Chase Across Santa Rosa, Escambia At Speeds Up To 150 MPH Ends With Arrest
June 14, 2024
An 18-year-old from Louisiana was arrested in Baldwin County after a high-speed chase across Santa Rosa and Escambia counties at speeds up to 150 mph,
The Florida Highway Patrol said trooper observed a black Ford Mustang traveling recklessly at a speed of 130 mph near mile marker 35 of I-10 in Santa Rosa County. The trooper radioed for additional assistance.
About 13 miles away, another Trooper observed the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. FHP said that is when the driver accelerated from near 130 mph to a speed at or above 150 mph. As the vehicle fled, the driver was passing vehicles on the north and south shoulders of the interstate.
Troopers lost sight of the vehicle after it crossed Escambia Bay and exited onto Scenic Highway.
With the assistance of a citizen, one of the troopers located the Mustang parked in a driveway just off Scenic Court. As troopers approached, the driver of the vehicle aggressively accelerated away through a couple of yards and down an embankment back onto Scenic Highway. Despite damage to the vehicle, the driver recklessly fled, FHP said.
“Troopers were able to engage the Mustang again for a brief moment, only to disengage a second time. Even with assistance of local citizens we were unable to remain active in a pursuit, but we were able to track the vehicle as it traveled out of state,” FHP said.
The black Ford Mustang was located at a gas station in Baldwin County where a local deputy was able to conduct a traffic stop and detain the driver. FHP obtained a warrant for the driver, and he was arrested on that warrant by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Romero Antwan Nail of Gretna, Louisiana, was charged with fleeing and eluding. Additional charges are expected when the FHP investigation is concluded.
McIntosh, Berry Lead Wahoos Into First Place With 7-1 Win
June 14, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos beat the Birmingham Barons 7-1 on Thursday night, moving into first place in the South Division of the Southern League with nine games to play in the first half.
Paul McIntosh broke a scoreless tie with a sixth-inning home run, his second in as many games, against former teammate Jake Eder (L, 2-3). Jacob Berry provided insurance with a three-run double in the eighth to support a four-man pitching effort that limited the Barons to just one run on three hits.
After a 6-1 win for the Chattanooga Lookouts over the Montgomery Biscuits, the Blue Wahoos lead the Biscuits by 0.5 games in the first half South Division race.
Making his first professional start since 2021, Pensacola’s Adam Laskey was outstanding with 4.2 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball. Eder matched him zero for zero, setting a new season high with 10 strikeouts until McIntosh put the Blue Wahoos ahead 1-0 with a line drive homer in the top of the sixth.
Reliever Chandler Jozwiak (W, 2-3) snuffed out a Birmingham rally in the sixth, and the Blue Wahoos added on in the eighth with an RBI single from Joe Mack and a three-run double from Berry. Jakob Marsee notched an RBI double of his own in the ninth, providing more cushion for Pensacola relievers Raffi Vizcaíno and Dale Stanavich to complete the three-hitter.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Friday. First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Update: One Killed, Several Injured In Fiery Crash On I-10 Escambia Bay Bridge
June 13, 2024
One person was killed, and multiple people were injured in a fiery crash on the I-10 bridge over Escambia Bay Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened about 2:15 p.m. on I-10 eastbound near the Scenic Highway overpass.
The Florida Highway Patrol said four vehicles were involved with one confirmed fatality in a vehicle that was fully engulfed.
Two drivers and a passenger of one of the other vehicles were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Additional details have not been released.
Photos: Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Transportation.
A Look At Safety Concerns About Highway 29, Highway 196 Intersection
June 13, 2024
Safety concerns are once again being raised after another serious crash Tuesday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 196 in Molino.
In the past 10 years, there have been 66 crashes at or near the intersection, according to data provided to NorthEscambia.com by the Florida Highway Patrol. Of those, three were fatal and three more left individuals with incapacitating injuries. There were 17 other injuries and 32 people were not injured. FHP said alcohol contributed to three of the wrecks.
Tuesday’s crash injured a 17-year-old teen and a 50-year-old, but they are expected to be okay. Details have not been released by troopers as their investigation continues.
On January 26 of this year, 17-year-old Tate High School student Bradley Ellertson died when a semi-truck and a Kia Soul collided at the intersection. FHP said the driver of the Kia Soul, a 16-year-old female from Pensacola, was traveling eastbound on Highway 196 when she ran the stop sign at Highway 29 and collided with the oncoming semi-truck.
Overall control of safety measures at the intersection falls with the Florida Department of Transportation due to Highway 29. However, Highway 196 is a county road.
“There have been a number of serious accidents,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said.
Barry said the January crash that killed Ellertson prompted him and the county to ask FDOT to evaluate the intersection for any safety improvements, including any need for a traffic light. He said previous state studies have shown a traffic light was not appropriate.
In the meantime, Barry said the county will install flashing LED lights on the Highway 196 stop signs to improve driver attention. Barry has coordinated the installation of additional lighting with Florida Power & Light, and those lights are expected to be installed in mid to late July after delayed materials are delivered.
“The county is working with our partners to do everything under our control to improve safety at the intersection,” the commissioner added.
Pictured top: Data shows the crashes at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 196 in Molino over the last 10 years. Also pictured: A Tuesday crash at the intersection. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Library To Close During Community Center Renovation
June 13, 2024
The Jay Library will be closed beginning Monday, June 17, due to the Linda Carden Community Center renovation.
The summer reading program will continue to take place at Jay City Hall. All other programs are cancelled until further notice.
A library van will be in the Jay City Hall parking lot from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesdays. New books as well as patron holds will be available for pick up during that time. Patrons who need access to a computer are encouraged to visit the Milton or Pace Libraries.
