Man Killed In Head-On Crash With Dump Truck Near Atmore
July 25, 2024
A 58-year-old man was killed in a head-on crash with a dump truck Wednesday north of Atmore.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Troy Graham of Bay Minette was fatally injured when the 2004 Ford F-150 he was driving collided head-on with the 2018 International 7000 dump truck driven by 35-year-old Eric D. Nails of Hamilton, Alabama.
Troopers said Graham was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash happened about 10 a.m. on Highway 21 just south of the Fountain Correctional Facility.
Troopers are continuing their investigation.
Blue Wahoos Blanked By Strong Pitching As Shuckers Even Series
July 25, 2024
written Bill Vilona
In Bradley Blalock’s three previous starts against the Blue Wahoos, the righthander didn’t make it past the third inning.
He crafted a far different impression Wednesday.
Blalock worked into the sixth inning, allowing just four hits, as the Biloxi Shuckers picked up a 3-0 win against the Blue Wahoos in the second game of this week-long series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 4,203, the second-largest Wednesday crowd this season, stayed through the game to see the final mid-week, summer fireworks show.
The display was the game’s highlight for the home crowd.
The Blue Wahoos had baserunners in six of the nine innings, but were unable to string together hits or produce an extra-base hit among the five hits in the game.
Three Shuckers relievers held the Blue Wahoos to one hit and combined for five strikeouts as Biloxi (45-45, 15-8 in second half) evened their overall record and won for only the second time this year in Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos (50-41, 12-11) were shutout for the ninth time this season.
Leadoff batter Jakob Marsee had the team’s best night at the plate. He reached base three times with a walk and two singles and had three stolen bases – a team high this season.
Blue Wahoos starter Tristan Stevens, making his first home start, absorbed the loss after working five innings, allowing seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
The Shuckers got all the runs they needed when Ernesto Martinez singled, Connor Scott doubled and Casey Martin hit a two-out, two-run single off Stevens in the second inning. Lamar Sparks then doubled home Martinez, who had doubled in the fourth inning for the other run.
Blalock, originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox, is the Milwaukee Brewers No. 17 overall prospect as rated by MLB pipeline. He pitched one inning in relief for the Brewers in June. He made his 16th start for Biloxi on Wednesday.
The teams will continue their series on Thursday, a Mullet Thursday, with the Blue Wahoos’ Jonathan Bermúdez on the mound.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Cottage Hill Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Local Magistrate
July 24, 2024
A Cottage Hill man was arrested Wednesday on a charge of threatening to kill a magistrate.
Jason Lee Sherman, 42 was charged with felony intimidation, sending written or electronic threats. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
NorthEscambia.com was the only media there as law enforcement gathered nearby and traveled to the 1300 block of Williams Ditch Road to service the warrant at Sherman’s home near the corner of Williams Ditch Road and Hollow Point Drive just after 4 p.m.
For additional photos from Sherman’s arret, click here.
According to the warrant, Shernab threatened First Judicial Circuit General Magistrate Keith McIver, who works in the family law division.
The State Attorney’s Office alleged the following:
The warrant indicates the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was also assisting the U.S. Secret Service with a separate threat investigation. Sherman told the ECSO investigator that he was displeased with the Social Security Administration, and he had told an employee by phone that he was going to SSA office and cause a scene, teach knife fights in the parking lot or even kill a security guard so that someone would listen to him about his son.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Five WaWa Stores In The Works For Escambia County. Here’s The List.
July 24, 2024
The hoagies are not here just yet, but WaWa fans will soon be ordering them from a local WaWa in Escambia County.
Five Wawa stores are currently in the works for Escambia County. Here is the status of each:
1. Nine Mile Road, Beulah
Plans were approved were October 2023 for a 6,119 square feet location at the corner of Beulah Road and Nine Mile Road (plans pictured left). Site work is currently underway on the 17.36 acre parcel across Nine Mile Road from Publix (pictured above).
