Motorcyclist Dies After Falling 30 Feet From Exit Ramp To Interstate
September 28, 2011
A 55-year old woman died Tuesday afternoon in Escambia County when she was thrown from her motorcycle off an interstate ramp to the highway 30 feet below.
The name of the woman has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the woman was northbound on I-110 headed for eastbound I-10 at 5:27 p.m. when she failed to negotiate the curve for the ramp and struck a barrier wall. She was ejected over the concrete wall, falling 30 feet to the emergency lane of eastbound I-10.
The woman was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Photo Gallery: Northview Sweeps Two From Laurel Hill
September 28, 2011
Northview beat Laurel Hill twice Tuesday in high school volleyball action in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview won the first game 25-23, 25-22, 25-16.
In the first game, junior Misty Doran had two aces and two kills for the Lady Chiefs, while Lily Townson added two kills and a half dozen assists. Junor Morgan Payne had three aces, two kills and an assist for Northview, and Shelley Mothershed posted four aces and three assists.
In the second game, Northview beat Laurel Hill in three, 25-9, 25-14 25-14.
Senior Josie Doucette had two aces, two kills and a dig for Northview, as Misty Doran had three aces and two kills. Shelley Mothershed, junior, added five aces, four kills and four assists, while Morgan Payne had three aces, seven kills and three assists.
Northview’s varsity (3-9, 3-3) will host Baldwin County High School at 6 p.m. Thursday. Play will begin with the junior varsity at 5 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Approves Budget That’s Down $6 Million
September 28, 2011
The Escambia County Commission gave final approval to the county’s 2011-12 budget and property tax rate at a special meeting Tuesday.
Escambia County’s total budget for the next fiscal year is $371.3 million. That’s down $6 million (1.6 percent) from the current 2010-11 budget of $377.3 million. Five years ago, in the 2006-07 fiscal year, Escambia County’s budget was $458.8 million — a budget decrease of $87.5 million (19 percent) in five years.
The millage rates approved are 6.9755 for the county-wide millage rate and .6850 for the Sheriff’s MSTU. Overall, the millage rates for 2011-12 are 3.47 percent below the rolled back rate — the rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year based on the proposed tax roll.
Prep Cross Country Results: Northview, Ernest Ward, Tate, Jay (With Photo Gallery)
September 28, 2011
Several North Escambia area schools took part in a cross country meet hosted at the Jay City Park by Jay High School Tuesday afternoon.
For a submitted photo gallery from the meet, click here.
Results were as follows:
GIRLS TEAM RESULTS
1. Jay High
2. Pensacola Christian
3. Northview High
4 .Central High
5 .Ernest Ward Middle
Top Jay girls: Jessica Thornton, Jorja Agrait, Allison Blair, Jenna Thornton, Savannah Hawkins
Top Northview girls: Georgia Goetter, Lakelynn Parker, Zacarra Davis, Jazzlyn Franklin, Ashley Joiner
Top Ernest Ward girls: Natalie Goetter, Bethany Reynolds, Moriah McGahan, Victoria Amerson, Jessica Barrows
BOYS TEAM RESULTS
1. Pensacola Christian
2. Tate High
3. Central High
4. Northview High
Top Northview boys: Isaac McGahan, Joseph Baldwin, Dakota Craft, Joshua Borielli, Jacob Baldwin
Top Ernest Ward boys: Gavin Coon, Zach Calloway, Jared Townley, Logan Calloway
Top Jay boys: Micah Kemp (overall winner), Casey Zylstra , Cody Wolfe
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blood Drive Today At IP
September 28, 2011
There is a blood drive going on today at International Paper in Cantonment.
The Northwest Florida Blood Services Bloodmobile will be at IP, 375 Muscogee Road in Cantonment, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
When you donate to Northwest Florida Blood Services, you can save the life of a hospital patient in northwest Florida. Northwest Florida Blood Services is the exclusive provider of blood products to more than 24 area hospitals who need 175 blood donations a day. Each donation can save up to three lives.
Requirements for giving blood are below.
Donors must be in generally good health
At least 17 years of age, without permission. 16-year olds with permission granted by parents or legal guardians.
Must bring picture ID
Weigh at least 110 lbs
Free of infection, fever or flu symptoms, for 3 days
No cancer within the last 5 years
No antibiotics within the last 48 hours
No tattoos within the past 12 months
No chest pain, heart disease, heart surgery (Requires written physician release with diagnosis)
No history of viral hepatitis
Cannot have lived in France for 5 years or more between 1980 and the present
Cannot have lived or visited in the UK for a total of 3 months or more from 1980 to 1996
Cannot have received a blood transfusion in the UK between 1980 and the present
Military personnel (current and former), and their dependents, who spent time in military bases in northern Europe during 1980-1990, or southern Europe during 1980-1996, for 6 months or more
All military personnel (active & reserve) that are returning from Iraq, are deferred for a period of 1 year after the last date on location in that country.
Man Sentenced For Grocery Advantage Armed Robbery
September 27, 2011
A Cantonment man charged with robbing the Grocery Advantage in Cantonment back in June has been sentenced to time in the county jail plus probation.
Kenneth Lee Purifoy, 45, of 1240 Lake Drive in Cantonment, was arrested after deputies say he robbed the grocery store at knife point on June 30.
