Congressman Gaetz To Host Legislative Update Friday Evening In Jay
June 8, 2023
Congressman Matt Gaetz will host a “Legislative Update” Friday evening in Jay.
The event will take place at Scott’s Outdoors at 3898 West Highway 4 in Jay at 5:30 p.m. Free tickets are available here.
Gaetz is expected to provide an update on his work in Washington and in Florida’s First Congressional District, along with answering questions from the community.
The event is expected to last about an hour and a half.
Florida Disaster Sales Tax Holiday Ends Friday
June 8, 2023
The first of two Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays ends Friday. Floridians are expected to save an estimated $144 million on the purchase of tax-free items.
Eligible items include flashlights, batteries, tarps, generators, fuel containers, and coolers. Some new items included in this year’s list are toilet paper, paper towels, soap, sunscreen, cleaning products and trash bags.
A second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday will run August 26 through September 8. A complete list of items is below.
No Injuries In Bratt Crossroads Crash
June 8, 2023
There were no injuries when a driver struck a pole Wednesday night at the Bratt Crossroads.
The crash happened about about 8:50 p.m. at the intersection of West Highway 4 and North Highway 99. The driver struck a wooden pole that supports the flashing traffic signals at the intersection. The pole and signals were not damaged.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Clear, About 70 Tonight
June 8, 2023
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. North wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 70. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Free Food Distribution Saturday In Gonzalez
June 8, 2023
Gonzalez Baptist Church will host a food distribution on Saturday, June 10 beginning at noon and continuing while supplies last.
The distribution will include canned goods, dry goods and fresh produce.
Gonzalez Baptist Church is located at 1590 Pauline Street, at the corner of old Chemstrand and Pauline, one block off Highway 29.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tonight’s High School All-Star Softball, Baseball Games Postponed
June 8, 2023
UPDATE 4:30 PM — Tonight’s scheduled Pensacola Sports High School All-Star Series baseball and softball games have been postponed due to weather. The new date and time will be announced soon.
Previous story:
West teams are composed of just-graduated seniors from Escambia County. West teams are players from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Softball begins at 6 p.m. and baseball at 6:30 p.m. at Pensacola State College. For each game, tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students from GoFan.
West Baseball
Head Coach: Justin O’Quinn, Washington High
Zachary Beaver — Pine Forest — SS/P
Allen Beasley — Pine Forest — 1B
Tate Sanders — Escambia — 1B/3B
Tait Anderson — Escambia — C/OF
Jacob Smith — Escambia — RHP
Chandler Gither — Escambia — RHP/C
Blake Clonts — Escambia — 2B/3B/OF
Drew Reaves — Tate — SS/RHP
Frankie Randall — Tate — 2B
Rilee Lowery — Tate — RHP
Ethan McAnally — Tate — 1B/RHP
Jay Davis — Tate — OF/RHP
Tyler Pinney — West Florida — 1B/P
Gavin King — West Florida — 3B/2B
Jay Henderson — West Florida — CF
Anthony Longo — Washington — C
Avanti Anderson, Jr. — Washington — 3B/2B
Mike Smith Jr. — Catholic — CF/OF
Will Barter — Catholic — C
Zack DeJesus — Catholic — LF/OF
Will Krehely — Catholic — P/OF
Jonah Cook — Catholic — P/1B
Rustin Pope — Northview — C
Kaden Odom — Northview — SS
Jamarkus Jefferson — Northview — 3B/1B
East Baseball
Head Coach: George Sands, Rocky Bayou High
Brock Marello — Niceville — SS/OF
Kai Bailey — Niceville — 1B
Jackson McKenzie — Pace — 1B
Alex McCranie — Pace — SS/2B/P
Ty Humphreys — Pace — RF/1B
Matthew Musgrove — Pace — C
Josh Senterfitt — Laurel Hill — 1B
Javin Shoemaker — Crestview — C/SS
Bryson Martin — Crestview — OF/RHP
Robby Kopp — Crestview — OF
Aiden Justice — Crestview — CF
Eli Lowry — Jay — P/OF
Kade Gilbreath — Jay — 2B/SS
Brayden Dykes — Milton — RHP
Deyton Powell — Milton — OF
Hudson Bartolomei — Rocky Bayou — OF/P
Ben Cline — Rocky Bayou — CF/OF
Donovan Monsees — Choctaw — RHP/1B
Ashton Wasielewski — Choctaw — C/RHP
Alex Kruse — Fort Walton Beach — P/CF/1B
Josh Noll — Fort Walton Beach — P
Troy Coughlin — Gulf Breeze — 1B/2B
Seth Frantz — Gulf Breeze — RF/CF
Jacob Pinardo — Gulf Breeze — C/2B
Quinton Renfroe — Gulf Breeze — 1B/P
West Softball
Head Coach: Holly Brown, Catholic High
Alissa White — Pine Forest — OF/INF
Patrice Rudolph — Pine Forest — SS/3B
Rheanna Bourgeois — Escambia — SS
Abbie McNair — Escambia — 2B/OF
Trinity Brown — Escambia — OF
Belle Clark — Escambia — OF/1B
Leah Smith — Escambia — OF
Aubrey Stuckey — Northview — P/1B
Emma Gilmore — Northview — P
Mariah Golson — West Florida — OF
Karah Barajas — West Florida — Utility
Amissa McDaniel — West Florida — 3B
Charli Vinson — Tate — 1B/3B
Mackenzie Cook — Tate — 3B/2B
Caitlyn Cameron — Washington — P/1B
Kelly Cameron — Washington — 1B/P
Rachael Ludwig — Catholic — P/1B
Victoria Bruder — Catholic — 3B/1B
Kimsey Lawrence — Pensacola — 2B/SS
East Softball
Head Coach: Chelsea McGehee, Gulf Breeze High
Morgan Kronlage — Gulf Breeze — 1B/OF
Kaylee King — Gulf Breeze — SS/3B
Erika Earl — Gulf Breeze — CF/OF
Kamille Lucas — Milton — OF/P
Audrey Luedtke — Milton — C/1B
Ashley Leach — Laurel Hill — SS
Riley Forbes — Pace — OF/CF/LF
Bethany Dean — Pace — 2B/OF
Mary Owens — Niceville — 3B/C
Grace Langston — Niceville — CF/SS
Halaigh Sallee — Niceville — 3B/P
Alaynah Smith — Baker — P/RF
Jolee Sloan — Baker — SS
Caitlyn Gavin — Jay — 2B/SS
Kassidy Nevels — Jay — RF/OF
Jenna Toups — Jay — P/1B
Cailyn Cooke — Navarre — C/OF
Harmony Stafford — Navarre — SS/OF
Jessi Farrer — Navarre — OF/P
Alyanni Enriquez — FWB — SS/2B/OF
Tess Tolliver — FWB — 1B/3B
Alex Carrol — Crestview — C
Riley Bowles — Crestview — CF
Fitterer Shines, But Blue Wahoos Lose Seesaw Battle to Biscuits
June 8, 2023
Evan Fitterer wove one of his best starts in a season for the Blue Wahoos that he has punctuated with several other qualifiers.
