Barth Residents Seek County Improvements. Streetlights, A Clean Up, And Perhaps A Park Are Coming.
April 15, 2023
There’s Barth Road, Barth Heights, Barth Lane and north Barth Road — all in Barth.
Barth is a quiet little community between Highway 29 to the west and the Escambia River to the east, a couple of miles north of the Highway 29 and Highway 97 intersection.
The houses are spread out, but the community is close.
And the residents are looking to Escambia County for some improvements.
Some of the roads are dirt. And it’s dark, with no street lighting.. There’s no bus stop, no community center, and no playground. Children play basketball in the street with a goal next to Barth Lane.
“This is a small community, but we are still people. And we need the same concern and consideration,” resident Mary Nory recently said. She was born in Barth, moved away, and returned home about a decade ago. “No one seems to help Barth. They pass over Barth. They go to everywhere but Barth, and there is a whole community here.”
Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, who represents District 5 including Barth, said he is looking at ways to help the area, including their first ever community cleanup event.
“I don’t know if you have been out in Barth and seen some of the areas, but a lot of people is kind of concerned about, when I say that they yard is like really, really, really high and they don’t even know how they going to get it cleaned,” Franscine Mathis told Barry during a town hall meeting this week. He explained that county resources could not be used on private property, but perhaps some community groups could help. During the upcoming community cleanup event, residents will be able to put debris on the right of way for free disposal by the county.
“I just don’t want them to be fined. That’s what I am worried about,” she said. “When they do the clean sweep, and maybe code enforcement may see something or come out there to see something, and I just don’t want nobody to get fined.”
Barry reassured Mathis that fines are not the focus of a community cleanup event; he said the code enforcement system is generally complaint driven.
Chris Phillips, Escambia County assistant engineer, said the county has identified several locations around Barth for streetlights. Those are Highway 29 and Barth Road, Highway 29 and North Barth Road, Barth Road and Barth Heights, and Barth Road and Barth Lane.
“I’m comfortable looking at something similar to what we did in the Walnut Hill community, a small community park that’s walking distance for a lot of residents that may not have transportation,” Barry said. He said a park in Barth could be located on any small parcels owned by the county. The Katie Mae Marshall Memorial Park open in July 2021 on North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill with a playground on a small parcel that escheated to the county..
Mathis said she had has contact with a Barth landowner with “a lot of land” that has expressed interest in allowing a park on their property. Barry said that was doable, if they donate the land or lease it to the county for $1 a year.
Pictured top: The White Lilly Baptist Church on Barth Road was built in 1970. Pictured inset: Franscine Mathis address District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry during a town hall meeting this week. Pictured bottom inset: The Katie Mae Marshall Memorial Park open in July 2021 on a piece of property that escheated to Escambia County on North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Lady Aggies Celebrate Senior Night With 11-1 Run-Ruled Win Over Escambia
April 15, 2023
The Tate Lady Aggies run-ruled the Escambia Gators with a big senior night 11-1 Friday night in five innings.
Before shutting down the Gators, the Tate Aggies honored seniors Charlie Vinson and MacKenzie Cook.
Jordan Smith pitched a complete game for the Aggies, allowing two hits and one run while striking out five.
Kate Balagbagan led the Aggies at the plate going 3-3. Amburleigh Laird went 2-2, and K Wine was 2-3. Cook, Lacy Wilson, Tristen Showalter, Olivia Latner, Peyton Womack, and Kylea Gibbs each added one hit.
The Aggies will host Gulf Breeze on Tuesday and travel to West Florida on Thursday.
Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
April 15, 2023
Inmate Michael A. Johns assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Johns is serving a 15 year sentence for burglary out of Orange County with a release date in 2032.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Northview Beats Chipley 4-2 (With Photo Gallery)
April 15, 2023
The Northview Chiefs doubled up on the Chipley Tigers with a 4-2 win Friday evening in Bratt.
Jamarkus Jefferson earned the win for the Chiefs, giving up one run and three hits while striking out eight in five innings. Kaden Odom was on the mound for the final two innings, striking out three while allowing one run and one hit.
Jefferson led the Chiefs at bat, going 2-3. Rustin Pope, Tyler Shaw and Trent Knighten added one hit each.
The Chiefs will be in action three times next week as they host W.S. Neal on Monday, travel to Flomaton on Tuesday, and welcome Central on Thursday.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No. 1 Pace Tops No. 10 Tate (With Gallery)
April 15, 2023
In a big District 1-6A game Friday night, the No. 1 Pace Patriots downed the No. 10 Tate Aggies 5-3.
Colton Swiers took the loss for the Aggies, allowing two hits and two runs, striking out three, in one and two-thirds innings. Drew Reaves opened on the mound for Tate, giving up five hits and three runs, striking out three, in three innings. Gabe Patterson threw one and a third innings with two strikeouts and allowing one hit.
Clif Quiggins led the Aggies at bat, going 2-4. Reaves, Frank Randall, Ethan McAnally, James Davis, Caden Kelly and Madox Land each added a hit for Tate.
The Patriots improved to 18-2 on the season, while the Aggies fell to 13-6.
The Aggies have a three game home stand next week as they host Washington on Tuesday, West Florida on Thursday and Pensacola High on Friday.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Pérez Fans Seven, But Shuckers Beat Blue Wahoos 7-1
April 15, 2023
In his final start as a teenager, Pensacola Blue Wahoos righty Eury Pérez struck out seven batters in a 7-1 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night.
