Missed Chances Doom Pensacola In Loss To Rocket City
April 19, 2024
by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos failed multiple times earlier in the game to cash in scoring opportunities.
They paid for it at the end.
The Rocket City Trash Pandas took advantage of two walks and a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt to score a pair of ninth inning runs and beat Pensacola 5-3 on Mullet Thursday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Taking on their alternate identity as the Pensacola Mullets and wearing specialty jerseys, the crowd was energized by Tanner Allen’s big night, headlined by his game-tying homer in the seventh inning off renown flamethrower Ben Joyce.
After watching a pair of fastballs at 103 mph from the former Tennessee Vols star, Allen jumped on the next one at 99 mph and sent a laser into the right field berm for a two-run homer to knot the score at 3-3.
It was part of a 4-for-4 night at the plate for Allen, a Mobile-area native and Mississippi State star of the Bulldogs’ College World Series championship team in 2021. By far, he’s been Pensacola’s top player so far this season, batting .333.
Allen drove in the Mullets other run with his second inning single.
But Pensacola stranded seven runners in scoring position, including twice with runners on third base.
Rocket City took a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning on right fielder Tucker Flint’s no-doubter homer into right center off Mullets reliever Jeff Lindgren.
Starter Valente Bellozo had a much better second outing Thursday. He battled through five innings, allowing four hits and only one run with nine strikeouts.
In the seventh, Rocket City summoned Joyce in his first appearance this week. He made his major league debut last season, appearing in 12 games for the Los Angeles Angels.
On this night, while his fastball regularly exceeded 100-plus mph, the Blue Wahoos hitters were jumping on it. Bennett Hostetler led off the seventh with a double into the gap. Joyce had a 1-1 count on Allen when his fastball was perfectly timed and driven out of the ballpark.
He then walked the next batter Dalvy Rosario, who stole second base with one out. Joyce got out of the inning with a strikeout and groundout.
In the top of the night, Blue Wahoos reliever Matt Pushard walked the first two batters he faced. Caleb Hamilton, who played in Pensacola for the Blue Wahoos in 2019 as a Minnesota Twins prospect, dropped down a perfect bunt that Pushard fielded, but his throw sailed over first baseman Jacob Berry’s glove leading to two runs and deciding the game.
It gave the Trash Pandas (7-5) their first back-to-back wins in Pensacola in their four-year history. Rocket City had won just twice in the ballpark before this week.
The Blue Wahoos (5-7) will try to even the series tomorrow with righthander Evan Fitterer on the mound.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Rocket City Trash Pandas vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Friday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Boil Water Notice Issued For Portion Of, West Roberts, Stallion Road Areas
April 18, 2024
THIS BOIL WATER ADVISORY WAS LIFTED ON APRIL 20.
Due to a broken four-inch water main, ECUA has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of an area off West Roberts Road.
Precautionary Boil Water Notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes:
- 885 W.Roberts Rd.
- 2641~2708 Stallion Rd.
- 2666~2906 Monica Ln.
- 895 Colt Ln.
- 2822- 2849 Pierce Rd.
Residents located in the specified boil water notice area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours, and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the repairs and flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
One Injured In Highway 29 Collision Involving Transit Bus With Seven Passengers
April 18, 2024
One person was injured in a crash involving a transit bus with seven passengers Thursday morning on Highway 29 near Tate School Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a Honda SUV driven by a 36-year-old woman was traveling north on Highway 29 and attempted a left turn onto Tate School Road about 7:30 a.m.
Troopers said a transit bus traveling south on Highway 29 collided with the side of the SUV. The SUV left the roadway and came to rest in the wood-line after the crash. The bus came to a stop blocking one lane of Highway 29.
Escambia County Public Information Officer Davis Wood said the transit vehicle was owned by a private company, not Escambia County.
FHP reported that everyone involved suffered minor injuries. Wood said one person was transported by Escambia County EMS and the remainder refused transport.
The transit bus was driven by a 29-year-old female. The passengers ranged in age from 35 to 74 years old.
An injury crash that occurred Wednesday afternoon in the same area sent one person to the hospital.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Commits Quarter Million Dollars In Expenditures Not On Agenda During Final Minutes Of Meeting
April 18, 2024
The Century Town council committed up to nearly a quarter million dollars on items not on the agenda in the final minutes of a two-hour meeting this week, not providing any opportunity for public comment prior to their votes.
The council voted unanimously to allow Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. to hire Clear Water Solutions for a period not to exceed one year for a monthly fee of $19,464 — up to $233,568 in one year — to take over the operations of the town’s water and wastewater departments.
The item was not on the meeting’s agenda but was brought up by Gomez during his “Mayor’s Report” to the council.
“I’ll give you a minute to look over that,” Gomez said as he passed a document out to council members. The document was not provided to the council, the public, or the media prior to the meeting as part of the weekly agenda package. NorthEscambia.com made a public records request by email to Gomez, interim Town manager Howard Brown, and staff member Mallory Walker early Wednesday morning by email and received no response or acknowledgement by Thursday publication time
Just 21 seconds after passing out the information to the council for their first look, Gomez commenced discussion on hiring the company.
