Fitterer, Blue Wahoos Blank Braves for Seventh Straight Win
May 4, 2023
Evan Fitterer continued to make a strong impression in a Blue Wahoos uniform, tossing the first five innings of a four-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday morning.
Fitterer (W, 2-0), who allowed only one hit over 6.0 scoreless innings in his Double-A debut at Montgomery last Thursday, scattered three hits over another strong start as the Blue Wahoos won their seventh game in a row.
Will Banfield started the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning against Scott Blewett (L, 0-2), and Dane Myers followed with an RBI single in the third that would provide Pensacola all the run support they would need.
Cristian Charle, Zack Leban and Jefry Yan (S, 2) worked the final four innings out of the Blue Wahoos bullpen, securing just the fifth seven-game winning streak in team history. The franchise record is eight wins in a row, accomplished in 2017 and 2018.
The Education Day game was played in front of 5,038 fans, a group mostly comprised of students and field trip groups. It marked the seventh sellout of the season in 11 games at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Mississippi Braves on Thursday evening in Pensacola
written by Erik Bremer/photos Blue Wahoos
Man Serving Life For 2009 Murder Of Cantonment Woman Has Died In Prison
May 3, 2023
A man serving a life sentence for murdering a Cantonment woman in 2009 has died in a prison.
Scott Joseph Thompson was convicted of second degree murder for the strangulation death of Cheryl Cain and leaving her body in a dumpster.
“Mr. Thompson died on April 27, 2023 while assigned to Blackwater Correctional Facility,” Florida Department of Corrections Press Secretary Paul W. Walker told NorthEscambia.com on Tuesday. He was 42-years old.
Thompson’s cause of death was not yet available from FDC. He had been incarcerated in state prison since July 27, 2010.
Cain’s body was found in a dumpster behind a former gas station on Highway 29 at Burgess Road in Pensacola on March 25, 2009. DNA evidence from the dumpster and in Cain’s car were used to charge Thompson with murder, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Thompson’s DNA was reportedly found in Cain’s vehicle, which was located after the murder at a Pensacola motel.
Phone records also connected Thompson to Cain, as well as a witness that testified that the two argued over money the last day she was seen alive.
NAS Pensacola Reopening To The Public Seven Days A Week
May 3, 2023
NAS Pensacola is scheduled to open to the public seven days a week beginning May 17.
As part of a phased reopening, previously scheduled public visitation will remain May 4-7 and May 11-14.
While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center (VCC) at the Main Gate to anyone with family interred at the cemetery.
“We’re excited to have the public come back and visit our great air station,” said Capt. Terrence Shashaty, NAS Pensacola commanding officer. “We understand it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to open the base to the community, and we thank you for your patience.”
Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real ID or passport.
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.
Burkett Homers As Northview Shuts Out Central, Heads To District Championship (With Gallery)
May 3, 2023
The Northview Chiefs shut out Central 9-0 Tuesday afternoon in the District 1-1A semifinals.
No. 1 Northview (16-6) will take on No. 2 Jay (16-10) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Jay for the district title.
Cason Burkett homered in the third inning for the Chiefs, going 2-2 overall. Rustin Pope went 2-3, while Kaden Odom, Luke Bridges, Josh Landis and Ethan Collier each added a hit for Northview.
Burkett pitched two innings for Northview, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out three. Jamarkus Jefferson went for two, Kaden Ocom for two and Grayden Sheffield for one inning on the mound, allowing no hits and not runs while striking out a combined four.
Also on Tuesday, Jay shut down Baker 11-1.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Tate Beats Gulf Breeze 9-2 To Advance To District Championship (With Gallery)
May 3, 2023
The No.3 Tate Aggies blew past the No. 2 Gulf Breeze Dolphins 9-2 in the District 1-1A semifinals Wednesday.
Drew Reaves homered in the third, and Ethan McAnally had a dinger in the firth for Tate.
For more photos, click to tap here.
Rilee Lowery went six innings on the mound for Tate, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out seven.
Brayden Touchstone led the Aggies at the plate with two hits. McAnally, Reaves, Clifton Quiggins and James Davis each had a hit for the Aggies.
The Aggies (18-6) will take on the Patriots (23-2) in Pace Thursday at 7 p.m. for the district championship.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Escambia Public Schools Now Offering Free Online Tutoring Services
May 3, 2023
Escambia County Public Schools is partnering with Tutor Me, an online service that provides one-on-one, on-demand, live tutoring and writing support in certain subject areas, at no cost to ECPS students.
Tutoring will be available every day of the week 3-10 p.m. and is accessible through the Core App Dashboard on the ECPS website.
The TutorMe award-winning Lesson Space replicates all the best parts of in-person learning, including face-to-face collaboration through optional live audio and video. TutorMe’s thriving community of tutors includes thousands of certified teachers, professionals, advanced-degree holders, and other subject matter experts, all of whom have been thoroughly vetted and background-checked.
In addition to live tutoring sessions, students will also have access to paper and essay review services through the TutorMe Writing Lab.
