Cat Cafe To Offer Free Cat Adoptions Saturday At Century Library
July 12, 2024
The Century Library will host a Cat Cafe on Saturday with the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare.
Are you looking for a new feline friend to brighten your life? The Century Library Cat Cafe will offer the purr-fect opportunity to meet a variety of cats in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Whether you’re seeking a playful kitten or a laid-back senior cat, you’re sure to find a compatible companion among our charming felines.
Adoptions are free for cats one year or older and the fee for kittens is $25. An $11 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents.
The Cat Cafe will be open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. this Saturday, July 13 at the Century Branch Library at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
Cantonment Man Gets 10 Years In Prison For 2023 High Speed Chase
July 12, 2024
A Cantonment man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2023 high speed police chase.
A jury found Davonta Terrell Allen guilty of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer with siren and lights activated at high speed with reckless driving, and driving with no valid driver’s license.
On December 5, 2023, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper J. E. Ellerbee observed Allen speeding in a blue Nissan Altima on Pine Forest Road. When Trooper Ellerbee attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, Allen accelerated to 90 miles per hour, ran a red light, and turned westbound onto I-10. The 14 minute chase traveled along Pine Forest Road, I-10, Nine Mile Road, Pinecone Drive, South County Road 97 and Highway 297A.
FHP said Allen reached speeds of 120 miles per hour during the chase, ran a red light, and ran multiple stop signs. After heading down a dirt road, Allen crashed into a shed. After the crash, two passengers ran from the vehicle. With the assistance of his K-9, Trooper Ellerbee arrested Allen.
At sentencing, Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Frederick V. Longmire highlighted the inherent danger in Allen’s actions. Longmire, stated “the defendant’s actions of running a red light, multiple stop signs, driving into oncoming traffic at speeds of 120 miles per hour showed wanton and reckless disregard for the lives and safety of the citizens of Escambia County, Florida.”
Clear, About 75 Tonight
July 12, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Blue Wahoos Out-Blast Trash Pandas In 10-8 Win
July 12, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos scored a season-high 10 runs on Thursday night, and needed nearly every one of them in a high-scoring 10-8 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Eight different Pensacola batters scored a run, and eight drove in a run, helping the Blue Wahoos win their fourth in a row and improve to a season-best 11 games above .500.
The Blue Wahoos struck first in the second inning, turning a Zach Zubia walk and a pickoff error into the game’s first run on a balk from Rocket City starter Victor Mederos (L, 4-6). Harrison Spohn brought home Jacob Berry with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Trash Pandas answered back with a pair of solo homers in the fourth from Eric Wagaman and Ben Gobbel. Blue Wahoos starter Patrick Monteverde (W, 1-0) surrendered a career-high four solo homers, but pitched into the sixth inning in his first start since his return from Triple-A Jacksonville.
The 2-2 tie was broken in the fifth, as the Blue Wahoos strung together five singles and two walks to take a 6-2 lead. Though Rocket City answered back with three of their own in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by back-to-back homers from Gustavo Campero and Orlando Martinez, reliever Matt Pushard left the bases loaded to preserve a 6-5 lead.
Late Pensacola homers from Nathan Martorella and Joe Mack stretched the lead to 10-5, and that added cushion proved valuable as new arrival Woo-Suk Go struggled in his Blue Wahoos debut. The righty surrendered three runs in the ninth, including Wagaman’s second homer of the game, but got the job done to secure a 10-8 victory.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Friday. First pitch from Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Fans Catch Blue Angels Practice Show (With Full Schedule For Friday And Saturday)
July 12, 2024
Thousands of fans were on Pensacola Beach Thursday to seethe hometown U.S. Navy Blue Angels during a practice show.
Thursday’s practice show precedes a dress rehearsal on Friday and the official air show on Saturday.
For a photo gallery from Thursday, click or tap here.
Here is the schedule for Friday and Saturday:
Friday, July 12, is the Pensacola Beach Air Show dress rehearsal where flight demonstrations and civilian aerobatic performances begin at noon, with the Blue Angels overhead at 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 13, marks the official Pensacola Beach Air Show, and follows exactly Friday’s dress rehearsal schedule.
