Class 1A Championship: Jefferson County Beats Chipley
December 10, 2011
With 40 points in the second half, Jefferson County beat Chipley 47-13 to claim the Florida Class 1A football championship Friday night in Orlando.
Jefferson County and Chipley were tied 7-7 early in the third until Jefferson County exploded to take a 33-7 lead headed into the fourth quarter.
It was the sixth state championship for Jefferson County (9-5). Chipley, coming off a win last week over the Northview Chiefs, finished at 11-3.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
‘Memory Line’ Remembers Northview Student Wade Jernigan
December 10, 2011
Northview High School students remembered classmate Wade Jernigan with a “memory line” Friday morning.
Dozens of Northview students met before school at the Travis M. Nelson Park on West Highway 4 and drove their vehicles in a continuous motorcade to the school campus. Jernigan, 16, died Thursday as a result of an accident on the way school Wednesday morning.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century’s Lashley Steps Down As Head Coach Of Navarre Raiders
December 10, 2011
Former Century resident Chad Lashley stepped down Friday as the head coach of the Navarre Raiders.
Lashley told team members that he was stepping down to spend more time with his family — wife Amanda Wiggins Lashley, who is from Walnut Hill, and the couple’s three children Taylor, Aden and Gavin.
He said he has plans to remain in coaching, just not as head coach.
Man Convicted Of DUI Manslaughter
December 10, 2011
A Santa Rosa County man was found guilty Friday of DUI manslaughter and DUI.
Jeremy Joseph Hammill faces 20 years in state prison when he is sentenced on January 31.
On February 27, 2010, Hammill ran the red light at Hamilton Bridge Road and Dogwood Drive and crashed into a car driven by Tammy Cabaniss. Cabaniss was seriously injured, and her passenger, Dwight Davis, died as a result of the crash.
Hammill, who had a previous DUI conviction, had a blood alcohol level of .26, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Deputy Stable After Being Shot, Suspect Also Shot
December 9, 2011
Two people, including an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy, were shot in Santa Rosa County Friday afternoon.
Investigator Steve Hough of Fort Walton Beach was working as part of the US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force serving a warrant in the 5400 block of Camille Gardens Circle near Milton when he was shot about 1:59 p.m. He was shot once in the face and twice in the leg when the suspect came out of a home shooting. He was listed in stable condition early Saturday at Sacred Heart Hospital.
The task force was attempting to apprehend 34-year old David Christopher Lewis. Lewis had active warrants for failure to appear, resisting an officer without violence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, display of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Lewis was known by officers to be violent, armed with firearm, and had made threats towards law enforcement.
Hough was driven by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office to Santa Rosa Medical Center then was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital by LifeFlight. Lewis was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer involved shooting incident. The Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office is pursuing criminal charges for attempted murder and aggravated assault against Lewis.
Jay Native, Century Correctional Employee Serving In Afghanistan Receives Awards
December 9, 2011
An Jay native assigned to NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan was recently awarded for actions taken in early August when his team successfully combated an insurgent attack in Kabul.
U.S. Army Sgt. Chester Tolbert helped defeat a multiphased attack in which insurgents used small-arms and improvised explosive devices to attack the British Council Building, a base located in a relatively upscale area of the country’s capital used for education and helping Afghanistan’s civil society groups. Although no U.S. service members were harmed, 12 people died in the attack.
Stateside, Tolbert was employed by the Florida Department of Corrections at Century Correctional Institution.
Commander Task Force Yankee Army Brig. Gen. John Hammond presented Tolbert with Joint Service Achievement Medal and combat action badge.
“I’m extremely proud of the soldiers,” said Hammond. “Our medics responded to the wounded while the remaining soldiers worked toward assisting the Afghan partners and special operations forces in neutralizing the insurgents … they all worked hard and came together extremely well.”
Pictured top: U.S. Army Sgt. Chester Tolbert, from the 1165th Military Police Unit assigned to Task Force Yankee in Kabul, receives a Joint Service Achievement Medal and a combat action badge for actions taken in early August when his team successfully combated an insurgent attack on the British Council Building. Picture inset: Sgt. Tolbert helps an Afghan National Police officer detect vehicle threat indications in the heart of downtown Kabul last early last month. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Poverty Level Increases In Escambia And Santa Rosa
December 9, 2011
A declining economy has plunged an increasing number of Escambia and Santa Rosa county residents into poverty and resulted in a decrease in median family income for many.
