Wahoos Win Fourth Straight, Move Into First Place
May 14, 2022
Eury Pérez struck out nine more batters over 5.1 brilliant innings, Thomas Jones hit a late go-ahead home run, and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos took sole possession of first place on Friday night with a 4-2 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
The Blue Wahoos are 16-15, above the .500 mark for the first time this season, and have earned their first series victory with their longest winning streak of the year.
Pérez and Rocket City starter Sam Bachman locked horns, with both top pitching prospects showing off their dominant stuff. Bachman allowed only a walk over 4.0 hitless innings, and Rocket City managed only a fourth-inning single through the first five frames against Pérez.
In the top of the sixth, a leadoff walk from Bryce Teodosio was followed by a one-out RBI double from Jose Gomez to give Rocket City the game’s first run. Pérez departed, and Orlando Martinez laced an RBI single against Andrew Nardi (W, 2-2) to put the Trash Pandas ahead 2-0.
The Blue Wahoos answered back in the bottom of the sixth, as Jones was hit by a pitch and Victor Victor Mesa beat out an infield single for Pensacola’s first hit of the night. Troy Johnston and Jerar Encarnacion then hit back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game 2-2.
In the seventh, Bubba Hollins found his way aboard before a two-out, two-run homer from Jones against Eric Torres (L, 0-1) gave the Blue Wahoos a 4-2 lead. Josh Simpson and Eli Villalobos (S, 3) pitched the final two innings to seal Pensacola’s fourth win in a row.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Saturday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Fiery Crash Near Flomaton Claims One Life, Critically Injures Another
May 13, 2022
A fiery single vehicle crash near Flomaton claimed one life early Friday morning and critically injured another.
The crash happened about 1:25 a.m. on Old Atmore Road about a quarter mile east of Tulip Road, just a few hundred feet north of the Alabama-Florida state line. The vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree, overturned and burst into flames.
One person was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and airlifted to an area hospital. An adult occupant was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Alabama State Troopers are investigating and have not released further information. The Flomaton and Friendship fire stations, along with the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, McMillan EMS, and Flomaton Police Department also responded.
Photo NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia May Raise Sales Tax To Fund Fire Services, Replacing Property Assessment
May 13, 2022
Escambia County may increase the sales tax rate to fund fire services, rather than continuing the current system of an assessment for property owners.
During a discussion meeting Thursday morning, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh introduced the idea of boosting the sales tax rate by a half-penny or three-quarters of a penny.
The county’s budget office presented four options to pay for increased service costs in the form of varying the current fee property tax, which currently stands at $125 for most non-commercial property. Under the four proposals a new fire tax based upon property value would make up the difference needed to create at least $6 million in additional revenue to provide necessary funding and reduce subsidies from the general fund.
But under the sales tax avenue presented by Bergosh, the property assessment would go away.
“There are a lot of people struggling still, and I don’t want to raise their property taxes one penny,” Bergosh said. “And I won’t vote to do so.” He said a big part of the sales tax revenue would fall upon visitors that don’t live in Escambia County and don’t pay the fire tax, despite using emergency services.
Voters would be required to approve any sale tax increase, likely on the November ballot if the proposal moves forward.
“Let the citizens decide if this is important enough for them to pay an additional half cent sales tax,” Commissioner Doug Underhill said, adding that he would not support an increase on property owners. He said that as a voter, he would probably not support the sales tax, but as a commissioner he would be supportive of allowing the citizens to choose.
“Sales tax adversely affects poor people and poor consumers because they don’t own property; they rent,” Commissioner Lumon May said. “They are the greatest consumer because they spend and don’t save, and, unfortunately it is more of a burden on a low income person.”
“It’s the taxpaying property owner in Escambia County that always foots the bill. I kind of like spreading it around and making sure everyone pays,” Bergosh said.
Underhill said if he supports a tax, it would be in the form of sales tax because the consumer decides how aggressive their consumption, or spending, will be.
“People don’t decide their consumption based on their basic needs – food, shelter and essentials,” May said. “They have to eat; they have to buy the basic essentials to survive in the world. When you do apply that sales tax, it adversely affects someone who is trying to make ends meet.”
