McCambley And McIntosh Lead Blue Wahoos To 3-1 Win
May 8, 2022
Zach McCambley had his best start of the year and Paul McIntosh delivered yet another clutch hit as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Mississippi Braves 3-1 on Saturday night.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 1-0 right away in the first inning, as Hayden Cantrelle hit a leadoff double and scored on a Jerar Encarnacion sacrifice fly against Mississippi starter Freddy Tarnok.
McCambley (W, 1-2) allowed back-to-back doubles to Michael Harris II and Luke Waddell to begin his outing, but retired 17 of his final 18 batters with only a second-inning walk breaking up his dominant streak. The righty completed 6.0 innings for the first time this season, striking out a season-high eight batters.
Tied 1-1 in the sixth, the Blue Wahoos got a leadoff single from Cantrelle against M-Braves reliever A.J. Puckett (L, 0-3) and four consecutive two-out singles to take a 3-1 lead. McIntosh scored Cantrelle with an RBI single, then scored from first on a Griffin Conine hit to give Pensacola all the runs they would need.
After McCambley departed, Jefry Yan stranded two runners in scoring position in the seventh and Andrew Nardi (S, 2) earned a six-out save.
The Blue Wahoos improved to 12-14 on the season, remaining 2.5 games behind first place Montgomery and setting up an opportunity to win their first series of the season in Sunday’s finale.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up against the Mississippi Braves on Sunday afternoon
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Two Missing Men Found Safe After Being Reported Missing On The Escambia River
May 7, 2022
UPDATE: BOTH HAVE BEEN FOUND SAFE
Two people are missing after a Becks Lake Road fishing trip Friday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Jack Mikuta, 19, and Carter Hallin, 22, were last seen on about 4 p.m. Friday when they were going fishing on the Escambia River from the 2000 block of Becks Lake Road.
Escambia Breaks Ground On New ‘Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station’ In Beulah
May 7, 2022
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday to dedicate a new Beulah fire station as the “Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station”.
The new $8.44 million fire station will be named in honor of Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw who died in the line of duty in November 2019, and Chief Steve McNair who dedicated over 50 years to fire service in Beulah and helped rebuild the current station after fire destroyed the original Beulah Fire Station in 1977.
“Today was a tremendous day for our county, the Beulah Community and for ECFR as we broke ground on our newest modern fire facility on Nine Mile Road,” Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said during Friday’s groundbreaking. “It was also my humble privilege to honor two great families that sacrificed so much for our community and ECFR, and whose names will forever be honored as the namesakes for this new facility once it is completed. The Bradshaw-McNair Fire station will serve to enshrine the legacy of both Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw, who gave his life for our citizens as he died in the line of duty, and Chief Steve McNair, who gave more than 50 years of service to our community in the fire service. Today was a great day in Escambia County, a day we can all take pride in as we honor and recognize these exceptional individuals and their families.”
The existing Beulah Fire Station is at the end of its useful life, according to the county. The proposed new facility will be a total of 14,503 square feet area and have four vehicle bays including one for EMS, along with a small community meeting/training room.
The new facility will be constructed on the same site as the current station at 6400 West Nine Mile Road.
The recommended low bidder on the project is Emerald Coast Constructors for $8.44 million. Five other bids ranged from about $10.15 million to $12.45 million. The construction will be funded with Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds.
Pictured top: Groundbreaking Friday for new Bradshaw-McNair Fire Station in Beulah. Pictured inset: Steve McNair. Pictured first below: The family of late Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw. Second below: Dwain Bradshaw, Sr. Third below: Current ECFR Chief Jason Catrambone. Fourth below: Commissioner Jeff Bergosh. Pictured bottom: Friday’s ceremony. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Search Continues For State Work Release Inmate That Escaped In Escambia County
May 7, 2022
The search is continuing for a state work release inmate that escaped in Escambia County.
Inmate Anthony Ray Barnes was last seen Wednesday when he was assigned to L30 Traffic Services to hold traffic signs.
He checked in with a Florida Department of Corrections correctional officer at 2:04 p.m. Then at 6:37 p.m. it was discovered Barnes had removed his ankle monitor and left the state’s work-release program. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was asked to assist in the search for Barnes at 9 p.m.
Barnes’ last known location was the intersection of Mobile Highway and Boulder Street.
He is a white male, six-feet one-inch tall, 215 pounds, with balding brown hair, blue eyes, with multiple facial tattoos.
Barnes has an extensive arrest record with multiple felony charges including battery, drug violations, and burglary. He is currently serving time for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing and eluding from Santa Rosa County.
It was believed Barnes may have in Santa Rosa County with 25-year-old Dalton Dakota Ballard, who was wanted for fleeing and eluding by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. But Ballard is now in jail.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620, the FDOC at (850) 922-6867 or their local law enforcement agency.
From Diapers And Gas To Appliances And Much More: DeSantis Signs 10 Sales Tax Holidays
May 7, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed 10 different sale tax holidays into law on a variety of common items, including fuel, diapers, disaster supplies and tools.
The 10 tax holidays are:
- A one-month Fuel Tax Holiday from October 1, through October 31, 2022, saving Floridians $200 million by lowering the price of gas by 25.3 cents per gallon.
- A 3-month sales tax holiday for children’s books from May 14 through August 14, 2022, providing $3.3 million in tax relief.
- A one-year sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for baby and toddler clothes and shoes, providing $81.5 million in tax relief.
