FFA Fruit Sale Ends Tuesday

November 26, 2012

The NHS FFA is selling citrus in attractive 2/5 or 4/5 bushel boxes perfect for gift wrapping. The Florida citrus is from RiverBrite in Vero Beach.

Orders must be made by Tuesday, November 27. The delivery date is Tuesday, December 18.

For an order form click here. Order forms and payment can be returned to Northview by mail (the address is on the order form), or dropped off at the school office. Fruits available include red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges. Mixed trio half bushels are also available.

For more information, call (850) 327-6681, ext. 248.

Photos: Behind The Regional Champs

November 26, 2012

For a photo gallery of the Northview High band, cheerleaders, dance team, NJROTC and fans standing behind their regional champion Chiefs, click here.

For a game action summary, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Florida Class 1A Playoff Pairings

November 26, 2012

Here are last Friday night’s scores and this week’s pairings for the Class 1A state semifinal playoffs.

CLASS 1A

REGION FINALS
Friday, November 23

  • Northview 34, Freeport 28 (OT)
  • Liberty County 14, Blountstown 7
  • Trenton 42, Lafayette 26
  • Newberry 18, Union County 13

STATE SEMIFINALS
Friday, November 30

  • Northview at Liberty County, 7:30 p.m.
  • Trenton at Newberry, 7:30 p.m.

Local Residents Guests Of Kansas City Coach As Denver Beats The Chiefs

November 26, 2012

When the Denver Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday in Kansas City, several North Escambia area residents were on hand to cheer on the Chiefs. And they were cheering for defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant, a Century native.

Mikey Burkett, Kenny Fehl, Anthony Pleasant, Jonathan Bondurant, Steve Stanton and Eddie Hammond started with a pheasant hunting trip in Kansas on Saturday. On Sunday morning, they were guests at Pleasant’s home before heading to Arrow Head Stadium in Kansas City for the game.

After an early lead a strong defense, the KC Chiefs were unable to outlast the AFC-West leading Denver Brocos, who defeated the Chiefs 17-9.

Kansas City, now 1-10, will play for that elusive home win next week against the Carolina Panthers, who are in Philadelphia on Monday night to face off against the Eagles.

Pleasant, a 1986 graduate of Century High School, earned two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots.

Pleasant was selected in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.  During his 14 year NFL career, Pleasant played for the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. He played a total of 202 NFL games and racked up 58 sacks.

The 22-acre Anthony Pleasant Park on East Highway 4 in Century is named after the two-time Super Bowl champ and includes a full-size  football field with bleachers, press box and a playground.

Pictured top: A group of North Escambia area residents were the guests of Kansas City Chiefs defensive coach Anthony Pleasant Sunday in Kansas City as the Chiefs lost to the Broncos. Pictured below: Pleasant speaks in July 2011 at the dedication of the park named in his honor in Century. Submitted and NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Retired Florida Fire Truck To Benefit Small Alabama VFD

November 26, 2012

An Alabama volunteer fire department’s need for a tanker truck has been met by an Escambia County, Fla., department in a deal sealed with a handshake.

The McCall Volunteer Fire Department in Escambia County, Ala., needed more water available to fight fires; the largest tank they had could only hold 750 gallons. The department had been saving up for 12 years looking to buy a new-to-them truck.

The Bellview Volunteer Fire Department in Florida was retiring a 1,500 gallon tanker purchased by then Chief Al Davie 27 years ago. Davie was on hand as current Bellview VFD members gave McCall VFD members a quick run through of the tanker and any needed special instructions.

With a handshake between Bellview Chief Troy Johnson and McCall Chief Charles Jackson, the old tanker was on its way to its new home in Alabama.

Pictured: An retiring tanker truck was transferred from the Bellview Volunteer Fire Department in Florida to the McCall VFD in Alabama recently. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.

Bright Future: New Power Substation Signals Growth In Walnut Hill

November 25, 2012

Growth — including the construction of a new industrial facility — is leading to an increase in the electrical capacity and service to the entire Walnut Hill area.

Escambia River Electric Cooperative and it power supplier, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, are currently constructing a new Oak Grove Graham electric substation on Highway 99A near North Highway 99. The new facility will have a total power capacity of 20 MVA (megavolt ampere), over twice the capacity of the aging Oak Grove Substation with a total capacity of 9.375 MVA.