Preliminary projections show a half-cent sales tax would generate about $25 million for fire services in Escambia County after total funding is shared with the City of Pensacola.
There was no final decision on Thursday. In the coming days, county staff will run an analysis to provide more concrete numbers, and explore any legal issues. The commission will discuss fire services funding further at an upcoming meeting.
Under The Sea: Kingsfield Elementary Holds Art Night (Photo Gallery)
May 13, 2022
Kingsfield Elementary School held “Under the Sea Art Night” Thursday night. A large crowd enjoyed a night of face painting, dancing, bubbles, clay and more fun art projects an activities.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Woman Hearing ‘Voices In Her Head’ Tried To Drown Her Cat, ECSO Says
May 13, 2022
An Escambia County woman claiming to hear voices in her head allegedly trying to drown a cat.
Briyona Morgan Jacobus , 18, is charged with felony inflicting serious pain, injury or death on an animal.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded after a witness said she witnessed Jacobus trying to drawn her cat in a bathtub. The woman ran in and tried to grab the cat so Jacobus would not kill it, and Jacobus stomped on the cat after it fell to the floor, according to an arrest report.
The woman was then able to get the cat away from Jacobus.
“I observed the cat to be barely breathing and soaking wet from being drowned in the bathtub,” and ECSO deputy wrote in their report.
Jacobus made incoherent statements about having voices in her head and being homicidal, the report states.
Escambia County Animal Control responded and observed petechial hemorrhaging in the cat’s eyes and found that the cat suffered a concussion. The cat was taken for further observation and treatment.
Jay Tops Northview In 1A Regional Softball Semifinal (With Photo Gallery)
May 13, 2022
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 6-3 in 1A regional semifinal softball Thursday night in Jay.
Jay took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and continued to a 6-0 advantage by the end of the firth inning. The Lady Chiefs rallied in the seventh with three runs, including two run out of the park home run from Kayla Dixon.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Jamison Gilman allowed two hits and two runs in two innings for Northview. Emma Gilmore was in the circle for four innings, allowing four hits, four runs and striking out four.
Alayna Lowery went seven innings for Jay, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out two and walking one.
Dixon, Alanna Roberson, Kaitlin Gafford, Kailyn Watson and Chloe Ragsdale each had one hit for the Chiefs.
Lowery and Ella Nelson had two hits each for the Royals, while Caitlyn Gavin and Brett Watson had one each.
Jay (19-5, 6-0) is on a 15 game winning streak as they move on to the regional final on Tuesday against Paxton (14-4, 4-2).
Northview’s season ended at 13-13, 2-2 in the district.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
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Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Northview, ECHS, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian
May 13, 2022
The Atmore Rotary Club has named 182 area high school students as Academic All-Stars.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy. To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year.
There were 117 Academic All-Stars from Northview High School, 23 from Escambia Academy, five from Atmore Christian School and 37 from Escambia County High School.
The Rotary Club presented over $30,000 in scholarships this year to 43 seniors. Each four-year Senior Academic All Star also received a scholarship for $1,000. The seniors who have been an Academic All Star for three years received $700, two year seniors received $600, and one-year seniors received $500. The program excludes Northview students that are full-time dual enrolled.
Those honored as Atmore Rotary Club Academic All Stars were:
(Four-Year Academic All-Stars are denoted with asterisks.)
