Who Has The Best Local Fireworks Show? How Will Locals Spend The Fourth? Our Survey Says…
July 4, 2021
How will North Escambia residents celebrate the Fourth of July, and which town has the best local fireworks show?
NorthEscambia.com conducted a survey with four questions for the Fourth. We found the majority of respondents will have a cookout, enjoy family time and attend a public fireworks show. And most won’t be going to the beach or traveling very far from home.
Celebration Plans
Family time (55%)
Cookout (45%)
Fireworks at home (38%)
Fly American flag (30%)
Public fireworks show (18%)
Nothing special (16%)
Bing watch TV (8%)
Beach (1%)
Spending Amount
A majority, 52%, said they’ll be spending under $50 on their celebrations, while 21% said $50-$99 and 18% responded $100-$249. Only 8% plan to spend over $250.
How Far To Travel
Most, 82%, don’t plan on any extra travel, 16% will travel under 100 miles, and 1% will travel 100 to 499 miles. About 1% said they will travel over 500 miles during the holiday period.
Best Local Fireworks Show
Survey participants said the best local fireworks show is:
- Pensacola (Sertoma) 56%
- Pensacola Beach 18%
- Jay 9%
- Atmore (Wind Creek) 7%
- Century/Flomaton 3%
- Milton 2%
Note that the Century/Flomaton show was canceled this year, and Jay’s fireworks show was held Saturday night.
(For a fireworks show schedule, click here.)
This was an informal, non-scientific survey with 8,741 respondents. Percentages in this story may not exactly total 100 due to rounding and exclusion of minor answers.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Farm Bureau: July 4th Cookout Costs About The Same This Year
July 4, 2021
U.S. consumers will pay just a few cents less for their favorite Independence Day cookout foods compared to last year, including cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, says the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Farm Bureau analysis reveals the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people remains affordable at $59.50, or less than $6 per person. The cost for the cookout is down 16 cents (less than 1%) from last year, but 8% higher compared to 2019.
The largest year-to-year price increase was for strawberries. Survey results showed 2 pints of strawberries at $5.30, up 22% from last year, due to strong demand and the effects of several weather events including severe rain, hail and high winds that caused significant setbacks to the harvest early in 2021.
Retail price changes for products in the meat case are a bit more nuanced, according to AFBF Economist Veronica Nigh.
“Beef and pork processing plant disruptions that occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been resolved, leading to lower retail ground beef and pork chop prices in 2021 compared to 2020,” Nigh said. “However, consumers looking a bit farther back to compare prices are seeing higher prices for ground beef, pork chops and chicken breasts compared to pre-pandemic (2019) prices. That’s due to continued strong demand for American-grown beef and pork from both U.S. and international consumers.”
AFBF’s summer cookout menu consists of cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, pork & beans, strawberries, potato chips and fresh-squeezed lemonade with ice cream and chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
Individual Prices, AFBF 2021 Summer Cookout
- 2 pints of strawberries, $5.30 (up 22%)
- 13-ounce bag of chocolate chip cookies, $4.02 (up 11%)
- 8 hamburger buns, $1.66 (up 6%)
- 2.5 pounds of homemade potato salad, $2.75 (up 3%)
- 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, $6.74 (up 1%)
- 32 ounces of pork & beans, $1.90 (down 13%)
- 2 pounds of ground beef, $8.20 (down 8%)
- Half-gallon of vanilla ice cream, $4.69 (down 5%)
- 3 pounds of center cut pork chops, $11.63 (down 2%)
- 2.5 quarts of fresh-squeezed lemonade, $3.65 (down 2%)
- 1 pound of sliced cheese, $4.05 (down 1%)
- 13-ounce bag of potato chips, $4.93 (down 1%)
Burdick’s Blast, Stewart’s Six Shutout Innings Lead Pensacola Past Biloxi
July 4, 2021
Will Stewart turned in a quality start and Peyton Burdick hit a go-ahead home run late as the Wahoos came from behind to win 6-3 against the Biloxi Shuckers Saturday evening at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Trailing 3-1, the Wahoos exploded in the seventh inning, scoring four times and sending all nine batters to the plate. Braden Webb (L, 2-4) was brought into the seventh for Biloxi, but only retired one batter before being lifted from the game. For Pensacola, Devin Hairston started the inning with a ground ball that snuck under the glove of third baseman Gabriel Garcia for a leadoff double. After a foul fly out, Victor Victor Mesa walked to set up runners at first and second with only one out.
That brought Burdick to the plate, who earlier this season hit a go-ahead grand slam off Webb in Biloxi to give the Wahoos an improbable win on May 28th at MGM Park. Like that night, Burdick fell behind 0-2 before turning around a fastball over the centerfield wall for a go-ahead three-run home run to give Pensacola a 5-3 lead and send a sold-out Blue Wahoos Stadium crowd into a frenzy. The home run was Burdick’s 13th of the season, tying him with Birmingham’s Micker Adolfo for the most home runs in the Double-A South.
