Northview Chiefs Win Florida 1A State Championship
December 8, 2012
The Northview High School Chiefs won the Florida Class 1A football championship Friday night in Orlando, beating the Trenton Tigers 42-21.
The road to Orlando had been oh so long for the Chiefs — losing out the past couple of years a the state semi-final level — making the victory oh so much sweeter Friday night.
The state title is the first ever for Northview, the only Escambia or Santa Rosa County team to make the Citrus Bowl in Orlando this year.
There were 3,609 fans on hand for Friday night’s game — over 1,500 of them making the road tip from North Escambia.
For a highlight photo gallery, click here. NorthEscambia.com will publish hundreds of additional photos over the next several days.
After a scoreless first quarter, La’Mikal Kyles scored for the Chiefs on a 58 yard run with 11:07 on the click. And the Chiefs were just getting warmed up. Chad Smith was in with 8:25 in the half on a 20 yard blocked punt return.And LaDarius Thomas scored on a two-yard run with just 34 seconds in the half. With good kicks from Kevin Vaughan on all three touchdowns, the Chiefs held a 21-0 dominating lead at the half.
Trenton scored on a three yard run in the third, while Northview scored twice in the quarter. Neino Robinson had a 79 yard kickoff return, and Brannon Freeman add a touchdown with a 28 yard run.
Northview had one touchdown, a six-yard run from Kevin Vaughan, in the fourth, while Trenton scored twice. As the clock wound down, the Chiefs won the 1A championship 42-21.
Kyles finished the night with 113 yards and one touchdown on 12 attempts. Freeman had a touchdown and 61 yards on 11 attempts, and Thomas also added a TD and 39 yards on 10 attempts.
Trenton covered more artificial turf that Northview in the Citrus Bowl — 270 yards to Northview’s 226.
For a highlight photo gallery, click here. NorthEscambia.com will publish hundreds of additional photos over the next several days.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Renews Contract With Atmore Ambulance For 327 Exchange
December 8, 2012
The Escambia County Commission has renewed a contract with Atmore Ambulance to provide emergency medical services for the portion of North Escambia in the 327 phone exchange.
Atmore Ambulance has been providing ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville and surrounding communities in the 327 telephone exchange since 1978. The county’s current contract with Atmore Ambulance was due to expire on January 21, 2013.
In January 2010, the Escambia County Commission awarded a contract to Atmore Ambulance for $85,000 per year for an initial period of 36 months, that was renewable for two additional 12 month periods for a total of 60 months.
Under the terms of the contract, Atmore Ambulance directly bills patients for services rendered at an amount not greater than that billed by Escambia County EMS, which provides ambulance service for the rest of the county.
Renewal of the agreement was recommended by Mike Weaver, Escambia County’s public safety director.
Area Christmas Parades Continue Saturday
December 8, 2012
Here is a list of the remaining Christmas parades to be held this year around the North Escambia area:
December 7 — Milton Boat Parade
The Riverwalk Milton Holiday Lighted Boat Parade will begin at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, December 7.
December 8 — Chumuckla
The Chumuckla Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 8. Floats will line up on Mineral Springs Road at 11 a.m. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. from the cotton gin, travel Highway 182, cross Chumuckla Highway and end at Salter Road.
December 8 – Brewton
The Brewton Christmas Parade will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 8. The parade will travel from Forrest Avenue in East Brewton, across the Mildred Street Bridge to St. Joseph Street to Belleville Avenue.
December 8 — Atmore
The Atmore 2012 Twilight Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 8 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The parade will follow its traditional route from the Atmore City Hall, down Main Street, to Lindberg Avenue and ending at Escambia County High School. Over two dozen floats are entered, along with several bands and numerous other groups. Parade participants should be at the Atmore City Hall by 4 p.m.
December 8 — Pensacola
The Pensacola Christmas Parade will be held at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 8 in downtown Pensacola. Featuring local bands and the Blue Angels.
December 15 — Molino
The annual Molino Christmas Parade on Crabtree Church Road will be Saturday, December 15 at 11 a.m., ending with Santa Claus at the Molino Ballpark. To enter the parade, stop by Fran’s Diner on Highway 29 for information and to sign up.
Pictured: A float in last year’s Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
ECUA Program Helps Needy With Water, Sewer, Sanitation Bills
December 8, 2012
Project EUAP (Escambia Utility Assistance Program), created in 1988, provides emergency assistance to families who are experiencing financial difficulty, and are unable to pay the cost of water, wastewater or sanitation service.
