Blue Wahoos, Biscuits Suspended By Rain In Montgomery
April 30, 2023
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Montgomery Biscuits saw their Saturday night game suspended due to rain in the sixth inning in a 2-2 tie.
The game will be completed on Sunday at 1:30, with the regularly-scheduled series finale to follow at 3:33.
Pensacola strung together four singles from Victor Mesa Jr., José Devers, Dane Myers and J.D. Orr to take a 2-0 lead against Jacob Lopez in the second inning. Montgomery eventually worked back to a tie against M.D. Johnson, getting an RBI single from Evan Edwards in the second and a game-tying RBI single from Alika Williams in the fifth just before the tarp was pulled on the night.
written by Erik Bremer
Alabama Woman Killed, Three Injured In Beulah Intersection Crash
April 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol said an Alabama woman was killed and three people were injured Friday night at a Beulah intersection.
The crash happened about 8 p.m. at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road.
FHP said a pickup truck driven by a 36-year old Cantonment man was traveling east on Nine Mile Road and turned left in front of a westbound SUV driven by a 71-year old Seminole, Alabama, woman.
The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene, and her passenger, a 55-year old man also from Seminole, was seriously injured.
The Cantonment man suffered only minor injuries. An 8-year old passenger in his pickup truck was seriously injured when he was ejected from the vehicle. FHP said neither was wearing a seat belt.
The FHP continues to investigate.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos and photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navy Secretary Commits To Further NAS Pensacola Museum Access
April 29, 2023
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro committed to taking further action to allow public access to the museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola, including access to the museum without entering through the base.
His comments came in response to an inquiry from Congressman Matt Gaetz during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on the Navy’s 2024 budget request.
Del Toro told Gaetz that the Department of the Navy is focused and actively working on near-term and long-term solutions to maximize public access to the National Naval Aviation Museum.
“Congressman, I’ve been working with you, your staff, local politicians, and the leadership of that museum actually to try to get the throughput through that museum open as quickly as possible,” Del Toro said. “We’ve come up with some near term solutions, but we’re also focused on finding the long term solutions that actually bring it back to maximum throughput for that museum for all the reasons that you just stated because it is an extraordinary museum.”
“Where I at times struggle with folks is seeing the museum not just as a morale and welfare tool, but as a recruiting tool. Do you see it as a recruiting tool,” Gaetz asked.
“I absolutely see it as a recruiting tool,” Del Toro replied. “I saw it from the first day that I stepped in it. We have actually been very energized, and we’ve come up with some near-term solutions to increase the throughput that already paid off dividends, but we’re also looking at the long term solutions that are a little bit more costly to be able to provide a direct access to the outside world without having to have folks come in through the base itself.”
Gaetz responded, “Well, thank you for casting in that lens because if it’s a matter of dollars and cents, and I have to ask my colleagues to support such an endeavor in the NDAA, I’ll certainly cite your testimony that this isn’t just a museum for the sake of recreation, but it is a way to engage people in naval aviation in a place that’s the home of the Blue Angels – the cradle of naval aviation.”
Milton Slips Past Tate 4-3 (With Gallery)
April 29, 2023
The Tate Aggies fell just short of a comeback in a 4-3 loss to the Milton Panthers Friday night at Tate.
Milton held a 4-0 lead by the third inning, but the Aggies had three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Kate Balagbagan went for two and a third innings for Tate, giving up eight hits and four runs while striking out one. Jordan Smith went for four and two-thirds in the circle, allowing no hits and no runs while recording no strikeouts and two walks.
Kara Wine was 2-3 at the plate to lead the Aggies. Blakely Campbell, C Vinson, Amber Laird and Peyton Womack added one hit each.
The game closed the regular season for the Lady Aggies as they head into the district playoffs next week.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
FHP Says New Evidence Indicates Different Wrong-Way Driver Caused Fatal I-110 Crash
April 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol says new evidence “strongly suggests” that a female driver was at fault in an April 22 fatal wrong-way crash on I-110.
Following the crash, troopers said a 38-year old Escambia County man was driving his car northbound in the southbound lanes of the elevated portion of I-110 near Garden Street at 4:03 a.m.. His vehicle collided with another car driven south by a 24-year old Pace woman.
The 24-year old woman was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The 38-year old man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Friday, FHP said that further investigation suggests it was the Pace woman traveling the wrong-way, and the Pensacola man was traveling the correct direction.
“Both families have been informed that new evidence has been discovered that may strongly suggest the female driver was actually traveling in the wrong direction and not the deceased,” FHP Lt. Jason King told NorthEscambia.com on Friday.
He went on to explain how their determination changed.
