Blue Wahoos Hold off Barons For Seventh Straight Win
May 14, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their seventh consecutive game on Saturday night, beating the Birmingham Barons in a nail-biting 6-5 thriller.
Jefry Yan earned the four-out save, stranding two runners in both the eighth and ninth innings, to make a winner of Luis Palacios in his Blue Wahoos season debut.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos have won an incredible 15 of their past 16 games, with only a May 5 loss to Mississippi separating an eight-game winning streak and their active seven-game streak.
Palacios allowed a two-run homer to Taylor Snyder in the second, but the Blue Wahoos evened up the score in the third on an RBI double from J.D. Orr and an RBI single from Nasim Nuñez. In the fifth, Barons starter Garrett Schoenle almost escaped trouble before allowing a go-ahead three-run double to Victor Mesa Jr. that gave Pensacola a 5-2 edge.
Griffin Conine added some insurance with an RBI double in the sixth, and it turned out to be crucial as Palacios allowed three runs in the home half of the inning to draw the Barons to within a run at 6-5.
Austin Roberts and Brady Puckett contributed scoreless relief before Yan worked out of trouble in the final two innings to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Barons on Sunday afternoon in Birmingham.
by Erik Bremer/Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Mother, Her Stepfather Boyfriend Charged With Murder Of Her 2-Month Old Baby
May 13, 2023
A mother and her stepfather, who is also her boyfriend, are charged with the murder of a 2-month old baby in Escambia County, Alabama, according to authorities.
“The child had numerous bruises to the body and had suffered severe head trauma,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said Friday night about the April 9 death.
Shelby Shyanne Comalander, 24, and Larry William Jackson, 48, are both charged with murder and aggravated child abuse. Jackson faces an additional charge of possession of methamphetamine. Both are residents of the 200 block of Riley Road in the Poarch community north of Atmore.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Department of Human Resources investigation led to the arrest.
Both suspects were booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond. Additional details have not been released as the investigation continues.
NAS Pensacola Open This Weekend In Advance Off Full-Time Schedule
May 13, 2023
Naval Air Station Pensacola is open to the public Sunday, May 14, in advance of a return to a full-time schedule on May 17.
Public access to the air station will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only, located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Areas of public interest onboard NAS Pensacola include the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and Fort Barrancas. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available to anyone with family interred at the cemetery through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate.
NAS Pensacola is scheduled to open to the public seven days a week beginning May 17.
Foreign nationals will not be allowed access. Non-DoD cardholders operating vehicles with trailers will not be allowed to enter. Access will be dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
- No visitors with boats or boat trailers.
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card.
ECUA Residential Recycling Still On Hold, But A Return Date Is Planned
May 13, 2023
Residential recycling collections have headed into the landfill for the past month, but ECUA has announced a plan to return to full recycling operation.
ECUA’s recycling facility closed for residential mixed use recycling on April 14 due to what ECUA said was a “staff turnover” and downtime to hire and train employees for the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).
Friday, ECUA said they expect a soft start for the facility the week of May 22 and a return to full operations on June 12.
“Our customers are encouraged to continue to separate and keep good recycling habits, which will help to promote a successful soft-start,” ECUA Public Information Office Nathalie Bowers said.
The MRF continued to receive and process source-separated recyclables, primarily cardboard. Mixed recyclables such as those collected from residences at the curb cannot be processed safely and effectively until the facility is again operational and fully staffed.
ECUA also took advantage of the downtime for maintenance and certain process modifications to improve future plant functionality. These include:
- the replacement of the baler’s motor
- modifications to some chutes’ design to enhance the performance of robots
- rebuilding of the metering bin, which is the first part of the plant process which serves to load recyclables onto the conveyor belt in an even and uniform way.
‘Forcible Friday’ – Cantonment Firefighters Opening Doors That Don’t Want To Be Open
May 13, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue firefighters are continually training.
It was “Forcible Friday” this week at the Cantonment Fire Station. Firefighters practiced their skills opening doors by force. The skill allows firefighters to make entry in a variety of situations, including fires and medical emergencies where the occupant can’t open the door.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Rilee Lowery Signs With Coastal Alabama
May 13, 2023
Tate High School’s Rilee Lowery has signed with Coastal Alabama South to continue his athletic and academic career.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Blow Out Barons In Historic Sweep
May 13, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos completed two games on Friday, wrapping up Thursday’s suspended game and playing a seven-inning contest against the Birmingham Barons. They won both, taking the first 22-6 in blowout fashion and cruising to a 5-1 victory in the nightcap.
