Escambia County Honors Late Baseball Hall Of Famer Don Sutton, Former Molino Resident
May 7, 2021
The Escambia County Commission issued a proclamation Thursday night honoring the late baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and former Molino resident Don Sutton. He passed away in January at age 75.
Members of Sutton’s family and members of the 1962 Tate High School baseball state championship team stood by as District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry read the proclamation and presented it to Don Sutton’s brother, Ron Sutton. (Read the complete proclamation below.)
“When Don talked about coming back here, he was coming home,” an emotional Ron Sutton told the commission. “The thing is his career is a testament to my mom and dad who taught us if you have a good work ethic, and you try hard enough, anything is possible.”
About the family’s move to Molino in 1950, Ron Sutton said, “My daddy always said we came to the land flowing with milk and honey, and I believe that.”
Sutton was born April 2, 1945, in Clio, Alabama. He attended Molino Junior High School for nine years and graduated from Tate High School as the Class of 1963’s “Most Likely to Succeed.” He played basketball, football and led two Aggie baseball teams to two state championship games. In 1962, he pitched 13 innings for the Aggies in their state championship win
During his career as a right-handed pitcher, he won 324 games, including 58 shutouts and earned the seventh place spot on baseball’s all-time strikeout list with 3,574. Sutton played over a decade with the LA Dodgers, and also played for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s and California Angels before returning for one last season with the Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
“My mother used to worry about my imaginary friends ‘cause I would be out in the yard playing ball,” Don Sutton said in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 1998. “She worried because she didn’t know a Mickey, or a Whitey, or a Yogi, or a Moose, or an Elston, but I played with them every day.”
Sutton also had a successful 29-year broadcasting career, working for major networks including TBS and NBC, along with the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.
The Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino is named in his honor, and a portion of Highway 29 in Molino is known as the Don Sutton Highway. There is also a display devoted to Sutton in the Molino Museum in the Molino Community Complex.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are wearing the number 20 on their uniforms this season to honor Sutton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Regional Softball: Chiles Eliminates Tate; Jay Tops Freeport By 10
May 7, 2021
Region 1-6A
Chiles 5, Tate 1
The Tate Lady Aggies fell behind early in a 5-1 Region 1-6A quarterfinal loss Thursday at Tallahassee Chiles.
Abbie Burks allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, walking one.
Michayla Kent led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-3 with one run. Hannah Halfacre and Courtney Adams had one hit each for Tate.
Chiles will host Lincoln in the regional semifinals on May 11.
Region 1-1A
Jay 11, Freeport 1
The Jay Royals beat Freeport in the Region 1-1A semifinals 11-1 Thursday night in Jay.
Mattie Cochran earned the victory for Jay, going give innings, allowing one run and three hits will striking out nine and walking one.
Caitlyn Gavin (pictured above) had a fifth inning home run for the Royals. It was her ninth dinger of the season.
Brett Watson went 3-4 for the Lady Royals, and Audrey Barnes was 2-3 the plate. Jay also had hits from Gavin, Ella Nelson, Cochran, Madison Mathis and Kassidy Nevels.
Jay will travel to Holmes County on Tuesday in the regional finals.
Pictured: Caitlyn Gavin had a fifth inning home run for the Jay Royals Thursday night, her ninth homer of the season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Is Tonight And Saturday; Here’s How To Win Tickets (And How To Buy Online)
May 7, 2021
The 30th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo will be Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway.
Tickets can now be purchased on GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/FL19840_1
Advance tickets are available at Farm and Nursery Mart, Hill Kelly Dodge, Barnes Feed Store Pensacola and Tate High School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children in advance and $12 and $5 at the gate. Children age 5 and under will be admitted free.
The ticket giveaway contest has ended. Winners were:
1. Carolyn Hostick
2. Stephanie Johnson Stabler
3. Marissa Skye Bullington
You won rodeo tickets. See the NorthEscambia facebook page. Two tickets for Friday or Saturday night will be at the main gate. You should have a photo ID just in case.
For more information about the Rodeo, call (850) 937-2308.
Sunny Weather Will Continue Through The Weekend
May 7, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
NWE Celebrates Northview Chiefs Baseball As They Head Into Regionals
May 7, 2021
Many of the little league players at Northwest Escambia (NWE) in Walnut Hill dream of one day playing baseball for the Northview High School Chiefs.
The NHS Chiefs are headed into the first round of regional playoffs Friday night. So Thursday night, the NWE players decided to celebrate them and wish them the very best.
NWE players presented each district champion NHS Chief with a goody bag that included treats like sports drinks and sunflower seeds, inspirational quotes, and notes of encouragement.
Northview will host Paxton at 7 p.m. Friday in Bratt. The winner will face either Jay or Holmes County in the regional final on May 11.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Concrete Pours Completed On The Last Two Spans Needed To Open Pensacola Bay Bridge
May 7, 2021
Work is continuing on repairs to the Pensacola Bay Bridge, and the Florida Department of Transportation says they are still on track to open two lanes of traffic on the bridge the week of May 31.