According to data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.1 percent of Escambia County families were living in poverty in 2010, a dramatic increase from 12.4 percent in 2007. During the same three year period, the median household income in Escambia County decreased from $41,772 to $41,428.
In Santa Rosa County, the poverty rate increased from 10.8 percent in 2007 to 12.6 percent in 2010. The median household income in Santa Rosa County increased from $50,935 to $51,208 in 2010.
The recession of the last couple years put more Florida residents into poverty and resulted in a decrease of median family income in much of the state.
Data on poverty and income show school-aged children took the brunt of the economic downturn, and overall poverty rates increased in 39 of Florida’s 67 counties between 2007 and 2010. Statewide, a little over three million Floridians, 16.5 percent of the population, lived under the federal poverty line in 2010.
Particularly hard hit because of reliance on construction, Florida’s rate was higher than the national rate of 15.3 percent. Florida counties were also more likely than the nation as a whole to see the poverty rate rise between 2007 and 2010.
Meanwhile, median income fell in Florida and across the country during the same period as layoffs in the construction and manufacturing sectors meant the loss of good paying jobs as the housing bubble burst and demand for manufactured goods fell along with corporate profits.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Nominate North Escambia Persons Of The Year
December 9, 2011
NorthEscambia.com will honor several North Escambia residents as North Escambia Persons of the Year as 2011 comes to a close, and we need your help.
We are asking our readers to nominate individuals that they believe made a difference in North Escambia during 2011. We will choose several of them to be named as a 2011 North Escambia Person of the Year. The awards are our way of saying thanks to those that have worked to improve our lives in the North Escambia area during the past year.
We are not necessarily looking for a person with a long list of accomplishments. We are looking for people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2011.
To nominate someone, please email their name, contact information (if known), and the reason why you believe they should be a Person of the Year. The person must either be a resident of North Escambia, work in North Escambia or otherwise have significantly impacted North Escambia in some way. For the purposes of this award, we define North Escambia as being Cantonment north to the Alabama line.
Entries should be emailed to news@northescambia.com by Tuesday, December 20. We need your email and phone number just in case we have questions, but your name and contact information will not be published.
Please make your nominations by email; do not use the story comment form below.
The 2011 North Escambia Persons of the Year will be named after Christmas.
Pictured: Lawrence and Doris Cooper, two of the North Escambia Persons of the Year for 2010. Read their story by clicking here. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
One More Game: Chiefs Quarterback Brandon Sheets On All-Star Team With Other Local Players
December 9, 2011
Northview High School quarterback Brandon Sheets will join several of his fellow Chiefs in one more football game as the West takes on the East next week in the Subway High School All-Star Football Game.
Sheets was suspended from his final game in the state playoff series by the Florida High School Athletic Association, forced to sit out the state semifinal game last week against Chipley. Sheets will join West Florida Jaguar star quarterback Kyle Faxlanger in the QB position for the West team’s offense. Faxlanger led the Jags to the best season ever in the school’s history.
The West All-Star Team, representing Escambia County, will include several other North Escambia area players: Northview’s Montaio Mitchell, Sean Knight, Brian Ross, and Austin Albritton; Tate’s Scott Ryals, Jacob Lasky, Cameron Covington and Hagan Mancuso;West Florida’s Jalen Jones, Joe Jackson, Antwon Carter, Jorgen Stolsig, Jake Morris and Coach Harry Lees; and McDavid resident Dak Sims who lives in McDavid.
The East All-Star Team, representing Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, will include local players Sammy Jones and Haden McCaskill from Jay High.
The game will be played next Friday, December 16 at Woodham Middle School. Admission is $7, or $5 with a canned food donation to Manna Food Pantries.
