Flomaton Welcomes Home Teen Fireworks Accident Victim
July 12, 2017
Residents of Flomaton came together Tuesday night to welcome home a fellow resident, firefighter, classmate and friend that endured a tragic accident on the Fourth of July.
Hunter White, who turns 17 on Thursday, suffered major injuries to his right hand during an explosion as fireworks were being lit. He was taken to the hospital in Brewton and then airlifted to the regional burn center at the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile. He was released from the hospital Tuesday.
White received a big welcome home back in Flomaton, with last-mile ride to house in a Flomaton fire truck with a police escort. White is a junior member of the Flomaton Fire Department.
The Flomaton High senior received a warm welcome at home from about 100 people.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Boulevard Cash Advance Business Robbed
July 12, 2017
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man that robbed a Pensacola Boulevard business Tuesday afternoon.
A black male held up the Advance America Cash Advance near Walmart. Deputies say he walked in and demanded money. It was not immediately known if he was carrying a weapon.
The suspect was described as about 165 pounds, 5-foot, 9-inches tall last seen wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and denim shorts.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Reader submitted photos by Sheena StPierre for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park 4-H Raises Hogs For Local Food Banks
July 12, 2017
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club raised two hogs and donated the fresh pork to two local food banks. Over 300 pounds of fresh pork was delivered to the food banks at Aldersgate United Methodist Church and Molino Outreach. The fresh pork was distributed in their food boxes. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad Bates Signs Transfer To LSUA Generals
July 12, 2017
A 2015 Northview High School graduate is one of four junior college transfers to the LSU-Alexandria Generals.
E’Layzha Bates, a 5′10″ forward from Molino, joins the Generals from Baton Rouge Community College.
Last season with the Bears, Bates started all 13 games she appeared in, averaging five points per game on 41.5 percent shooting from the field in 28.5 minutes played each time out. A key feature to her game will be rebounding, where she grabbed just over five boards per contest last season, which was second on the BRCC squad.
Bates also boasted the highest GPA on her team and was named a team captain.
At Northview, Bates was also team captain and most valuable player of her high school squad. She plans on majoring in kinesiology at LSUA.
Three In A Row: Wahoos Beat Chattanooga
July 12, 2017
Pensacola Blue Wahoos starting pitcher called his nine strikeouts against the first 10 Chattanooga Lookouts batters “just another game.” But to all the other onlookers Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium, his performance was impressive.
The 22-year-old right hander struck out a career-high 11 batters and the left fielder Tyler Goeddel hit a clutch bases-loaded double to left field as Pensacola rallied to beat Chattanooga for the second straight game.
Coming into the four-game series, Pensacola, the South Division first half champions, were 1-9 against Chattanooga, the North Division first half champions. The Blue Wahoos now lead the series, 2-1.
Pat Kelly said he was disappointed Lopez failed to get the victory. Instead, reliever Geoff Broussard got the victory striking out two in his one scoreless inning of relief to improve to 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA.
“It’s a shame he didn’t get the win,” Kelly said. “He really pitched exceptional, especially against that club. He dominated them. That was fun to see.”
Lopez said he has worked with pitching coach Danny Darwin to tweak his mechanics.
“I threw every pitch for a strike,” Lopez said. “I was just pounding the zone. I’ve turned things around a little bit.”
That’s an understatement. Lopez had a no-hitter through the first 4.2 innings before right fielder Max Murphy, playing his fourth game for the Lookouts, smacked his first Double-A homer just over the right field fence on a curveball.
Lopez tied his career-high of 10 strikeouts in the sixth inning when the hurler got Chattanooga first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez out to end the inning. He then set a new career-high of 11 when he struck out the Lookouts leadoff batter in the seventh, DH Andy Wilkins.
Lopez gave up just three hits and a walk. It’s his second strong outing in a row, after throwing eight scoreless innings in his previous start against the Biloxi Shuckers.
He credited Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson for his performances in both games, who directed Lopez to pound hitters inside, throw his breaking balls and elevate the ball in the strike zone.
“I love it,” Lopez said. “We’re on the same page. I trust him to watch the hitters for things I don’t pick up.”
Trailing, 1-0, Pensacola loaded the bases with one out to start the eighth inning. That’s when Chattanooga manager Jake Mauer called for his left-handed reliever Randy Rosario to face leadoff hitter Goeddel, who doubled in center fielder Gabriel Guerrero and right fielder Aristides Aquino to put Pensacola ahead, 2-1. Second baseman Josh VanMeter then hit a grounder to Chattanooga second baseman Ryan Walker who threw it past catcher Carlos Paulino to allow both shortstop Blake Trahan and Goeddel to score for a 4-1 Blue Wahoos lead.