But on this night, the bullpen couldn’t make it complete.
The Montgomery Biscuits rallied in each of the final three innings for an 8-5 victory Wednesday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium on the first mid-week summer fireworks night of the season.
Most of a near-capacity crowd (4,777) remained to watch a popular addition with the team hosting a fireworks show on Wednesdays in June and July home games. The fans also had their opportunity to play baseball bingo.
The Blue Wahoos (32-21) provided some sparkle. They regained leads in the sixth and seven innings, only to have the Biscuits answer against Blue Wahoos relievers. Montgomery put the game away with a third consecutive multi-run inning in the ninth.
Fitterer, a right-hander ranked as the Miami Marlins’ 27th overall prospect, made his eighth start Wednesday. He produced a career-high nine strikeouts in six innings. He allowed just three hits and two runs. Fitterer threw 95 pitches, 57 for strikes. He faced just 22 batters – four above the minimum – in his outing.
The Blue Wahoos’ Cody Morissette put him in line for a win after he blasted a two-run, go-ahead homer out of the ballpark, traveling 433 feet over the right-center berm.
But that 3-2 lead quickly evaporated in the top of the seventh. The Blue Wahoos’ first reliever, Zach Willeman, did not record an out. He hit the first batter he faced, then walked the next two. After Evan Edwards followed with a single, Willeman was pulled for Dylan Bice, who allowed another run, but escaped worse damage.
But the Blue Wahoos answered back with their at-bat in the seventh. Dane Myers led off with a walk. He then stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Troy Johnston was hit by a pitch. José Devers then flared a single for the tying run.
After Devers was picked off first, Will Banfield hit a sacrifice fly to score Johnston for the go-ahead run.
The Biscuits seized the lead for good in the eighth inning on a two-run bomb by Heriberto Hernandez on a two-out fastball from Bice.
Devers went 2-for-4 for the Blue Wahoos, highlighted by his solo homer in the third. Griffin Conine continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-3 with a walk.
The series continues on Thursday with Pensacola taking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets on Mullet Thursday. The team will wear their Mullets uniforms.
The Blue Wahoos will have M.D. Johnson (0-2, 5.63) on the mound against the Biscuits’ Cole Wilcox (0-4, 5.23).
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Arson Investigation Underway After Fire At Century Mobile Home
June 7, 2023
Authorities are investigating a suspected arson Wednesday morning in Century.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a reported mobile home structure fire at the end of Mays Street off Jefferson Avenue about 10:53 a.m.
The fire was quickly reported to be out with only minor damage reported.
“On the (back) side of the structure, there did appear to be multiple ignition points, leading to the suspicion of arson,” Escambia County Public Information Officer Davis Wood said. “There was no fire extension to the interior of the home.”
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
There was no electric service yet to the mobile home, which appeared to be new and recently set up on the property.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FHP: Escambia Motorcycle Deputy Injured In Crash With SUV During Escort
June 7, 2023
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle patrol deputy was injured when his motorcycle struck a SUV during an escort Wednesday morning.
The 48-year old male deputy was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with leg injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Florida Highway Patrol provided the following details on how the crash happened:
“A group of Escambia County Sheriff patrol motorcycles were escorting a large passenger bus westbound on East Nine Mile Road. As the escort approached the East Nine Mile Road / Pensacola Boulevard intersection at the southbound ramp, the rider of the lead motorcycle position his bike in the intersection to control traffic. The driver of an eastbound SUV came to a stop partially in the intersection. The second motorcycle came and relieved the first motorcycle and took over the traffic control duties at the intersection. The passenger bus entered the intersection to turn left but stopped due to the SUV had prevented the passenger bus from making a wide turn. The deputy then waved the SUV through the intersection as the third motorcycle turned left to attempt to move up in the procession. The third motorcycle collided into the SUV in the intersection.”
The 40-year old female SUV driver was not injured.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Investigation Underway After Suspicious Vehicle With Bullet Holes Located In Bratt
June 7, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a suspicious vehicle with bullet holes was found abandoned by the road in Bratt Wednesday morning.
The vehicle was on the roadside next to a field on Cecils Road just off North Highway 99, near a Bratt-Davisville Water System water tower.
The ECSO said shell casings were located in the area, and it appears certain that the driver was not in the vehicle at the time it was shot.
The driver was later located and had no injuries.
The investigation is continuing.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