Thursday’s suspended game, picked up with the Blue Wahoos leading 6-0 in the second, saw the Blue Wahoos set new team records with an 11-run eighth inning and 22 total runs scored.
The Blue Wahoos got a great performance from Dax Fulton (W, 2-4) on the mound and poured on the runs at the plate for their fifth consecutive win.
Fulton allowed three runs and struck out nine over 5.2 innings of long relief after starting pitcher M.D. Johnson was used up in an inning of work on Thursday. After Bennett Hostetler’s grand slam against Vince Vannelle (L, 1-1) on Thursday set the tone for the offense, the Blue Wahoos got two more home runs from Victor Mesa Jr. and Troy Johnston to stretch their lead out further.
Five runs into Pensacola’s eighth inning outburst, more rain arrived and caused a delay of another two hours. The game eventually resumed, and the Blue Wahoos tacked on six more runs for 11 in total. It marked the most runs scored in a single inning in team history, surpassing a nine-run second inning against Chattanooga on on July 13, 2021.
The 22 total runs surpassed a 17-1 win over the Jacksonville Suns on April 21, 2014 for the most runs scored in a game in Blue Wahoos history.
In game two, Jake Walters allowed only an unearned run over 4.0 solid innings and Will Stewart (W, 1-0) fanned six batters over 3.0 hitless innings of relief as the Blue Wahoos won their sixth in a row.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Griffin Conine drew a bases-loaded walk against Matt Thompson (L, 1-3) before Jan Mercado hit a go-ahead two-run double and J.D. Orr added insurance with a two-run single.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Saturday night in Birmingham.
by Erik Bremer
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Is Saturday
May 12, 2023
Residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties can help feed hungry neighbors in need by donating to the Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday.
This is 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.
Food collected in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties stays local, helping to feed those who are struggling with food insecurity in the community.
Residents are encouraged to leave a bag of healthy, non-perishable food items, such as canned chicken, canned tuna, canned fruit in 100% juice, dry breakfast items (oatmeal, whole-grain cereal), canned vegetables, peanut butter, and/or dry beans next to their mailbox prior to regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 14. Residents should not donate items in glass containers or items that have been opened or homemade.
“It’s the easiest way to donate,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna Food Pantries. “Simply place your food donations at your mailbox, and your letter carrier will do the rest.”
Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers will collect 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.
Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Northview, ECHS, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian
May 12, 2023
The Atmore Rotary Club has named 159 area high school students as Academic All-Stars.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian School, or Escambia County High School. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year.
The Rotary Club presented nearly $40,000 in scholarships this year to 44 seniors, including 19 four-year Academic All-Stars. The program excludes Northview students that are full-time dual enrolled.
Those honored as Atmore Rotary Club Academic All Stars were:
(Four-Year Academic All-Stars are denoted with asterisks.)