Prior to the official waivered air space closure signaling the start of the air show on Friday and Saturday, expect to see the following aircraft overhead, announced by radio personality Rob Williams:
- Pilot Julian MacQueen flying his vintage 1943 Grumman Widgeon seaplane overhead.
- Pilot Sheldon Heatherington will be flying his Zenith 75 STOL aircraft named Redbird.
- Navy pilot Tanner Matheny will be flying over in his 1946 North American Navion airplane named Olivia.
- U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstration from the back of a HH-60J Blackhawk helicopter.
- Local wing of the Commemorative Air Force flying WWII and Korean War-era trainer and liaison aircraft.
- Then, at 11:45 a.m., spectators will be cleared from the Gulf waters and the official air space waiver begins.
The show begins precisely at noon with presentation of the colors by the Red Bull Team parachutists jumping from Aaron Fitzgerald’s helicopter over show center, followed by a brief teaser of what’s to come from the Red Bull Air Force team and Kevin Coleman later in the show. The Red Bull Air Force team is assembled from the most accomplished aviation experts on the planet who continually push the limits of human flight.
The Veterans Flight team takes the stage at 12:13 p.m. in their bright yellow, vintage World War II-era biplanes and possibly other WWII vintage aircraft. Organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey, around a dozen Stearman pilots from all over the Southeast are flying in the show to pay tribute to all WWII and Korean War vets.
Next up at 12:28 p.m. is a newcomer to the air show, the incredible wingwalker Carol Pilon and the Third Strike Wingwalking team. Pilon is the first, and only, woman to walk on a jet-propelled aircraft. Expect to see Pilon traveling atop a bright red, vintage Stearman biplane with lots of billowing smoke.
At 12:39 p.m., keep your eyes peeled as Redline Aerobatic Team pilots Ken Rieder, Adam Baker, and making his inaugural debut at this air show, Austin Rieder, Ken’s son, perform some exceptional formation aerobatics.
Then, at 12:54 p.m., hang onto your hat as pilot Skip Stewart wows the crowds next with his high-skill passes and jaw-dropping maneuvers from his famous red, white and black-checkered bi-plane, Prometheus. Don’t miss his signature inverted ribbon-cutting pass over the Pensacola Beach Pier.
Next up, at 1:06 p.m., Patty Wagstaff, the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion and a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team, will wow the crowds over Pensacola Beach in her Extra 330 aircraft. Her breathtaking performances give airshow spectators a front-row seat view of the precision and complexity of hard-core aerobatics.
The Red Bull Air Force Team with Kevin Coleman and Aaron Fitgerald are back with a full act at 1:21 p.m., creating a visual spectacle like no other. The trio will perform a joint aerial demonstration that will last 25 minutes.
As always, closing out the show at 2 p.m. will be your U.S. Navy Flight Demonstrations Squadron, the Blue Angels. Look to the Gulf horizon as the famous C-130J aircraft, affectionately known as Fat Albert, followed by six signature blue and gold F-18 Super Hornets, make their way over Pensacola Beach.
For the next 45 minutes, spectators will get a glimpse of the Blues’ aeronautic maneuvers like the Diamond Dirty Loop, the Double Farvel, the Vertical Pitch, the Fleur-de-Lis, the Opposing Knife-Edge pass, and the crowd-favorite Sneak Pass. These are just a few of the mind-blowing displays of choreographed precision flying the Navy’s flight demonstration team has perfected over the past 78 years.
Pilot and Announcer Rob Reider will be the voice of the Pensacola Beach Air Show this year and Paul Entrekin, a retired Marine Corps aviator and former full-time air show pilot performer, will mark his 31st year as the Air Boss over the show.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Press ID – Nikki Purvis – Expires 7/14/2024
July 11, 2024
This is a verified valid PRESS ID
NIKKI PURVIS
String Photographer for NorthEscambia.com — assigned to Pensacola Beach Air Show
EXPIRATION: 07/14/2024
Two Cantonment Residents Receive New Homes Through County Programs
July 11, 2024
Two Cantonment residents are the proud owners of brand-new homes that were constructed through county assistance programs that help eligible residents who are living in homes that are damaged beyond repair.
