Jackknifed Truck Slows Traffic
April 23, 2016
An Escambia County man was not injured in a single vehicle wreck that slowed interstate traffic across Pensacola Bay Friday evening.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 52-year old Earnest Micheal Boardwyne was eastbound on I-10 just east of Scenic Highway when he expressed a loss of air pressure to a tandem trailer, causing the brakes to lock. The second trailer rotated and overturned, causing the 2015 Freightliner semi to jackknife.
Jackknifed
Ernest Ward Middle National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members
April 23, 2016
New members were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society during a candlelight ceremony Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle school students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character.
New National Junior Honor Society members at Ernest Ward are:
Seventh Grade: Maggie Amerson, Logan Bryan, Conner Byrne, Kayla Campbell, Sophia Cotita, Savannah Doremus, Makayla Garrett, Amber Gilman, Shelby Godwin, Zaria Griffin, Hailey Harigel, Hannah Hughes, Maille Kilcrease, Heather Knowles, Bryce Korinchak, Kaley Lashley, Abigail Levins, Ireland Maharrey, Meredith McGhee, Nathaniel Mickel, Mary Paige Nassar, Abigail Nelson, Taviana Parker, Madison Peterson, Libby Pugh, Tyler Ray, Kenna Redmond, Emily Stabler, Cody Thomas, Ariel Ward, Ben Ward, Summer Waters, Autumn Williams and Lane Wilson.
Eighth Grade: Logan Brown, Dalton Burke, Ragon Lassiter and Katelyn Wilson.
Pictured: New members were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Earth Day Celebrated In Century
April 23, 2016
An Earth Day celebration was held Friday afternoon in Century.
The event, held around the Ole Mill Pond at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center, featured multiple eco-friendly vendors and exhibitors, plus live entertainment.
NorthEscambia.com and submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Losing Streak Increases To Five Games
April 23, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos losing streak increased to five games after the Jackson Generals eked out the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning to win, 1-0, Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Jackson scored without getting a hit. In the top of the ninth inning, Jackson DH Leon Landry smacked a line drive to left field but it was deep enough to score center fielder Guillermo Heredia from third and put the Generals ahead, 1-0.
Heredia led off with a walk and then was bunted to second by second baseman Tim Lopes. He reached third base on a wild pitch by reliever Kyle McMyne, who was making his seventh relief appearance.
One good spot remains the Pensacola starting pitching. Daniel Wright, making his second spot start of the season, pitched six scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out six. He’s now pitched 11 scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out 12.
On the year Wright, who was a starter last year for Pensacola before moving to long reliever, is 2-0 and he dropped his ERA to 0.59.
Kelly said he believes Wright has better command of his pitches this season.
“He was pretty good last year but I think he’s gotten a little better,” Kelly said. “He has command of both sides of the plate. He had a good outing in Biloxi and then throws six strong innings to give us a chance.”
Pensacola, which hit .167 in its last series against the Biloxi Shuckers, had a season-high five doubles and seven hits total. But it was 0-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base. It was the second game in a row that Pensacola was shutout, 1-0.
The Blue Wahoos left two runners, centerfielder Beau Amaral and first baseman Donald Lutz on base, after they doubled to lead off the third and seventh innings, respectively.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” said Pensacola manager Pat Kelly. “You want to score runs but we haven’t done it the last couple of nights.”
The Generals remained atop the Southern League North Division at 11-4 and are riding a five game winning streak, matching its longest win streak from last season.
Meanwhile, Pensacola dropped its fifth straight game and is now 9-7 on the year and in second place in the Southern League South Division.
“There’s no reason to panic,” Kelly said. “It’s a long year. Every club goes through these things.”
Both Amaral and right fielder Sebastian Elizalde extended their hitting streaks to seven games. Amaral doubled in the third inning, while Elizalde singled in the fourth. Amaral is now 7-22 or .318 with a home run and four RBIs.
The Blue Wahoos still are getting clutch defense. Pensacola catcher Joe Hudson, rated the best defensive catcher by Baseball America in the Cincinnati Reds organization, threw out Jackson second baseman Tim Lopes trying to steal, making him a perfect 6-6 on the season. In the third inning, despite Hudson’s perfect strike, Generals left fielder Ian Miller stole his fifth base of the season.
