Blue Wahoos, Trash Pandas Suspended Due To Rain
April 14, 2022
The second game of the series between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at the Rocket City Trash Pandas was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the seventh Wednesday night due to rain in Madison, Alabama.
The game, which was in a 3-3 tie, will resume Thursday at 4:05 p.m, prior to the regularly scheduled game at 6:35 p.m.
Tuesday night, the Blue Wahoos got their first win of the young season 4-3 over Rocket City.
Fields of Faith Community Worship Service Postponed Due To Weather
April 13, 2022
The Field of Faith Event originally planned for Wednesday evening at Northview High School has been postponed due to weather. A rescheduled date has not yet been announced.
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes had planned to host their annual Fields of Faith outdoors in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
Pictured: Last year’s Fields of Faith event at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
$80 Million Turnaround Project Beginning At Ascend With 500 Contractors. Here’s What You Need To Know.
April 13, 2022
An $80 million turnaround project is beginning at Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment and is expected to continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week through May 4.
About 90% of the plant will be shut down, but some utility operations will continue. Officials said there are no issues expected from the shutdown or startup of the manufacturing plant. There is not expected to be any noise from the operation, but other plants on the property will continue to make noise as usual.
Up to 500 outside contractors will be involved in the turnaround. That means numerous vehicles will be parked at the water tower at the intersection of Old Chemstrand and Chemstrand Roads and at the plant’s gym and park area. Temporary parking lot lights will be used as needed.
A law enforcement presence will help with traffic flow in and out of the site during shift changes. Buses will be used to transport workers from the plant to and from the parking areas.
Contractors are being encouraged to use Chemstrand and Old Chemstrand roads, not surrounding residential streets.
During the event, shift changes are scheduled from 5-7 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. to minimize traffic impacts.
All of the contractor employees have undergone a stringent evaluation, including drug, alcohol and background checks, said Ascend Environment, Safety, Security, and Health Leader Dean Rossi during a recent virtual community meeting. He said the company has also partnered with local law enforcement.
“We are about our communities in which we operate,” Ascend Cantonment Site Director Matthew Steward said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Two Arrested, One Wanted: Items, Including Silver And Guns, Stolen In Nearly $100,000 Burglary
April 13, 2022
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
Two North Escambia men are accused of taking items worth nearly $100,000, including nine guns, during a burglary on Innerarity Point Road, and authorities are searching for a third suspect.
Raymond Eugene Love, age 41 of Molino, and David Ross Holmquist, age 50 of Cantonment, were both charged with nine counts of grand theft of a firearm, grand theft $20,000 to $100,000, armed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, and criminal mischief.
James Bronson Morgan, 48, is wanted for nine counts of grand theft of a firearm, grand theft between $20,000 – $100,000, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling while armed and criminal mischief.
During the burglary, Love and Holmquist allegedly took items including $60,000 in silver bars and bullion, ammunition valued at $10,000, 50 extra magazines for an AR-15 and AK-47, and the firearms, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report. The items were collectively valued at $96,459.
The homeowner arrived to find his indoor dog outside and that his house had been ransacked. According to the ECSO, the home was entered through a window over the kitchen sink.
Love (pictured right) remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning with bond set at $261,000. Holmquist was jailed without bond.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Morgan is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Escambia Man Convicted On Drug Trafficking Charges
April 13, 2022
An Escambia County man has been convicted on drug trafficking charges.
Daryl Leroy Hayes, Jr. was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of trafficking in fentanyl (28 grams or more), trafficking in methamphetamine (more than 200 grams), selling cocaine, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer at high speed, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hayes faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years when he is sentenced next month by Judge Linda Nobles.
On April 17, 2021, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car driven by Hayes. When lights and sirens were activated, Hayes fled in the car at a high rate of speed. When he eventually stopped, he fled on foot with a backpack full of a trafficking amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to court testimony. Cocaine, oxycodone, MDMA, spice, and a firearm were also located by deputies after Hayes’ arrest.
Three Big Wins For Tate Baseball Over Navarre; NHS Falls To Lighthouse; Jay Softball Beats Northview
April 13, 2022
BASEBALL
Tate 20, Navarre 0
The Tate Aggies shut out Navarre 20-0 in fiving innings Tuesday night.