Overnight concrete pours are completed on the last two spans before the bridge can open.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Take Two On The Road Over Mississippi
May 7, 2021
The Blue Wahoos swept a doubleheader over the Mississippi Braves Thursday. The Wahoos won the first game 5-1 and shut out the Braves 6-0 in the second. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dean Swindal Graham
May 7, 2021
Mrs. Dean Swindal Graham, age 90, of Atmore, AL. passed away on Thursday May 6, 2021. She was born in Sprott, AL.to the late J.O. and Virgie Mae Swindal and was a retired elementary school teacher. In 1952 she graduated from her beloved Alabama College, now known as Montevallo. Dean taught school for most of her career at A.C. Moore in Atmore, where she had many special friends and colleagues. She was honored to be a “50” year member of Delta Kappa Gamma. A longtime member of First Baptist of Atmore, AL; she taught Sunday school and VBS; was a faithful member of WMU and served on many committees. Her faith, church and family were the delights of her life.
Mrs. Graham is preceded in death by the love of her life, Sam to whom she was married for “59” years and a granddaughter Jessica.
She leaves behind two daughters, Anne Sherrill (Kent) and Gayle Carpenter (Steve); two sons, David (Dale) and Steve (Tammy); four granddaughters, Samantha Graham; Lindsey Sherrill, Kate Sherrill and Meg Walston; four grandsons, Jason Graham, Christopher Graham, Evan Graham (Melea) and Doug Sherrill (Haley); four great grandchildren, with one on the way, Daniel Repasky, Jake, Harper, and Sawyer Walston.
A special thanks is given to her care givers, Angel Searcy, Jamie Dreadin and the ladies of “We are Family Home Health Care Services’ as well as the compassionate staff of Southern Care Hospice for their loving care of Mama.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 2:30 PM at the First Baptist Church., with Rev. Kevin Garrett officiating.
Private burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Atmore, AL. or Atmore Public Library.
FDOH Reports One New Escambia COVID-19 Death, 29 More cases
May 7, 2021
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY SEE NORTHESCAMBIA.COM FOR THE LATEST DATA.
The Florida Department of Health reported one additional death and 29 new COVID-19 cases in Escambia County on Thursday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 36,110 (+29)
Non-Florida residents: 3,620
Recovered: 33,558*
Total deaths: 690 (+2)
Long-term care facility deaths: 286 (+1)
Current hospitalizations: 29 (-2)
Number of tests reported last day: 639
Percent positive reported last day: 4.2%
Percent positive reported last week: 6.6%
Escambia County cases by location*:
Pensacola: 27,059 (+19)
Cantonment: 3,235 (+3)
Century: 1,178 (+2)
—-including 774 Century prison inmates
Molino: 494
McDavid: 212
Bellview: 58
Walnut Hill: 55
Perdido Key: 21
Gonzalez: 13
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 18,206 (+8)
Non-Florida residents: 249
Total deaths: 287
Long-term care facility deaths: 82
Cumulative Hospitalizations: 903*
Number of tests reported last day: 411
Percent positive reported last day: 2.9%
Santa Rosa County cases by location*:
Milton: 8,687 (+5)
Navarre: 3,758
Gulf Breeze: 3,357 (+3)
Pace: 1,479 (+1)
Jay: 550
Bagdad: 32
Florida cases:
Total cases: 2,258,433
Florida residents: 2,216,159
Deaths: 35,549
Hospitalizations: 91,652
*“Hospitalizations” in the statewide and Santa Rosa County totals is a count of all laboratory confirmed cases in which an inpatient hospitalization occurred at any time during the course of illness. Most of these people are longer be hospitalized. The FDOH does not provide a count of patients currently hospitalized. The Escambia County number is current data compiled each day from the local hospitals.
**On cases by location, the city is based upon zip code and is not always received as part of the initial notification. There may be a delay in reporting locations, and locations will not total the daily case increase as a result.
***The Florida Department of Health does not have a clear standard or definition of “recovered” and does not report a number of recovered individuals. Escambia County is reporting an approximate recovery number defined as the total cases prior to last month, minus deaths. In other words, anyone that tested positive more than a month ago is presumed to have recovered by Escambia County.
**Data Sources: Florida Department of Health, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, local hospitals.
Marjorie Faye Grimes Dennis Mathews
May 7, 2021
Marjorie Faye Grimes Dennis Mathews passed away Wednesday May 5th, 2021.
Marjorie was born July 6, 1935 in Pensacola, Florida. She graduated from Pensacola High School Class of 1953 and attended Pensacola College. She was a Former Executive Secretary (Monsanto), Plant Manager Secretary, Borax Company, Long Beach, CA., Secretary, Long Beach Naval Ship Yard- Ship System Command and California Civil Service, as well as a Church Secretary. She was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church, Pensacola, FL.
Marjorie is predeceased by her husband, MCPO Bobby Allen Mathews, father- Homer Hart Grimes, mother- Bessie Mae Dean Grimes, brother- Donald Hart Grimes.
Marjorie is survived by her children, Ellen Dennis Griffin (Jim), Stephanie Dennis Pitts and Steven Dennis (Jamie), grandchildren- Michael Griffith (Wynde), Terry Ollervides Jr, Ben Griffith (Kim), Jamie Fielding (Danny), Sarah Jack (Dave), Kristine Moore (Brian), and Kelly Dennis, Great grandchildren- Taylor Suggs, Terry Ollervides III (Sammara), Kelsey Ollervides, Callie O’Buckley, Austin Griffith, Haley Snyder, MacKenzie Ollervides, Claire Griffith, Aaron Fielding, Landon Moore and Lawson Moore, Great great grandchildren- Terry A. Ollervides, and Levi Ollervides.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Interment will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 11AM prior to services.