Video: Ernest Ward Versus Neal
September 12, 2008
This short video from the Thursday’s Ernest Ward Middle School’s football game versus W.S. Neal was produced by a 10 year old Bratt Elementary School student, a future Ernest Ward Golden Eagle.
W.S. Neal Eagles Down Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles
September 12, 2008
In the battle of the middle school Eagles, the W.S. Neal Eagles from Brewton downed the Golden Eagles of Ernest Ward Thursday evening in Walnut Hill.
The Neal Eagles crossed the goal line late in the first quarter, only to have a personal foul flag on the play. That Neal touchdown with 49 seconds in the quarter did not count, putting Neal first and 10. They hit paydirt again with just 41 seconds in the first and made a two point coversion to take the lead 8-0 in the first.
A 43 yard run with 4:23 to go in the first half put the Neal Eagles up 14-0. Once again, the Neal Eagles went for the two point conversion, but Chance Smith intercepted the play for the Ernest Ward Golden Eagles.
Neal hit the endzone for another TD with 1:17 in the half. Another pesky flag on the play, and Neal was back first and 10 on the 17. By the time the clock was down to 25 second, Neal was back down in the endzone. They missed another two point conversion, putting the score at 20-0 at the half.
Neal would score again in the third with 5:03 on the clock. With yet another missed two point conversion, Neal was up 26-0.
The fourth came and went, with W.S. Neal downing the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles in their season opener, 26-0.
For a complete gallery of NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos from the W.S. Neal at Ernest Ward Middle School game, click here.
Click here for video from the game.
Pictured above: A Neal Eagle takes down an Ernest Ward Middle School Eagle Thursday evening. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
JV Chiefs Fall To Baker Gators
September 12, 2008
The Northview Chiefs lost their junior varsity football opener against Baker Thursday evening.
The Baker Gators downed the JV Chiefs 30-12 in Baker.
Shawn Knight scored both of the Chief’s touchdowns.
The Northview JV football team will be on the road again next week. They will take on West Florida High School.
Click here for more photos from the game in Baker.
Pictured above: The JV Northview Chiefs were on the road against the Baker Gators Thursday evening. Heather Leonard photo from NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
County Declares Chickens Are Not Pets. (Seriously, They Did)
September 12, 2008
Can a chicken be a pet, or is a chicken just a farm animal? In Escambia County, chickens have now been official declared farm animals and stripped of any hope of being legal pets.
The legal status of chickens was considered by the Escambia County Commission Thursday morning at the request of Commissioner Gover Robinson. Apparently, some “cultures” consider chickens as pets, causing things to run afoul when when the fowls end up with the same rights in a neighborhood as cats and dogs.
“You and I many not see chickens as pets, but there are other people that do,” Robinson said. “The question is, if they don’t infringe on their neighbors, is there the ability for them to have it.”
“It’s a gender issue,” Commissioner Mike Whitehead said. “If you allow the chicken, the hen, then you have to allow the rooster.”
“It’s real simple; we just say no. They are farm animals,” Whitehead said. “I understand about diversity. But when you come to America, chickens are farm animals. I’m sorry.”
“The motion is that we reject the request to classify chickens as pets,” Whitehead stated.
The motion passed 3-1, with Robinson voting against it and Commissioner Marie Young absent.
Commission Expresses Concern Over Fire Dept. Unification Plans
September 12, 2008
The Escambia County Commission considered a final fire department unification agreement at their Thursday Committee of the Whole meeting, but they express concern over the agreement about promoting volunteer officers without proper training for their positions.
The plan grandfathers any officer that does not meeting minimal standard for their position for three years. The volunteer not meeting the requirements will be allowed to advance in rank during the three year period. But they would no longer be able to advance in rank after the three year exemption period unless they met all requirements of the advanced position.
“That doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever,” Commissioner Mike Whitehead said. “The whole purpose of this was to create a professional organization that whenever we looked at somebody whether they were a volunteer lieutenant or a paid lieutenant, they had the same qualifications. And this seems to be a huge step backwards.”
“It would be on thing if you said you are frozen at your position…and we are going require that over the next three years you meet these certifications,” he said.
Whitehead said that there are officers in the volunteer system that do not meet Firefighter I standards, the most basic standards above the level of Firefighter Trainee.
Escambia Fire Chief Kenny Perkins said those firefighters, even though they may hold officer positions in a department, would not be allowed to go into the area of a fire, the “exclusionary zone”.
“Then you’ve got officers that can’t fulfill the obligations, the responsibility of the position,” Whitehead said. “He can’t led a group in because he can’t go in. That goes against the very spirit of what we were trying to accomplish here.”
Commissioner Grover Robinson said he agreed, and he found it difficult to imagine promoting someone that did not meet the minimal standards for the position.
Perkins said firefighters, both volunteer and paid, had agreed to the plan.
Commissioner Gene Valentino suggested that long term volunteers with many years of experience get an equivalency type rating without taking the Firefighter I course. He suggest that some of them might not be able to pass the test because that they might not do well on a written exam.
