Monteverde Dominates In 6-1 Blue Wahoos Win
August 27, 2022
Patrick Monteverde earned his first Double-A win as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits 6-1 in front of a raucous crowd on Friday night.
Monteverde (W, 1-0) allowed only one run on two hits over 6.0 innings, helping the Blue Wahoos even up their series agianst the Biscuits two games apiece.
Evan Edwards gave Montgomery an early 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the third inning, but Norel González evened the score 1-1 with a solo homer of his own in the fourth.
In the fifth, Nasim Nuñez gave Pensacola their first lead of the game against starter Evan McKendry (L, 0-5) with an RBI single to score Demetrius Sims. One batter later, Paul McIntosh blasted a two-run homer against the batter’s eye in center field to extend the Pensacola lead to 4-1.
The Blue Wahoos added some insurance in the eighth, as González hit his second homer of the game and Marcus Chiu extended the lead to 6-1 with an RBI double. Dylan Bice (S, 3) got the final four outs to earn the save.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
11 People Injured In I-10 Crash; Driver Tried To Turn Around After Missing Exit
August 26, 2022
A two vehicle crash on I-10 near the Pine Forest Road exit injured 11 people Thursday night.
There were six people, including three children in a SUV that was traveling eastbound when the driver missed her exit. She slowed and attempted to change lanes in an effort to turn around in the median. but failed to notice another SUV in the inside lane, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The rear area of her SUV collided with another SUV.
An 86-year old female suffered serious injuries in the crash. The others received minor injuries.
According to troopers, those involved were:
SUV 1
- Driver: 58-year old female from Jonesville, Louisiana
- 52-year old male from Jonesville, Louisiana
- 86-year old female from Jonesville, Louisiana (serious injury)
- 4-year old male from Jonesville, Louisiana
- 8-year old female from Jonesville, Louisiana
- 10-year old female from Jonesville, Louisiana
SUV 2
- Driver: 32-year old female from Mobile, Alabama
- 37-year old male from North Hampton, New Hampshire
- 40-year old female from Newburyport, Massachusetts
- 44-year old female from Mobile, Alabama
- 63-year old female from Carmel, California
The 7:26 p.m. crash closed eastbound I-10.
Hero In The Classroom: Beulah Middle Teacher Saves Life Of Choking Student
August 26, 2022
A Beulah Middle School teacher is being called a hero after she saved one of her students that was choking on a piece of candy Thursday.
Agriculture teacher Leanne Jenkins said she just did what anyone else would have done.
“A precious little girl in my class went to answer a question I had asked, and she swallowed a piece of candy that was in her mouth,” said Jenkins, who was the 2022 Florida FFA Teacher of the Year. ”I immediately could tell she was in trouble. She grabbed her neck, and I knew then that she couldn’t breathe. I started the Heimlich and we got it unlodged pretty quickly.”
Jenkins said she and the entire class were shaken by the incident, but her Beulah Middle students were simply amazing.
“They were quiet, supportive, and someone immediately ran for help.” The student who choked was whisked away by the school nurse and is doing fine.
Jenkins and her husband took a CPR class about a decade ago when they were house parents at a children’s home. She didn’t think she could ever remember the information from the course, but it all came flooding back Thursday.
“I am thankful that the Lord had me right where I needed to be at that moment,” she said.
Pictured above: Beulah Middle School’s Leanne Jenkins was named Florida’s 2022 FFA Advisor of the Year last June at the state FFA convention in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged After Failed Attempt To Burglarize Phone Store
August 26, 2022
A Cantonment man was allegedly caught on video as he tried successfully to break into a cellphone store.
Edward Charles Boyett, 43, was charged with attempted third degree felony burglary.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Boyett was caught on security video as he tried to force his way into the Metro PCS store in the 8000 block of Lillian Highway. He repeatedly tried for about three minutes to pull the doors open and even tried to kick the doors to break the glass, deputies said. He was shirtless, wearing shorts and a bracelet on his left wrist.
Minutes later, Boyett was trespass warned from a nearby business. According to an arrest report, he was shirtless, wearing shorts and a bracelet on his left wrist in body camera footage from the deputy.
Boyett remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $5,000.
Pine Forest Defeats Tate 34-0 (With Photo Gallery)
August 26, 2022
The Pine Forest Eagles defeated the Tate Aggies 34-0 Thursday night at PFHS.
The Eagles soared to a 13-0 lead at the half on their way to the win.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
It was the first game of the season for both teams, and the first game for the Eagles since they fell just short of a state championship last year.
Thursday night was also the debut for Rhett Summerford as the new coach for Tate, which went 1-9 last year.
Summerford has high hopes for the Aggies as they move on to face Pensacola High on September 2 in an away game. On September 9, the Aggies will have their first home game of the season as they host the Northview Chiefs, who are coached by Rhett Summerford’s brother Wes Summerford.
Pine Forest will travel to Navarre on September 2.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Two Inmates Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Staff
August 26, 2022
Two Century Correctional Institution inmates assault correctional officers in separate incidents recently, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate Ronald Green assaulted a staff member. Green is serving a 20 year sentence from Orange and Seminole counties for multiple counts of robbery with a gun or deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft.
Inmate Kareem Rhodes assaulted an officer. Rhodes is serving a 12-year sentence from Alachua County for robbery with a gun or deadly weapon.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said in both instances.
Escambia County Offering Free Sand For Flood Prep
August 26, 2022
Escambia County has free sand available for residents living in flood prone areas.