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
9th Grade
Ashton Connor Covan
Colton Ray Criswell
Beau Gavan Daw
Payton Kathleen Daw
Michael Moses Delarosa
Maddie Mae Driskell
Cody Allen Geneux
Jamison Abigail Gilman
Braden R Glick
Noah Webster Goslee
Jade Skye Howell
Mary Catherine Hughes
Aubrey Marie Jordan
Madison Ann Levins
Kaitlin Rena Lloyd
Brooke Cay Lytton
Mattie Leann McLaney
Evan Alexander Metlock
Addison Joy Miller
Ryan James Phillips
Colby Alexander Pugh
Brianna Grace Reynolds
Ally Bama Richardson
Jaden Satterwhite
Maggie Elizabeth Scott
Lilly Grace Smallwood
Mallory Kaitlyn Smith
Lauren Ashley Stinson
Jayden Kenneth White
Brian James Yoder
10th Grade
Rabekah Danielle Abbott
Raegan Michelle Abbott
Kendall Anne Alvare
Sarah Elaine Bailey
Doria Beach
Kendal Brooke Beasley
Ava McKenzie Brock
Chloe Faith Criswell
Riley Elizabeth Dawson
Carsyn Laine Dortch
Emma Lynn Doyle
Austin David Dunsford
Mayson Claire Edwards
Brandon Lee Ferguson
Raleigh Sienna Gibson
Kaylie B Glick
Maggie Rose Godwin
Makayla Jane Golson
Kylie Breann Grantham
Madalyn Marie Grimes
Ava Kate Gurganus
Allissa Leanne Hagquist
Berklee Savannah Hall
Leah Kathryn Hetrick
Ja’Niya I’Yonna Hooks
Meredith Makenzie Johnston
Sarah Kate Long
Caden Thomas Mills
Austin Minchew
Jaquez Keyshaun Moorer
Jackson Johnny Mac Parker
Daniel Tyler Riggs
Wesley Sanders
Angel Alicia Schoonover
Wyatt Alexander Scruggs
Dequan Rashad Shabazz
Mandell Levan Smith
Skyler Marie Williams
11th Grade
Clayton Mitchell Allen
Leah Kalyn Anderson
Terrell Luke Bridges
Cason Terry Burkett
Ethan Scott Collier
Drake Allen Driskell
Logan Taylor Faith
Emma Sage Gilmore
Audrey Grace Goetter
William Cross Goslee
Gabriel Kohle Harigel
Cayla Jocelyn Houston
Shelby Lynn Kent
Trent Austin Knighten
Sarah Kennedy Long
Bayllon David Matson
Megan T McGhee
Jaidyn Gaia Nordman
David Kaden Odom
Chase Randal Pugh
Wyatt Lee Ramsey
Madison Lee Rowinsky
Simeon Sanders
Dustin James Santinelli
McKenna Rae Simmons
Audrey Michelle Stuckey
Elijah-Dean Schuster Suratos
Preston Clay Wilson
Blake Richard Yoder
12th Grade
John Blake Bashore ****
Cheveyo Dasan Bingham
Hunter Shane Borelli ****
Tereasia Siamone Burt
Miyhanna Patrice Davidson
Casandra Lynn Davis
Presley Sharee Dortch
Kaitlin Hope Gafford ****
Holley Danielle Gilley
Jason Zane Gurganus ****
Ethan Riley Kilburn ****
Taylor Lynn Levins ****
Kaia Kalifa Montgomery
Travis Brock Nelson
Makayla Shana Ramsey ****
Benjamin Charles Rowinsky
Jessica Faith Stabler
Jordan Alise Stanley
Madison Victoria Watson
ESCAMBIA ACADEMY
9th Grade
Travis Andrews
Kelan Jurey
Cade Leachman
Campbell Reiley Morgan
Ana Chesley Robinson
10th Grade
Patrick Byrd
Eli Covington
Timmy Doerr
Coleman Dyess
Hannah Johnson
Caitlin Lanham
Zeke McElhaney
11th Grade
Tiffany Gookin
Abby-Kate Helton
12th Grade
Brian Brown
Braden Crysell
Emma Hall
Brady Howell ****
Jamison Janes
Lillie Lanham
Christopher Long ****
Ja’Daniel Nettles
Landon Sims
Jadon Stevens
ATMORE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
10th Grade
Emmett Battles
Elizabeth Terry
11th Grade
Elliott Classen
Claire Girby
12th Grade
Caeden Battles ****
ESCAMBIA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
9th Grade
Chloe Chyanne Dawson
Brandon Kyle Dean
Charlino Comerian Johnson
Trevion Johnson
Braleigh Cheyenne Lambert
Ashley Mariel Parra
Jaylin Tyshaun Phillips
Lebron Mylik Wilis
Ariyana Gabrielle Young
10th Grade
Keonte Jorge Blue
David Auston Bouler
Jessica Velasco Cuenca
Alasianna Laniyah Davis
Evereona Symone Jackson
Ava Katherine Penner
Stephen Jay Williams
11th Grade
Hasten Randolph Dean III
Breona Lynette Gaines
MarQuise DeVontae Kirk
Tykeria Simone Lambert
Lexi Alexandria Peavy
Shamirica Dy’Neshia Rankins
Aniya Simone Redmond
Summayah Tolbert
12th Grade
Madison Marie Bouler
Tykelui Ohjanai Frye
Nyla Jadae Graves
Sky Elizabeth Gray
La’Asia Sharnae Henderson
Racquel Sarai Knight
Vanaja Jaliyah McCants
Zahria Kendronique McCants
Alyssa Reshawna McMillan
Jessica Lashea McWilliams
Aniya Nykol Stots ****
Bryson Ty-Byas Williams
Jykeria Deasia Wilson
Pictured: Four-year Academic All-Stars honored Thursday night by the Atmore Rotary Club. Photo by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Home Runs As Wahoos Win Third Straight
May 13, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos brought home eight runs on three home runs as they won their third straight ballgame on Thursday night, defeating the Rocket City Trash Pandas 9-8 to pull back to the .500 mark.