2. Pine Forest Road near I-10
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April (pictured below) to mark the start of construction of a WaWa store at Ransley Station at Pine Forest Road and Sharon Lane, just north of I-10, and is expected to be open by the end of 2024.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to break ground on our first store and celebrate with our newest soon-to-be neighbors,” Joe Collins, director of store operations for Wawa, said after the groundbreaking.” We are thrilled to be kicking off our expansion into Pensacola and can’t wait to open our doors.”
3. Highway 98
A third Wawa store was approved by the county in May for 9262 West Highway 98 at Blue Angel Parkway.
4. North Davis Highway
The Escambia County Development Review Committee approved plan in June for another planned WaWas at 8503 North Davis Highway, near Johnson Avenue and HCA West Florida Hospital.
5. Pensacola Boulevard
A fifth WaWa has been proposed for 6650 Pensacola Boulevard at W Street. This location is still in the review process before the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
About WaWa
Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803. Wawa stores are currently located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. with nearly 1,000 locations to date. The first Wawa Food Market opened in 1964 in Pennsylvania as an outlet for dairy products.
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, WaWa offers freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, and fuel. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, hand-crafted specialty beverages, a dinner menu including burgers and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #20 of America’s Largest Private Companies, #1 in Convenience Category for America’s Best Customer Service by Newsweek, one of Forbes 2023 America’s Best Employers for Women and New College Grads.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baldwin County Road 112 Closure To Impact Drivers From Escambia County
July 24, 2024
Planned road closures in Baldwin County will impact drivers traveling from Escambia County, Florida, over the next two weeks.
Baldwin County Road 112 closed July 22 north of Barrineau Park Road and will be closed through July 29 at Loggerhead Road (an unmarked trail) with no detour for drivers coming from or traveling to Barrineau Park Road. County 112 will be closed south of Barrineau Park Road at Patience Lane from July 30 to August 6, with no detour for drivers coming from or traveling to Barrineau Park Road.
The roadway closures are for work on drainage improvements, according to the Baldwin County Highway Department.
Inclement weather may impact the closure dates.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Five Arrested On Drug Charges In Atmore
July 24, 2024
Five Atmore residents were arrested on drug charges.
Just before 7 p.m. on Monday, an Atmore Police Department officer was oun routine patrol when he observed a vehicle turn partially into a driveway on Sims Street and the driver flee from on foot.
The officer had not made any effort to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle nor was intending on stopping the vehicle, Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said. “The officer approached the vehicle and detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.”
The officer conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and discovered over 80 grams of synthetic cannabis (spice), a small amount of marijuana and numerous plastic baggies, McMann said.
The driver was later identified as Kendrick Bivins, age 22, of Atmore.
A few hours later, Atmore Police Department narcotics investigators assisted by the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office attempted to locate Bivins at a residence on Fisher Lane.
When the officers arrived at the residence, they observed three people flee from the residence through the back door. The three subjects were detained and identified as Tondrae Forney, age 21 of Atmore, Layton Frye, age 20 of Atmore, and Kendrick Bivins.
The officers then contacted and detained Kendarrius Bivins, age 21 of Atmore and Lea Odom, age 19 of Atmore, when the officers requested anyone inside the residence to come out. The officers obtained a search warrant for the residence due to the odor of marijuana coming from inside the residence.
Upon executing the search warrant the officers discovered over 50 grams of marijuana, numerous plastic baggies used to package narcotics, and digital scales, McMann said.
Forney, and Frye were charged with possession of marijuana first degree, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to elude a police officer. Kendarrius Bivins and Odom were charged with possession of marijuana first degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kendrick Bivins was charged with drug trafficking, possession of marijuana first degree, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of attempting to elude
a police officer.
They were transported to the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Designated As Only Level One Trauma Center In Panhandle
July 24, 2024
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has been designated by the Florida Department of Health as the sole provider of Level 1 trauma care in the Florida Panhandle.
“With this designation, we join an elite group of only 11 Florida hospitals offering Level I trauma care,” Ascension said in a release. “We are also the only hospital in the nation to serve as a Level I trauma center for both Florida and Alabama.”
Level I trauma centers offer nearly every surgical and medical specialty at all times to meet the needs of the most complex injuries. Sacred Heart Pensacola’s ER is equipped to provide comprehensive care for all injury-related needs across all ages, from prevention to rehabilitation.
