Blue Wahoos Get Series Opening Win Over Shuckers
August 18, 2021
The Wahoos fended off a late comeback-bid from the Biloxi Shuckers to win Tuesday’s series opener 2-1 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Leading 2-0 in the top of the eighth, turned a two-out error into a potential game-tying rally. After Galli Cribbs mishandled Alexander Palma’s groundball, Andrew Nardi walked back-to-back batters, which loaded the bases for Biloxi. That forced the Wahoos to bring in their closer, Colton Hock (S, 14), for a four-out save. The Shuckers brought in Chad Spanberger to pinch-hit (creating a right-on-left matchup), and he was able to draw a walk, which brought home Hayden Cantrelle (pinch-ran for Palma).
Fortunately for the Wahoos, Hock induced an inning-ending groundout from Gabe Holt to end the threat for the Shuckers. In the top of the ninth, Hock worked around a two-out single from Mitch Longo to close out the game and his 14th save of the year.
Kyle Nicolas (W, 2-0) did much of the heavy lifting for Pensacola to begin the game. The right-hander pitched five shutout innings and allowed three hits and four walks while striking out seven. In three starts at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Nicolas has pitched 15 shutout innings and has allowed a total of five hits, 11 walks, and has struck out 23.
Offensively, Pensacola took the lead in the third inning after Cribbs doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Peyton Burdick. The Wahoos doubled their edge in the fifth inning, when Burdick reached on an error and scored on JJ Bleday’s team-leading 17th double of the year. Chris Chinea also turned in a multi-hit performance with his 2-for-2 night that included a walk.
The home stand continues tomorrow night with RHP Max Meyer (6-1, 2.00) toeing the slab for Pensacola. Biloxi will send RHP Noah Zavolas (4-6, 5.01) to oppose him. Meyer in five previous starts against the Shuckers 3-0 with a 0.37 ERA (1 ER / 24.1 IP).
Donnie Lambert Nicholson
August 18, 2021
How do you define a lifetime? If you look at the simple definition, it is defined as the duration of one’s existence or usefulness. Many would say a lifetime encompasses one’s accomplishments or the places they have visited and seen. But as Donnie’s family, we would say a lifetime is defined as the countless number of people he loved and the impact he had on those around him. In his almost 71 years of life, the outpouring from our relatives, friends, and community has been simply nothing short of amazing and a true picture of the wonderful man that we knew as hun, daddy, and pa.
Growing up in Molino, his parents Rufus and Bertie Nicholson owned a cash house. If you are unaware of what a cash house is, it is like a general store. And in a time where Walmart or Dollar General did not exist, it is where you bought the things that you could not grow or make yourself. The cash house was in Old Molino and in that store, Donnie would grow up learning some of the most valuable lessons in life. He was expected to work hard, treat people with kindness, and it was where he was taught the true meaning of integrity. From the stories his mother and friends told, he could be mean as a rattlesnake but would also turn around and give you the shirt off his back.
He attended Tate High School where he played baseball and also met the love of his life, Jackie. Graduating in 1968, Donnie left for Tennessee attending tech school to become a certified diesel mechanic. On Friday afternoons, Donnie would leave his last class to make the long drive back to Molino to see Jackie. After completing his certification and Jackie graduating high school, they were married August 29, 1969, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. This month would have been their 52nd wedding anniversary.
Some may not know, but Donnie served in the U.S. Army. He was drafted in 1970 and stationed in Ft. Lee, Virginia. In 1972, his father passed away and being the only son in his family, he was honorably discharged of his duties after serving almost two years. After the Army, Donnie continued his professional journey working for various contractors until he was hired on with Flor-Daniels. At Flor-Daniels he was certified a welder/pipe fitter and worked for
them for 20 years. He was later hired at International Paper. Donnie would continue working at International Paper for 18 more years and retired in 2012.
Over the years, Donnie did some pretty amazing things. He and Jackie had two daughters, Charlene and Amanda. They were blessed with three grandchildren, Austin, Jared, and Violet and one great grandchild, Hazel. Donnie loved his community and he loved people. He attended Aldersgate United Methodist Church where if you were a member or just visiting, you would have met or heard Donnie when you entered the front doors. He greeted everyone with a smile and a big HEY! When he was younger, Donnie served as a firefighter for the Molino Volunteer Fire Department and later became captain for many years. He was an avid field trailsman for the Northwest Florida Pointer and Setter Club and served on the board. He loved to hunt and fish, and there wasn’t much that he did not hunt. Trips to Saint Vincent’s Island to hunt deer or quail hunting in Texas with Uncle Jamie, he was always on the go. The same was for fishing, though he loved his freshwater fishing best. He taught his grandsons how to hunt and fish and loved to go with them every chance he could.
