Helen Ward Of Walnut Hill Is Celebrating Her 100th Birthday, And You’re Invited
April 29, 2023
Helen Ward of Walnut Hill is turning 100, and the public is invited to the celebration.
A 100th birthday celebration will be held Sunday, April 30 from 2-4 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church, 5741 Arthur Brown Road. Family asks for no gifts.
Helen Ward’s 100th birthday is May 2.
Navy Secretary Commits To Further NAS Pensacola Museum Access
April 29, 2023
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro committed to taking further action to allow public access to the museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola, including access to the museum without entering through the base.
His comments came in response to an inquiry from Congressman Matt Gaetz during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on the Navy’s 2024 budget request.
Del Toro told Gaetz that the Department of the Navy is focused and actively working on near-term and long-term solutions to maximize public access to the National Naval Aviation Museum.
“Congressman, I’ve been working with you, your staff, local politicians, and the leadership of that museum actually to try to get the throughput through that museum open as quickly as possible,” Del Toro said. “We’ve come up with some near term solutions, but we’re also focused on finding the long term solutions that actually bring it back to maximum throughput for that museum for all the reasons that you just stated because it is an extraordinary museum.”
“Where I at times struggle with folks is seeing the museum not just as a morale and welfare tool, but as a recruiting tool. Do you see it as a recruiting tool,” Gaetz asked.
“I absolutely see it as a recruiting tool,” Del Toro replied. “I saw it from the first day that I stepped in it. We have actually been very energized, and we’ve come up with some near-term solutions to increase the throughput that already paid off dividends, but we’re also looking at the long term solutions that are a little bit more costly to be able to provide a direct access to the outside world without having to have folks come in through the base itself.”
Gaetz responded, “Well, thank you for casting in that lens because if it’s a matter of dollars and cents, and I have to ask my colleagues to support such an endeavor in the NDAA, I’ll certainly cite your testimony that this isn’t just a museum for the sake of recreation, but it is a way to engage people in naval aviation in a place that’s the home of the Blue Angels – the cradle of naval aviation.”
Milton Slips Past Tate 4-3 (With Gallery)
April 29, 2023
The Tate Aggies fell just short of a comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Milton Panthers Friday night at Tate.
Milton held a 4-0 lead by the third inning, but the Aggies had three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Kate Balagbagan went for two and a third innings for Tate, giving up eight hits and four runs while striking out one. Jordan Smith went for four and two-thirds in the circle, allowing no hits and no runs while recording no strikeouts and two walks.
Kara Wine was 2-3 at the plate to lead the Aggies. Blakely Campbell, C Vinson, Amber Laird and Peyton Womack added one hit each.
The game closed the regular season for the Lady Aggies as they head into the district playoffs next week.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
FHP Says New Evidence Indicates Different Wrong-Way Driver Caused Fatal I-110 Crash
April 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol says new evidence “strongly suggests” that a female driver was at fault in an April 22 fatal wrong-way crash on I-110.
Following the crash, troopers said a 38-year old Escambia County man was driving his car northbound in the southbound lanes of the elevated portion of I-110 near Garden Street at 4:03 a.m.. His vehicle collided with another car driven south by a 24-year old Pace woman.
The 24-year old woman was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The 38-year old man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Friday, FHP said that further investigation suggests it was the Pace woman traveling the wrong-way, and the Pensacola man was traveling the correct direction.
“Both families have been informed that new evidence has been discovered that may strongly suggest the female driver was actually traveling in the wrong direction and not the deceased,” FHP Lt. Jason King told NorthEscambia.com on Friday.
He went on to explain how their determination changed.
“When the press release was originally pushed out, that was a preliminary investigation based on what we had at the time of arrival on scene,” King said. “Our traffic homicide investigators are dedicated men and women who focus on their investigations. They’re very thorough and focus on all evidence receive which is why we take a little bit of extra time to complete a traffic homicide report. As a neutral party in investigation, our job is to ensure all details, and all evidence is received, reviewed and vetted as we continue our investigation for a final conclusion of what actually occurred. Our goal is to find closure for all that have been involved.”
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Ragsdale Homers As Northview Drops Regular Season Finale To Crestview
April 29, 2023
The Crestview Bulldogs downed Northview 5-1 Friday night in Crestview.
Chloe Ragsdale had a homer for the Chiefs over the center field fence for Northview’s only run as she went 1-4. Jamison Gilman, Emma Gilmore and Makala Golson were all 2-3 at the plate.
Gilman was in the circle for two innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out two. Emma Gilmore threw four innings, giving five runs, three hits and striking out four.
The game wrapped up the regular season for the Chiefs (13-11) as they move into the district playoffs next week.