A game billed as a showdown between two of baseball’s top prospects, Pérez and Biloxi outfielder Jackson Chourio, saw Pérez (L, 0-1) fan his fellow 19-year-old twice before Chourio hit a game-breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning.
Biloxi opened up the scoring in the first with an unearned run, as Lamar Sparks reached on an error and scored on Tyler Black’s RBI double. Pensacola couldn’t solve Shuckers starter Christian Mejias (W, 1-0), who allowed only one hit over 5.0 scorless innings.
Pérez was in good shape heading to the fifth, and almost had an inning-ending double play before Freddy Zamora’s sharp grounder to third took a bad hop and turned into an RBI double. Two batters later, Chourio sent a liner off the left field foul pole for a three-run homer to extend the Biloxi lead to 5-0.
The Blue Wahoos managed their only run in the sixth, as Cobie Fletcher-Vance hit a double and scored on a José Devers groundout. The Shuckers added insurance in the seventh on a Zamora homer and in the eighth on a Griffin Conine fielding error.
Brandon Knarr and Harold Chirino combined to pitch the final four innings for the Shuckers, who have taken three of the first four games in their series against Pensacola.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday at MGM Park in Biloxi.
by Erik Bremer
ECUA Pauses Recycling Facility Operation Due To Staffing Shortage
April 14, 2023
ECUA’s recycling facility will not be processing mixed recyclables for several weeks due to a “staff turnover”; instead, the recyclables will go into the landfill.
During the period, ECUA will be working to hire and train employees for the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).
However, the MRF will continue 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.
“During this interruption in plant operation, the ECUA requests that its customers continue to separate materials for recycling, as usual, to remain in that practice,” ECUA Public Information Office Nathalie Bowers said. “In a similar vein, ECUA will continue to collect recycling cans with a recycling collection vehicle, as it normally does. However, we have no choice but to landfill these materials as they cannot be processed for recycling until the MRF facility is fully operational. We currently estimate resuming operations in four weeks or less, and are doing our best to expedite this process.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Magazine Honors ECFR’s Ray Melton As 2022 Exemplary Public Servant
April 14, 2023
Escambia County Fire Rescue Fire and Life Specialist Ray Melton has been honored by a national magazine.
American City & County, a 113-year old publication for government officials, recognized as one of their Exemplary Public Servants for 2022.
Melton’s interest in the fire service began when he was five years old when firefighters saved his life after he became sick and stopped breathing. After joining the Army at 17 as a finance specialist, he transferred to a firefighting position when the opportunity became available.
In 2016, Melton discovered his passion for fire prevention, but it came with tragedy. On an early Thursday morning, four children lost their lives in Pensacola after a water heater shorted out, causing a deadly fire. From there, Melton knew he had to do something.
Following the tragedy, Melton has worked to make sure another deadly incident like that would never happen again. While with ECFR, Melton has implemented a number of effective and innovative fire prevention programs, such as the county’s “Ready, Set, Go” wildland-urban interface education initiative, where he partners with local forestry personnel to host educational programs with urban communities that could be affected by wildfires.
Last year, Melton started the home fire safety program. The program is an opportunity for Escambia County residents to request to have their homes inspected for any potential fire hazards, such as exposed wiring, burned electrical outlets and non-functioning smoke detectors. Since then, Melton has inspected numerous Escambia County homes and identified several potential fire hazards, leading to preventative maintenance in those homes.
“My seven years with ECFR have been very rewarding in that we have saved lives through education,” said Melton. “The greatest rewards come when I get feedback from our citizens who explain how grateful they are for our implemented programs that bring fire safety to them on a personal level or when they tell me that after we installed alarms in their home, the alarms saved their life. Bringing awareness to a personal level lets our citizens know we truly care about them and even though we will not prevent many fires, the awareness we bring to their homes will save lives.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Wins $1 Million On Scratch-Off Ticket Sold In Beulah
April 14, 2023
An Escambia County man has claimed a $1 million scratch-off lottery prize from a ticket purchased on Nine Mile Road.
Earl Evans, bought the Florida Lottery Gold Rush Limited scratch-off ticket at Publix at Nine Mile and Beulah Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.
The $20 scratch-off game was launched in September 2021 and features 32 top prizes of $5 million and 100 prizes of $1 million
FHP Chase Ends With Two Felons Back Behind Bars
April 14, 2023
Troopers attempted to stop a Nissan Altima for reckless driving at a high rate of speed on Mobile Highway. The Altima had a tag from another vehicle, and the driver was weaving in and out of traffic, and passing in the median.
State troopers activated emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver, later identified as 28-year old Cordrell Devontrius Hayes, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes near Pine Forest Road. A trooper conducted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, with both the driver and passenger fleeing on foot.
FHP said Hayes discarded a loaded 9mm pistol from his waistband while being ordered to stop.
“Failing to stop and uncertain if he had any more weapons, the state trooper deployed his taser which was effective in gaining compliance from the driver roughly 200 yards from the vehicles,” FHP Lt. Jason King said. “The driver was taken into custody and the gun was recovered.”
Another trooper and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to capture the passenger, identified as 24-year old Dakota Robert Downs.
Hayes was charged with reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, cocaine trafficking, resisting arrest without violence, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving without a license.
Downs was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, cocaine trafficking, resisting arrest without violence, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and introduction of contraband into a jail.
FHP said state troopers located two guns, 30 grams of cocaine and 10 grams of marijuana.