Over thirty years ago, Donnie and Jackie asked their daughter Amanda if she wanted to play ball and she said yes. No one knew how that moment would shape the future of softball for so many in our community. And from that moment on, Donnie started coaching. With his passion for the game, love for his family, and dedication to the community, Donnie would go on to coach many girls and many different teams. He dedicated his time to those that wanted to play.
If you needed extra help, he would say meet me at the ballpark. If you needed to know where Donnie was, you could check the Tom Thumb getting coffee for him and Jackie or check at the ballpark. He volunteered his time wherever it was needed, especially when it came to softball. From helping other coaches, ball parents, and even the high school players and their coaches, to simply going to watch one of his previous players at their college game, he chased his passion. He followed the careers of his softball girls, attended their games, even recruited for his next season team while attending those games, all the while doing what he loved.
These words only give you a sample of Donnie’s lifetime and glimmer of the how many people that crossed his path. A true testament to the man we loved is receiving the outpouring of love from our community and family. We have been blessed as a family to call him husband, dad, and pa, but even more blessed that we could share our wonderful person with the sport he loved the most and the people that loved it with him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Donnie’s passions:
Molino Ball Park – Girl’s Softball
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Services and important information:
Ball Practice (Viewing)
Friday – August 20
5-7 p.m. Faith Chapel North
Game Day (Service)
Field – Aldersgate Cemetery, behind Highland Baptist Church
Saturday – August 21 10 a.m.
The family requests that all precautions be taken for COVID and wearing a mask are required. This horrible disease took a great man. We want you and our family safe. For those attending graveside, please come dressed cool and comfortably. Coach Donnie was always casual and the weather will be hot.
Robbie Lynn Carnley
August 18, 2021
Mrs. Robbie Lynn Carnley, age 39, passed away, August 18, 2021, in Atmore, AL. She was a lifelong resident of Flomaton, AL. She worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail courier for 20 plus years. She was a member of Little Escambia Baptist Church.
Mrs. Carnley loved her family dearly and always valued the time she spent with them. She was involved in her children’s cheering and their sports activities. She enjoyed painting, remodeling her house and vacationing with her family. She loved the Christmas holidays out of any other holiday because she loved decorating for it.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Louise Ellis, Howard and Eunice Stanton.
She is survived by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Steve (Christine) Stanton, of Flomaton, AL; her husband of four years Jerry Wayne Carnley of Flomaton, AL; two sons, Jerry Wayne Carnley III, of Flomaton, AL; Cooper Nathaniel Carnley, of Flomaton, AL; two daughters, Amber Burkett, of Flomaton, Lilly Sutton, of Flomaton, AL; relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 22, 2021, at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Jonathan Hill, Rev. Waylon Stuckey, and Rev. Jeff Howard officiating.
Burial will follow at Little Escambia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 21, 2021, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Johnathan Bondurant, Brian Conway, Kenny Fehl, Zach Carter, Wayne Sullivan, and Jimmy White.
Flomaton’s Hurricane Lake Closed Due To Alligator
August 17, 2021
Hurricane Lake in Flomaton is closed due to an alligator in the lake.
Town officials said the gates to the lake and the walking trail around it are closed until further notice. The rest of the park remains open.
Hurricane Lake will remain closed until the alligator is removed in the next few days.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accidental Electrical Fire Guts Beulah Building
August 17, 2021
Fire gutted a metal outbuilding Monday in Beulah, and now Escambia Fire Rescue has determined it was an accidental electrical fire.
Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke showing from the building in the 7600 block of Mobile Highway, near the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
Crews brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes, but the building and contents were a total loss.
There were no injuries reported.
The Beulah, Ensley, Bellview, Osceola, and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County EMS.
Editor’s note: The top reader submitted photo was apparently taken through a window and shows some reflections.
Reader submitted (top) and courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Woman Killed Her Special Needs Daughter Inside Her Hospital Room, PPD Says
August 17, 2021
A woman has been charged with allegedly killing her 14-year old special needs daughter while she was in her bed at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Jessica Bortle, 34, of Bonifay, was charged with manslaughter for the death of 14-year old Jasmine Singletary.
Pensacola Police said Singletary — a special needs patients with a neuromuscular disorder — was in her room at Sacred Heart with her grandmother and Bortle.
Jasmine unexpectedly lost consciousness and stopped breathing, police said. Hospital staff began life saving procedures, but those efforts were unsuccessful and Jasmine died.
The autopsy showed that Jasmine had suffered massive injuries to her ribs and her liver. Those injuries were not present when she was admitted to the hospital.
Pensacola Police investigators said they determined that the injuries were caused by Bortle. An arrest report states told police that she “slammed the hospital table into Singletary’s abdomen and then leaned onto the table with her weight” after she became angry after Jasmine cussed at her over color crayons.