The hospital’s Level I trauma center includes 24-hour, in-house board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists, over 10 specialty care teams on site and immediately available 24/7, and two neurosurgeons on call 24/7.
“This latest designation was made possible by the unwavering dedication of our trauma team members, who consistently go above and beyond to care for critically injured patients and their families with the highest level of skill, compassion and commitment,” Ascension said.
Ascension Sacred Heart has build two freestanding ERs within the last six years on Nine Mile Road and in Navarre.
“These ERs allow for rapid continuity of care between those communities and the hospital’s main campus, highlighting our commitment to meeting the needs of our communities across Northwest Florida,” the healthy system said.
Tate Aggies Volleyball Attends Florida Gators Camp
July 24, 2024
The Tate High School volleyball team recently attended a volleyball camp with the University of Florida Gators in Gainesville. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Seize Big Inning, Sink Shuckers To End Four-Game Slide
July 24, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos shook off recent struggles to begin a new week in a big way.
Taking advantage of erratic pitching, the Blue Wahoos seized the game with a five-run fourth inning and cruised to an 8-4 win Tuesday night against the Biloxi Shuckers to open their week-long homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium with a good feeling.
The Blue Wahoos led 8-0 into the ninth. They broke open the game in the fifth by scoring their first three runs without putting a ball in play to score. It was a welcome boost to end a four-game losing streak that began with a loss July 14 before the All-Star Break.
“We tried to flush last week as much as possible,” said right fielder Shane Sasaki, who reached base three times and helped to ignite the five-run rally. “Starting off this week with a win is good for the clubhouse. The vibes are always high when we win.
“We still stick together when we lose, but it’s a lot easier to carry that momentum, getting that first win out of the way… And it we just look forward to the next game.”
The Blue Wahoos got the first run in the third inning when Jakob Marsee produced a one-out double, then stole third and scored on throwing error.
In the fifth, they erupted against starter Jacob Misiorowski, the Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 2 prospect, who has faced the Blue Wahoos five previous times this season.
After Nathan Martorella led off the fifth with a single and Sasaki walked, Misiorowski went awry with pitch command. With one out and the bases loaded, he plunked Marsee to force in the second run, then gave up a wild pitch to score another run and walked in a third run. Paul McIntosh and Jacob Berry then followed with RBI singles before a double play ended the inning.
“When things aren’t going your way, it is really tough to scratch runs,” said Sasaki, who returned to the Blue Wahoos last Friday after missing 62 games with an injury.
“And I know everybody in the lineup was really focused on manufacturing runs somehow,” he said. “We don’t need that one big hit sometimes and just like (Tuesday) we stayed ready, tough at-bats and good things happen from that.”
Good things have happened to the Blue Wahoos (50-40 overall, 12-10 in second half) this season when facing Biloxi. This was their 13th win against the Shuckers (44-44, 14-7), who entered this week with the best second-half record in the league.
McIntosh smashed a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his eighth of the year, that enabled him to tie Griffin Conine for most runs scored (125) in Blue Wahoos franchise history.
The Shuckers got four runs in the ninth off Anderson Pilar before he ended the game and the team could enjoy their first home win since July 3, when they beat Montgomery to win that shortened home series before a 16-day gap between home games.
GAME NOTABLES
— This week’s series is the final meeting between these teams in 2024. The Blue Wahoos are now 13-5 against the Shuckers this season, including 6-1 at home… This year, the Blue Wahoos play the Shuckers less times than other division foes Montgomery and the Mississippi Braves.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Wednesday, 6:05 p.m.
Motorcyclist Critical After Jacks Branch Road Crash
July 23, 2024
A motorcyclist was serious injured in a crash on Jacks Branch Road Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 66-year-old Pensacola man was northbound on Jacks Branch Road when he lost control of his motorcycle. The motorcycle left the roadway to the right before the rider overcorrected and travel back onto the roadway “where the driver was unseated when (the motorcycle) fell onto its side”, the report stated.
The rider was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition.