Update: Three Shot As Hundreds Gather For ‘May Day’ Event In Cantonment, ECSO Says
May 28, 2023
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said three people were shot Saturday night during a community gathering known as “May Day” in Cantonment.
The victims were two females both age 18 and a 21-year old male. Sgt. Melony Peterson said the victims were transported to the hospital in Pensacola with injuries that were not life-threatening. All are expected to recover.
The shootings were reported about 9:10 in the area of Carver Park on Webb Street where the suspect opened fire into a crowd, striking the victims.
Peterson said no information on a suspect was provided by bystanders.
Hundreds of people had gathered Saturday night in the area of the park and in the area of Muscogee Road and Highway 29 during the “May Day” event, according to witnesses. The ECSO said they estimated about 2,000 people were in attendance.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Several Reported Injured In Cantonment Wreck
May 28, 2023
As many as five people — including children — were reported injured in a wreck Saturday night in Cantonment.
The crash was reported about 9:15 p.m. on Muscogee Road and preliminary information indicated it was a hit and run.
The injured were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS. An update on their conditions was not available, but the injuries were not considered life threatening.
The crash is under investigation and further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Take Stock In Children Awards $287K In Scholarships
May 28, 2023
Take Stock in Children and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation awarded $287,000 in scholarships recently.
The event honored 21 graduating seniors who received four-year tuition scholarships and a laptop computer. Also recognized were all of the volunteer mentors of our students as well as scholarship donors.
The 2023 Take Stock in Children graduates are:
- Northview High: Johnnie Howell, Jr.
- Tate High: Calvin Brewer, Tyler Hurley, Avery Leventhal, Loghan Zellers
- Pine Forest High: Bobbie-Sue Jarrell, Bricen Kelly, Jayla Rudolph, Aiden Wilson
- Washington High: Kelsey Bolling, Briana Coates, Kiana Hollis, Teddy Robinson III, Shiriell Watson
- West Florida High: Alonna Brown, Patrick Delcour, Efrain Escarfullet III, Kiara Mullins, Kendall Poston, Ty’QuJuan Stallworth-Horne
- Escambia Virtual: Trinity Weaver
Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. The program provides a unique opportunity for deserving low-income students to escape the cycle of poverty through education. Students are selected through a need-based application process in middle school, and comprehensive services continue through high school and include the students’ transition into college. Students receive college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors, and college readiness skills.
Scholarships are funded through a unique public-private fundraising model in which local scholarship donations are matched by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation when scholarships are purchased each year. Laptops were donated through a program founded by Nick & Nathan Gupta and currently coordinated by Walton Buckley.
District 1 Commissioner Bergosh To Discuss Beulah Master Plan, OLF-8 At Town Hall
May 28, 2023
Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh will hold a town hall early next month in Beulah.
Bergosh is expected to address the Beulah Master Plan and upcoming development of OLF-8. Commissioner
He will also utilize “agree” or “disagree” cards so residents can answer questions posed during the town hall. Comment cards will be available for county staff to address residents’ concerns.
The town hall will take place June 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Beulah Middle School, 6001 West Nine Mile Road.
Blue Wahoos Battered By Braves In 10-1 Loss
May 28, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos suffered their most lopsided defeat of the season on Saturday night, falling 10-1 to the Mississippi Braves.
After a pregame rain delay, the Blue Wahoos managed just one run on three hits as the Braves rode a six-run fourth to a blowout victory.
Troy Johnston led off the fourth inning with a double against Scott Blewett (W, 2-2), and scored on a José Devers sacrifice fly to give Pensacola a brief 1-0 lead.
M.D. Johnson (L, 0-2) cruised through 3.0 hitless innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth. The righty loaded the bases with a hit batsman and a pair of walks, and Drew Lugbauer made the Blue Wahoos pay with a three-run double. Three batters later, Landon Stephens capped the big inning with a three-run homer.
Tyler Tolve added an RBI single in the fifth, and Beau Philip hit a homer of his own in the sixth. The Braves ended their night with two more runs in the eighth against Noah Gotsis in his first Blue Wahoos relief appearance.
The Blue Wahoos lost a game in the standings, and are now 5.0 games ahead of second place Biloxi in the South Division with 25 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Braves on Sunday.
by Erik Bremer
DeSantis Awards $2.6 Million To EREC’s North Escambia, Santa Rosa Fiber Broadband Project
May 27, 2023
Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced over $2.6 million in funding for rural fiber internet in northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The $2,615,434.62 for Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s broadband project was awarded through the Broadband Opportunity Program to expand broadband Internet access in Florida’s unserved communities.
