Hundreds Attend Northview Homecoming Parade (With Photo Gallery)
October 4, 2014
Hundreds turned out for the annual Northview High School Homecoming Parade this afternoon in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Friday night homecoming festivities will begin at 6:00 Friday, with game kickoff set against Jay for 7 p.m. This year’s homecoming theme is “Under the Sea”.
Pictured top: The junior class float in the Northview High School Homecoming Parade Friday afternoon. Pictured below: The senior, sophomore and freshman floats. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Finals
October 4, 2014
Here is a look at Friday night’s area high school football final scores:
FLORIDA
- Northview 53, Jay 20 [Read more...]
- Niceville 35, Tate 7 [Read more...]
- West Florida 31, Bay 28
- Pace 28, Pine Forest 6
- Escambia 20, Pensacola 7
- South Walton 42, Chipley 6
- Washington 21, Milton 14
- Baker 48, Freeport 6
- Gulf Breeze 46, Rutherford 28
ALABAMA
- Flomaton 39, Choctaw County 7
- Faith Academy 29, Escambia County (Atmore) 6
- Escambia Academy 16, Monroe Academy 8
- W.S. Neal 47, Monroe County 8
- Opp 51 T.R. Miller 42
Northview Dedicates The Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium
October 3, 2014
Northview High School officially dedicated its stadium Thursday night as the Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in honor of the late Tommy Weaver, a beloved teacher and coach.
Weaver passed away in March 2012 at the age of 61, a few months before the Northview football team won its first-ever football state championship, culminating a season played in his honor. He was lovingly known as “Papa Weave” to most students.
A graduate of the University of West Alabama, he was Northview’s DCT coordinator and taught horticulture. He dedicated countless hours to baseball, football, the Quarterback Club, FFA and the FFA Alumuni. He was also a Senior Class sponsor and organized Northview’s first homecoming parade in 2011.
Weaver, husband of Northview High Principal Gayle Weaver, was remembered Thursday night by friends and co-workers as great man with an unwavering love of family, the Auburn Tigers and anything and everything related to the Northview Chiefs.
The dedication included the unveiling of a Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium sign and a Chief statue with plaques donated by the Northview classes of 2013 and 2014.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured top: A new sign marks the entrance to Tommy Weaver Memorial Football Stadium on the campus of Northview High School. Pictured below: Principal Gayle Weaver, wife of Tommy Weaver, and Chad Smith, president of the 2013 Northview Class of 2013, admire a newly dedicated chief statute outside the school’s new weight room. Pictured below, middle: Gayle Weaver and son Toby. Pictured bottom: School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas speaks. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cooler Weather Coming
October 3, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Friday Night Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
- Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
- Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
South Carolina Murder Suspect Busted In Escambia County
October 3, 2014
A South Carolina man missing following the discovery of his girlfriend’s body at their shared apartment last month has been located by Escambia County deputies and will be held for extradition to Beaufort County, SC, where he will be charged with her murder.
Following information received from the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, Escambia deputies made contact with 53-year-old Nick Russell Evangelista and stopped him as he was leaving a beach access.
Deputies said Evangelista was driving the white 2013 Jeep Wrangler belonging to his girlfriend, 54-year-old Rebecca Sue Melton, who was found dead in the couple’s apartment on September 4.
He was taken into custody and, following interviews with Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, confessed to the murder.
Evangelista told investigators that he was responsible for Melton’s death and had intended to take his own life. He said he fled South Carolina in Melton’s vehicle and had been traveling through the South alone before stopping in Pensacola.
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office investigators have traveled to Escambia County where they will process the recovered vehicle for additional evidence, conduct further interviews and prepare for Evangelista’s extridiction to South Carolina where he will face charges of murder and violation of drug distribution laws.
SWAT Team Assists With Arrest
October 3, 2014
A SWAT team was called out Thursday afternoon to help arrest a man after he pointed what witnesses described an assault rifle at two men and sent threatening messages to them via Facebook.
Seth Tyler Martin, 28, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police initially responded around 12:38 a.m. Thursday on a disturbance call at 2709 North Davis Highway. Thomas Harp, 32, and Stephen Bond, 25, told police they were on the front
porch of their residence when Martin drove up and exited a vehicle while holding a black assault rifle.
Bond, who told police he and Martin had argued earlier in the day, said he pushed Martin and told him to leave the residence. Martin then got back into the vehicle and left the area.
Martin sent multiple Facebook messages to Bond threatening him and asking him to fight, and also sent two photographs of rifles – one of which was a black assault rifle – to Bond. He also sent Facebook messages to Harp.