Ray-Patrick Didder hit the club’s first grand slam of the season, Santiago Chávez blasted a three-run homer in his return to Pensacola, and Jerar Encarnacion stayed hot with his team-leading eighth homer in a 3-for-4 night.
Rocket City scored three early runs against Will Stewart (W, 1-1) in the first inning, as Braxton Martinez hit a two-run double and Kevin Maitan brought home a run on an RBI groundout. Bryce Teodosio hit a solo homer in the second to put the Trash Pandas ahead 4-0.
Stewart completed 5.0 innings, working scoreless ball the rest of his night, allowing the offense to get back in the game. Didder’s grand slam in the second tied things up against Aaron Hernandez (L, 0-2), and the Blue Wahoos put two men aboard in the fourth inning before reliever Kolton Ingram served up Chávez’s three-run home run to put Pensacola ahead 7-4.
Encarnacion homered in the fifth, giving him hits in seven consecutive at-bats on the heels of Wednesday’s 4-for-4 performance. Griffin Conine got in on the act with a two-out RBI single in the sixth that proved to be the game-winning run.
Maitan and Trey Cabbage hit solo homers against Anthony Maldonado, and Teodosio hit a two-run single off Dylan Bice in the eighth to bring Rocket City within a run. Colton Hock (S, 4) remained perfect in save opportunities this season, working a scoreless ninth.
Winners of three straight for the first time this season, the Blue Wahoos are now 15-15 on the season and have pulled into a tie for first place after Montgomery was swept by Tennessee in a doubleheader.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Friday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
FPL Holds Hurricane Drill
May 13, 2022
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) held their annual storm drill this week, testing their response to a simulated hurricane.
During the exercise, Hurricane Constantine – a mock Category 3 storm – made landfall near Panama City. FPL employees were evaluated on their response and restoration efforts, including operations, logistics, communications and customer service.
The upcoming hurricane season closely follows hurricanes Michael and Sally — two historic storms that serve as stark reminders of the importance of storm preparation.
“FPL learns from every storm, and we must always look for innovative ways to approach how we restore power and serve our customers,” said Manny Miranda, executive vice president of FPL power delivery. “Today, we can respond to hurricanes better than ever as a result of the lessons we’ve learned from previous storms and the improvements we’ve made, using advanced technologies and the experience of our team.”
As part of the exercise, FPL also showcased innovative technology used to assist with storm restoration, including drones, which are used to assess damage safely and quickly after a storm and can often reach areas inaccessible to crews on the ground.
Northview High School Listed For Sale
May 12, 2022
Northview High School in Bratt was listed for sale.
“For sale” signs were placed in front of the school Thursday morning. One of the many signs hints at the starting offer price…$20.22.
According to the Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office, the 85 acre property owned by the Escambia County School District has a value as public property of $4.3 million. The main building is 81,000 square feet, plus there is a 46,500 square foot gymnasium, along with a football stadium, baseball field, softball field, paved parking and much more.
There’s also a Northview Chiefs trophy case documenting countless state and national awards, including a state football championship in 2012.
The school was constructed in 1996.
For more information, the Class of 2022 lists the school phone number.
The Northview High School Class of 2022 will graduate on Wednesday, May 25.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