The program is made possible through voluntary contributions from ECUA customers who understand that challenging times can hit any of us. At last count, 1,497 ECUA customers are helping their neighbors by contributing to the program.
Project EUAP offers assistance to the elderly, the disabled, and to crisis victims, individuals who have a financial circumstance due to a medical emergency, death in the family, or any other serious situation. All contributions in Project EUAP are used for emergency relief and never to pay administrative expenses. The program is administered by the Community Action Program, Escambia County Council on Aging, and the Salvation Army.
With so many residents applying for assistance, funds for Project EUAP are quickly depleting. ECUA customers can participate in the program by having one dollar (or a larger amount) included on their monthly utility bill, or making a one-time contribution.
For more information, to contribute, or to sign up as a regular participant in Project EUAP, visit the Project EUAP page under the “Doing Business with ECUA” dropdown menu on the web site www.ecua.fl.gov, or call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480.
Rooftop Toy Drive Today
December 8, 2012
Firefighters Union 4104, along with MPH Bike club will sponsoring an “Up On The Roof Top Toy Drive” today from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m at Fred’s department store in Atmore.
A toy drive will also be held at Rite-Aid on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m to collect toys for Change of Mind Ministries to be distributed to local kids.
Workshop To Highlight Water Use Permitting Changes
December 8, 2012
Farmers and ranchers in Northwest Florida are invited to attend a workshop to discuss proposed changes to permitting rules on irrigation wells.
Staff from the Northwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will provide information on statewide consumptive use permitting consistency (CUPcon) efforts and what the proposed changes will mean for the agricultural community.
The workshop will be held Tuesday, December 11 at 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center. This workshop is an opportunity for Northwest Florida’s agricultural community to provide input as rule changes are being considered.
For more information, click here.
Pictured: A modern irrigation system in operation in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Creative Gardening Gift Ideas
December 8, 2012
Still don’t have a Christmas present for your favorite gardener? Take heart, there is still plenty of time to find, or make, that perfect “green” gift.
Many gardeners don’t think of their landscapes as just plants in the ground. To the knowledgeable landscape designer, the landscape is a series of rooms; rooms that may require decoration.
Garden art can be anything from the whimsical garden gnomes, functional obelisks or metal sculptures.
Garden obelisks can serve many functions. In addition to providing interest during all four seasons, they can act as beautiful focal points in the garden. They can make your garden look as if it was designed by a professional.
In a flower garden, they provide support for plants such as climbing roses, flowering vines and many other climbers and twiners. In the edible garden, many types of fruits and vegetables, such as various types of beans, can be grown on obelisks.
Obelisks come in many different sizes and shapes. Common shapes include tall, rounded or oblong forms, rectangular forms, and pyramids. Most vining plants will take to any shape. Choose the shape that is pleasing to you and blends in with your garden design. Obelisks can be made from a variety of materials including cedar, copper and wrought iron.
Furthermore, if you are an avid recycler, there are plenty of materials just laying around that can be made into a functional obelisk with a minimum amount of skill and time. Take a look on the internet and you will find plenty of help in fashioning a home-made creation.
A “growing” trend is metal garden art. Metal garden art can be fun, playful or even classical. It can be used to create a focal point in the garden or to brighten up a dull spot. From small garden stakes, to colorful wall art, to sculptures small and large, the possibilities are endless. With so many materials to choose from and so many artists working in the field you will be sure to find at least one piece to add color and character to your yard.
Again, if you are an avid recycler, you will be able to find many pieces made from recycled metal. Recycled steel drums or tanks, discarded bicycle or tricycles, old car parts, these all provide the raw materials for the creative eco-artist.
Copper is widely used in metal garden art because it is beautiful, durable and adds elegance to any garden. If allowed to oxidize it will age gracefully to a natural weather worn green patina. It can also be preserved with a clear coating to maintain its bright, shiny look. Copper sculptures, wall art and garden stakes add a touch of class to any decor.
For a classic look add a bronze garden sculpture. Bronze sculptures have been around for thousands of years. They remain popular today because they are classic, timeless and will last for generations.
Whatever your taste, classic, contemporary or just playful, garden art will warm your heart even on the coldest winter day.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Live Video, Live Updates From Tonight’s Northview State Game
December 7, 2012
NorthEscambia.com, the home of the Northview Chiefs, will have complete coverage today of the Northview Chiefs and the Class 1A championship game in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. Kickoff is set for just after 7 pm/Eastern, 6 pm/Central (Pensacola) time.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME — FACEBOOK
“Like” the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page by clicking here.
