Pedestrian Struck And Killed By Pickup On Pine Forest Road
May 27, 2024
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Pine Forest Road late Sunday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the pedestrian, a 21-year-old Pensacola woman, walked into the path of a Ford pickup truck on Pine Forest Road near Interstate Circle at 11:42 p.m.
The pickup, driven by an 82-year-old Cantonment man, was traveling south when the woman entered the travel lane and crossed the path of the truck. She was pronounced deceased after being hit by the truck.
The driver of the truck was not injured.
FHP has not released any names.
Graffiti Bridge Painted In Memory Of Tate Student Bradley Ellertson, 17
May 27, 2024
The Graffiti Bridge in Pensacola was painted Sunday in memory of Bradley Ellertson, a 17-year old Tate High School student who died January 26, 2024, when a semi-truck collided with a Kia Soul at the intersection of County Road 196 and Highway 29 in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the Kia Soul, a 16-year old female from Pensacola, was traveling eastbound on Highway 196 when she stopped at the stop sign at Highway 29 but failed to yield to an oncoming semi-truck. The driver and a 16-year old passenger from Gulf Breeze were seriously injured.
Ellertson was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Bradley attended Tate as freshman, went to high school in Arizona as a sophomore while living with family in Mesa and returned to Tate for the 2023-24 school year. He played football for the Tate Aggies during his freshman year,, and played his sophomore year in Arizona.
Sunday, friends, and family members joined local artist Rod Leisure is painting The Graffiti Bridge.
“Live Like Bradley”, the artwork stated.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
‘Biggest Thing We Need Right Now Is Jesus’ – Cantonment Community Revival Next Week At Carver Park
May 27, 2024
“The biggest thing we need right now is Jesus. He is the fixer.”
That’s what Josh Womack said as he described the Cantonment Community Revival is planned for June 3-8 at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Womack, Cantonment resident and member of the Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC), worked with the North Escambia Fellowship of Churches and Pastor Andy Perry of Gonzalez Methodist Church to organize the event the revival.
“Sunday is the most segregated day of the week,” Womack said, “I met with Pastor Perry, and we worked to see we could get the churches together. We have eight so far.”
“We always wait until something bad happens and the first thing you see is the ministers and politicians come out. We are not being proactive; we are being reactive.”
After 12 years with CIC, the biggest thing Womack sees as missing in Cantonment is Jesus and church backing.
“We need out politicians and leaders, but to go ahead we need Jesus’ love at the forefront,” he said.
The Cantonment Community Revival will take place from 6-8 p.m. at Carver Park on Webb Street:
- Monday, June 3: Pastor Anthony Perry, Gonzalez Methodist Church
- Tuesday, June 4: Rev. Leon Bell, Associate Pastor Greater First Baptist Church of Cantonment
- Wednesday, June 5: Pastor Gene McCants, Providence Baptist Church
- Thursday, June 6: Brother Vincent Wilson, Deliverance Tabernacle
- Friday, June 7: Pastor Robert Gross, Back to the Cross Christian Center
- Saturday, June 9: A Family and Friends Fellowship Day will wrap up the week from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m..
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
May 27, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their Students of the Month for April. They are (L-R) McKenzie Norton, Payton Coon, and Allie Penton. They are pictured with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97 Driver Injured After Hitting Tree Downed During Storms Two Weeks Ago
May 27, 2024
One person was injured when she crashed into a downed tree on the side of Highway 97 south of Tungoil Road, between Molino and Walnut Hill Sunday morning.
The woman apparently lost control of her vehicle ran off the roadway for an unknown reason and collided with a pine tree that had been down on the side of the road since storms two weeks ago.
The driver was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
The Molino Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bender Appointed To Judicial Nominating Commission
May 27, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Amy Bender, wife of Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender, to the First Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC).
Bender, of Pensacola, is senior counsel and assistant general counsel at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her juris doctorate from the University of Georgia
Bender was appointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.