Ethan McAnally started for Tate on the mound, giving up no runs, no hits, and striking out three in three innings. Tucker Griffin went for one inning, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out one. Drew Reaves pitched an inning, allowing two hits, no runs and striking out one.
Cade Kelly and Kirk Mosley led the Aggies at bat with three hits. Drew Reaves, Frankie Randall and Jay Davis had two hits each.
For a varsity and junior varsity photo gallery, click here.
Tate 4, Navarre 1 (JV)
Tate Aggies junior varsity topped Navarre 4-1 Tuesday.
On the pitcher’s mound, Cole McNair allowed one hit, no runs and had three strikeouts over three innings.Tristin Lynn threw for two, allowing one hit and striking out three in two innings. In one inning, Conner Baer allowed one hit and one run.
Anthony Longo knocked a home run for the Aggies.
Neal Croom went 2-3 for the Aggies to lead at the plate. Trey Rebber, Damien Cullen, Ketch King, Allan Beasley and Longo had one hit each.
Tate 13, Navarre 3 (Freshmen)
The Tate Freshmen Aggies beat Navarre 13-3.
Brodie Rhodes pitched the win, going three innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out four with no walks. Brayden Beck and Trevor Land closed the game in relief.
Brayden Walker and Nathan Ozuna led the Aggies at the plate, both going 2-3.
Lighthouse Christian 4, Northview 1
Lighthouse Christian defeated Northview 4-1 Tuesday night in Bratt.
SOFTBALL
Jay 13, Northview 7
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 13-7 Tuesday night in Jay.
Caitlyn Gavin had a solo homer for the Lady Royals in the second, and Alyana Lower added her home run in the fifth. Northview’s Kailyn Watson hit a home run in the seventh inning.
Rylie Cochran led off for the Royals, going four innings, allowing four runs on five hits and recording nine strikeouts.
Jamison Gilman was in the circle for four and a third innings for Northview, giving up 11 runs on 10 hits while striking out three. Aubrey Stuckey went for one and two-thirds innings, surrendering three hits, two runs and striking out three.
Gavin and Kaylee Gilbreath were both 3-4 for the Lady Royals.
Watson led the Chiefs at bat, going 3-4. Chloe Ragsdale, Kayla Dixon, Stuckey and Alanna Roberson added one hit each.
West Florida 4, Tate 2
NorthEscambia.com photos by Laura Glodfelter, click to enlarge.
Aviles Homers Late To Lead Blue Wahoos To First Win
April 13, 2022
A go-ahead ninth-inning homer for Luis Aviles Jr. against his former team helped lift the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to their first win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating the Rocket City Trash Pandas 4-3 in Madison, Alabama.
The solo blast from Aviles, who played last season for the Trash Pandas, capped a comeback for the Blue Wahoos after falling behind early. A near-perfect effort from the Blue Wahoos bullpen kept the game within reach as the offense slowly worked their way back into the game.
George Soriano struck out six batters in his Double-A debut, allowing three unearned runs over 4.0 innings. A pair of errors and a pair of walks netted the Trash Pandas a run in the first, and they took advantage of another error from Aviles in the second to extend their lead to 3-0. An RBI double from Anthony Mulrine and RBI single from Aaron Whitefield proved to be the only two hits in the ballgame for Rocket City.
The Blue Wahoos got on the board in the third on an RBI single for Paul McIntosh against Rocket City starter Coleman Crow, but couldn’t gain any more traction until the seventh inning. Aviles poked a one-out single against reliever Jack Dashwood, and with two outs Victor Victor Mesa delivered an RBI double to draw the score to 3-2. One batter later, McIntosh kept up his hot hitting with an RBI triple to tie the score 3-3.
Robert Garcia and Andrew Nardi (W, 1-1) were perfect over their relief appearances, setting the stage for Aviles to line a solo blast just out of the reach of left fielder Torii Hunter Jr. to lead off the ninth against Luis Ledo (L, 0-1). Colton Hock (S, 1) worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth to lock down his first save of the year.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Wednesday night.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
McDavid Man Charged With Aggravated Assault, Battery On Sheriff’s Deputies
April 12, 2022
A McDavid man is accused of the aggravated assault and the battery of two Escambia County sheriff’s deputies.