Both homeowners are longtime Cantonment residents, struggling over the years to maintain their aging homes. Now, through the county’s Housing Demo and Replacement Programs, their deteriorating and unsafe houses have been replaced with brand-new houses that will provide them with a safer, less stressful environment to call home.
The new homes were constructed for 79-year-old Mary Simpkins and 77-year-old Barbara Stanton, who were joined by their friends, family, county staff, and District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry to celebrate their official move-in day on July 10.
“I am so proud that we are able to offer county programs like this that help improve the quality of life for our residents in need of a helping hand,” Commissioner Barry said. “There’s no better feeling than having a place of your own to call home, and I hope these new homes provide peace of mind and a sense of security for the homeowners and their families. Congratulations to Ms. Simpkins and Ms. Stanton on this exciting next chapter, and thank you to all of our county staff for their hard work to make this possible.”
Simpkins, Stanton, and their families all expressed their excitement for the new homes, which they said will alleviate significant stress caused by numerous maintenance issues in their old houses.
Stanton moved into her previous house in 1971, with the most significant issues starting after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Roof damage and leaks throughout the house lead to water damage, issues with mold, termites, and generally unsafe living conditions.
“When Ivan came through, that’s when I started having a lot of problems with it,” Stanton said. “It sounded like the roof was lifting off the house. After that, I started having leaks, and then I would get it patched. I stayed kind of disgusted by the way my house was, because before the storm came, it was pretty nice.”
Stanton heard about the possibility of county assistance through a longtime friend, who helped her submit an application for the county’s Housing Demo and Replacement Programs. The programs are funded through grants from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, program.
“I’m just as satisfied and happy as I can be,” Stanton said. “I thank God first of all, county staff, Commissioner Barry – everybody that had a hand in it. I’m so very thankful.”
Simpkins had also experienced numerous issues since moving into her house in 1981, to the point where the house became uninhabitable and unsafe. After the trailer she was living in burned down several years ago, a friend suggested that Simpkins should apply for assistance through the county.
“The water leaked from the kitchen sink, and the water just leaked all the way down and caused holes and rotting,” Simpkins said, describing her former house. “Nobody lived in it then, because it was in bad shape. It was dangerous all over the house – I was scared.”
Simpkins said she’s very grateful for her new home, which will also provide some relief for her family since she has been living with her daughters for about three years.
“I’m excited,” Simpkins said. “I feel real good. I’m just ready to move in.”
Simpkins’ daughter, Sharon Collins, said the whole family is excited for their mom to have a happier, more peaceful life in her new home.
“It really means a lot to my mom, because this is something she’s always been dreaming of, to have her dream home,” Collins said. “It’ll take a big burden off of her, because she’s been really stressed about the other home she used to live in. And we were trying to help her with it, but it just got to a point where it got too bad and we couldn’t fix it anymore.”
Both Simpkins’ and Stanton’s new houses were constructed with stringent insurance and wind mitigation standards in mind, with features including impact-rated windows and doors, along with strengthened shingles and siding to ensure maximum strength in the event of an extreme weather event. These features should also help with eligibility for more competitive insurance policies.
“We’re excited about her moving in and being able to help support her in all the things she’s been wishing for,” Collins said. “This will help us not have to worry so much about repairing the home so she can just live a peaceful life, and we’ll be supportive of her so she can just be happy.”
Additional assistance may be available for income-eligible homeowners in Escambia County. Limited funding is available, but eligible residents in need of assistance are encouraged to reach out for more details. For information about eligibility requirements and assistance programs for Escambia County homeowners, please contact the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at ned@myescambia.com or 850-595-1642.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Angels: Here Are Tips On How To Take The Best Photos
July 11, 2024
It’s time for the 2024 Pensacola Beach Air Show featuring our Blue Angels.
