Wahoos Coast To 10-1 Over Birmingham
June 8, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fourth in a row on Tuesday night, opening up their six-game series against the Birmingham Barons with a blowout 10-1 victory.
A.J. Ladwig (W, 1-1) delivered a quality start for his first win in the Marlins organization, allowing only an unearned run over 6.0 solid innings.
The Blue Wahoos maintained their lead in the South Division by 3.5 games with 17 to play in the first half, pending other games throughout the league.
Ray-Patrick Didder opened up the scoring in the second with a solo homer, and Luis Aviles Jr. made Birmingham starter Jason Bilous (L, 3-5) pay for three walks in the third with a three-run homer of his own.
Troy Johnston and Paul McIntosh twice went back-to-back with RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth innings. Johnston, the reigning Southern League Player of the Week, finished 2-for-4 and McIntosh was 4-for-5 with 4 runs batted in.
Andrew McInvale and Josh Simpson relieved Ladwig with the game well in hand, facing the minimum over the final three frames to coast to victory.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Wednesday
State Budget Includes $1.3 Million For New Water Meters In Century
June 7, 2022
The new budget recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes just over $1.3 million for new water meters for the Town of Century.
The funds would replace about 825 water meters with remotely readable radio-enabled units.
The $1,301,892 will be use to replace all of their approximately 825 existing water meters, moving from a manual read system to a radio reporting system. The town will purchase new meters that can be read remotely by radio, two mobile readers, and a base station with a laptop. Fund will also be used for mobilization, grass and landscape replacement and other associated costs.
According to the town, water meters are failing and service connections are leaking. Replacing the meters and repairing leaky connections will improve water quality. Due to limited staff, the town has previously only been able to replace about 20 meters annually, according to their funding request.
Water meters not otherwise replaced in Century are 11 years old, purchased in 2010 and installed in 2011.
Both commercial and residential meters will be replaced.
Pictured: Century Town Hall. NorthEscmabia.com photo, click to enlarge.
McDavid Man Allegedly Hit Woman In The Face With A Vodka Bottle During Argument
June 7, 2022
A McDavid man allegedly hit a woman in the face with a vodka bottle during an argument.
Luke Alexander Winters, 21, was charged with felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm.
The victim told deputies that she had just recently met Winters, and he picked her up before going to an unknown address to drink alcohol. After they left a convenience store on Michigan Avenue, an argument between the victim and another female in the car followed, and she demanded to be let out of the vehicle. Winters stopped in the area of Tupelo and Chicago avenues and struck the victim with a glass bottle of vodka, an arrest report states.
Deputies arrived to find the victim covered in blood with a laceration above her eye. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Winters remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $10,000.
Need Help With County, State Or Federal Issues? This June 14 Molino Mobile Office Hours Event Is For You.
June 7, 2022
The office of Florida Rep. Michelle Salzman, in partnership with staff from U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, and the Department of Veterans Affairs will host in-person mobile office hours in Molino to assist constituents with state and federal issues.
The office hours event is intended to offer constituents who do not live close to one of the district offices a more convenient way to receive state and federal casework assistance. The event will take place June 14 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Molino Community Center.
“I enjoy my collaborative relationship with our elected officers at all levels of government. We work very closely together and we have created this one stop shop in an effort to ensure whatever issues our constituents face can be addressed. I look forward to hosting this event as well as more in the future,” Salzman said.
Those interested in attending may contract Debbie Malsberger in Salzman’s office at (850) 941-6091.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Trial Set To Begin For One Of Three Suspects In 2020 Century Shooting Death
June 7, 2022
A jury trial is set to begin Tuesday for one of three people charged with a November 2020 shooting in Century that left one man dead and two others injured.
Tacorius Cordale Stallworth, 23, was indicted on one count of first degree murder for the death of Joseph Christopher Smith and two counts of aggravated battery for two others that were shot and survived. His trial is expected to take about two days.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting about 11:35 p.m. Monday, November 30, 2020, in the 8200 block of Alger Road, just off North Century Boulevard.
The victim, Joseph Christopher Smith, was found shot to death outside a shed near the mobile home. Multiple shell casings were found near the body, in the shed and leading away from the body. The inside of the shed had a couch, several chairs, tables and a lamp. The items were in a state of disarray with the lamp glass shattered.
Two other adult males were sitting near the mobile home when deputies arrived; both had been shot.
Suspect Jaran Britt Myles was recently sentenced to 45 years in state prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of his probation on a 2015 conviction for manslaughter with a firearm. After the November 2020 shooting, deputies arrested Myles at the Liquor Liquor Cabinet on Highway 29 at Old Chemstrand Road in Gonzalez. He attempted to hide a gun on the store shelves. He is awaiting trial on the murder and aggravated battery charges.
A third suspect, Emonee Demontae Long is also awaiting trial and is due back in court in August.