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Freshmen
Ellie Sophia Adkins
Claire Marie Amerson
Desiray Makayla Bagwell
Wade Allen Bailey
Cameron Kristan Bourgeois
Jackson Baker Bridges
Tyler Benjamin Carach
Luke Davison Chavers
Addison Alaina Classen
Stevi Nicole Cofield
Elizabeth Faith Coleman
Talaysha Sherry Curry
Aakira Nichelle Davis
Kylie Ranae Davis
Mary-Clayton Lee Dawson
Allison Danielle Flowers
Brayden Michael Gindl
Savannah Jean Hudson
Keeli Victoria Knighten
Kinley Michelle Knowles
Anna Kunkel
Macy McKayla Miller
Samantha Minchew
Mary Elizabeth Oliver
Braylan Hope Shelly
Jackson Cade Simmons
Liam Patrick Simonson
Maggie Suzanne Stewart
Grecia Viera
Kayleigh Abigail Young
Sophomores
Ashton Connor Covan
Colton Ray Criswell
Payton Kathleen Daw
Maddie Mae Elle Driskell
Jamison Abigail Gilman
Noah Webster Goslee
Matthew Daniel Hunter
Madison Ann Levins
Kaitlin Rena Lloyd
Brooke Cay Lytton
Evin Alexander Matlock
Colby Alexander Pugh
Brianna Grace Reynolds
Ally Bama Richardson
Lacey Marie Sapp
Maggie Elizabeth Scott
Lilly Grace Smallwood
Kate Ashley Stinson
Lauren Ashley Stinson
Jayden Kenneth White
Brian James Yoder
Juniors
Rabekah Danielle Abbott
Raegan Michelle Abbott
Sarah Elaine Bailey
Doria Beach
Chloe Faith Criswell
Riley Elizabeth Dawson
Carsyn Laine Dortch
Emma Lynn Doyle
Mayson Claire Edwards
Raleigh Sienna Gibson
Kaylie Brooke Glick
Maggie Rose Godwin
Makayla Jane Golson
Ava Kate Gurganus
Berklee Savannah Hall
Leah Kathryn Hetrick
Ja’Niya I’Yonna Hooks
Allyson Breanna Jones
Kallista Grace Kennedy
Darrin Thomas Leatherberry
Leila Ann Mason
Caden Thomas Mills
Austin Minchew
Jaquez Keyshaun Moorer
Heath Samuel Parker
Jackson Johnny Mac Parker
Chloe Adele Ragsdale
Daniel Tyler Riggs
Wyatt Alexander Scruggs
Dequan Rashad Shabazz
Skyler Marie Williams
Seniors
Leah Kalyn Anderson *****
Terrell Luke Bridges *****
Cason Terry Burkett
Michael Bo Cody
Ethan Scott Collier *****
Drake Allen Driskell *****
Logan Taylor Faith *****
Emma Sage Gilmore *****
William Cross Goslee *****
Gabriel Kohle Harigel
Cayla Jocelyn Houston *****
Meredith Makenzie Johnston
Shelby Lynn Kent *****
Trent Austin Knighten *****
Sarah Kennedy Long *****
Bayllon David Matson
Megan T McGhee *****
Jaidyn Gaia Nordman
David Kaden Odom *****
Chase Randal Pugh *****
Madison Lee Rowinsky
McKenna Rae Simmons *****
Aubrey Michelle Stuckey *****
Blake Richard Yoder *****
ESCAMBIA ACADEMY
Freshman
Ronta Watson
Sophomores
Cade Leachman
Eli McElhaney
Reiley Morgan
Ana Chesley Robinson
Juniors
Ta’Shanda Baldwin
Luke Bell
Patrick Byrd
Eli Covington
Timmy Doerr
Molly Gandy
Hannah Johnson
Charlie Reid Sasser
Tava Johnson
Seniors
Cameron Ball
Arial Curry
Tiffany Gookin
ATMORE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Freshmen
Tyson Kennell
Eli Norton
Isaiah Smoker
Sophomore
Daniel Overton
Junior
Elizabeth Terry
Seniors
Elliott Classen
Claire Girby
Abigail Weber
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Freshmen
Tyson Durant
Kindle James
Amarion Lemon
Imari Lemon
Essence Martin
Demyia Munlyn
Robert Smith
Sophomores
Chloe Dawson
Ashley Parra
Juniors
Evereona Jackson
Sasha Kidd
Paul Martin
Shontia Martin
Ava Penner
NaAsia Reynolds
Seniors
Akyrah Bradley
Jayla Bullard
Hasten Dean III
Donnie Fails
Breona Gaines
Mason Huggins
Tykeria Lambert
Danica McCullam
Isabella McGee
Darron Nichols Jr
Lexi Peavy
Shamirica Rankins
Summayah Tolbert
Carmelo Turner
Photo: Atmore Rotary Club Four-Year Academic All-Stars. Photo by Andrew Garner/ Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Choking His Girlfriend
May 12, 2023
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly choking his girlfriend during an argument.
Kenneth Cobb Mason, 28, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery.
Mason grabbed his girlfriend of two years around the neck, causing her breathing to become obstructed, according to an arrest report. He also allegedly grabbed the front of her shirt by the collar, causing it to tear.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she refused to let Mason use her vehicle and an argument ensued, the report states.
Mason was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.