David Bruce Christ, 32, was charged with battery, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and two counts of resisting an officer with violence.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance in the 3500 block of North Pine Barren Road where Christ had allegedly head-butted his girlfriend and injured her nose.
As a deputy attempted to detain Christ, he tensed and pulled away, according to an arrest report. As two deputies struggled with Christ on the ground, he placed his hands under his body. A deputy attempted to use a collapsible baton to pry Christ’s right arm from under his body. As the suspect continued to “fight and roll”, the deputy lost grip on the baton.
Christ managed to get to his hands and knees, grabbed the collapsible baton and threatened, “do you want me to hit you with this”, the report states. As Christ continued to ignore commands and turned toward a deputy, the deputy fired his Taser and pulled the trigger about four times. The Taser had little to no effect on Christ, likely because of a jacket he was wearing, the arrest report continues.
Other deputies arrived on scene and assisted in taking Christ into custody. After he was placed in a deputy’s vehicle, he was “temporarily” hobbled after he began violently kicking the door, the report states.
One deputy suffered an abrasion to a finger and chin, and another was kicked in his chest, according to the ECSO.
The victim told deputies she told Christ that their relationship was over, and that’s when he head-butted her face. Several other people were present at the home at the time of the incident, including a seven-year old child.
Later at the jail, Christ stated the victim had head-butted him, and he “expressed his disapproval” about how he was arrest, the report continues.
Christ remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $42,000.
Beulah Middle Teacher Hailed As Hero For Saving Choking Student
April 12, 2022
Cheesy breadsticks with marinara. Spicy chicken sandwiches.
Green beans. And fresh fruit.
It was a rather ordinary day during a recent lunch at Beulah Middle School. But that quickly changed
Assistant Principal Sandra Reynolds was talking with a teacher and looking around the lunchroom.
“I noticed a student who appeared to be choking. The teacher and I immediately ran to the student and indeed, he was choking,” Reynolds said.
That teacher was Patrick Cornelius, an eighth grade English Language Arts instructor.
“Patrick Cornelius,” Reynolds continued, “began administering the Heimlich maneuver as I held the student’s hand and tried calming him down. The object finally came up and the student was whisked away to the clinic where his parents were called.”
And, we are happy to report, the student is doing well. And Cornelius is being hailed by the school district as a hero.
Environmental Officer Heather Gresham Named Escambia County Employee Of Month
April 12, 2022
Environmental Enforcement Officer Heather Gresham was recently named the Escambia County Employee of the Month.
Gresham’s career with Escambia County began on July 11, 2011. Since then, she has been regularly recognized for her outstanding level of service to her fellow team members and the citizens of Escambia County. In her role as an Environmental Enforcement Officer, she performs site inspections and investigations to collect field information related to potential code enforcement violations; assesses conditions and recommends appropriate actions; and performs re-inspections as needed. She also conducts research on applicable records, policies, laws, and ordinances, and issues notices of violations and civil citations. Gresham frequently collaborates with the public, other agencies and staff to obtain and provide information, mediate conflicts, and negotiate amicable resolutions.
When needed, Gresham acts as the alternate Clerk of the Court for the Special Magistrate and Administrative Assistant/Senior Office Support Assistant. She prepares and presents cases for quasi-judicial proceedings and manages a caseload of potential and current violations, prepares related status reports and attends meetings related to caseloads.
“Heather always carries herself in a professional manner,” said Natural Resources Management Director Chips Kirschenfeld. “She exemplifies the character and conduct that all code enforcement officers should display and always has a great attitude. Heather is always the first to take on any additional duties and assist anyone who asks for help. She excels at citizen communication and can bring a calming presence to any situation. She has a positive impact on her team members, citizens and all other agencies inside and outside of Escambia County and it is a pleasure to have her in our department.”
Outside of her role with the county, Gresham enjoys spending her time volunteering regularly in the community. She participates in feeding the homeless, clothing drop-offs, and Pensacola Bike Build for children at Christmas.