Register Now For Tate Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp
June 7, 2022
The Tate High School Cheerleaders’ Lil Aggies Summer Camp is coming up the last week of the month, and now is the time to register. Space is limited.
The registration forms and payment are due by Thursday, June 23. The camp will take place at Tate Monday, June 27 through Wednesday, June 29 from 8 a.m. until noon each day. The camp Tate Aggies cheerleaders will teach athletes the property stretch techniques, sideline cheers and chants, proper jump techniques and motion placement, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. There will also be fun games, engaging activities, snacks and drinks.
For registration information, click or tap here.
File photo.
Reminder: Driver’s License Services, Vehicle Registration Available Wednesday In Century
June 7, 2022
The Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office is returning to Century this Wednesday.
FLOW is a standalone mobile office with technology to provide most motorists’ needs. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver license, obtain a replacement driver license, conversion/reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration and apply, renew or replace disabled parking placards. Written and driving tests are not available from the FLOW unit.
Vehicle registrations can be renewed up to three months and driver licenses up to 18 months in advance of expiration.
The FLOW mobile office will be at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse, 7500 North Century Boulevard on Wednesday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Citizens using the FLOW services are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com and click the “What Do I Bring” button for information on what is needed for these services. Staff from the tax collector’s office will be on hand to answer all FLOW service questions and questions concerning all other tax collector services such as property tax, business tax receipts, concealed weapons licensing, etc.
Pictured: The Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office at the courthouse in Century in January 2020. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baker Fire Chief Charged With Murder Of Escambia Businessman, Found Three Days After He Was Shot
June 6, 2022
The Baker Fire District chief has been charged with the murder of a 63-year old business owner in Escambia County. The victim’s body was discovered on Sunday, but law enforcement said had been deceased for about three days.
Brian Keith Easterling, age 52 of Baker, was arrested Monday morning in Holt without incident for premeditated murder.
Sunday, Pensacola Police received a call to check on the welfare of the victim at his home because he had not been seen in several days. Officers entered the home and found blood on the floor, but the victim was not inside. They responded to his shop in the 3900 block of Creighton Road.
Inside the shop, an officer tripped over an item under a car cover, exposing the victim’s right elbow. Officers said the victim was face down on the floor, obviously deceased with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. His 2011 Chevrolet 2500 was not at either location.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, surveillance video from 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 2 showed a man later identified as Easterling arrive at the shop with the victim. The victim entered the building and Easterling is seen standing outside the door looking around nervously.
“Easterling actually turns a complete circle looking all around, before entering the building. Within minutes of entering the building, Easterling walks up behind (the victim),” the report states. The victim “then falls immediately to the ground. Easterling can be seen on video getting a car cover and covering (the victim).”
The victim allegedly owed Easterling money, according to the ECSO.
Easterling was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail and transferred to the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon where he was being held without bond.
Easterling was formally suspended from his position Monday afternoon by the Baker Fire Disrict.
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DeSantis Vetoes $2 Million For Elevated Pedestrian Bridge Over Nine Mile At Beulah Middle School
June 6, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed $2 million in state funding from the state budget for a pedestrian bridge over Nine Mile Road at Beulah Middle School.
Local leaders announced last August their plan to work together to seek funding for the walkway, which has a preliminary cost estimate of $3 million. Rep. Michelle Salzman, Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh and Escambia County School Board Member Kevin Adams pledged to seek funding for the project.
Bergosh previously said the elevated walkway will not only be a safety improvement for the school, but also the surrounding community. Along with expanded sidewalk construction on the north and south side of Nine Mile Road near the school, the project would have allowed for increased pedestrian access and connectivity in the growing community.
The District 1 commissioner said last year that he would commit up to $500,000 in D1 Local Option Sales Tax funding over the next few years for sidewalk construction that will be complimented by the walkway.
There are nearly 1,000 students at Beulah Middle School. Currently, a bus transports students to and from the middle school. State statutes specify that two miles within a school is the walk radius. If no “safe path” exists, then busing is required.
The bridge was a proposed 180-foot span with American Disability Act (ADA) accommodations on both sides of the street. The bridge would have been completed in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation and considered future widening needed for the Nine-Mile Road corridor.
Cantonment Man Fell Out Of A Window With Cocaine During Search Warrant, ECSO Says
June 6, 2022
A Cantonment man fell out of the window of a home with cocaine as a search warrant was being executed, according to an arrest report.
Jeremy Charles Grandison, 42, was charged with possession of cocaine and obstruction without violence.
Grandison fled the residence as law enforcement announced their presence. A deputy watching the perimeter observed Grandison exit through a window and fall to the ground, the report states. He ignored commands to stop and fled on foot.
He was captured nearby with 8.5 grams of cocaine on his person, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Grandison was released from the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $7,500.