The complete West All-Star Team includes:
Brandon Sheets QB Northview
Kyle Faxlanger QB West Florida
Jalen Jones RB West Florida
Brandon Holley RB Washington
Montaio Mitchell RB Northview
Shaquille Purifoy WR Pine Forest
Shaquille Bush WR Pensacola
Marcus Knight WR Pensacola
Eddie Matthews WR Catholic
Dak Sims OL Pensacola
Mike Minton OL Catholic
Scott Ryals OL Tate
Jacob Lasky OL Tate
Colby Watson OL Pine Forest
Emanuel Dirden OL Pensacola
Keyve Jordon OL Pensacola
Jayvon Dye OL Washington
Michael Lovejoy OL Escambia
Kendrell Jenkins DL Pensacola
Sean Knight DL Northview
Coleman Johnson DL Pensacola
Jaqueze Baldwin DL Pensacola
Eric Jordan DL Pensacola
Deforest Jones DL Pensacola
Joe Jackson DL West Florida
Brian Ross DL Northview
Devin Carter LB Pensacola
Dorayon Turner LB Pine Forest
Antwon Carter LB West Florida
Dyjuan Clark LB Washington
Brian Rudolph LB Pensacola
Austin Albritton LB Northview
Jorgen Stolsig LB West Florida
Ladarion Young DB Catholic
Cordale Wade DB Washington
Aaron Strickland DB Washington
Damarious Travis DB Pensacola
Shane Sanders DB Pensacola
Jake Morris DB West Florida
Cameron Covington DB Tate
Hagan Mancuso K/P Tate
Josh Lister K/P Pine Forest
Head coach: Harry Lees, West Florida
The complete East All-Star Team includes:
Dusty Jones QB Navarre
Luke Clark QB Choctaw
Dwayne Carter RB Navarre
David Rich RB Milton
Cory Harper RB Baker
Matt Hutchinson RB Crestview
Therion Robinson RB Choctaw
Brad Leggett WR Navarre
Patrick Maddox WR Pace
Paul Young WR Milton
Blake Meredith WR Gulf Breeze
Sammy James WR Jay
Haden McCaskill TE Jay
Michael Hill OL Navarre
Michael Campbell OL Pace
Dillon Cotten OL Baker
Kyle VanAtta OL Fort Walton Beach
Caleb McCullough OL Rocky Bayou
Jesse Bates OL Crestview
Will Boler OL Crestview
Earl Reed OL Crestview
Virgilio Hunter DL Navarre
Troy Gaoa DL Pace
Ryan Lynn DL Milton
Shoobe Timms DL Fort Walton Beach
Josh Stubblefield DL Rocky Bayou
Joey Collins DL Niceville
Alex Brandt LB Pace
Colton Bouchard LB Baker
Dexter Hottel LB Fort Walton Beach
Kyle McGee LB Gulf Breeze
Sebastian Shutte LB Niceville
Trey Barnes LB Niceville
Kevin Chasteen LB Niceville
Marquis Hagewood DB Navarre
Bryce Simpson DB Milton
Ivory Smith DB Baker
Terrance Bryant DB Choctaw
Max Keefe DB Choctaw
Geo Hillsman DB Crestview
Adam Enzian P Gulf Breeze
Max McDaniel PK Gulf Breeze
Head coach: Matt Brunson, Baker
Photos: An Old Fashioned Canoe Christmas Celebration
December 9, 2011
It was an old fashioned Christmas celebration Thursday night as friends and neighbors came together with the Canoe Civic Club. The group sang Christmas carols, ate great food and just enjoyed spending time with friends and neighbors from Canoe, Bratt, Walnut Hill and surrounding areas in a celebration reminiscent of community gatherings from days gone by.
Longtime Canoe Civic Club member Caroline Conn (who is sometimes affectionately referred to as the mayor of Canoe, Alabama ) shared her thanks with club members for their friendship, support and labor of love for the club.
Mike Hanks from the First Baptist Church of Bratt led the crowd in Christmas carols as his wife Gayle Hanks played the piano, and a group from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church treated the crowd to Christmas carols.
Have photos to share from your community event? Email them to news@northescambia.com
Pictured top: A group from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church performs Christmas carols Thursday night at the Canoe (Ala.) Civic Club. Pictured inset: Mike Hanks from the First Baptist Church of Bratt led Christmas carols. Pictured below. Caroline Conn (far right), the “mayor of Canoe”, visits with friends and neighbors. NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
