Wahoos Fall In Extras Despite Sánchez’s Awaited Return
September 13, 2023
Sixto Sánchez bounded out of the Blue Wahoos dugout and leaped on the mound.
Just being in a game again meant a lot.
Pitching against an opponent for the first time in three seasons, Sánchez used a two-strikeout, scoreless first inning Tuesday as a first step toward what the Miami Marlins hope is a comeback from a long road of misfortune. He last pitched for them in the National League playoffs in 2020.
Sánchez, 25, once among professional baseball’s top prospects, provided the Blue Wahoos an initial lift that led into an early lead. But the Mississippi Braves rallied with a pair of home runs off Luis Palacios, then made a 10th-inning run stand, for a 5-4 victory in the series opener at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The loss ended the Blue Wahoos’ seven-game win streak. It extended what has been Pensacola’s thorn this season. They are now 1-6 in extra-inning games.
Coming off a six-game road sweep at Rocket City, the Blue Wahoos (76-55) again started fast. They worked four walks for a first-inning run off M-Braves opener Drue Hackenberg. They got another run in the second of an RBI single from Nasim Nuñez.
They took a 3-1 in the fourth by loading the bases before a fielder’s choice groundout from Victor Mesa Jr. But when Nuñez hit into a double play to end the inning, the Blue Wahoos didn’t have multiple baserunners the rest of the game.
The M-Braves (60-72), who are now 11-14 this season against Pensacola, jumped on two mistake pitches from Palacios to change the game.
Palacios was brilliant in his last outing, going eight scoreless innings on three hits in a win last week at Rocket City. He flashed some of that same effectiveness Tuesday.
But in the sixth inning with two outs and nobody on, he gave up a single to Jesse Franklin and Bryson Horne followed by blasting a pitch deep over the right field wall to tie the game. In the seventh, Cal Conley’s solo homer provided a 4-3 lead.
The Blue Wahoos tied the game when Cody Morissette led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer that cleared the right field wall and a leaping attempt by Drew Campbell.
The M-Braves won the game in the 10th when placed runner Campbell stole third, then scored on a wild pitch, by closer Jefry Yan.
The Blue Wahoos had their placed runner, Mesa Jr., reach third on a wild pitch with none out. But M-Braves reliever Brooks Wilson threw a steady succession of splitter fastballs that resulted in three consecutive swinging strikeouts from Nuñez, Will Banfield and Jake Thompson to end the game.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, former Pensacola Catholic standout Jordan McCants had a sacrifice bunt that became a game-winning play on a throwing error to score Jan Mercado as the Jupiter Hammerheads won their Florida State League playoff opener 3-2 in 10 innings.
The Blue Wahoos’ series with the M-Braves continues on Wednesday.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
IP Donates Property To Expand Carver Park In Cantonment
September 12, 2023
International Paper recently donated property to Escambia County for $10 for the expansion of Carver Park in Cantonment.
The 0.7 acre is located directly south of the current park. Pictured above, the 2.7 acres of the current park is highlighted in yellow, and the donated property is highlighted in red. The space between the two parcels is county right of way.
In the event the property is no longer used for a public park in the future, the property will revert back to International Paper.
Travis Smith Family Named 2023 Outstanding Farm Family For Santa Rosa County
September 12, 2023
Travis Smith and family have been selected as the 2023 Outstanding Farm Family of the Year for Santa Rosa County.
Travis, a fifth generation farmer in Santa Rosa County, has been involved in the world of farming from a remarkably young age. A lifelong resident of Jay, Florida, Travis’ upbringing revolved around the fields of peanuts and cotton that surrounded his family’s home. It was within these fields that Travis’ journey as a farmer began, pulling weeds and tending crops, a humble start that would significantly shape the farmer he is today. As a child, working alongside his father and grandfather, he learned firsthand the tireless dedication and perseverance required to nurture crops to achieve a bountiful harvest.
Travis absorbed the wisdom and knowledge passed down from his father and grandfather. His experiences in the peanut and cotton fields also fostered a sense of connection to the broader agricultural community. He witnessed the interdependence of farmers, as they came together during planting and harvest seasons, lending each other a helping hand when needed. Over time, Travis’ roles expanded beyond weed pulling, as he took on increasingly significant responsibilities in the family’s farming operation.
Travis and his wife Brittany were high school sweethearts. Brittany and Travis were married in August of 2007 and have since expanded their involvement, not only in Smith Farms, which Travis shares with his father, but also adding acres to their own farm.
Travis serves on the board of directors for Escambia Peanut Company, the Farm Credit Nominating Committee and the Santa Rosa County Extension Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Travis and Brittany and their three children, Leah, Lexie and Tate, enjoy being outdoors together, hiking, running, and being out on the water. Their children are now following in Travis’ footsteps, pulling weeds and learning from their father and grandfather.