There are 28 separate JNCs: one for the Florida Supreme Court; six for each of the district courts of appeal; 24 for each circuit court and the county courts contained in that circuit; and one Statewide Commission for Judges of Compensation Claims. The JNCs are required to operate in accordance with the Uniform Rules of Procedure applicable to each level of JNC. JNC members serve four-year terms, except when an appointment is made to fill a vacant, unexpired term. A JNC member may hold public office other than judicial office.
Blue Wahoos Fall In Another One-Run Series Finale Loss To Smokies
May 27, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Bennett Hostetler tossed his bat aside in frustration as the game’s final out became a pop out.
It was that kind of day, this kind of week, as the Blue Wahoos fell 3-2 Sunday against the Tennessee Smokies, ending their homestand in a glum way and extending a difficult trend.
A capacity crowd (5,038) on Memorial Day weekend at Blue Wahoos Stadium watched the Smokies complete their fifth win of the six-game series. It was also the fifth consecutive one-run difference in the low-scoring games between these teams.
With their bats in continued slumber, the Blue Wahoos missed on rally chances in the seventh inning with bases loaded. And then in the eighth with two runners on base and one out.
The Blue Wahoos (23-22) will have the Monday holiday off, then a short road trip Tuesday to Biloxi in hopes of getting some offensive spark and stringing some wins. They are 3-9 in the past two series.
But away from the scoreboard, it was a weekend full of wins.
The Blue Wahoos filled the ballpark Sunday for the third consecutive day. It was the 13th capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium in 27 home games this season.
The pregame featured a parade of school children who completed the popular Kazoo’s Reading Program. There was also a re-enlistment ceremony for a local resident joining the U.S. Air Force.
And, the Blue Angels again elicited a thunderous cheer when the famed jets buzzed over the stadium early in the game, after returning from a weekend show.
The sixth inning “roach run” had massive participation and a large portion of the crowd stayed to the end. Children ran the bases and families tossed soft baseballs in the outfield.
The Blue Wahoos again received quality pitching, this time from five different relievers on a pitching-by-bullpen-committee outing. Chandler Jozwiak, normally a middle reliever, absorbed a hard luck loss after working the first two innings and allowing a run on a sacrifice fly.
The Smokies (27-18) got their second run in the third inning on a leadoff triple by No. 9 hitter Josh Rivera, who then scored on Christian Franklin’s sacrifice fly.
The Blue Wahoos halved the deficit without getting a ball in play. Jorge Caballero was hit by a pitch, Jakob Marsee walked, Paul McIntosh was hit by a pitch, then Caballero scored on a two-out balk.
In the seventh inning, Harrison Spohn walked, then Tanner Allen and Caballero singled to load the bases. But Smokies reliever Alex Troop struck out Marsee swinging on a slider and got McIntosh to strike out on a changeup.
Joe Mack then lined a shot off Troop’s leg and the ball caromed into foul territory to score Spohn and force Troop to leave the game. Michael Arias entered and got Hostetler to end the inning on a flyout.
In the eighth, with two on, one out, Allen lined a pitch hard, but right at Rivera at shortstop. Caballero struck out to end the inning.
McIntosh was then stranded in the ninth after a one-out single.
Both teams went with relievers starting the game. The Blue Wahoos used Jozwiak and Tennessee countered with righthander Trey Supak, who worked four innings.
GAME NOTABLES
— Students, teachers and parents from area schools were able to take a lap around the field during the pregame ceremony that highlighted the reading program.
— The Milton High baseball team had its fundraiser day at the ballpark.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers
WHEN: Tuesday (May 28) thru Sunday (June 2).
WHERE: Shuckers Ballpark, Biloxi, Mississippi.