Purifoy was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petty theft, robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for 86 days served. He was also sentenced by Judge Joel Boles to three years probation, substance abuse counseling, and an anti-theft course. He’s also forbidden from getting near the Grocery Advantage store in the future.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Purifoy entered the store with numerous shopping bags that he placed in an empty buggy. An employee observed Purifoy enter a restroom with the items in the buggy, but they were not visible when he came out of the restroom.
Moments later, Purifoy was carrying a pack of ribs when he approached a store employee and employees noticed a pack of steaks in his rear waistband. When he was confronted, deputies said Purifoy rain toward the exit, as another pack of steaks fell from the front of his pants.
An employee told deputies that he tried to stop Purifoy and detain him and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle Purifoy pulled a small folding pocketknife on the employee and reportedly stated “I will stab you.” Purifoy then ran out of the store. He was tracked by a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit to a nearby apartment complex where he was arrested without incident.
Double OT Revenge: Northview’s JV Beats Atmore’s Blue Devils
September 27, 2011
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs got a little revenge Monday night in a double overtime win over the Escambia County (Atmore) Blue Devils, 18-12.
A couple of weeks ago, Escambia County beat the Chiefs 8-0 in Atmore. But Monday night’s intense game in Bratt had a happier ending for Northview.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Blue Devils and the Chiefs were tied 0-0 just seconds before halftime when the Chiefs’ Jeffrey Taylor was in on a short touchdown run. Sophomore Brannon Freeman came up short on a two point conversion, and Northview carried a 6-0 lead into the half.
Escambia County tied the game with a touchdown and missed two point pass attempt with 3:55 to go in the third.
The Blue Devils came within inches of a win as time wound down in the fourth, but a series of penalties and a tough goal line stand by the Chiefs held ECHS out of the end zone for a 6-6 tie at the end of the fourth.
A quick coaches’ agreement, and the game headed into overtime — each team getting four downs from the 10. After the first overtime period, the game was tied 12-12.
First up in the second OT, the Blue Devils were pushed backwards all the way to the 21 by Northview’s defensive line. On third down and 21 to go for Escambia County, a Blue Devils pass was intercepted by Northview freshman Keondre Lett.
On third and four, the Chiefs sealed the 18-12 win with a Daulton Tullis touchdown.
The JV Chiefs, now 3-1, with play the fifth and final game of their season October 13 at home against West Florida High School.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured top: Daulton Tullis passes for the Chiefs Monday night against Escambia County High School in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Freshman Keondre Lett gains yardage for the Chiefs. Pictured bottom inset: Northview Coach Ty Wise reacts to a strong NHS defensive play, while Coach Sid Wheatley calls fourth down for the Blue Devils. Pictured bottom: Northview’s Hunter Sherouse prepares to block for Keondre Lett. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Cuts Escambia Academy From Football Schedule
September 27, 2011
(Updated) Ernest Ward Middle School has dropped two scheduled football games against Escambia Academy, citing a concern over the number of ninth graders playing for the Cougars — a difference created by different rules in different states.
The Ernest Ward Eagles were scheduled to host Escambia Academy September 27 and travel to Canoe to face EA on October 18. Now, Ernest Ward will face the Baker Gators on those dates.
Ernest Ward’s football team is comprised of seventh and eighth graders under Florida rules. Escambia Academy fields a junior varsity team of seventh through ninth grade players under the rules of the Alabama Independent School Association, Headmaster Betty Warren said Tuesday morning.
“We can’t mix high school and middle school on the football field,” Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Perry said Monday. “This is not meant to be a controversy; this is about the kid’s safety.”
Perry said that when the games were scheduled, she was told there was perhaps one ninth grade student on Cougars’ team. But Perry said she learned that Escambia Academy has 11 ninth grade students on their middle school team this year and that the Escambia (Fla.) School District will not allow Ernest Ward Middle, the only middle school team in the county, to take the field against high school grade players.
Escambia Academy is a private school located in Canoe, Ala., east of Atmore. Ernest Ward and Escambia Academy faced off twice last year, with EWMS winning 14-8 and 16-6.
Pictured: Ernest Ward plays Escambia Academy last season. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Dept. Of Children And Families Pensacola Office Relocates
September 27, 2011
The Florida Department of Children and Families office in Pensacola has moved about five miles south of its old location.
The office was located on Pensacola Boulevard, but moved over the weekend to 33 Brent Lane, Suite 103 — in the shopping center across Brent Lane from Pensacola Christian College. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
DCF said that currently more than 90 percent of public benefit recipients apply online (www.myflorida.com/accessflorida) and never actually need to visit the office in order to receive benefits.
Century Native Prefiles To Seek Escambia Commission Seat
September 27, 2011
Century native Jewel Cannada-Wynn prefiled Monday to seek election to the Escambia County Commission.
Cannada-Wynn entered a crowded field of eight other candidates that have announced so far to seek the District 3 seat currently held by Marie Young.
Cannada-Wynn was born in 1958 to Myrtle Mae Andrews and the late Joshua Andrews, the second of six children, and graduated from Century High School. She is a former member of the Pensacola City Council and is a dean at Escambia High School.
Century is located in District 5.