Video Highlights: Northview Beats Freeport For Regional Title

November 28, 2010

Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s win Friday night over Freeport.

For game details, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story.

(If you don’t see the video, it is because a setting at your home, work or school firewall or computer is blocking YouTube videos.)

Sunny Today, Rain Early Week

November 28, 2010

We’ll have sunny skies for our Sunday, but rain is on the way. Rain chances will increase Monday into Tuesday as another cold front passes through the area, bringing lows in the 20’s by mid-week.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. East wind around 5 mph.
  • Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind around 5 mph.
  • Monday: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
  • Monday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
  • Tuesday: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 64. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
  • Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
  • Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind between 5 and 15 mph.
  • Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
  • Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
  • Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62.
  • Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 36.
  • Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57.

Escambia K-9 Cops Certified

November 28, 2010

Three members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit recently participated in the United States Police Canine Association National Field Trials in Louisiana. Over 100 handlers from across the country participated in the trials.

Deputy Wayne Gulsby, Deputy Patrick Crossley and Lt. Jason Potts all received their certification from the United States Police Canine Association. In the agility section of the competition, Deputy Gulsby and K9 Miso finished in fourth place and Lt. Jason Potts and K9 Askan finished fifth. Lt. Jason Potts also finished in fourth place overall in search work and fourth place overall in the entire certification.

Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office  Deputy Wayne Gulsby  and Miso perform a drug  search  at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

FHP Remains Out In Force For Holiday Weekend

November 28, 2010

The Florida Highway Patrol will continue to be  out in force today as part of the annual Click It Or Ticket campaign.

One of the easiest things motorists can do to protect themselves in a crash is to fasten their safety belts — that is the message the Florida Highway Patrol is delivering to motorists who defy Florida’s safety belt law and neglect to buckle up. On Nov. 21 – 30, local troopers are joining law enforcement agencies around the state in the Click It or Ticket campaign aimed at targeting unrestrained motorists and their passengers.

“Our message is simple. If you fail to buckle up, then expect a ticket,” said Major Eddie Johnson, commander of FHP’s Troop A, which covers ten counties in the Panhandle area. “The hard working men and women of the Florida Highway Patrol will be diligent in enforcing our safety belt law. Our state troopers are committed to making a difference through education and enforcement.”

Florida’s law requires all drivers and adult occupants in the front seat of a vehicle to fasten their safety belt. Occupants under the age of 18, regardless of where they sit in a vehicle, also must buckle up. Safety belts have long been proven to save lives and reduce injuries when worn properly during a vehicle crash. Motorists cited for failure to buckle up face a non-moving violation that carries a $30 base fine, plus court costs if convicted.

Jay Celebrates With Christmas Parade, Festival

November 28, 2010

The annual Jay Historical Society Christmas Festival and the Jay Christmas Parade were held Saturday.

The parade featured about two dozen units, including bands from Jay and Central high schools. The Christmas Festival included live entertainment, photos with Santa, a pet contest and vendors that displayed their wares all day.

For a photo gallery from both events, click here.

Pictured above and below: Scenes from the annual Jay Christmas Parade Saturday morning. Submitted photos by Angi Baker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

County’s Citizen Environmental Committee Seeks Volunteers

November 28, 2010

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking volunteers to serve on its Citizen Environmental Committee. The Committee provides input on environmental issues throughout the County. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the new Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place.

The Committee consists of 11 members, with two members appointed by each county commissioner and one member appointed by the county administrator. The terms of office for members selected by a county commissioner run concurrent with that commissioner’s term of office.

The term of the member selected by the county Administrator runs for one year. Members must be a resident of Escambia County.

Anyone interested in serving on the committee should submit a copy of their resume and a letter of interest to Shirley Gafford, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502. All resumes are subject to a public records request.

Featured Recipe: Those Potatoes

November 28, 2010

This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a “Those Potatoes”, a recipe with a mild-mannered name that has plenty of mealtime punch with creamy richness and pepper jack punch.

To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.

Northview Chiefs Win Regional Championship

November 27, 2010

The Northview Chiefs made school history Friday night as the only team to ever bring home a Regional title. And for the Chiefs, the victory was also sweet revenge over Freeport, the only team to beat the Chiefs this season.

In the Regional 1-A finals, Northview (11-1) defeated Freeport (9-3) 21-12 to advance to the state semi-finals next week in Jacksonville.

“I can’t put into words how proud I am of this group,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said. “They went on the road to a tough place to play and a tough place to win. It was a huge win, a huge win for this football program.”

Less than a minute into the game at Freeport Stadium, Northview’s Taylor Martin picked off a Bulldog pass, returning it 35 yards. With a good kick from Lance Bushaw, the Chiefs held 7-0 lead with 11:12 to go in the first quarter.

“Taylor Martin’s interception was really, really big for us,” Wheatley said. “It was a really big boost for us and a good way to start a game.”

Freeport answered with a four-play, 70 yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs missed the extra point kick, and the Chiefs held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, the Chiefs drove hard on 16 plays for 62 yards, all the way down to fourth and goal from the Freeport four. Roderick Woods, who ended the night with 80 yards on 17 carries,  plowed in for the touchdown. Bushaw put the pigskin through the uprights again, and the Chiefs held a 14-6 lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, La’Mikal Kyles was in the end zone in the fourth on a 43-yard dash through the Bulldog defense. Bushaw’s kick was once again good, and Northview was up 21-6 with 10:40 in the ballgame.

Freeport managed a two-yard touchdown run with 9:03 to go in the fourth.

Neither team could find the end zone on the following downs, and Northview sealed win with a big interception by Kyles with 1:49 remaining in the game. Kyles finished the game with 86 yards on a dozen carries.

“I thought we played extremely well on both sides of the ball. The defense made stops when we needed to, and the offense was able to produce enough points,” Wheatley said.

Northview will be on the road next week in the state semi-finals in Jacksonville to take on top-ranked Trinity Christian at 6:30 p.m. Central time. The winner of that game will be in the Class 1A state championship game in Orlando on December 10.

“It’s going to get tougher,” Wheatley said. “But we are in a routine, and we will continue to work to stand up to the challenge.”

Trinity Christian earned their trip to the semis with a 42-41 triple overtime win over Providence of Jacksonsville Friday night.

Pictured top: Northview defender Tyler Brooks closes in on the Bulldog’s quarterback Friday night in Freeport. Pictured top inset: La’Mikal Kyles scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter. Pictured bottom inset: Taylor Martin returns an interception 35 years to put Northveiw on the board. Pictured below: The Chiefs score. Submitted photos and courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Young Boy Dies After Molino Horse Riding Accident

November 27, 2010

An 11-year old boy died after a horse riding accident Friday morning in Molino.

The victim was identified by authorities as Ransom Middle School student Hunter Fromm.

Authorities have released few details about the 11:15 a.m. incident in the 1200 block of Warhop Lane, not far from the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 95A.  Fromm reportedly suffered a head injury after jumping from a horse at a private residence.

LifeFlight was requested to the scene but was unavailable due to weather. Fromm was transported to a Pensacola hospital by ambulance where he later died.

The incident is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but foul play is not suspected.

Man Killed When Tractor Overturns

November 27, 2010

A man was found dead under a tractor Friday afternoon in the Nine Mile Road area.

Authorities have not released the name of the man that was found dead under a tractor off a cul-de-sac  at the end of Brunson Road about 1:30 p.m.  He was reportedly last seen about an hour before he was discovered trapped under the tractor. Officials have not released any information about how the accident happened, other than to say the tractor rolled on top of the man.

The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

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