Tate Aggies, Four Other High Schools, And Eight Colleges To Play At Blue Wahoos Stadium
March 13, 2022
Baseball is back by the Bay with 29 collegiate and high school games scheduled at Blue Wahoos Stadium leading up to the start of the minor league season.
Starting with Studer’s Blue Wahoos Challenge from March 15-23 featuring college baseball teams from across the country, fans will have two full weeks of action at the ballpark to experience the stadium’s new turf field and LED lighting before the first Blue Wahoos game on Friday, April 8.
Five local high schools will have an opportunity to play at Blue Wahoos Stadium in a four-game series March 25-28. Tate High and Navarre High will kick off the high school series on Friday, March 25 with a 6 p.m. game. The following day will feature a high school double header with Navarre playing Fort Walton Beach at 4 p.m. and Tate playing Fort Walton Beach at 7 p.m.. The final high school game will pit Escambia High against Gulf Breeze High on Monday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Before the high school games, the annual Studer’s Blue Wahoos Challenge will feature 25 games between eight different college programs with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the alma mater of Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer, serving as the primary host of the event. The college showcase will be highlighted by a game between the University of West Florida and UW-Whitewater on Wednesday, March 23 at 6 p.m. and will also feature appearances by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Carroll University (WI), Rhodes College (TN), Grinnell College (IA), Birmingham Southern College (AL), and Centre College (KY).
Tickets to all March games at Blue Wahoos Stadium are available at BlueWahoos.com with single game and full day passes available.
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos begin their 2022 season on Friday, April 8 as they welcome the Biloxi Shuckers to Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Pictured: The Tate High Aggies shut out Choctaw last season at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Photos by Laura Glodfelter and Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Christian College Wins NCCAA DII Women’s Basketball National Championship
March 13, 2022
The Pensacola Christian College Lady Eagles women’s basketball team secured their first National Championship Saturday with an 85-74 victory over the Arlington Baptist University Patriots of Arlington, Texas. The Division II National Championship of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) was held in Joplin, Missouri, March 9-12.
The PCC Lady Eagles season record was 23-3.
This National Championship marks the first in Pensacola Christian College women’s basketball program history. The Lady Eagles are led by Head Coach Jared Sellars.
Two Lady Eagles athletes secured a spot on the All-Tournament team: Leah Phelps and Lauran Alvarez. Lauran Alvarez was also named the tournament’s MVP.
Photo courtesy NCCAA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Dead After Early Saturday Morning Shooting In Cantonment
March 12, 2022
A man is dead after an early morning shooting in Cantonment, and it appears foul play is involved, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was reported shot about 12:50 a.m. in the 2700 block of Pine Forest Road, just south of Roberts Road.
The investigation is continuing. So far, there are no known suspects, according to ECSO.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
D.W. McMillan Adds New Ambulance To Fleet In Escambia, Alabama
March 12, 2022
DW McMillan EMS is adding another ambulance to their fleet this month.
The 2022 F450 Wheeled Coach 4X4 is state of the art and offers a more comfortable ride for patients, officials said.
“The ambulance is equipped with liquid spring technology, a system that allows you to optimize vehicle ride and handling based on road conditions,” stated Justin Cole, EMS director. “This ambulance has been long-awaited, with the Covid-19 pandemic affecting automakers, this unit had been ordered since July of last year, and finally completed production.”
A new ambulance in the fleet will also allow scheduled downtime for other units. After DW McMillan expanded into Flomaton last July, all of their ambulances have been in use.
“In addition to the comfortable ride, the addition of a new, additional unit will allow for more preventive maintenance and off line repairs of other front line units,” said Jeff Booth, Escambia County (AL)Health Care Authority CEO. ”As we continue to improve our fleet, our vehicle downtime will hopefully become much lower.”
FWC Approves Production, Sale Of Florida Largemouth Bass As Food Product
March 12, 2022
At their March meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rules to allow for the production and sale of Florida largemouth bass as a food product.
