Tonight’s Preseason Football Schedule
August 24, 2012
Here’s a schedule of area high school preseason football game tonight.
- Bay at Northview, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Baker, 7 p.m.
- Pensacola High at Tate, 7 p.m.
- West Florida High at Marianna, 7 p.m.
- Catholic High at Pine Forest, 7 p.m.
- Escambia at Fort Walton Beach, 7 p.m.
- Washington High at Niceville, 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- Escambia County (Atmore) at Saraland, 7 p.m.
- Fort Dale at Escambia Academy
Want to see photos of your favorite team on NorthEscambia.com? Email your pictures to news@northescambia.com.
Fans ‘Meet The Chiefs’ (With Gallery)
August 24, 2012
Fans had chance to “Meet the Chiefs” Thursday evening at Northview High School, 24 hours before the defending regional champs took to the field for a preseason matchup Friday night.
NHS fans turned out to meet the Chiefs varsity and junior varsity teams, cheerleaders, band and dance team.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Northview Wins Tourney Over Jay, Central, Escambia (With Gallery)
August 24, 2012
The Northview Lady Chiefs won a preseason volleyball tournament Thursday in Bratt, topping Jay, Century and Escambia high schools.
Northview defeated the Escambia Lady Gators in three – 19-25, 25-16, 15-12. Lily Townson had three aces for Northview. Misty Doran accumulated 11 kills, while Morgan Payne contributed four kills.
Northview also beat Jay — 20-25, 25-17, 15-12. Doran had nine kills, and Payne had eight. Danielle Steadham added four more kills for the Lady Chiefs.
In other action, Jay defeated Central.
Pictured top: Northview takes on Escambia High. Pictured inset: Central and Jay go up to the net. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scott, GOP Not So Worried About Isaac
August 24, 2012
Appearing at ease and exuding confidence, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn went on national TV late Thursday and essentially told Republicans to relax and come on down.
Buckhorn said on CNN’s Situation Room that he was “not particularly worried,” about Tropical Storm Isaac, which officials said was looking less and less likely to take direct aim at his city as it prepares to host some 50,000 visitors for the Republican National Convention starting Monday.
His optimism was similar to that expressed – though more cautiously — by other top officials, including Gov. Rick Scott, who appeared more relaxed at an afternoon media briefing Thursday than he had earlier in the day. Scott started by noting that new forecast tracks have pushed the likely storm path out farther into the Gulf of Mexico.
He also said the state and the Tampa Bay area were ready for what is expected and said three times that Florida knows how to deal with hurricanes and large influxes of people. “The state is a hospitality state,” Scott said, aware no doubt of the economic consequences that canceling the convention would entail.
“Clearly, Tampa’s ready for this convention,” Scott said. “It’s beautiful right now. It’s open for business.”
Forecasters shifted the projected track of Isaac on Wednesday, moving the center of the likely path farther out into the Gulf. While that was good news for the Tampa Bay area, the storm track was being watched closely in the Florida Panhandle, which could eventually be in Isaac’s path.
The message was that Florida deals with storms all the time – and also is used to having lots of tourists.
“It looks like we’ll have some rain and some wind,” Scott said. “Right now, it’s full speed ahead (for the convention.)…. We’re looking forward to the delegates coming. We’re going to keep them safe.
“We do this, this is what we do for a living in Florida,” Scott continued. “We’re a hospitality state that knows how to deal with hurricanes.”
Buckhorn was also downplaying the potential for the storm. Flying in the face of years of emergency management warnings not to underestimate hurricanes, Buckhorn said even once the storm gets to its expected strength, it won’t be a very big deal.
“Isaac is just a distraction,” said Buckhorn, a Democrat. Once it strengthens and comes up the coast, “it is only a Category One storm,” he noted.
Scott said he also relayed his optimism to Romney, with whom Scott spoke on Thursday afternoon.
“I gave him assurance that Florida has dealt with hurricanes in the past and we know how to deal with hurricanes,” Scott said.
Scott’s own plans for the convention remained up in the air. He said he had planned to leave Sunday for Tampa, where he is on the schedule for a Monday evening welcome address at the convention.
“I’ll wait and see what happens,” Scott said.
By The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Beat Biscuits; Welcome 300,000th Fan
August 24, 2012
The Blue Wahoos batted around and tallied eight hits as part of a five-run fifth inning, led by a two-run triple from designated hitter Yordanys Perez, while three Pensacola pitchers kept Biscuits batters to just four hits in their 6-0 shutout victory over Montgomery in front of another sellout crowd of 5,038 on Thursday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
With the victory, the Fish improved their record to 30-30 in the second half and are now four games behind the Biscuits for first in the South Division. Montgomery fell to 34-26 since the season’s midpoint.
The capacity crowd was the 37th of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 63rd home date. Prior to the game, the club welcomed their 300,000th fans at attend in their inaugural season. The Apostolides family was greeted by Blue Wahoos staff and Kazoo to celebrate the milestone and present the family with a special prize pack.
After both teams went scoreless into the fifth, LF Donald Lutz and C Tucker Barnhart began the Wahoos’ big inning with back-to-back base hits and then were driven in on Perez’s triple to right-center. Perez would then come plateward courtesy of 2B Miguel Rojas’ RBI single, while RF Josh Fellhauer eventually scored Rojas with a run-scoring double down the left field line.
The inning’s scoring was capped with Fellhauer coming across on 1B Beau Mills’ RBI single to left. The eight hits in the frame, collected by eight different Pensacola batters, set a new team record, breaking the previous mark of five that had been set on seven previous occasions. Pensacola plated their final tally in the eighth when Barnhart reached on a walk, moved to second on a free pass and third on a single, before coming home on a wild pitch.