According to the state, the award will specifically add 1,015 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,193 unserved locations in and around Walnut Hill, Jay, Pine Level, Berrydale, Brownsdale, Dixonville, Mount Carmel, Munson, Springhill, and Whitfield.
The preliminary stages of a fiber buildout are currently underway in North Escambia, and about a month ago the member owned cooperative announced that their high speed internet service is also coming to Santa Rosa County.
The project across both counties is projected to cost $36 million and will include availability across the entire EREC electrical service area.
In March, the Escambia County Commission voted to contribute $6.3 million from American Rescue Plan funds toward a network that will span approximately 600 miles of fiber in Escambia County, reaching over 4,000 EREC member locations.
The network is expected to be complete in Escambia County by mid-2024, with initial service availability targeted as early as the third quarter of 2023.
DeSantis announced a total of $60 million in awards Friday to support 22 broadband projects in 19 Florida counties, impacting nearly 58,000 locations. That brings the total to more than $226 million that has been awarded to expand broadband Internet access across the state, helping to connect more than 250,000 homes and businesses.
“This $60 million in awards brings our total investment in broadband to more than $226 million to expand broadband Internet access in Florida’s under connected communities,” said DeSantis. “With this investment, we are connecting more than 250,000 unserved homes and businesses and expanding opportunities in rural communities.”
Florida Disaster Sales Tax Holiday Underway
May 27, 2023
The first of two Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays is underway through Friday, June 9. Floridians are expected to save an estimated $144 million on the purchase of tax-free items.
Eligible items include flashlights, batteries, tarps, generators, fuel containers, and coolers. Some new items included in this year’s list are toilet paper, paper towels, soap, sunscreen, cleaning products and trash bags.
A second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday will run August 26 through September 8. A complete list of items is below.
Memorial Day Ceremony Set For Pensacola’s Veterans Memorial Park
May 27, 2023
A Memorial Day ceremony is scheduled for Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola.
The Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola is inviting active duty military personnel, veterans, families and all community members to attend the program at 1 p.m. at 200 South 10th Avenue.
A Marine Corps Color Guard will present the colors and the Pensacola Opera Chorus will perform a patriotic medley of songs. In addition, the Blue Anchor Belles will sing an assortment of 40’s and 50’s and patriotic style music, and McGuire’s Pipe Band will also be featured at the ceremony.
Guest speaker will be sportscaster Dan Shugart from WEAR TV 3. A Marine Corps bugler and honor guard will close the ceremony by rendering honors.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have given their lives in the service of our great nation,” said Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola President Rob Doss. “Memorial Day is set aside to honor and remember these men and women so that their service and their sacrifice is never forgotten.”
Myers Homers In Wahoos 4-0 Win Over Braves
May 27, 2023
Dane Myers hit an inside-the-park home run to start off a fun Friday night for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, who defeated the Mississippi Braves 4-0 for their second win in a row.
Myers circled the bases in the first after his sinking liner got past diving Braves center fielder Jacob Pearson. It was just the fifth inside-the-parker in team history, and the first since Ivan De Jesus Jr. in 2019.
Evan Fitterer (W, 4-1) worked the first 5.2 innings of a four-hit shutout for the Blue Wahoos. The righty worked out of trouble in every inning, and got help from relievers Austin Roberts and Josan Méndez to complete the scoreless game.
Alan Rangel (L, 1-4) took the tough-luck loss for Mississippi, allowing only the Myers homer in 5.0 innings of work. The Blue Wahoos added some insurance with a three-run eighth, as Cody Morissette and Griffin Conine punched RBI singles past a drawn-in infield.
Norel González was 3-for-4 with a double, and José Devers finished 2-for-4 with a triple, stolen base and impressive double play on the defensive side with a diving stop at third base.
The Blue Wahoos gained a game in the standings, and are now 6.0 games clear of second place Montgomery and Biloxi in the South Division with 26 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Braves on Saturday in Mississippi.
by Erik Bremer
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Nets 190,853 Pounds Locally
May 27, 2023
The Stamp Out Hunger food drive two weeks ago collected 190,853 pounds locally.
The food was donated to food banks in Northwest Florida, providing the equivalent of 219,862 meals.
The May 13 event marked the 31st year for the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive – the largest, national, single-day effort to put food on the table for millions of Americans.
Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers collected food donations that will benefit individuals and families served by Manna Food Pantries, Feeding the Gulf Coast, ACTS Ministries, We Care Ministries, and Warrington Emergency Aid Center.