Statutory changes made during the 2021 legislative session sanctioned the sale of Florida largemouth bass produced in aquaculture facilities for food. Staff worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to ensure continued genetic conservation of Florida’s iconic freshwater game fish.
Key points from the approved rule language include:
- Allow for the culture and sale of Florida largemouth bass as a food fish.
- Incorporate FWC’s Genetic Authentication Standards for Florida largemouth bass into rule by reference.
- Prohibit the importation into or transportation within the state of any live bass species, except permitted Florida largemouth bass that meet FWC’s largemouth bass Genetic Authentication Standards.
- Require any shipment of live bass in Florida to be accompanied with documentation required by FDACS and FWC.
“We appreciate the ongoing collaboration with FDACS, and we are confident in the established protocols in place to protect Florida’s iconic gamefish,” said Commissioner Gary Lester.
The Florida largemouth bass is the state fish.
Time Change: Spring Forward. And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries.
March 12, 2022
Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
And don’t forget to replace the batteries in your smoke alarm, or replace the alarm if it’s getting old.
“If your smoke detector is older than 10 years old, it most likely needs to be replaced,” said Escambia Fire Rescue Fire and Life Safety Specialist Ray Melton. “Having a working smoke detector and plan of escape from your home are two of the most important steps to being safe when a fire occurs.”
Escambia County residents can call (850) 595-HERO for replacement smoke detectors.
Beulah Academy Of Science Wins Escambia County Volleyball Championship
March 12, 2022
The Beulah Academy of Science Bobcats defeated Brown Barge this week to claim the Escambia County Championship. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Tops Northview 5-3
March 12, 2022
The Jay Royals edged the Northview Chiefs 5-3 Friday in Bratt.
Andrew Diamond earned the win for Jay, going one inning, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out one.
Jamarkus Jefferson took the loss for the Chiefs. He gave up three runs on three hits in one inning while striking out two. Josh Landis went for six, giving up two runs on two hits and striking out two.
Luke Bridges went 2-3 at the plate to lead the varsity Chiefs. Jefferson, Kaden Odom, Josh Landis and Ethan Collier had one hit each.
Diamond, Ethan McDonald, Nathan Smarr, Cole Dunsford and Hayden Morris had one hit each for Jay.
Photos: Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 97, Kingsfield Crash Claims One Life
March 11, 2022
A traffic crash Friday morning claimed the life of one person in Cantonment.
The crash happened about 10:25 a.m. at the intersection of County Road 97 and Kingsfield Road, a short distance away from Ransom Middle School.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 56-year old female was traveling south in Ford Escort, approaching Kingsfield Road. The 50-year old driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe failed to yield to oncoming traffic as she attempted to cross the intersection.
The driver of the Ford Escort was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Santa Fe and an unidentified passenger were transported to Baptist Hospital
FHP no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour (below) and Jason Robbins/WEAR 3 (above), click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Accused Of Stealing Tools During Two Burglaries
March 11, 2022
A Cantonment man is accused of stealing tools that were later found in his vehicle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Andrew Paul Driver, 19, was charged with felony burglary and grand theft. Driver remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday morning with bond set at $45,000.
Driver is accused of stealing numerous tools from two residences on Kathleen Avenue.
He allegedly took tools valued at $1,990 from a home in the 1200 block of Kathleen Avenue during the early morning hours of March 8. The tools included a Rigid chop saw, a table saw, brad nailer, side grinder, batteries and battery charges. The tools were all marked by the owner and were later recovered in Driver’s BMW at his residence on Petty Drive in Cantonment, according to an arrest report.
Also on March 8, Driver allegedly burglarized a shed at home in the 1400 block of Kathleen Avenue. He stole tools worth $850 including Milwaukee saws, drills and a battery charger, the arrest report states. Deputies said the items were also recovered in Driver’s vehicle.