had two hits apiece for the Blue Wahoos, who had only six in the game.
Molino Park Elementary Presents Grade 3-5 Awards
June 17, 2019
Below are end of the year award winners in grades 3-5 at Molino Park Elementary School. For grades Pre-K to 2, click here.
THIRD GRADE
A/B Honor Roll
Landon Brown
Gracyn Campbell
Jakob Cutting
Ruby Driver
Carmen Garcia
Nicole Garcia
Allison Penton
Maximus Ridgley
Tucker Scully
Presley Spikes
Alenta Staneart
Esabella Suratos
Good Citizenship
Aadan Adams
Addie Adams
Kaiden Barfield
Addysen Bolen
Rhianna Buttittia
Micah Callender
Gracyn Campbell
Hunter Chance
Christopher Croll
Jakob Cutting
Anthony Davis
Ruby Driver
Devyn Dyer
Carmen Garcia
Nicole Garcia
Makaylah Gerrits
Jordyn Gibbs
Kensee Gibson
Will Gilmore
Jaylie Hall
Brylee Hassebrock
Elizabeth Hewett
Aubrey Jacobi
Skylar Kerns
Kimree Martin
Emily Maughon
Allison Penton
Maximus Ridgley
Tucker Scully
Wyatt Sisson
McKinley Shoemo
Presley Spikes
Tucker Spruill
Alena Staneart
Esabella Suratos
Abigail Williams
Christopher
Williams-McFarlain
Perfect Attendance
Micah Callender
Jayden Gibson
Taleah McNeal
Most AR Points
Nicole Garcia
Brylee Hassebrock
Christopher
Williams-McFarlain
McKinley Shoemo
Most Improved – Reading
Anthony Davis
Jordyn Gibbs
Most Improved – Math
Jaylie Hall
Elizabeth Hewett
Most Improved
Randy Jackson
Sunshine Math Team
Preston Belongia
Micah Callender
Ruby Driver
Carmen Garcia
Ashleigh Grimm
Maximus Ridgley
Tucker Scully
Esabella Suratos
Multiplication Facts Master
Taleah McNeal
Maximus Ridgley
Alena Staneart
Esabella Suratos
Science Olympiad
Preston Belongia
Ruby Driver
Carmen Garcia
Brylee Hassebrock
Aubrey Jacobi
Gavin Switzer
Battle of the Books
Addysen Bolen
Nicole Garcia
Emily Maughon
FOURTH GRADE
A Honor Roll
Brielle Garcia
Savannah Gilmore
Addison Parsons
A/B Honor Roll
Sam Arnold
Auna Arredondo
Jayden Arredondo
Camden Borelli
Bailey Burkette
Autumn Dinkle
Cooper Halfacre
Isabella Joiner
Darla Massey
Aydan Nigam
Cadence Rodgers
Ethan Thompson
Christian Ward
Brooklynn White
Perfect Attendance
Camden Borelli
Christian Callendar
Good Citizenship
Sam Arnold
Auna Arredondo
Jayden Arredondo
Grace Barraclough
Isis Bates
Camden Borelli
Bailey Burkette
Christian Callendar
Cortez Chambers
Asher Creighton
Autumn Dinkle
Joseph Douglas
Aidden Edmonson
Jagger Etheridge
Kobi Fiorenti
Brielle Garcia
Khloe Gibson
Savannah Gilmore
Annabella Grant
Cooper Halfacre
Taylor Hart
Laedin Jordan
Nicholas Kahalley
Jayden Knight
Ali Langley
Joseph Lister
Elizabeth Madden
Adalynn Manning
Darla Massey
McKinsey Mayne
London McAnally
John Parker Miller
Emily Moraes
Aydan Nigam
Grace Oliver
Addison Parsons
Addison Pitts
Kira Reed
Elias Ridgley
Cadence Rodgers
Cheyenne Rouse
Adlynn Salmon
Ethan Thompson
Rayna Thompson
Christian Ward
Raleigh Warr
Brooklynn White
FIFTH GRADE
A- Citizenship
Destiny Abrams
Taylor Anderson
Natalie Andrews
Madison Bosko-Doyle
Alyssa Brooks
Ayden Crabtree
Garrett Crabtree
Shay Crosby
Lily Driver
Nathan Duffy
Caden Eady
Connor Gerrits
Kamryn Gibbs
John Hatch
Raegan Holley
Austin Jackson
Maryjane Kata
Gus Leatherberry
Dallas McCarthy
Macy Miller
Mary Oliver
Alexia Olson
Noel Pugh
Ana Randall
Ryleigh Sampey
Aryanna Smith
Chase Smith
Sophia St. Cyr
Jordon Thibodeaux
Lysaiah White
Kailyn Wiggins
A/B- Honor Roll
Destiny Abrams
Jack Boutwell
Alyssa Brooks
Andrew Brown
Caden Eady
John Hatch
Connor Gerrits
Gus Leatherberry
Macy Miller
Mary Oliver
Aryanna Smith
A- Honor Roll
Ayden Crabtree
Lily Driver
Austin Jackson
Ana L Vidak
Ayden Crabtree
Lily Driver
Perfect Attendance
Ayden Crabtree
Raegan Holley
Austin Jackson
Noel Pugh
ECCT Student of the Year
Lysaiah White
Shining Star
Larry Chambers
Cox Hero Award
Aryanna Smith
Sons of the American Revolution Award
Lily Driver
Ayden Crabtree
Alexia Olson
Cameron Bodiford
Alyssa Brooks
Ona Spinks
William Nowlin
Spelling Bee Winner
Ayden Crabtree
Sunshine Math Participation
Caden Eady – Participant
Sunshine Math Team
Ayden Crabtree
Lily Driver
Austin Jackson