The report indicates the grandmother gave a similar account of Singletary’s actions.
The investigation is ongoing.
“The Pensacola Police Department extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Jasmine Singletary,” the department said in a release.
“The loss of Jasmine was an unimaginable tragedy for those who loved her and it was heart-breaking for the nurses and doctors in our Children’s Hospital who cared for her. We send our deepest sympathies and our prayers for her family and all who knew her,” Ascension Sacred Heart said in a statement Tuesday morning.
ECSO Report: Man ‘Beat’ Wife, Bit Her Ear, Shot At Her As She Ran For Help
August 17, 2021
A local man is charged with assaulting his wife, “beating” her, biting her ear and shooting at her as she ran away.
William Scott Taylor Janes, 49, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and battery domestic violence.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Enon community southwest of Walnut Hill where the victim told deputies that her husband assaulted her, bit her ear and shot at her.
Janes was taken into custody, with deputies noting in their report that he appeared to be heavily intoxicated and had blood on his pants.
The victim told deputies that Janes had been drinking heavily for days and became angry because she wanted to go to church without him. He then “beat her” and bit her ear causing a permanent injury, according to an arrest report. She refused to elaborate further on the specifics of “beat her”.
She ran toward a neighbor’s house and heard at least two gunshots as he stated that he was going to kill her, the report continues.
According to the ECSO, Janes stated that he had been drinking, went to sleep, and did not remember anything else.
Janes remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $95,000.
Former Walnut Hill Firefighter Named Alabama Fire Chief Of The Year
August 17, 2021
A former volunteer firefighter from Walnut Hill has been named Alabama’s fire chief of the year.
Joey Darby began his firefighting career with the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department in 1992 while he was still a senior at Ernest Ward High School. He worked his way up through the ranks, becoming a battalion chief for the Auburn Fire Department before being named chief of the Foley Fire Department in 2009.
He was recognized recently as the Fire Chief of the Year for the State of Alabama by the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs.
“Being recognized by my peers as the 2020 Alabama Fire Chief of the Year is a great honor, and I am humbled to have been selected. I have been blessed to serve the City of Foley, and I look forward to continuing in that service,” Darby said after the ceremony.
Darby says that his initial plans were to become an electrical engineer, but those changed when he had the opportunity to work for the City of Auburn as a student firefighter while attending Auburn University.
He became active in the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs (AAFC) in 2006, and served on the executive board for many years, including president in 2013-2014. He also served as the AAFC appointment to the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission for the past eight years.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO: Cantonment Man Assaulted Girlfriend Outside Chicken Restaurant, Fled From Deputies
August 17, 2021
A Cantonment man is facing charges after allegedly fighting with his girlfriend, driving toward her and another woman outside a local chicken restaurant and then fleeing from deputies when they caught up with him.
Bartow Kendrell Cobb, 21, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of battery domestic violence, aggravated assault domestic violence, aggravated assault, grand theft, fleeing and eluding from law enforcement, and possession of marijuana.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she was in a verbal argument with Cobb in the parking lot of Zaxby’s just off Pine Forest Road when Cobb became violent toward her, hitting her with his fists, slapping her in the face with his open hand, and repeatedly pulling her by her hair.
Cobb then drove around the building, driving at his girlfriend and another female before tossing some of the girlfriend’s belongings out of the vehicle, according to an arrest report. She stated he kept $800 that was in the vehicle.
Deputies responded to Cobb’s address on Irene Lane in Cantonment. Bartow reportedly fled in a Ford Fusion. Deputies attempted a traffic stop with lights and sirens activated, but Cobb drove away at a high rate of speed, the report states. Deputies followed the vehicle as it turned onto Muscogee Road, south of Booker Street, to Highway 297A to Kingsfield Road. They lost sight of the vehicle in sharp curves on Kingfield Road at Westmoreland Road. They reported that vehicle reached speeds of 80 mph.
Another deputy spotted the vehicle on Nine Mile Road at Beulah Road. Deputies pursued the vehicle north on Beulah Road to Kingsfield Road. The pursuit was terminated a short time later due to high speeds.
Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies located Cobb a few days later at Country Inn and Suites on Wilde Lake Boulevard. When he was arrested on outstanding warrants, deputies reported finding almost 60 grams of marijuana in the room, a loaded handgun, ammunition, $539 in cash, two digital scales and two cell phones.
Cobb was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
ECSO Seeks Cantonment Catalytic Converter Thief
August 17, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help to identify a suspect that cut catalytic converters from vehicles located on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
The suspect pictured allegedly cut a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked at Faith Chapel Funeral Home on July 18. He was driving the vehicle pictured below.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