“The new substation has been in the works for a while; however, we have moved that plan to the forefront in order to meet the needs of the Genesis Rail Services Walnut Hill Station,” said Clay Campbell, EREC general manager.

The new Genesis transfer station that fronts Corley Road near Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill is the largest such facility in the United States. Crude oil is transferred from the oil fields of North Dakota to Walnut Hill by train and offloaded.

A crude oil pipeline from Jay rises to the surface at the facility. The flow from oilfields in the Jay area is cut, and the crude from the Walnut Hill train is injected into the pipeline. Up to 118 tanker cars per day can be transferred directly into an existing crude oil pipeline, flowing primarily to a Shell facility near Saraland, Ala., and potentially to other refineries along the Gulf Coast.

The first train, with 104 tanker cars filled with 69,000 barrels of oil worth $6.5 million, rolled into the Walnut Hill facility back in mid-August. Presently, the facility can inject 2,500 barrels per hour into the pipeline. That capacity will increase to about 5,000 barrels — almost a half million dollars worth — of crude oil per hour by January 2013 once a 100,000 barrel storage tank is completed.

As construction of the new EREC electric substation continues, contract crews also also building out a new electrical distribution system from the power substation to the oil transfer facility. The end result, according to EREC, will be more electrical capacity and an increased quality of service for the entire Walnut Hill area.

“The entire community will benefit from this power upgrade,” Campbell said.

For an earlier story about the first train rolling into the oil transfer station, click here.

Pictured top: Construction is underway on a new power substation in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset and below: The new Genesis Rail Services Walnut Hill Station on its first day of operation back in August. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Two Injured When Truck Slams Into Concrete Pole

November 25, 2012

Two people were injured in a single vehicle accident late Saturday night in Beulah.

The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old David Jordan was northbound on Mobile Highway near Nine Mile Road when he failed to properly negotiate a curve and struck a concrete utility pole with his 1995 Dodge pickup about 11:50 Saturday night.

Jordan and his passenger, 27-year old James R. Nunnelley were both transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.

The crash sent the utility pole and power lines to the ground, temporarily blocking a portion of the roadway.

Charges against Jordan are pending further investigation, according to the FHP. The Beulah and Bellview stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.

Pictured top: Two people were injured when the driver of a Dodge pickup hit a concrete utility pole late Saturday night in Beulah. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Moderating Temps Forecast

November 25, 2012

After a freezing start to Sunday, temperatures will moderate into the middle 60’s by afternoon. Sunday night will be cold but above the freezing mark, and Monday will by sunny and warmer.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

  • Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
  • Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Light winds becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
  • Monday Night: Warmer. Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain showers in the evening…then chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of showers 50 percent.
  • Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.
  • Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.
  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
  • Wednesday Night: Colder. Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
  • Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
  • Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.
  • Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

Tate’s Amy Waters Signs With UAB Softball

November 25, 2012

Amy Waters, a senior at Tate High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Waters started on the varsity softball team at Tate in grades 9-11. She has a .443 batting average during her junior season, along with 19 RBI’s, 18 doubles and three home runs.

She has played with the Mobile Thrillers and High Intensity travel ball teams for the past several years. During the last two years, she helped the Thrillers qualify for the ASA-A national tournament. In 2012, they finished first in the Alabama 18U ASA-A state tournament and fifth in the ASA-A national tournament.

Waters also played on the golf team at Tate her sophomore and junior years. She is also a member of Interact and FCA.

Pictured:  Tate senior Amy Waters signs a letter of intent with the University of Alabama at Birmingham as her parents, Kirk and Cindy Waters, and her brother, Jace Waters, look on. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Shopping, Silent Auction Next Saturday To Benefit Halee Boyd

November 25, 2012

A day of early Christmas shopping and a silent auction will be held next Saturday, December 1 to benefit Halee Boyd, a Tate High School student that is battling cancer.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Heritage Baptist Church, 3065 Highway 297A in Cantonment.  Vendors will be on hand with Christmas bargains and a silent auction will offer numerous gift ideas. Door prizes will be given away each hour.

A hot dog chip and drink meal will also be available for $5.

Donations for Halee Boyd are also accepted at Doral Bank, 4920 Bayou Boulevard in Pensacola.

For more information about Halee, click here for a NorthEscambia.com story from earlier this year.

Pictured: Halee Boyd (right) had the opportunity to meet country star Miranda Lambert at a concert in October in Orange Beach. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

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