Martin refused to answer his door around 10 a.m. this morning when police initially went to his residence. SWAT officers participated in the arrest Thursday afternoon because of the type of weapon Martin reportedly had. Martin exited his home and was taken into custody without incident as soon as a negotiator began talking with him.
A .22 rifle fashioned to resemble an AR-15 rifle was found hidden in the attic at Martin’s home. Police said it was the rifle Martin had shown the two males.
Today: Northview Homecoming Parade, Lunch, Pep Rally, Game
October 3, 2014
Today is homecoming at Northview High School will several events planned. This year’s theme is “Under the Sea”.
The parade will line up on the campus of Bratt Elementary School beginning at noon. The parade is scheduled to begin at Bratt Elementary at 1 p.m. The parade will travel from Bratt Elementary along Highway 4 to Northview High School and end with a pep rally in the Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
The rain has cleared the area, but any delays or parade changes will be announced here on NorthEscambia.com, on the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page, and on NorthEscambia.com’s Twitter feed.
A homecoming meal will available Friday from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. from the football concession stand to support the Tommy Weaver Scholarship Fund. The $7 meal will include a BBQ pork sandwich, chips, dessert and drink.
Friday night homecoming festivities will begin at 6:00 Friday, with game kickoff set against Jay for 7 p.m.
A silent auction will be held during the game near the home concession stand during the game for three NHS JV All American Cheerleaders who are raising the money to attend the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade. Items include a hotel getaway.
Pictured: Senior homecoming decorations at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Search For Suspect Continues In Cantonment Carjacking, Attempted Sexual Assault
October 3, 2014
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their efforts to find a man believed to have carjacked a woman in Cantonment shortly before attacking and attempting to sexually assault a female jogger two weeks ago.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, numerous leads and tips have been received, but, so far, there have been no arrest in either case.
The Sheriff’s Office has released a sketch based upon the description of the man. He was described by the victims as a dark skinned black male in his mid 30’s approximately 5-feet 8-inches to 5-feet 10-inches tall. He was described as being of a medium build, with rough textured facial skin, possibly acne scars, short black hair, bright white teeth, deep voice, and possibly a mustache. He was last seen wearing a faded black shirt with white writing and blue jeans.
CARJACKING
At approximately 8:15 a.m. on September 18, a carjacking was reported at the Raceway gas station at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road. The victim had pumped gasoline and entered the store when an unknown black male suspect entered her unlocked vehicle and concealed himself in the backseat. The victim did not see the suspect and drove away from the store, according to information released Thursday afternoon by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect confronted the victim once the vehicle was moving. He told her that he had a knife and to keep driving or he would “stick” her. She drove around randomly and eventually drove to a neighbor’s residence. Once there she honked the car’s horn in distress to get someone’s attention. The suspect struck her and pushed her from the vehicle.
He left in the car, heading back towards Highway 29. The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Shortly afterward, the vehicle was located on Pine Street.
ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT
About 8:35 a.m the same day. deputies received a call about the attempted sexual battery of a female jogger on Rocky Avenue.
The victim reported that as she was jogging when an unknown black male suspect grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a wooded lot. Once there he struck her in the face and attempted to remove her clothing but the victim fought back and was able to escape. The suspect fled deeper into the wooded lot while the victim contacted authorities. The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released.
Due to the time and location of the incident, description of the suspect and the vehicle found at the location, investigators believe this incident may be connected to the carjacking.
CALL CRIMESTOPPERS
Anyone having information on this incident is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers never have to provide their name and may receive a cash reward.
Florida Supreme Court To Hear Citizens Insurance ‘Bad Faith’ Dispute From Escambia County
October 3, 2014
In a case stemming from Hurricane Ivan a decade ago, the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear arguments about whether the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. can face a “bad faith” lawsuit because of its handling of a damage claim.
The 1st District Court of Appeal sided with the Perdido Sun Condominium Association in the Escambia County case, prompting Citizens to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Perdido Sun was unhappy with the amount of Citizens’ payment of a claim from the 2004 hurricane and filed a breach of contract lawsuit to get additional money, according to court records. The condominium association ultimately won that lawsuit and filed another case under a law dealing with insurers failing to settle claims in good faith.
Citizens contends it should be immune from such bad-faith lawsuits.
Jim Allen Pre-K Students Learn About Fire Safety
October 3, 2014
Pre-K students at Jim Allen Elementary School learned about fire safety Thursday morning, thanks to the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. The “B-watch” crew from the station’s Engine 4 — Lt. Chapman, firefighter Diamond and firefighter Schwarz — conducted the safety program. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.