- A one-year sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for children’s diapers, providing $38.9 million in tax relief.
- A 14-day Back-to-School sales tax holiday from July 25 through August 7, 2022, for clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies, providing $100 million in tax relief.
- A 14-day Disaster Preparedness sales tax holiday from May 28 through June 10, 2022, for supplies such as flashlights, radios, tarps, batteries, and fire extinguishers, providing $25.6 million in tax relief.
- A 7-day Tool-Time sales tax holiday from September 3 through September 9, 2022, for tools and other home improvement items, providing $12.4 million in tax relief.
- A two-year sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for impact resistant windows, doors, and garage doors, providing $442.8 million in tax relief.
- A 7-day Freedom Week from July 1 to July 7, 2022, providing a sales tax exemption for specified admissions and items related to recreational activities, providing $70.6 million in tax relief.
- A one-year Energy Star Appliances sales tax holiday from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters, and refrigerators, providing $78.5 million in tax relief.
Escambia Man Claims Nearly $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
May 7, 2022
Escambia County resident Ralph Cole has claimed a nearly $1 million lottery prize.
He claimed his winnings from the $1000 A Week scratch-off game at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $930,000.
When asked if he had any plans for his big win, Cole said, “I’m going to get a Harley!” His granddaughter, who accompanied him to Tallahassee, was hesitant at this idea but beamed at his next dream, “Actually, I’m going to fix up my wife’s old Mustang. It’s beautiful, bright yellow, and she loved it.”
Cole purchased his winning ticket from Circle K at 3430 Barrancas Avenue. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $2 game offers eight top prizes of $1,000 a week for life.
Tate High Football’s Bruce Foster Commits To Millsaps College
May 7, 2022
Tate High School’s Bruce Foster who has committed to play football at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Juveniles Charged With Shooting Man, 71, During Armed Robbery
May 7, 2022
Two juveniles have been charged with shooting a 71-yaer old man in the face with a pellet gun during an armed robbery in Escambia County.
Tykie Smith, 14, and Juan-Yeia Smith-Wyer, 16, are charged in connection with the incident at a convenience store on Johnson Avenue at Airway Drive.
Deputies said the victim was cashing a $100 winning lottery ticket when Smith-Wyer asked him for $20 of his winnings. The victim told the teen no and left the store. As the man walked through the parking lot, Smith approached the man and pointed a black Glock pellet gun directly at him.
Smith demanded cash and then shot at the victim from point-blank range six times, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspects’ getaway car was located by deputies behind a shed outside a house in the 600 block of Smiley Avenue.
Smith was located inside the shed, along with the white hoodie he was wearing during the robbery and an empty CO2 cartridge. Smith-Wyer and the black Glock pellet gun were found inside the home.
Smith was charged with attempted robbery, aggravated battery, and criminal mischief. Smith-Wyer was charged with accessory to robbery and concealing evidence.
Blue Wahoos Rally To Win In 11 Innings Over Mississippi
May 7, 2022
Eury Pérez completed 5.2 innings in his longest start as a professional, and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos exploded for four runs in the 11th inning to beat the Mississippi Braves 6-4 on Friday night.
Pérez went toe to toe with M-Braves starter Alan Rangel, who struck out a career-high 11 batters over 4.0 innings. Back-to-back doubles from Luis Aviles Jr. and Thomas Jones gave the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead in the third, though Mississippi tied things up on a Michael Harris II double in the fifth and took a 2-1 lead with a two-out RBI single from Hendrik Clementina in the sixth. Pérez struck out six batters and recorded an out in the sixth inning for the first time in his career.
Trailing 2-1, the Blue Wahoos put together a two-out rally of their own in the seventh inning as Troy Johnston tied the score 2-2 with an RBI single. Both teams left runners on base in the eighth before a quiet ninth, setting things up for Pensacola’s third extra inning game of the season.
In the top of the tenth, Odalvi Javier (L, 0-1) benefitted from a double play to work around Pensacola’s placed runner and keep the game tied. Colton Hock (W, 1-2) pitched admirably with no margin for error, stranding his placed runner at second to send the game to the 11th.
Paul McIntosh led off the top of the 11th with an RBI double to put Pensacola in front 3-2, and Cobie Fletcher-Vance kept things rolling with an RBI single of his own. Fletcher-Vance scored on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error, and Hayden Cantrelle capped a four-run frame with an RBI double to bring the score to 6-2.
Eli Villalobos allowed a two-run homer to Trey Harris in the bottom of the 11th, but wrapped things up to secure the Blue Wahoos’ first extra-inning win of the season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Mississippi Braves on Saturday.
Dollar General Store Planned For Highway 29 At Highway 196
May 6, 2022
Another Dollar General is planned for North Escambia at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 196 near Molino.
Zoning for the 1.5 acre parcel already allowed retail development of up to 6,000 square feet. The Escambia County Board of Adjustment has now approved retail space up to 15,000 square feet on the property, with the one condition that the building must have a wood-look on the outside.
Developers want to build a 10,640 square foot Dollar General. Driveway access to the store will be off Highway 196, not Highway 29.
About a half dozen area residents spoke against the variance. Most cited traffic concerns about the intersection, including several fatal accidents that have occurred. They also expressed that the store is not needed due to the proximity of other Dollar Generals on Highway 29, including at Molino Road 2.5 miles to the north and Neal Road four miles to the south.
The project must go through several additional steps before construction could begin, including consideration by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