GED Classes Offered At Molino Community Center, Several Other Locations
September 12, 2023
George Stone Technical College is offering fall GED classes at the Molino Community Century, Ensley Elementary School, CareerSource Escarosa, Blue Angels Elementary and at their main campus.
Classes are open enrollment; students can start anytime.
George Stone Technical College offers GED classes every Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Molino Community Century, 6450 North Highway 95A.
GSTC also offers GED classes at Ensley Elementary School every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Tuition is free at the Ensley Elementary site at 501 East Johnson Avenue.
GED classes are also held at CareerSource Escarosa every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon at 6913 North Ninth Avenue. In addition, George Stone has partnered with Blue Angels Elementary School to offer GED classes on Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 p.m.
GED classes on the main campus at 2400 Longleaf Drive are offered throughout the day and online sessions are available for students meeting certain requirements.
For information on any of the George Stone GED classes, contact Patricia Harrison at (850) 941-6200, ext. 2361 or pharrison@ecsdfl.us. GTSC can assist with registration.
FWC Law Enforcement Report: Fishing And Boating Violations
September 12, 2023
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following recent activity:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Hahr was patrolling the Mahogany Mill Public Boat Ramp, when he observed a charter angler and his crew cleaning fish near the ramp. While conducting a resource inspection of the catch, Officer Hahr observed two undersized greater amberjacks. The captain of the vessel was charged with possession of undersized greater amberjack.
While conducting marine fisheries enforcement at the 17th Avenue Boat Launch, Officer Lugg pulled into the parking lot and observed an individual taking fishing gear and equipment out of his truck bed and loading it into a trailered vessel as if the vessel was about to launch from the ramp. Officer Lugg then observed the vehicle/trailer suddenly exit the boat launch at a high rate of speed into heavy traffic going northbound on 17th Avenue. Officer Lugg attempted to catch up to the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle/vessel for not displaying a trailer tag. The vehicle maneuvered in different directions in what appeared to be an attempt to avoid being followed. After a brief search, Officer Lugg located the vehicle pulled over. The officer observed the operator standing next to the vessel with a black trash bag and multiple fish lying on the deck of the vessel. Officer Lugg conducted a traffic stop and after speaking with the operator, observed oversized black drum, undersized red snapper, and lane snapper on the deck. All violations were cited accordingly.
While conducting marine fisheries enforcement near Bayou Texar, Officer Lugg conducted an inspection on a shoreline angler and found the individual possessed an undersized flounder and five undersized mangrove snapper in a cooler. All violations were cited accordingly.
Officer Matechik and Lieutenant Corbin were patrolling the Pensacola Pass. Several vessels were stopped for resource inspections. Multiple violations were located including undersized scamp grouper, undersized grey triggerfish, over bag limit of gray triggerfish, undersized Spanish mackerel, reef fish not in whole condition, and no valid fishing licenses. All violations were addressed accordingly.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officers Bower and Valdez were on patrol and observed a commercial angler. A resource inspection was conducted and two undersized black drum were discovered. The subject was sited accordingly for his violations.
Officers Bower and Valdez were on patrol conducting resource inspections. The officers located a subject kayak fishing in the Santa Rosa Sound. After contacting the subject, they located an undersized speckled trout and two safety violations. The subject did not have a personal floating device or whistle on board and was aware of the regulations on speckled trout. The subject was issued citations and a notice to appear for the violations.
Lieutenant Corbin and Officers Bower and Valdez were on patrol conducting resource inspections in Pensacola Bay at night. The officers observed a vessel without navigational white light displayed. A vessel stop was conducted and during the inspection, Officer Valdez located an oversized redfish measuring 34 inches. The operator of the vessel was issued a warning for his navigation light and was issued a notice to appear for the oversized redfish
This report represents some events the FWC handled during the time period; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate Aggie Battalion Guards Wreath In Honor Of 9/11 Attack Victims
September 12, 2023
Monday, the Tate High School AJROTC Aggie Battalion guarded a wreath to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on America.
“As the guards went through the hot sunny day they kept pushing themselves remembering the lives that were lost for them to be here today,” said c/1LT Jayce Latzer. “Throughout the day there were many distractions especially during class changes and lunches, but through it all we still kept out bearing and didn’t let anything disturb us.”
Latzer, c/LTC Kencaid Sappington, c/MAJ Joseph Yasurak, c/CSM Daisa Vickers, and c/1LT Braydon Stringer were Aggie Battalion members that guarded the wreath.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos by c/CSM Daisa Vickers and c/1LT Jayce Latzer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECUA Customers Must Call For Bulk Waste Pickup Services
September 12, 2023
ECUA residential customers must now call ahead for bulk waste pickup services.