File photo.
Low 70s For Tonight
June 13, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia forecast
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Juneteenth: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Century Woman Charged With Defrauding Credit Union Of More Than $79,000
June 13, 2024
A Century woman is accused of defrauding a credit union of over $79,000.
Kymberlee Kay Victor, 24, was charged with felony fraud and felony grand theft.
Victor allegedly made multiple transfers from an account at Wells Fargo to Gulf Winds Credit Union beginning in February’s 2024. After the first transfers of just under $10,000 each, Gulf Winds reached out to Victor for verbal verification and she told them she was purchasing a vehicle, according to an arrest report. Multiple additional transfers just under $10,000 each were not flagged by the Gulf Winds system due to the activity being consistent with the same device always signing in, the report continues.
Beginning in March, transfers were returned due to a stop payment and closed account, the ECSO said.
Victor received a total of $89,000 from 10 transfer deposits to Gulf Windss, and the funds were spent through debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals and cash withdrawals at different Gulf Winds branches, the arrest report states. Investigators said Gulf Winds provided video surveillance of Victor’s cash withdrawals at their branches.
Gulf Winds told investigators that she made a total of $89,329 in deposits, withdrawing $79,309.75 for the account, which was the total loss to the credit union.
The ECSO report notes that shortly after the transactions, Victor posted on a GoFundMe page asking for financial assistance following a house fire, claiming that she lost her home and everything in it.
Escambia County Fire Rescue determined the fire started a nearby shed before spreading and causing heavy damage to a mobile home on White’s Lane (pictured below). ECFR said the shed was a total loss, and the mobile home will need extensive repairs. Victor has not been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with the fire.
Victor was released Thursday night Escambia County Jail on a $40,000 bond.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are The Candidates That Qualified On Wednesday To Run In 2024
June 13, 2024
Candidate qualifying continues Wednesday.
Several candidates also qualified on Monday and Tuesday. Qualifying for the 2024 Primary and General Elections will run until Noon, Friday, June 14, 2024.
The following local candidates had qualified for the 2024 ballot in Escambia County on Wednesday.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections – (Partisan)
- Robert Bender (REP)
Escambia County Tax Collector – (Partisan)
- Scott Lunsford (REP)
Escambia County Clerk of Court – (Partisan)
- Pam Childers (REP)
Escambia County Sheriff – (Partisan)
- Chip W. Simmons (REP)
Escambia County Commissioner – (Partisan)
- District 1 – Steven Stroberger (REP)
- District 1 – Jeff Bergosh (REP)
- District 4 – Ashlee Hofberger (REP)
- District 4 – Ron Helms (DEM)
- District 4 – Buck Mitchell (REP)
- District 5 – Steven Barry (REP)
Emerald Coast Utility Authority – (Partisan)
- District 1 – Vicki Campbell (REP)
- District 1 – Jim Faxlanger (REP)
- District 3 – Chase “Andy” Romagnano (DEM)
- District 3 – Larry Williams (DEM)
Escambia County School Board – (Nonpartisan)
- District 4 – Carissa Bergosh
- District 4 – Brian Ranelli
- District 5 – Thomas Harrell
- District 5 – Joshua Luther
- District 5 – Jim “Andy” Taylor
Pensacola City Council – (Nonpartisan)
- District 1 – Jennifer M. Brahier
- District 1 – Edward “Phil” Nickinson IV
- District 3 – Casey Jones
- District 7 – Delarian Wiggins
Late Rally Not Enough As Wahoos Fall 4-3 To Barons
June 13, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday afternoon, falling 4-3 to the Birmingham Barons.
The Blue Wahoos didn’t manage a baserunner from the third inning until the ninth, as Barons starter Tyler Schweitzer (W, 1-0) was dominant in his Double-A debut. Paul McIntosh drew Pensacola to within a run with a ninth-inning two-run homer, but Jacob Berry’s double was left aboard as the late rally came up short.
Pending the results of Wednesday night’s game between the Montgomery Biscuits and Chattanooga Lookouts, the Blue Wahoos are tied with the Biscuits in the first half South Division race with 10 games to play.
The Blue Wahoos strung together singles from Berry and Nathan Martorella in the second inning to mount a rally. Though they didn’t cash in with a run-scoring hit, Berry crossed the plate on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead.
Evan Fitterer worked in and out of trouble in his start for the Blue Wahoos, tying a career high with nine strikeouts over 5.0 solid innings. The Barons left six men in scoring position against Fitterer, who allowed an RBI double to Jacob Gonzalez in the fifth and departed in a 1-1 tie game.
Zach McCambley (L, 0-1) worked a perfect sixth inning of relief, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Two leadoff walks started the inning, and a McIntosh passed ball allowed Alsander Womack to score the go-ahead run. RBI singles from Gonzalez and Brooks Baldwin gave Birmingham a 4-1 lead.
McIntosh homered in the ninth to mark Pensacola’s first hit since the second inning. Berry followed with a one-out double, but Eric Adler (S, 2) retired both Martorella and Cody Morissette with the tying run at second to finish off Birmingham’s 4-3 victory.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Thursday. First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Barrineau Park Historical Society Recognizes Outgoing President Craig Exner
June 13, 2024
This week, the Barrineau Park Historical Society recognized outgoing president Craig Exner.
Exner was the group’s president for the last 14 years and served for a total of 24 years.
He was presented with an award by club member Don Dixon, Jr.
Exner said that it was a labor of love to be able to serve in such a worthwhile organization. He will still be active but as newly elected president Lynn Welch leads the historical society.