Jackson tested Hudson again in the sixth inning and Heredia was nailed trying to steal, putting Hudson at 7-8 on runners trying to steal this season.
83-Year Old Charged With Friday Morning Stabbing Death
April 22, 2016
One person has been arrested in a Friday morning homicide in Escambia County.
At 5:30 a.m. someone reported that 29-year old Matthew Vaughn had been stabbed inside a home in the 8000 block of Tippin Avenue, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived on scene they found Vaughn deceased from multiple stab wounds inside a bedroom in the home.
Felipe Gonzalez, 83, has been arrested and charged with homicide. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Further details have not yet been released.
Pictured above and below: The scene of a stabbing death Friday morning at the corner of Olive and Tippin. Reader submitted photos by Jennie Thompson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Robs Century Coin Laundry, Flees With Change In Plastic Pumpkin
April 22, 2016
Authorities are on the hunt for a man that robbed a coin laundry in Century with a plastic pumpkin Thursday afternoon.
The man walked into the Century Coin Laundry and Self Storage with a children’s trick-or-treat Halloween pumpkin and demanded that it be filed with change, according to Sgt. Andrew Hobbs, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He then fled, with the pumpkin, in an unknown direction.
The man did not produce a weapon, and there were no injuries reported, Hobbs said. The suspect was described as a white male about 50 to 60 years of age wearing camouflage pants and hat, and a dirty gray shirt.
The coin laundry and self storage facility is located on North Century Boulevard near the state line, next to the Food Giant grocery store.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets 15 Years For Stealing, Recycling Copper Wire
April 22, 2016
Edward Allen Long was sentenced by Circuit Judge Darlene Dickey to 15 years ins state prison as a habitual felony offender. Long was convicted of three counts of dealing in stolen property, three counts of fraud upon secondary metals recyclers and one count of organized fraud.
Long was allowed to move into the living quarters of a Pensacola facility where he had been hired to do maintenance and odd jobs. Attached to the facility was a warehouse, which contained various parts that the victim had disassembled in another state and was relocating to Pensacola.
In December 2014, the victim noticed a substantial amount of copper wiring was missing from his warehouse. A subsequent investigation revealed the Long had sold copper wiring to a local scrap company on several occasions. The victim viewed the surveillance photographs from the scrap company and indicated the copper wire in question belonged to him.
Northview Dance Team Celebrates Successful Year
April 22, 2016
The Northview High School Dance Team recently celebrated a successful year. Dance Team members are: (front, L-R) Shelby Bashore, Delaney Reynolds, Anna Belle Barberree, Jerni Crabtree, (back) sponsor Heather Leonard, Madison Sherouse, Bethany Reynolds, Savanna Roux and Leah Fischer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Police Release Victim’s Name In Alabama-Florida State Line Suspicious Death
April 22, 2016
The Flomaton Police Department has released the name of a man found dead from a gunshot wound Tuesday afternoon.
He has been identified as 18-year old Kenneth Harris, Jr., of Flomaton. The death is still being classified as “suspicious”, according to Police Chief Bryan Davis.
About 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Flomaton Police Department received a 911 call that a person had been shot. Officers from the Flomaton Police Department and the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office responded to an address on Lender Street, off Alley 5, directly on the state line.
Officers arriving on the scene found Harris, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced deceased at the scene at Escambia County (FL) EMS.
Authorities determined the home was in Alabama based upon property tax records, and the Flomaton Police Department took the lead on the case.
Police Chief Bryan Davis said the the Flomaton Police Department along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation are still conducting a death investigation.
Tate Wins District Championship
April 22, 2016
The Tate Aggies clinched the District 1-7A Championship with a 3-1 win over Pace Thursday night.
The game was scoreless for six innings, with Aggies going ahead in the seventh for three. The Patriots only score came on a wild pitch in the seventh.
Micheal Sherrill took the win in one inning, allowing one run, striking out none, walking none and giving up two hits.
Trace Penton was 1-2 with a run for Tate. Branden Fryman was 1-4, Logan Blackmon was 2-4, Josh Kea was 2-3 with a run, and Reid Halfacre also scored one run.
Both teams advance to the regional quarterfinals next Wednesday night at 7:00. Navarre will be at Tate, while Milton will host Pace.