For bulk waste pickup, residents should call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480 by 2 p.m. on the day prior to their regular collection, and the bulk waste will take place on the normal collection day. Items should be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the regular collection day but no sooner than 48 hours before the collection day. There is no additional charge for bulk waste collection.
Bulk waste is considered to be items that are too large to fit into the trash can. Examples include:
- General furniture (couches, mattresses, desks, chairs, dressers, area rugs)
- Small appliances (vacuum cleaners, microwaves, space heaters, toasters and toaster ovens)
- Bicycles
- Grills
- Lawnmowers (free from gasoline and oil)
- Large toys (including electronic toys- please remove any lithium-ion batteries)
- Household electronics (computer monitors (CRTs and Flat Panels), computers (desktop and laptop), keyboards, mouses, printers, scanners, copy and fax machines, televisions (CRTs and flat screen), stereos, radios, CD and tape players, VCRs, video game systems, telephones, cell phones, and rechargeable batteries)
Pile the bulky waste items at a curbside area that is free of overhanging tree limbs, wires, and/or cable boxes. Be careful not to block traffic. ECUA will collect one 6’ W x 6’ D x 6’ H pile of bulk items weekly. No household garbage or construction debris will be accepted.
Building debris (such as but not limited to: fencing, carpet, and sheetrock), extra trash bags of clothing or garbage, or other small items will not be collected as bulk waste.
If you have excess trash that is not considered bulk items, you may request an extra sanitation pick-up or order an additional can.
McDavid Man Charged With Title Fraud, Theft After Selling Truck On Facebook
September 11, 2023
A McDavid man is charged with fraudulently selling a vehicle on Facebook using another person’s name.
Jimmy Robert Wiggins, Jr., 44, was charged with motor vehicle title fraud and grand theft, both felonies.
The victim agreed to pay Wiggins $1,300 for a vehicle he advertised on Facebook Marketplace, according to an arrest report. Wiggins told the victim that the vehicle needed work on the drive shaft in order to be fully operable, but that work would be completed to allow the buyer to drive the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado away.
Wiggins identified himself to the buyer as “Clarence Powell”, providing a bill of sale and title signed by “Clarence Powell”, deputies said, in exchange for the $1,300. But the vehicle would not move when the buyer attempted to drive away, ECSO said, and eventually the purchaser demanded his money back. Two witnesses corroborated the victim’s story to deputies.
Deputies said Wiggins left the residence when he learned the victim was contacting law enforcement.
The vehicle had not been reported stolen.
Wiggins remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning with bond set at $10,000. Jail records indicated he also has outstanding warrants from Baldwin County, Alabama, and Okaloosa County.
Bonus Photos: Tate And Northview Fans, Band, Cheerleaders
September 11, 2023
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs in the “Summerford Bowl” last week.
For a bonus photo gallery with the band, fans and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
Tate (2-1) will hit the road to take on Navarre Friday, while the Northview Chiefs, off to a rough 0-3 start, will host Lighthouse Private Christian Academy in Bratt.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Remembering: Our 9/11 Museum, World Trade Center Site Photos
September 11, 2023
The images are burned in our minds. The sight of two planes crashing into the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The site where the towers fell is a quiet spot in lower Manhattan that is home to the 9/11 Memorial.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The Memorial remembers and honors the 2,983 people who were killed in the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The design, created by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, consists of two reflecting pools formed in the footprints of the original Twin Towers and a plaza of trees. The Museum displays monumental artifacts linked to the events of 9/11, while presenting intimate stories of loss, compassion, reckoning and recovery that are central to telling the story of the 2001 and 1993 attacks and the aftermath.
The Museum’s mission is to bear witness to 9/11. This place of violence is resurrected into a place of peace; a safe gathering place to mourn, comfort, heal and think.
We took our NorthEscambia.com cameras to New York to bring you a look at the museum and reflection pools.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Quick facts:
- There are 2,983 names on the 9/11 Memorial, honoring the 2,977 people killed at the three attack sites on September 11, 2001 and the six people killed in the February 26, 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center.
- The 9/11 attacks killed 2,977 people. 2,753 people were killed in New York, 184 people were killed at the Pentagon and 40 people were killed on Flight 93.
- The largest loss of life of rescue personnel in American history occurred on September 11, 2001. 343 FDNY firefighters, along with 37 Port Authority Police Department officers and 23 New York Police Department officers, were killed. In total, 441 first responders representing over 30 agencies died on 9/11.
- The Memorial pools stand in the footprints of the Twin Towers. Each pool is one acre in size. There are 413 swamp white oak trees on the Memorial plaza, and one pear tree known as the Survivor Tree.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