Pictured: Northview’s Chloe Ragdale hit a homerun Friday at Crestview. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Monteverde Shines Again As Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight
April 29, 2023
Patrick Monteverde continued his dominant start to the season on Friday night, twirling 7.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits 6-0 for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Monteverde (W, 3-0) has now allowed only one earned run over his first 26.0 innings for a miniscule ERA of 0.35. The Blue Wahoos pitching staff has not allowed a run in 20.0 consecutive frames dating back to the seventh inning of Wednesday’s win.
After a scoreless first three innings, Victor Mesa Jr. got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a three-run homer off Cole Wilcox (L, 0-1) in the top of the fourth. Dane Myers led off the fifth with a triple, and scored on a Nasim Nuñez sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-0.
Joe Rizzo blasted a two-run homer in the seventh to close the scoring, and Myers helped preserve the shutout with a strong throw from left field in the bottom of the inning to cut down Ronny Simon attempting to score Montgomery’s first run.
Josan Méndez and Sean Reynolds worked the final two innings out of Pensacola’s bullpen, helping the Blue Wahoos draw to within 2.0 games of the first-place Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday evening.
by Erik Bremer, photo courtesy Blue Wahoos
Commander Edmund William Berry, USN
April 29, 2023
Commander Edmund William Berry, USN, Retired left for his final duty station on Wednesday, the 26th of April, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his brothers, Dan, Tim, and Joe; his sister Ann; two daughters, Ann and Emily, and four grandchildren, who have learned over the years to appreciate his quick sense of humor, his fun-loving personality, and his love of good Irish whiskey.
Born to a Marine Corps pilot and a first-generation Irish immigrant in Cherry Point, North Carolina, Ed grew up with a love of the outdoors that continued throughout his life. He hunted, fished, and boated whenever he had the chance—until he discovered the greatest sport of all time: golf. When Uncle Sam came calling during the Vietnam War, he signed up to join the Navy based on the promise he could fly. Twenty-two years and a master’s degree later he had not only flown, but had taught others to fly, influenced national security decision making, and become an adjunct professor of same through the Naval War College.
After he retired in 1994 Ed followed his wife’s career back to Pensacola where their love story began so many years prior and took up substitute teaching and volunteer work to fill his days in meaningful ways. Through Civitan International and church service he touched the lives of countless local families. He enriched the choir of St. Jude Thaddeus church every Sunday by picking up as many harmonies as he could with his rich voice, strong in the belief that making a joyful noise unto the Lord was the best form of worship.
Ed was the life of every party he attended and was renowned for his smoked meats and baking prowess. His passionate and playful approach to life helped him build powerful bonds with his grandchildren, who have always been his biggest fans. His stories kept everyone around him laughing even as he lost his twenty-one month battle with pancreatic cancer. He will always be remembered as the embodiment of the saying “love conquers all.”
Visitation will be at Faith Chapel North funeral home in Cantonment, FL from 5-7 PM on Thursday, May 4th. A funeral Mass will be said at St. Jude Thaddeus church on Friday, May 5th at 10:30 AM, with graveside service to follow at Barrancas National Cemetery at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you contribute to the charity of your choice in Ed’s name.
Four Displaced After Fire Involving Exploding Ammo And Flammables Damages Home
April 28, 2023
Flammables and exploding ammunition reportedly contributed to a fire that heavily damaged a home just north of East Kingsfield Road Friday morning.
The fire was reported about 8:50 a.m. in the 2800 block of Silent Wood Drive. Firefighters arrived to find the home’s garage and a car in the driveway fully involved in fire. Callers to 911 described hearing explosions coming from the garage .
Escambia County Fire Rescue said that ammunition and other flammables in the garage contributed to the explosions.
The fire was extinguished by 9:30 a.m. The exact cause of the blaze was under investigation.
The American Red Cross was called to assist four occupants that were displaced by the fire.
Pictured: A fire heaving damaged a home and destroyed a car Friday morning on Silent Wood Drive. Photos from WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accused NWE Little League Treasurer Pleads Not Guilty To Fraud, Grand Theft
April 28, 2023
The former treasurer of the Northwest Escambia Little League has pleaded not guilty.
Paula Star Pugh, 48, was charged with grand theft $10,000 to $20,000 and fraud under $20,000. Both charges are third degree felonies. She was released on a $2,500 bond 22 minutes after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail on April 17.
A not guilty plea and a waiver of appearance at a scheduled May 12 arraignment was filed this week on Pugh’s behalf by her attorneys.
White was accused of fraudulent transactions using the NWE bank account totalling $16, 977.87.
According to a warrant affidavit, the transactions included numerous cash ATM withdrawals from an Atmore bank; purchases from Shell Oil and Papa John’s Pizza in Tampa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods Online; and eight checks payable to “cash” that were signed by Pugh totaling $9,226. The transactions are detailed in the image below.
RELATED STORY: NWE Little League Treasurer Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud
Editor’s note: Northwest Escambia Little League is not affiliated with Northwest Escambia (NWE) Football & Cheer at Bradberry Park.
Patchy Fog Overnight; Rain For Saturday
April 28, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Areas of fog before 10am. High near 77. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 51. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.