Wrong Way Driver From Escambia County Causes Okaloosa I-10 Crash
May 26, 2024
An Escambia County man was seriously injured in a wrong-way interstate crash in Okaloosa County
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 45-year-old Escambia County man in a midsize Kia SUV entered I-10 at Holt and traveled west in the eastbound lanes. He struck a Dodge Charger driven by a 21-year-old Texas man head-on. After striking the Kia, the Charger rotated and collided with a Ford F150 driven by a 65-year-old Crestview man.
The driver of the Kia was airlifted to local hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Charger was transported to local hospital via ambulance for minor injuries. The driver of the F150 was treated on scene for minor injuries and released. Both lanes of Interstate 10 were shut down and traffic was being diverted for about an hour and a half.
Last Original Northview High Employee Sheila Holland Retires
May 26, 2024
The last remaining original employee of Northview High School has now retired.
Northview opened in 1995, joining of Century High School and grades nine through 12 of Ernest Ward High School. Sheila Holland joined that first year and retired Friday, 29 years later.
NHS academic advisor Raja Attah penned the following retrospective:
Ms. Sheila Holland has become the face of Northview—she’s been Northview’s long-time secretary and is the LAST remaining staff member who started working at Northview on day 1 when the school opened in 1995. She was even part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony and remembers meeting Northview’s first principal Ms. Gayle Weaver during Northview’s very first faculty meeting.
Friday was her last day..
Ms. Holland started working at Escambia School District 34 years ago. She started as a teacher aide at Byrneville Elementary in 1990. After four years, she moved to Molino Elementary for a year. Then she joined the Northview team in 1995. Today, Ms. Holland completes her 29th year at Northview where she held several roles, including the attendance clerk and assistant band director.
Ms. Holland said, “I have no regrets: I met so many nice people. I love the kids and enjoy my job.” She said to Northview faculty and staff during the end-of-year luncheon, “My heart will always be at Northview, and you’ll always have a place in my heart.”
Ms. Carroll, who has known Ms. Holland for over 25 years, said about Ms. Holland, “She’s sassy, dependable, early riser, makes life easier for teachers, spoils teachers with finding last-minute subs.” Ms. Carroll commented on how Ms. Holland loved Northview students, “When her kids grew up, she adopted the Northview kids.”
Ms. Salter, who has known Ms. Holland since Ms. Salter was an infant, said pointing at Ms. Holland’s hair, “Some of those gray hairs are mine.” Ms. Salter continued speaking endearingly, “Ms. Holland is a hot mess; we love her! She’s good as gold. She’ll do anything for you. She’s hard to replace. She’s someone you can go to if you need anything. She’s like having a second mom at school.”
Ms. Holland’s sense of humor always had a place at her job. When Coach Summerford came for his job interview a few years ago, Ms. Holland greeted him by saying, “I’ll see if they still want to see you; you’re an hour late.” He actually was on time. But her sense of humor broke the ice and made Coach Summerford laugh after a moment of panic. She put him at ease before the interview.
Friday morning, Ms. Holland sat at her desk one more time—the same desk where she has been sitting for decades—contemplating her years of service at Northview. With her sweet, affectionate smile, she said, “I treated each kid as if they were my own child or grandkid, and that’s how I want others to treat them. Always treat students as you want someone to treat you and your own kids and grandkids.”
Ms. Holland is one of the kindest people someone could ever meet. She has treated Northview’s faculty and staff with care and kindness. She has loved our students, and her student office workers were the most fortunate ones who were always treated with generous gifts and treats.
We will dearly miss Ms. Sheila Holland and wish her a blessed and happy retirement!
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Students Of The Month
May 26, 2024
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their Students of the Month for April.
They are:
Kindergarten: Calee Flowers and Jayceon Jackson
First Grade: Wyatt Koski and Remi Macks
Second Grade: Vera Fularz and Myah Gill
Third Grade: Myra Gill and Suzi Pope
Fourth Grade: Aubree Price and Corbin Strawbridge
Fifth Grade: Charley Cooley and Antonia Hayes
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.