Pensacola added an insurance run in the eighth when Devin Hairston belted his third homer of the season off Cody Beckman. For Hairston, all three of his homers have now come against his former team.
The late game drama was set up by Will Stewarts brilliant outing. Stewart allowed two hits across six shutout innings while striking out five. For the southpaw, it was his third quality start of the season, and his first since June 4.
Earlier, the Wahoos took the lead in the fourth inning by capitalizing on some sloppy play from the Shuckers. After Galli Cribbs Jr. was hit by a pitch, he advanced to second on a groundout to third. Later in the inning, he stole third base before ultimately scoring on a wild pitch from Shucker starter Noah Zavolas.
Zavolas finished his night with a quality start of his own, tossing six innings and allowing just one run while striking out eight.
Stewart’s chances of a win evaporated in the seventh, when Brent Diaz hit a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to give the Shuckers a 3-1 lead.
After the Wahoos retook the lead, Dylan Bice pitched the final two innings in scoreless fashion to give the right-hander his first career Double-A save.
The series concludes on Sunday with Marlins #3 prospect Max Meyer (4-1, 1.84) making his second start of the series. On Tuesday, Meyer picked up his fourth win of the season after six shutout innings against Biloxi. Just like on Tuesday, Meyer will be opposed by LHP Nick Bennett (1-4, 5.46).
FWC’s Operation Dry Water Targets Boating Under The Influence This Weekend
July 3, 2021
FWC’s Operation Dry Water promotes education, enforcement for boating under the influence this weekend
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement will be promoting awareness and conducting heightened enforcement targeting boating under the influence as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign this weekend.
FWC officers will be enforcing Florida’s boating under the influence laws and educating boaters about safe boating practices, which includes boating sober.
The Fourth of July holiday is one of the busiest boating holidays all over the U.S., including here in Florida. In 2020, the month of July had nine fatalities and 53 people injured due to BUI related boating accidents.
Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal on all bodies of water and can lead to serious injuries and consequences. In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or higher — the same as it is to operate a vehicle.
“If you are boating and choose to operate while impaired, you are endangering not only yourself, but your family, friends and other boaters on the water,” said Maj. Rob Beaton, FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “FWC officers will be actively patrolling statewide looking for boaters who show signs of impairment. One of our primary missions is to ensure the safety of all those enjoying the state’s vast and diverse waterways. That is why the FWC is joining other states and agencies across the country to do our part in keeping boaters safe and preventing accidents related to boating under the influence.”
Alcohol is a leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths and a major contributor to accidents. Last year in Florida, 23% of fatal accidents were related to alcohol or drug use.
If a person decides to take alcohol on their voyage, it is important to designate an operator who isn’t drinking alcohol and will remain sober to ensure everyone gets home safely. The FWC encourages boaters to enjoy the boating season to its full extent by boating sober, wearing a life jacket and taking a boating education course.
The national Operation Dry Water weekend will take place July 2 through July 4. The mission of Operation Dry Water is to prevent alcohol and drug related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.
Former Fountain Correctional Officer Trainee Sentenced On Federal Drug Charges
July 3, 2021
A former corrections officer trainee has been sentenced on federal drug charges.
Tarrence Dramon Tolbert, 40, of Brewton, Alabama, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, Tolbert was a corrections officer trainee at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on February 24, 2020, and a supervisor observed that he was stopped on the side of the road at about 8:30 p.m.
The supervisor stopped and asked Tolbert if everything was okay, and Tolbert replied that he was waiting on a relative. The supervisor was suspicious about these circumstances, and left instructions to have Tolbert and his belongings searched when he arrived for his shift.
Investigators conducted the search as instructed, and discovered methamphetamine ice, marijuana, earbuds, a phone SIM card, cigars, two bottles of liquor and two knives, which Tolbert intended to smuggle into the prison and deliver to certain inmates.
Tate Lady Aggies Hold Annual Softball Camp (With Photo Gallery)
July 3, 2021
The Tate Lady Aggies recently hosted their annual softball camp for participants age six to eighth grade.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chinea, Bleday Power Blue Wahoos To Win
July 3, 2021
The ball rocketed off his bat and for a brief moment Blue Wahoos catcher Chris Chinea thought of a rare career moment for any player.
He had already homered, doubled and singled Friday night in his first three plate appearances before a sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Amid a tie game in the eighth inning, as he factored into the Blue Wahoos’ winning rally for a 7-4 victory against the Biloxi Shuckers, Chinea sent a line drive into right field.
Could it be? Hitting the cycle for the win?
“Definitely enters the mind,” said Chinea, smiling afterward. “But I don’t have many triples in my career. I’m not the fastest guy.
“The ball has to hit off the wall in a funky way. But it definitely enters the mind when I hit it. I’m like. ‘Oh man get down the line, I’m going to shoot three (bases) no matter what.’ But it got the job done.”
For sure.