“When the press release was originally pushed out, that was a preliminary investigation based on what we had at the time of arrival on scene,” King said. “Our traffic homicide investigators are dedicated men and women who focus on their investigations. They’re very thorough and focus on all evidence receive which is why we take a little bit of extra time to complete a traffic homicide report. As a neutral party in investigation, our job is to ensure all details, and all evidence is received, reviewed and vetted as we continue our investigation for a final conclusion of what actually occurred. Our goal is to find closure for all that have been involved.”
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Ragsdale Homers As Northview Drops Regular Season Finale To Crestview
April 29, 2023
The Crestview Bulldogs downed Northview 5-1 Friday night in Crestview.
Chloe Ragsdale had a homer for the Chiefs over the center field fence for Northview’s only run as she went 1-4. Jamison Gilman, Emma Gilmore and Makala Golson were all 2-3 at the plate.
Gilman was in the circle for two innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out two. Emma Gilmore threw four innings, giving five runs, three hits and striking out four.
The game wrapped up the regular season for the Chiefs (13-11) as they move into the district playoffs next week.
Pictured: Northview’s Chloe Ragdale hit a homerun Friday at Crestview. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Monteverde Shines Again As Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight
April 29, 2023
Patrick Monteverde continued his dominant start to the season on Friday night, twirling 7.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits 6-0 for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Monteverde (W, 3-0) has now allowed only one earned run over his first 26.0 innings for a miniscule ERA of 0.35. The Blue Wahoos pitching staff has not allowed a run in 20.0 consecutive frames dating back to the seventh inning of Wednesday’s win.
After a scoreless first three innings, Victor Mesa Jr. got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a three-run homer off Cole Wilcox (L, 0-1) in the top of the fourth. Dane Myers led off the fifth with a triple, and scored on a Nasim Nuñez sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-0.
Joe Rizzo blasted a two-run homer in the seventh to close the scoring, and Myers helped preserve the shutout with a strong throw from left field in the bottom of the inning to cut down Ronny Simon attempting to score Montgomery’s first run.
Josan Méndez and Sean Reynolds worked the final two innings out of Pensacola’s bullpen, helping the Blue Wahoos draw to within 2.0 games of the first-place Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday evening.
by Erik Bremer, photo courtesy Blue Wahoos
Four Displaced After Fire Involving Exploding Ammo And Flammables Damages Home
April 28, 2023
Flammables and exploding ammunition reportedly contributed to a fire that heavily damaged a home just north of East Kingsfield Road Friday morning.
The fire was reported about 8:50 a.m. in the 2800 block of Silent Wood Drive. Firefighters arrived to find the home’s garage and a car in the driveway fully involved in fire. Callers to 911 described hearing explosions coming from the garage .
Escambia County Fire Rescue said that ammunition and other flammables in the garage contributed to the explosions.
The fire was extinguished by 9:30 a.m. The exact cause of the blaze was under investigation.
The American Red Cross was called to assist four occupants that were displaced by the fire.
Pictured: A fire heaving damaged a home and destroyed a car Friday morning on Silent Wood Drive. Photos from WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accused NWE Little League Treasurer Pleads Not Guilty To Fraud, Grand Theft
April 28, 2023
The former treasurer of the Northwest Escambia Little League has pleaded not guilty.
Paula Star Pugh, 48, was charged with grand theft $10,000 to $20,000 and fraud under $20,000. Both charges are third degree felonies. She was released on a $2,500 bond 22 minutes after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail on April 17.
A not guilty plea and a waiver of appearance at a scheduled May 12 arraignment was filed this week on Pugh’s behalf by her attorneys.
White was accused of fraudulent transactions using the NWE bank account totalling $16, 977.87.
According to a warrant affidavit, the transactions included numerous cash ATM withdrawals from an Atmore bank; purchases from Shell Oil and Papa John’s Pizza in Tampa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods Online; and eight checks payable to “cash” that were signed by Pugh totaling $9,226. The transactions are detailed in the image below.
RELATED STORY: NWE Little League Treasurer Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud
Editor’s note: Northwest Escambia Little League is not affiliated with Northwest Escambia (NWE) Football & Cheer at Bradberry Park.
Escambia Extension Nutrition Educator Chinesa Sunday Retires After 40 Years
April 28, 2023
Escambia County Extension EFNEP Educator Chinesa Sunday has retired after 40 years of service.
“Chinesa, thank you for your service for over 40 years,” Escambia Extension said. “Your knowledge and expertise has helped tens-of-thousands of children across Escambia County live healthier and happier lives. You will be missed. Best wishes always”
EFNEP, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, is the nation’s first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families and youth today. EFNEP uses education to support participants’ efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health, and well-being. EFNEP combines hands-on learning, applied science, and program data to ensure program effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability.
In February, she was honored for her lengthy career by the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