Beginning this afternoon, we will bring you live pregame updates from Orlando’s Citrus Bowl on our Facebook page. We’ll post photos and after kickoff we’ll post live score updates.
DISCUSS THE GAME
Whether you are in Orlando or back home in North Escambia.com, you can join in the Northview Chiefs discussion on our Facebook page before, during or after the game.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME — LIVE VIDEO
For LIVE PLAY BY PLAY VIDEO from tonight’s game, visit ESPN3.com and search for “Northview”. The video will appear either in the “Live Now” or “Upcoming Tab”.
Unfortunately, customers of some internet service providers (ISP’s), will be unable to access the video. This is beyond our control. If your ISP does not have a partnership agreement with ESPN3, the video will be unavailable. Most local ISPs hae such an agreement. If you are unable to access the video, contact your ISP for information.
NorthEscambia.com will originally set to air a live video stream here on this page from an outside company other than ESPN3. However, ESPN3 claimed rights to the video at the last minute this week, making that outside company unable to provide a live broadcast to us. We apologize for any inconvenience.
State Attorney Eddins: Prosecutors Leaving Due To Low Pay
December 7, 2012
Representatives of state attorneys and public defenders began making a renewed case Thursday for increasing salaries, saying low pay causes many attorneys to leave for private law firms after only a few years.
Bill Eddins, state attorney for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida (which includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties) and president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, told a Senate panel that high turnover is reducing the number of experienced prosecutors.
“There are cases in Florida we are losing because of inexperience,” Eddins told the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee.
Eddins and Hillsborough County Public Defender Julianne Holt said new attorneys make about $40,000, while also often having hefty law-school debts. Holt said attorneys typically are making about $50,000 when they start handling felony cases, compared to the $75,000 to $90,000 they can receive in the private sector if they have three years of experience and trials on their resumes.
The comments came as the subcommittee heard initial budget requests from agencies involved in the criminal-justice system.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Championship History Tonight; Chiefs Practice In UF’s Swamp
December 7, 2012
Tonight is the biggest night in high school football history at Northview, as the Chiefs take on top ranked Trenton in the Class 1A state football championship game.
It’s no big surprise that the Chiefs reached the title game in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. The Chiefs were favorites from the beginning of the season, going on to destroy 1A opponents at home and on the road.
Trenton is undefeated, while the Chiefs did suffer three losses during the regular season as they played above their size class against 4A Marianna, 5A Gulf Breeze and 5A West Florida, all of which made the state playoff series.
“We’ve made it to the game we wanted to get to, and now we might as well go win the thing,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said of the championship game in Orlando.
Win or lose — the 2012 Chiefs will be the team that everyone talks about in the future, the team by which future players are measured. It’s the first ever trip to the state finals for any Northview team. Digging deeper back into history, the two schools that were combined to create Northview both had one shot at the state title. The Century Blackcats fell short of a title by just one point back in 1986, and the Ernest Ward High School Eagles won the state championship back in 1979.
The Chiefs hit the road for Orlando Wednesday, spending the night in Gainesville. They thought they were going to spend their afternoon practicing at Gainesville High School, but Wheatley had arranged a really big surprise.
The Chiefs spent their afternoon practice in The Swamp — Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — at the University of Florida. It was part motivation and part shock and awe — getting accustomed to playing in a massive stadium to reduce the potential intimidation factor of the 70,229 seat Citrus Bowl.
Hundreds of Northview fans will be in the huge Citrus Bowl by kickoff time. Hundreds and hundreds more will be back home in little places like Molino, Walnut Hill and Century watching a video stream and following live updates from NorthEscambia.com as the Boys from Bratt show Orlando what it means to be a Chief.
It all comes down to tonight at 7:00 Eastern/6:00 Central with the opening kickoff of the FHSAA Class 1A state championship game. Somebody goes home as the second best in state, and somebody is crowned champion. It’s a moment the Chiefs are prepared to face.
“It’s an exciting time; I think our kids are excited and ready for this,” Wheatley said. “They are prepared for this; they know that this is their moment.”
Before kickoff tonight, NorthEscambia.com will provide access to a live video stream of the game in story posted on our front page and our Facebook page. NorthEscambia.com will also be providing live updates from the sidelines of the Citrus Bowl with photos and scores on our Facebook page. Click here to “Like” our Facebook page and follow the updates.
Pictured: The Northview High School Chiefs practice in “The Swamp” on Florida Field in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida Thursday afternoon. Exclusive photos by Wesley Rodriguez/UF Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