His one-out liner allowed Riley Mahan to tag up and move to third. The Blue Wahoos had runners on the corners when shortstop Galli Cribbs, laced a run-scoring single that turned into two runs when the ball was misplayed by the Shuckers rightfielder.
Peyton Burdick followed with a two-out, RBI single for a three-run lead.
Relief ace Colton Hock retired the three batters he faced in the ninth to record his 12th save. He now leads all minor league relievers for the most saves.
Just like that, the Blue Wahoos (31-21) had another late-inning win. This one followed a 52-minute rain delay to start the game.
It also happened one night after four Biloxi pitchers combined on a one-hitter in a 3-0 win to snap a nine-game losing streak. On Friday, the Blue Wahoos collected 12 hits.
It’s why Chinea reminded afterward that keeping the right perspective in baseball is so essential.
“It’s one of the days where it’s a good day and you gotta flush it (out of mind) at midnight, but I’m happy it happened,” Chinea said. “Now move on to the next page which is (Saturday).”
With the Blue Wahoos up 3-1 in the homestand, the series continues Saturday (6:05 p.m.) with a special Fourth of July weekend fireworks show to follow.
Once the game began Friday, the Blue Wahoos erased Biloxi’s 1-0 lead on Chinea’s two-run homer in the second inning.
“I was looking for a pitch to drive, kinda stay right-center with it and he threw me a fastball up-and-in and it was kinda reaction,” Chinea said. “All that (batting) cage work and (batting practice) stuff (to help) and you just got to let it happen in the games.”
From that point, Blue Wahoos starter Jeff Lindgren stayed sharp. He allowed a solo home run in the fourth inning, but worked into the seventh inning and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Josh Roberson followed in relief and Hock closed out the ninth.
“Give credit to Jeff (Lindgren),” said Chinea. “Jeff ckept us in the game and pitched his butt off.
Blue Wahoos outfielder J.J. Bleday had his first multi-hit game since June 17, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in fifth inning. Burdick also went 2-for-5. Eight of the nine batters in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
Crews Working Today To Open Both Lanes Of Nine Mile Road Eastbound Between Beulah Road And I-10
July 2, 2021
Crews are busy today removing and replacing striping on Nine Mile Road to open both eastbound lanes between Beulah Road and I-10. Currently, both eastbound lanes are open from Security Place to I-10 and the westbound roadway is open to both lanes from Beulah Road to Navy Federal Way. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Reported Plane Crash Near Flomaton Unfounded; Low Flying Plane Will Be In The Area Next Several Days
July 2, 2021
A reported plane crash northeast of Flomaton was unfounded, and authorities say a low flying aircraft may be in the area for the next several days.
About 8:55 Friday morning, the Flomaton Police Department received a call of a possible plane down in the area of Highway 31 and Wolf Log Road at Pollard, about five miles northeast of Flomaton and Century. First responders searched the area for about an hour, and the ShandsCair 6 medical helicopter responded for an aerial search.
It was confirmed about 9:45 a.m. that the plane had not crashed, but instead was conducting aerial inspections for Alabama Power.
The plane was reported to be red and white. Authorities and NorthEscambia.com received several reports that the plane was flying just over the treetops, and it was seen over Flomaton shortly before the reported crash. The person reporting the crash stated that the plane appeared to be flying low and erratically just before they though the aircraft went down.
Officials said the plane will be continuing to fly low over the area the next several days as power line inspections continue.
NorthEscambia.com graphic. The red circle indicates the area of the reported plane crash.
Walnut Hill Man Gets 25 Years For Felony Sexual Battery Of Teen Girl
July 2, 2021
A Walnut Hill man has been sentenced for the sexually battery of a teen girl prosecutors said he impregnated.
William Isaiah Dunsford, 42, was sentenced by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Lee Robinson to 25 years in state prison.
He previously entered no contest pleas to two counts of sexual battery while in a position of custodial authority, one count of lewd or lascivious molestation, and one count of battery of a child by expelling certain fluids. He was sentenced to serve lifetime sexual offender probation upon his release from prison and was also designated as a sexual predator.
The investigation began in June 2019 after the victim went to her work supervisor and asked for more hours and a later shift. When the supervisor asked why, she admitted Dunsford had been sexually assaulting her since she was 13, according to an arrest report.
She was medically examined and a sexual battery kit was performed on her. Analysis was performed on the DNA collected during her examination, and it was confirmed to be Dunsford’s DNA. As a result, he was arrested and charged in January of 2020.
The victim told investigators that Dunsford had sex with her one or two times a week. She said Dunsford told her that he would take care of her, and when she turns 18 they would be together, according to an arrest report. The victim said multiple times that she did not want anything bad to happen to Dunsford “because she feels as though they are in a loving relationship” and she allowed him to have sex with her.
“He says that he loves me and I tell it to him back,” the victim stated, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim was confirmed to be pregnant at the time of the report last June by the Department of Children and Families. She said her mother first refused to believe her when she said she was pregnant.