Pine Forest Win 1-6A Crown; Tate Still In Playoffs
October 31, 2015
It’s been 35 years…since 1980 when Carl Madison’s Aggies won state…since Tate has won a district championship. Friday night at home seemed like as good of a time as any to end that lengthy steak in Cantonment as the Aggies and Pine Forest Eagles put their perfect 2-0 district records on the line.
But in the end, Pine Forest claimed the District 1-6A championship 47-28 over Tate.
The Eagles were first on the board with a 7-0 lead with 5:23 to go in the first. A pass from Sawyer Smith to Aldondo Thompkins set up a Dee Thompson touchdown for a 7-7 tie just seconds into the second quarter. Pine Forest struck again to make it 13-7 with 6:03 in the half. Tate answered with a Madison Lockman touchdown, 14-13, with 5:01 in the second.
Headed into the final quarter, the game was tied 28-28, with Pine Forest going on a 19 point unanswered scoring spree.
Pine Forest will travel to Jacksonville Trinity Christian next Friday night before hosting the first round on the playoffs November 13 against the winner of a Gulf Breeze-Pace-Milton shootout.
The District 1-6A runner-up Tate Aggies will be on the road November 13 for a first round playoff game at e District 2-6A Navarre.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Look Out For Florida’s Top 10 Creepy Crawlers
October 31, 2015
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reminds residents and visitors to be on the lookout for these 10 creepy, crawly, invasive and destructive pests found in Florida. In addition to threatening Florida’s $123 billion agriculture industry and the more than 2 million jobs it supports, pests pose a serious risk to commerce, the environment, public health and the food supply.
On average, a new invasive pest is introduced in Florida every month, and that trend will only increase with the continued rise of global commerce and travel. Know the signs of emerging and existing pests and diseases to help protect Florida.
source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Baker Takes District Title From Northview; Chiefs Still In Playoff Hunt
October 31, 2015
The Northview Chiefs and the Baker Gators battled it out in Bratt Friday night for the District 1-1A championship, with Baker coming out on top 35-21.
The Chiefs were on the board first with a 2-yard touchdown run from junior Toney Harrison for a 6-0 lead with 4:43 to go in the first quarter.
Baker answered just inside the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead over the Chiefs with 11:03 on the clock with a 5-yard touchdown run. After a 72-yard run, Baker scored on the next down for a 13-6 lead over Northview with 8:54 to go in the first half.
And again, Baker would score with 6:07 in the half for a 21-6 advantage over the Chiefs.
The Chiefs added two to close out the half with a safety, still trailing Baker 21-8.
Baker increased their lead to 28-8 with 7:18 to go in the third. Gavon Grant found Jacob Dunsford for a 27-yard touchdown run to close the Gator gap to 28-15 following a good kick from Seth Killam..
The Gators gained another TD with 3:43 in the third, 35-15. Then with 7:21 in the game, the Chiefs worked to come back, adding a 44-yard touchdown run from Harrison for a 35-21 Gator advantage.
“Missed opportunities,” Northview head coach Wheatley said. “They break a couple of big runs, to their credit, and that was the difference in the game…I thought we were going to be able to cash it in late and cut it to one score, but we didn’t get it done.”
Baker (7-2, 2-0) took the District 1-1A championship with the win, while the Northview Chiefs (2-7, 1-1) are still in the hunt as the playoff series begins in two weeks. The Chiefs will begin round one of the playoffs on the road November 13 at District 2-1A champion Vernon.
For more photos, click here. (Senior Night, band, cheerleader and dance team photos will be posted by Monday)
NorthEscambia.com, click here.
Time Change: Fall Back, Replace Smoke Alarm Batteries
October 31, 2015
Don’t forget to “fall back” and set your clocks back one hour night before heading off to bed Saturday night as daylight savings time comes to an end.
Escambia Fire Rescue is also reminding residents that it’s time to make another potentially lifesaving change — replace the batteries in your smoke alarm.
“Most home fire fatalities occur overnight when most families are sleeping,” according to Escambia Fire Rescue. “Changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and performing other maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk and a working smoke alarm can give the extra seconds needed to get out safely.”
In addition to checking smoke alarms, residents should plan “two ways out” and practice escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Each year more than 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. The majority of these deaths are a result of unattended cooking. It is strongly recommended that someone always be present when cooking on top of the stove and that smoke alarms be located properly and in working order. Test the smoke alarm monthly and change the batteries at least every six months.