Elementary (K-5) Subjects:
- Math
- Science
- ELA
- Social Studies
Secondary Subjects (6-12):
- Basic Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra
- Geometry
- ELA
- Writing
- Biology
- US History Civics
Gilmore’s Bottom Of The Eighth Walk-Off Single Pushes Northview Into District Championships
May 3, 2023
Emma Gilmore hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Northview beat Paxton 6-5 Tuesday night in the District 1-1A semifinals Tuesday night in Bratt.
The game was tied at when Gilmore singled on a 3-0 count to score Makayla Golson.
With the win, Northview (14-11) advances to the title game against the defending Class 1A state champion Jay Royals. Northview will host at 7 p.m. Thursday. Jay (13-11) is coming off a 7-0 shut out of Baker Tuesday afternoon.
Aubrey Stuckey opened in the the circle for the Lady Chiefs, going six innings allowing four hits and five runs while striking out five. Jamison Gilman went for two innings, giving up one run and not hits while striking out three.
Gilmore, Gilman and Mary-Clayton Dawson had two hits each for Northview. Stuckey, Berklee Hall andAllison Flowers added on hit each.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Wild Ninth Leads Wahoos To Sixth Straight Win
May 3, 2023
Trailing 1-0 going to the bottom of the ninth, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos took advantage of three consecutive Mississippi Braves errors for a 2-1 walk-off victory, their sixth win in a row.
After a leadoff single from Joe Rizzo against Jake McSteen (L, 0-1), both Cody Morissette and Victor Mesa Jr. were prepared to sacrifice an out to advance the tying run. Both reached on errors from third baseman Beau Philip, loading the bases for Dane Myers. Myers hit a weak chopper towards the left side of the infield, where McSteen made an errant throw home to bring home the tying and winning runs.
Eury Pérez was outstanding in his start for Pensacola, fanning a season-high 11 batters over 5.0 two-hit, one-run innings. His only blemish, a solo homer to Ardan Pabst in the fifth, gave Mississippi a 1-0 lead that they would hold until the game’s final moments.
Tanner Gordon twirled 7.0 scorless innings for the Braves, preventing Pensacola from establishing a threat all night. But the Pensacola relief trio of Josan Méndez, Patrick Murphy and Sean Reynolds (W, 1-1) kept the game within reach, allowing the Blue Wahoos to rally for their first walk-off win of the season.
At two hours and one minute, it was the fastest nine-inning game of the season, almost eclipsing a 1:54 game from 2019 as the fastest in team history.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday morning.
written by Bill Vilona, photos Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Century Backyard Searched In 2017 Flomaton Double Murder Case (With Gallery)
May 2, 2023
Tuesday morning, law enforcement searched a backyard in Century for evidence in the 2017 murder of a Flomaton couple.
About 2:30 p.m. on August 12, 2017, the bodies of 50-year old Timothy Adams and his wife, 61-year old Susan Adams, were found with multiple gunshot wounds inside their mobile home at 1455 College Street in Flomaton. They were last seen alive earlier that morning, and investigators believe they were murdered before noon that day.
In late 2021, Jermaine Lavelle Smith of Flomaton, Jacqueline Bernice Rolin of Atmore, and Kenneth Joe Lowery, Jr. of Century were each charged with three counts of capital murder in the case and are jailed awaiting trial.
Tuesday, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant assisting the Flomaton Police Department at a home in the 6800 block of Jefferson Avenue in Century at a home next door to an empty lot owned by Wesley Chapel Church. Both the church and the home at the search warrant location were destroyed in a February 2016 EF-3 tornado.
Neighbors told us there was a tent or temporary living quarters on the property following the tornado; a new home has since been constructed. Officials said the current resident of the home is not connected to the murder case.
“We are looking for physical evidence in the case,” Flomaton Police Chief Dane NeSmith told NorthEscambia.com at the search location. He declined to elaborate on the type of evidence.
ECSO Florida deputies, investigators and crime scene technicians, along with Flomaton police officers, were seen using metal detectors across the backyard of the home. When the detectors audibly indicated that something metal was found, flags were placed to mark the location. Officers could later be seen digging at the flag marker locations.
Authorities said no evidence was recovered Tuesday.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
A Mom Remembers Her Daughter As Search Continues For Molino Woman’s Killer
May 2, 2023
On Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2017, Anna Louise Brown was out for a jog on Gibson Road in Molino.
She never made it home.
Brown, 38, was found face down on the side of the road near the Alligator Creek bridge. She had been shot multiple times.
And her murderer remains on the run.
“Someone decided to take matters into their own hands and took Anna Brown’s life away from her, her two kids, her parents, siblings, extended family and many friends and acquaintances. That horrific decision has been devastating to all of us,” Sue Brown wrote in a remembrance of her daughter on the sixth anniversary of her death. “That terrible act was not wrapped up in love, but came with a cloak of sinister, evil thoughts acted out by a weak minded, hateful individual.”
A nearby witness observed an older model silver vehicle drive past his residence. A short time later, the vehicle drove back past his residence again. Moments later the witness heard approximately six to eight gunshots.
The victim had recently finalized her divorce from her ex-husband Manuel De-Jesus Vega, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A family member expressed concern to investigators about Vega due to him being both verbally and physically abusive.
Anna Brown’s murder was one of four cases that were the focus of retired certified law enforcement detectives during a two-day Cold Case Symposium hosted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
(To read Sue Brown’s entire remembrance, click here.)
Below: NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