Today, we are sharing expert tips for how to capture those perfect photos. Perry Doggrell has been shooting the Blue Angels for decades, and for the past 13 years, he’s shot great Blue Angels photos you’ve seen on NorthEscambia.com.
Here are his best tips for getting the best photos, including how to take the best photos with just your phone:
I started taking aviation photos when my mom took me to my first Blue Angels Airshow when I was in elementary school. The Blue Angels were flying A-4’s back then, and she let me use her Kodak Instamatic camera. Needless to say, the photos were less than stellar, and the planes looked like little dots, but I was hooked on trying to take airshow photos from that moment on. I gradually bought better and better cameras and lenses; and went from film, to digital, to mirrorless.
I’m currently using a Nikon Z8 with a Nikkor 180-600mm lens, and a Nikon Z7ii with a Tamron 100-400 lens as a backup and for wider shots. Today’s cameras are more like computers and really take some of the guesswork out of photography. Plus, since there’s no film to worry about, you can take as many photos as you want, and the law of averages says some are bound to turn out good!
So what are some suggestions for taking photos of the Blue Angels? Most importantly, you need to use a high shutter speed. I normally photograph jets with a shutter speed of at least 1/1250th of a second, and sometimes go as high as 1/2000th of a second. Because you are moving and the jet is moving, you need to use a high shutter speed to freeze the action and not blur the photo. You can make adjustments if your photos are slightly under or over-exposed, but you can’t salvage a blurry, shaky photo.
Also be aware that as the day gets later (typically when the Blue Angels fly their show), the position of the sun can really cause light problems. Try to pay attention to which positions the jets seem to be “lit up”, and which positions they are more in the shadows because the sun is more behind them. And even if you get some darker photos because of the light, you can often edit them to make the subject lighter. There is lots of good editing software out there, and even today’s modern cell phones have powerful editing tools.
One word of caution: if you’ve just purchased a new camera and are not familiar with it, try to practice at home and figure out some basic settings. If you don’t have time, I’d recommend setting it in sports mode and leave it alone. I’ve run into many people with brand new cameras who have tried to change so many settings that they end up not being able to take any photos. I might have done that myself once or twice LOL.
If you don’t have a huge lens to shoot with, don’t worry about it. Concentrate on getting the diamond and delta formations along with different formation maneuvers. And especially at the Beach show, you can get beautiful wide photos with the Blue Angels, the beach, the water, the crowd, and even some of your friends all in the photo. Everyone loves a photo of themselves with the Blue Angels in the background!
And if you don’t have a camera at all, you’re still in luck. Today’s cell phones are great at taking wide photos and especially videos. Make some short videos as the Blue Angels diamond goes by, or try to catch the “sneak pass” which usually generates some really good vapor. In today’s social media world, videos and reels are much more popular than still photos anyway. So who knows – your iPhone video could go viral!
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the show! We are lucky to live at the home of the Blue Angels, so there’s always another opportunity to take more Blue Angels photos at a practice or a beach buzz or at the Homecoming Show in November.
Perry Doggrell photographs the local Blue Angels air shows for NorthEscambia.com. He is a retired air traffic controller and still works in the aviation industry. He is a volunteer photographer at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Perry focuses on outdoors, wildlife, and aviation; he also does classic car photos. Look for his photos the next several days here on NorthEscambia.com. Find him on Instagram @jays.and.jets or on Facebook at Jays and Jets Photography.
Photos by Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver’s License, Tag, Tax Collector Services Available Next Week In Walnut Hill
July 11, 2024
Driver’s license and other tax collector services will be available in Walnut Hill on Wednesday, July 17 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
Mobile Licensing and Identification Office (MILO) is a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, offering a range of services. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration, receive a parking placard, transfer a title, pay property taxes, and apply for a business tax receipt. Written and driving tests are not available from the MILO unit.
The Walnut Hill Community Center, also known as the “Ruritan Building”, is at 7850 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School and the fire department.
Pictured: The Escambia Tax Collector’s MILO at the Walnut Hill Community Center on June 11. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
A Few Scattered Storms Possible Into The Weekend
July 11, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 60%.