“They’ve given 30 years of their life to this county,” Valentino said. “I’d be foolish to turn my back on them and limit them in their ability to advance in the program if we can design a way to design a program of alternative equivalency.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said he had no problem delaying a vote on the agreement until he had the opportunity to meet with some of the volunteers.
“There may be an educational issue. They just aren’t used to taking exams. And they can’t pass it as hard as they try,” Valentino said, “but they are the best darn guys, soldier I want out there on the front line of a fire because they are good.
“I’ve got no problem keeping them where they are,” Robinson said, “and keeping them doing what they are doing. ”
“If in the next three years a lieutenant can’t achieve the status of a Firefighter I, I’m concerned about him leading a group into a fire. I don’t care how many years he’s done it,” Whitehead said. “I don’t see life safety issues qualifying under a GED approach to things.”
“Do you want someone that can’t pass the 160 hour course trying to save your wife?” Whitehead asked Valentino. “Or your child?”
“But they’ve been saving wives for 30 years,” Valentino responded. “How do you judge that?”
Assistant Chief Robbie Whitfield told the commission that he will personally contact the approximately eight volunteer officers that do not meet Firefighter I standards to find out why they have not yet passed the course.
“These people had eight years to catch up with the program, Mike Herron, chief of the Warrington Volunteer Fire Department said as he encouraged commissioners to not delay action on the agreement. “This is something they have know about since 2001. If they tell you otherwise, it is a lie.”
The commission will vote on the plan at their next regular meeting on September 18.
Click here to read the entire unification plan. (63 pages, 3.73 Mb pdf)
Northview Evacuated For Fire Alarm
September 12, 2008
Northview High School was evacuated Tuesday afternoon following a fire alarm malfunction.
Students were held outside for over half an hour while the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded to the school. The fire department was unable to located any sign of a fire.
The Century Volunteer Fire Department was also dispatched to the school, but they were canceled prior to their arrival.
Driver’s Licenses No Longer Available In Century
September 12, 2008
Thursday was the last day that driver’s license services were be offered at the courthouse in Century, and the tax collector’s hours in Century are being cut back to just three days a week beginning next week.
Janet Holley, Escambia tax collector, said her office in the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century will no longer offer driver license services. Those services will be transferred to the Cantonment office on Highway 29.
“The service is being transferred from the Century Tax Collector Office in order to provide easier access to a greater number of citizens in the northern part of Escambia County,” the press release to be issued today from Holley’s office says.
Both the Century and Cantonment tax collector offices was closed Friday to transfer computer systems. The Century branch will reopen on Tuesday with new hours of operation…Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The office had previously been open 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Cantonment branch will continue their same hours of operation from 8:30 until 5:00 Monday to Friday with extended hours unti 6:00 on Wednesdays. The driver license services will be available by appointment only by calling 438-6500, extension 252.
“In this reorganization, we have reallocated our services in order to reach the most citizens while reducing the cost of providing these services,” Holley said. “We expect to save about $100,000 annually in operational costs and reduction in staff.”
A Heroes’ Lunch For 9/11
September 12, 2008
The crew on duty Thursday at the Century Volunteer Fire Department was treated to a pizza lunch on Patriot’s Day to honor them for their service. Pictured (L-R) are Nathan Berry, Lt. Greg Sims, Greg Therrell, Donald Merritt and Kyle Kraatz. The lunch was provided by an group of Century area citizens that wished to remain anonymous. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Votes For Budget At Public Hearing
September 12, 2008
The Town of Century offered a preliminary nod to their nearly $2.5 million budget at a public hearing Thursday afternoon.
The council voted 3-1 for the budget, with council member Ann Brooks voting against it and council member Nadine McCaw absent.
Only one member of the public attended the public hearing, but she did not have any comment on the budget.
For more details on what the budget includes, and what items were cut, click here to read a story from a Tuesday budget workshop.
Northview Falls To Catholic In District Volleyball
September 12, 2008
The Northview varsity and JV volleyballs teams traveled to Pensacola to take on Catholic High School Thursday night in District action.
The varisty girls lost to Catholic, 25-21, 25-13, 25-9.
Ashley Digmon had eight digs for the Chiefs. Shawna Montgomery had half a dozen digs, along with a block and a kill. Brittney Thompson racked up four blocks, three kills, six digs and one ace. Junior Amber McMillan had four digs.
Setter Caitlin Hall, a junior, had three blocks, three assits and two digs against Catholic. Hall was named the Northview volleyball Player of the Week.
The JV Chiefs also lost to Catholic, 25-6, 25-12.
Shaniqua Jones had one dig and one kill against Catholic. Chief Trestine Dean had two digs, and sophomore Miranda Burkett picked up one ace and three digs.
Northview will be at home against W.S. Neal of Brewton Tuesday. The JV will play at 4:30, and the varsity will hit the court at 6:00.