After the involuntary resignation of Heath Burkett, Century’s water and wastewater superintendent, last month, council member Alisha Johnston took over his duties as an unpaid volunteer. She is a state-certified operator in both areas. The transition came as the town after the town came under several warning letters from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The town has advertised three water and wastewater jobs for weeks but received little response.
Johnson blamed the lackluster response a lot of bad press and the fact that the town’s operations are being closely monitored by DEP following the warning letters.
Gomez said the town is “getting ready to release Ms. Johnson back out into the world” and that she would no longer be able to provide free water and wastewater leadership, necessitating the services of Clear Water.
Gomez did not specify how any bids may have been received for the services.
A little more than six minutes after seeing the first information about Clear Water, the council unanimously approved the mayor’s recommendation to hire Clear Water.
Washington Trip
During the “Council Comments” portion at the end of the meeting, the council — including council member Shelisa Abraham — unanimously approved up to $800 for travel and expenses for Abraham to attend a Florida League of Cities Federal Action Strike Team event next month in Washington, D.C. The travel expenses were not on the agenda.
“What is the benefit that it provides to the Town of Century,” Council president Dynette Lewis asked.
“Century gets a voice at the table,” Abraham replied. “We also have a weekly call with the White House to express our concerns for our town, what funding is needed here, what our emergencies are. what our projects are. We stay top mind at the White House.”
Fireworks
For several years, the towns of Century and Flomaton have split the cost of annual Fourth of July fireworks show, alternating the show’s location between the towns each year. This year, Flomaton is contributing just $5,000 toward a show in Century. In another items not on the distributed council agenda, the council unanimously approved $13,000 to put on the 2024 fireworks show.
NorthEscamba.com file photos.
McDavid Woman Charged With Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Fentanyl Possession
April 18, 2024
A McDavid woman is facing felony drug charges related to methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted 38-year-old Valene Alaine Walker in a vehicle parked after hours at the Century Food Mart in the 7900 block of North Century Boulevard. A deputy that approached the vehicle recognized Walker as having an outstanding warrant to appear on another felony charge.
She was taken into custody and placed in the male deputy’s patrol vehicle. In response to questioning, she told the deputy that she might have “ice” inside her bra, according to an arrest report. Due to no available female deputy in the area, she was transported to the Escambia County Jail where she was searched by a female officer.
Small plastic bags containing methamphetamine and cocaine were found in her bra, the report states, and a small piece of folded paper contained three fentanyl tablets.
Walker was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance. She remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond Thursday morning.
Clouds And Warm Into The Weekend; Chance Of Sunday Rain
April 18, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight.
Friday: Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: A chance of showers before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 81.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Ensley Street Closed At Chemstrand Road For The Next Week
April 18, 2024
A portion of roadway Ensley Street between Faye Avenue and Chemstrand Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Thursday, April 18, while crews install pipe.
Westbound traffic on Ensley Street will detoured to Chemstrand Road to Vine Street to Faye Avenue and back to Ensley Street. Eastbound traffic on Ensley Street will detour to Faye Avenue to Vine Street and back to Chemstrand Road. Chemstrand Road is expected to reopen by Thursday, April 25.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction.
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Thousands Of High School Students Attend Northwest Florida Construction Career Days
April 18, 2024
Over 1,300 area high school students were treated to an interactive look into the transportation industry during the 4th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days (CCD) event this week at the Santa Rosa County
Fairgrounds in Milton.
Students had the opportunity to operate heavy equipment and learn about bridge inspections, paving, concrete, traffic control, engineering, and more. Students were also introduced to the large number of career paths available in the transportation, structural, engineering, and building industries, and were able to interact with representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), as well as various engineering firms, and contractors looking to hire in the Northwest Florida area.
High school seniors who attended CCD in-person or virtually were eligible to receive a portion of up to $50,000 in scholarship funds that will be awarded this year. The scholarship fund was established to assist high school graduates enrolling in college, trade/vocational education programs, or those entering directly into the workforce. Local high school junior and senior students from Santa Rosa, Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties were anticipated to attend.
With billions of dollars of construction activity lined up for the next decade and entry-level workers in high demand, FDOT District Three is working to create a pipeline of workforce and economic opportunities for the next generation. Not only did this event give students a unique chance to explore career opportunities that have substantial benefits and add tremendous value to their communities, but it also allowed FDOT and its industry partners to
connect with young people of all backgrounds and skill levels. Students over the age of 18 were able to fill out applications for hiring companies during the event.
Pictured: Students from Northview High School were among over 1,000 that attended the 4th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days in Milton. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Incumbent Robert Bender Prefiles For Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
April 18, 2024
Incumbent Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender prefilled Wednesday for the seat as a Republican in the 2024 election.
Bender, a former county commissioner, was sworn in as Supervisor of Elections on January 31, 2024, after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Bender replaced David Stafford who stepped down effective January 15 after 19 years in office to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as an election security advisor.
File photo.
Tate Showband Indoor Percussion Team Places Second Championship Event
April 18, 2024
The Tate High School Showband of the South indoor percussion team recently placed second in the Gulf Coast Guard and Percussion Circuit (GCGPC) Championships. This marked the third consecutive year as a top two medalist in their division.
The Chaparral Winter Guard placed sixth in their class with a 17-point jump over the beginning of the season.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.