The sand is available on a first come, first served basis at the following locations:
- John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Park – 555 E. Nine Mile Road
- Don Sutton Park – 2320 Crabtree Church Road, Molino
- Travis M. Nelson Park - 4541 Highway 4, Bratt
- Equestrian Center – 7750 Mobile Highway
- Escambia County Road Department – 601 Highway 297A
- Brent Athletic Park – 4711 N. W St., Pensacola
- Ferry Pass Middle School -available on northwest corner of school property on Parazine Street
- Baars Field Athletic Park – 13001 Sorrento Road, Pensacola
Residents must bring their own sandbags and shovels. Sandbags are usually available for purchase at home improvement and hardware stores.
Pictured: Sand at Travis M. Nelson Park in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Split Doubleheader With Montgomery
August 26, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their doubleheader against the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night, falling 13-1 in game one but rebounding to win 2-0 in game two.
The Blue Wahoos have now split all six of their doubleheaders this season.
After a pregame rain delay of more than two hours, game one saw the Biscuits jump on Cody Mincey (L, 5-5) for five early runs as RBI doubles from Kameron Misner, Brett Wisely and Blake Hunt in the first three innings put Montgomery ahead 5-0.
José Devers hit an RBI double against Biscuits starter Sean Hunley (W, 5-1) in the third, but that would be the only offense for the Blue Wahoos in the game. Montgomery exploded for an eight-run sixth inning against Tyler Mitzel, capped with a Wisely two-run homer, to cruise to a 13-1 victory.
In game two, Pensacola’s pitching tightened up and allowed only three singles in a combined shutout effort. Andrew McInvale, making his first start in the Marlins organization, got things going with 4.0 clean innings before handing things off to Jefry Yan (W, 2-4).
Biscuits starter Mason Montgomery (L, 0-1) pitched well, but allowed a two-out RBI double to Demetrius Sims in the fifth to break a scoreless tie. A solo home run from Norel González in the sixth gave Sean Reynolds (S, 3) more than enough insurance to lock down the save in the seventh and final inning.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Officials Commit To Improving Big Highway 95A, Jim Allen Elementary Car Rider Line Problem
August 25, 2022
There’s a really big traffic problem on Highway 95A at Jim Allen Elementary School around drop-off and dismissal times, and officials committed Wednesday to start discussions on how to make the situation better.
During car rider times, vehicles line the side of the roadway waiting to turn into the school, and vehicles travel on the shoulder to get around a backed up turn lane.
Wednesday, even a school bus became stuck off the road in the mud. Other photos submitted by readers show dump trucks stuck in the mud, long lines of traffic, drivers on the shoulder and vehicles traveling into oncoming traffic.
“The county has offered to pave some areas for the traffic to be able to pull to get out of the road while they are dealing with the children” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said last week at a town hall meeting in Walnut Hill. “That’s not what the school thought was the best idea.”
Barry said that previous leadership was not interested in new lanes but with a new principal in place, he’s hopeful the county can work toward solving the problem.
“If doing some work to allow traffic to get out of the way of 95A will help, then we can certainly do that,” he said.
Numerous parents, community members and other Highway 95A drivers have reached out to NorthEscambia.com for help, including Brianne Freund, local resident and a Jim Allen parent who said her vehicle was nearly hit while she waited to turn onto Eden Lane.
“The biggest concern is the afternoon traffic. It is an absolute nightmare,” she said. “Understand that something has to be done about this sooner rather than later. There is a major safety issue with this line in the afternoons.”
“If travelers decide to go around the line, they run the risk of being ticketed, getting stuck in wet earth, damaging property, or causing accidents,” Freund added.
Wednesday afternoon, NorthEscambia.com reached back out to Barry, and we contacted Bill Slayton, District 5 Escambia County School Board member.
“The school board doesn’t have the money or the ability to widen the road,” Slayton said, adding that he would seek a meeting with Barry after our discussion.
“I’m very familiar with the car rider line; it’s gotten longer and bigger each year,” Slayton said. “Highway 95A was never built for an elementary school that large or a car rider line with that many people. It’s a school of 600. and more and more parents are deciding that they wan to pick up their kids or drive their kids to school.”
Barry told us he is more than open to meeting with Slayton and school officials in the search for the best solution as soon as practical.
“Whatever we need to do there, we will make it happen,” Barry said.
The Escambia County Commission recently approved $2.12 million for the milling and resurfacing of Highway 95A from the northern intersection with Highway 29 in Molino (just north of Highway 97), over nine miles to the southern intersection with Highway 29 near Morris Avenue. That project does not include any improvements other than resurfacing near Jim Allen Elementary. Barry said that the county may be able to make improvements near the school independently or as an addition to the overall resurfacing project.
As for that school bus that became stuck off-road in the mud, Slayton said it was a substitute driver that should have made a better decision. He said the bus became stuck in a muddy rut created earlier by a dump truck that also became stuck in the same location.
Have photos of the Jim Allen Elementary car rider line to share? Email news@northescambia.com.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rigby Road Bridge In Bratt Closed For Repairs
August 25, 2022
The bridge on Rigby Road over Beaver Dam Creek is closed.
The bridge is about a half mile south of West Highway 4 in Bratt (map at bottom of story). Traffic is detoured on Still Road to Rigby Road.
An Escambia County spokesperson said the bridge was closed to enable a contractor to make repairs, but more information was not available.
The 75-foot long wood piling bridge was constructed in 1965.
In June 2021, the bridge was closed after the roadway collapsed during heavy rains from Tropical Storm Claudette. The bridge was also closed in February 2020 due to obvious support deterioration and a jack was used to support the middle of the bridge.
Pictured: the Rigby Road bridge of Beaver Dam Creek on Wednesday afternoon, August 24, 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