For more information about fire safety, Escambia County Fire Rescue at 475-5530 or visit www.myescambia.com. For information about obtaining a home smoke alarm call 850-595-HERO (4376).
Man Charged With Murder For Child Abuse Death
October 31, 2015
Escambia Sheriff’s Investigators have arrested a man in connection with the death of a 14-month-old child.
On October 21, Escambia Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Sacred Heart Hospital for a suspected child abuse case. When they arrived, they received information that A’Niyla Marie Mitchell was undergoing treatment for injuries she had sustained as a result of what appeared to be blunt force trauma to the head. A’Niyla was placed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
At about 5 p.m. on October 23, A’Niyla succumbed to her injuries.
Cornelius Kendale Nickson is charged with first degree murder and aggravated child abuse. He is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Friday Football Finals
October 31, 2015
Here is a look at tonight’s high school football final scores:
FLORIDA
- Baker 35, Northview 21 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Pine Forest 47, Tate 28 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Escambia 28, Washington 26
- Navarre 47, Gulf Breeze 7
- Milton 30, Pace 27
- West Florida 23, PHS 13
- OFF: Jay, Catholic
ALABAMA
- W.S. Neal 26, T.R. Miller 17
- Bessemer 20, Escambia Academy 8 (Thurs. pm)
- Flomaton 22, Monroe County 20
5K Run Saturday At Byrneville Elementary
October 30, 2015
Byrneville Elementary School’s Student Government Association is hosting a 5K Run for all ages on Saturday, October 31 at 11 a.m. Entry free is $25; registration begins at 9 a.m. and includes a free t-shirt. There will also be a costume contest at 10 a.m. and face painting.
Appeals Court Ruling Will Send Century Man Back To Prison On Drug Charge
October 30, 2015
A Century man that recently completed a prison sentence for a drug charge will be headed back to prison following an opinion issued this week by Florida’s First District Court of Appeals.
Steven Daniel Kite was arrested as part of the “Operation Blister Pack 2″ sweep in April 2013. It took an Escambia County jury just under an hour to find Kite guilty of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a listed chemical – pseudoephedrine.
However, Kite moved for and obtained a judgement of acquittal on the conspiracy to traffic count. The trial judge cited two grounds for the judgement of acquittal — inaccurate wording and the failure to prove that there was any agreement between Kite and any other person to purchase and deliver pseudoephedrine. The state appealed the ruling.
Wednesday, the appeals court found the acquittal on the conspiracy to to traffic count to be incorrect and ordered the trial court to reinstate the jury’s original guilty verdict.
The appeals court found that Kite did conspire to traffic in methamphetamine. Between December 2010 and April 2013, Kite made 53 purchases of pseudoephedrine, totaling 123.94 grams, from various pharmacies. He would deliver the package of pseudoephedrine to the home of a known methamphetamine cook and receive half a gram of meth each time in return.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, Kite faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years on the reinstated trafficking charge. The seven years must be served day by day without the possibility of parole or gain time. He will not be able to receive any credit for the two years already served under the possession charge.
Kite previously received a two year sentence, with credit for 122 days previously served, on the possession charge. According to Florida Department of Corrections records, Kite was released from prison on September 20. A court date for sentencing on the reinstated charge has not yet been set.
In 2013, Operation Blister Pack targeted nearly 80 individuals on methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine related charges. Many of those arrested were involved with drug groups dubbed “The Village Group”, centered around “The Village” area of Forrest Street and Lakeview Avenue in Cantonment; and “The Ayers Group”, a group centered around Ayers Street in Molino, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Offfice.
Rain Moving In Saturday
October 30, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 7pm. Low around 71. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Teen Convicted Of Attempted Murder
October 30, 2015
An Escambia County teen is facing up to 40 years in prison under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.
Marquis Weathers was convicted by Escambia County Jury of two counts of attempted second degree murder with a firearm and two counts of aggravated battery.
The conviction stemmed from a shooting that occurred when Weathers was just 16. On October 27, 2014, off Rio Grande Circle, two individuals suffered gunshot wounds while sitting in their car. Both victims survived their injuries. Weathers and the co-defendant Jamaal Ervin Williams, 18 were arrested two days later.
Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh scheduled sentencing for December 8. Weathers is facing a minimum of 40 years in state prison as a minimum mandatory. Williams is facing trial next week.