Fellhauer (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) recorded a game-high three hits and reached base four times for the second straight night, while Barnhart (2-3, 2 R, 1 BB) and Rojas (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) each collected a pair of base knocks for the Blue Wahoos. 3B Omar Luna (2-3, 1 BB) was the lone batter to collect a multi-hit effort for the Biscuits in the defeat. Pensacola SS Billy Hamilton collected a hit and two walks but did not steal a base to keep his all-time single-season steals record total at 148.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Daniel Corcino (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two hits in five scoreless frame to improve to 8-7. Relievers Josh Ravin (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Chris Manno (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) preserved the shutout with two shutout innings each. Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson (4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 7-11 after yielding five earned runs on nine hits in his 4.2 innings.
Pensacola will now travel to Pearl, Mississippi for their final road series of the season with a five-game set scheduled against the Mississippi Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday night, with the Blue Wahoos slated to send RHP Wirfin Obispo to the mound, while the Braves are expected to give the nod to LHP Jose Lugo.
Following the five-game series, the Blue Wahoos will return home for their final series of the regular season, facing the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, with the first game of that series set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30.
By Andrew Green
Pictured top: The Blue Wahoos welcomed their 300,000th fans, the Apostolides family, Thursday at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. The Wahoos were the first Southern League team to hit the 300,000 milestone this season. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FEMA Positioning Equipment For Isaac
August 24, 2012
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is positioning supplies in Jacksonville in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaac.
The federal agency, led by former Florida emergency chief Craig Fugate, has begun shipping MRE’s and generator units to a distribution center in advance of the storm.
Bryan Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said state warehouses are stocked but responders are waiting for more information on the storm’s path before pre-positioning material.
“We’re not quite sure where it is going so we don’t want to move supplies into the path of the storm,” Koon told reporters Thursday.
The National Guard has been alerted and plans call for the guard to bolster security should law enforcement need to be redeployed from the Republican National Convention.
Upwards of 4,000 law enforcement officials are expected to provide security for the event, which is expected to draw more than 50,000 visitors to the Tampa Bay region.
Clarence Gillis Godwin
August 24, 2012
Mr. Clarence Gillis Godwin, 83, passed away on Friday, August 24, 2012, in Atmore. Mr. Godwin was a native of Monroeville and had resided in Atmore for most of his life. Mr. Godwin attended the Zion Hill Baptist Church of Andalusia.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Godwin; mother, Nanney Davis; one sister, Mary Nell Elkins; two brothers, Joe Godwin and Gene Godwin; and two step-sons, Joey Kelley and Rev. Johnny Johnson.
Survivors include three stepsons, Ed (Darlene) Gibson of Andalusia, Carl (Mary) Kelley of Andalusia and Albert (Nancy) Kelly of Atmore; one stepdaughter, Frances Hildreth (Fiancé-James Gray) of Andalusia; one daughter, Doris Godwin of Atmore; 25 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, August 27, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Alvin Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday, August 26, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Terry Godwin, Tommy Godwin, David Godwin, and Robbie Johnson.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Latest Isaac Update
August 24, 2012
Eyes are on Isaac as the storm continues to churn on a course that may bring a Category 1 hurricane to the Northwest Florida area by next week. The latest information and forecast track on the storm are in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Raymond Reid Steele
August 24, 2012
Raymond Reid Steele, 96, of Pensacola, passed Monday, August 20, 2012. He was a native of Oak Grove and a resident of Pensacola most of his life. He was retired from Booker Construction Company as a superintendent. His hobbies were fishing and traveling. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
Mr. Steele was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Lee King Steele; infant daughter, Kathy Lynn Steele; parents, Alex and Elizabeth Greer Steele; three brothers, Marshall Steele and wife, Elsie, Amond Steele and wife Mary; and Roger Steele.
Mr. Steele is survived by one sister, Luvern Steele Passmore of Pensacola; seven brothers, Juber “Bob” Steele (Ethel) of Gulf Breeze, Edward Steele (Frances) of Foley, Cleveland Steele (Ann) of Panama City Beach, Aaron Steele (Carolyn) of Pensacola, Artis Steele (Syble) of Pensacola, Norman Onoree Steele (Brenda) of McDavid, and Bennie Earl Steele (Eloise) of McCullough; sister-in-law, Jean Steele; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 23, 2012, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with Rev. Don Minton officiating.
Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 10 – 11 a.m. Thursday prior to services.
The family wishes to thank Northpointe Retirement, Emerald Coast Hospice and his caretaker, Patty Dennison, for his care while there.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.
Maxine Brooks McDonald Godwin
August 24, 2012
Maxine Brooks McDonald Godwin, 68 of Atmore, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2012, in Mobile. She was born in Atmore on January 25, 1944, to the late Sidney and Bama Parker Brooks, Sr. She was a bookkeeper for Staff Chevrolet.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, George W. “Billy” McDonald; second husband, Douglas “Doug” Godwin; one brother, James H. “Bully” Brooks; and one sister, Rosa Belle Whitehead.
She is survived by two daughters, Marsha Phillips (Brandon) and Julie McDonald all of Atmore; one stepson, Michael Douglas Godwin (Angie) of Newton, AL; two brothers, Sidney Warren Brooks, Jr. (Jerry); Franklin D. Brooks (Eloise) all of Montgomery; one sister, Ann Brown (Joe) of Gulf Breeze; and sister-in-law, Georgia Brooks of Atmore.
Services will be Thursday, August 23, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Janet Lee officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 5 – 8 p.m.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.