Pensacola turned to Zack Weiss for the second straight game in the ninth inning and the right-handed closer earned his fourth save in five opportunities.
“We’re testing him,” Kelly said. “We’re testing his elbow to see how it feels. I think his stuff was better tonight (Tuesday). It’s a really good sign that he is able to go back-to-back.”
Meanwhile, Chattanooga starter Fernando Romero, who MLBPipeline.com ranks as the No. 4 prospect for the Minnesota Twins, worked five scoreless innings, allowed two hits, walked one and struck out five before turning the game over to Lookouts reliever Ryan Eades.
Woman Critically Injured In Two Vehicle Wreck In Jay
July 12, 2017
A Milton woman was critically injured in a two vehicle crash near Jay High School Tuesday morning.
Tiffany King, 20, was traveling westbound on Escambia Avenue in a Nissan Pathfinder approaching the intersection of Escambia Avenue and Spring Street about 7:17 a.m. Andriea Watson, age 46 of Jay, was traveling northbound in a Chevrolet Silverado on Spring Street, also approaching the intersection.
The front of Watson’s Silverado collided with the driver’s side of King’s Pathfinder, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
After being extricated from her vehicle, King was transported in critical condition to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Watson suffered only minor injuries.
Any charges in the crash are pending according to the FHP.
Reader submitted photos by Dekoda Mitchell and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Flash Flooding: McElhaney Road
July 11, 2017
Heavy downpours and saturated ground combined for flash flooding in the Bratt area Tuesday afternoon. Water complete covered McElhaney Road, just off Old Bratt Road. Reader submitted photo by Melissa McElhaney for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Beating Cousin During Robbery
July 11, 2017
A Century man was charged with beating his cousin and stealing his necklace.
Eric James Grimes allegedly jumped into a vehicle at a residence on Crary Road in Century, hitting the victim — his cousin — with his fist multiple times. Grimes then threatened to kill the victim, retrieve a large rock that was larger than a softball and attempted to hit him.
Grimes, 26, then ripped a silver chain from the neck of the victim and punched him several more times in the face, an arrest report states. The victim escaped to call law enforcement.
The victim’s statements were corroborated by a witness, deputies said.
Grimes was charged with aggravated assault with attempt to commit a felony, battery, burglary with assault or battery, robbery without a weapon, and a probation violation. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
July 11, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending July 6 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No report was submitted this week from Escambia County.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Lewis and Jernigan were patrolling in the Blackwater State Forest when they saw a truck parked well beyond established barricades at a primitive campsite. The owner of the truck told the officers that he wanted his truck parked in his campsite. The vehicle damaged the trail and creek bank and caused deep ruts along its path. The man was charged with damaging state lands with a motor vehicle.
Officer Ramos was on vessel patrol in the Quiet Water beach area of the Santa Rosa Sound when he saw a pontoon boat with many people on board. After conducting a boating safety inspection on the vessel with 15 passengers, it was determined the boat had been rented from a local livery and the livery did not ensure the occupants had sufficient safety equipment. The livery had only provided 14 adult Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s) on board for the 15 passengers. Eight passengers were children, one of which was a toddler who is required to wear a PFD while the vessel is underway. The livery did not provide any children’s PFD’s with the rental pontoon. Officer Ramos contacted the livery and issued a criminal citation for leasing, hiring, or renting a vessel without the proper safety equipment.
While on late-night vessel patrol in the Intercostal Waterway, Officer Ramos stopped a boat with eight men on board returning from an offshore fishing trip to conduct a boating safety and resource inspection. The boat was a for-hire charter boat and had 14 red snapper in the fish cooler. After determining that only six of the passengers paid for the charter trip, Officer Ramos inquired why there were 14 red snapper in the cooler when the vessel limit was 12. The captain advised that his deckhand kept two fish for himself. Officer Ramos checked the captain’s history and confirmed that he had been previously charged with other fisheries violations and knew that the charter boat crew on a commercial trip cannot keep a recreational limit of red snapper for themselves. The individual was cited accordingly.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Century Seeks $1,000 Conference Scholarship For Mayor
July 11, 2017
The Town of Century is applying for a $1,000 scholarship for Mayor Henry Hawkins to attend this year’s annual Florida League of Cities in Orlando this August.
The League will award 10 scholarships to municipal officials across the state. The $1,000 will pay for conference registration and reimbursement of travel expenses.
The scholarships are available to municipalities such as Century that have a population of less than 10,000 people that have not attended the annual conference within the last three years.
The Century Town Council has written a letter to the Florida League of Cities in support of Hawkins’ nomination for the scholarship.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.