Motorcyclist Injured In Cantonment Crash
September 6, 2016
A motorcycle rider missed a 90-degree curve and ran into a wooded area Tuesday morning in Cantonment. The accident occurred in a curve on West Kingsfields Road, west of County Road 97. The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS with non-life threatening injuries. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
A Drier Week, Upper 60’s In The Mornings
September 6, 2016
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.
ATV Driver That Hit Van Last Week Passes Away
September 6, 2016
A young man critically injured in the collision of a three-wheel ATV and a van last week in Canoe, AL, has passed away as the result of his injuries.
Cody Johns, 19, was riding the ATV westbound on the shoulder of the road when collided with the side of a van at a stop sign about 7:40 a.m. on September 1.. His view of the approaching van was likely blocked due to a building on the corner of the intersection.
The accident happened about 7:40 a.m. September 1 at the intersection of Highway 31 and South Canoe Road, about two miles north of the state line. Johns was transported to an area hospital; he passed away early Sunday afternoon.
The driver of the van was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century’s New Splash Pad Installed
September 6, 2016
Century’s new splash pad has been installed, but is not officially open yet.
While the splash pad has been operational over the past few days, there is still another control part to be installed before an official opening day and before hours of operation are announced, according to Mayor Freddie McCall. At times, the splash pad may not function until it’s officially opened.
A $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant was awarded to the town last October to fund the splash pad. The competitive grant program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds. Century was the only recipient of the grant last year in Escambia County.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Open House Tonight At Tate; Chromebook Night At Northview
September 6, 2016
Parents and students are encouraged to attend Open House events tonight at Northview and Tate high schools.
Open House at Northview High School begins at 6 p.m. in the school’s theater with “Chromebook Night 2016″. Parents will have the opportunity to learn more about the technology-based classrooms in which students are working each day.
Open House at Tate High School begins at 6 p.m. with student and their parent beginning in homeroom.
Pictured: Northview High School students use Chromebooks as an ordinary part of class. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
EREC Crews Continue To Restore Power After Hurricane Hermine
September 6, 2016
Linemen from Escambia River Electric Cooperative continued to work throughout the three-day holiday weekend to restore power in areas impacted by Hurricane Hermine. Over 10,000 Tri-County Electric Cooperative customers were left without power by the storm. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
**For an earlier story about Gulf Power helping with hurricane recovery, click here.
**For an earlier story about EREC, click here.
Photos: Northview Mini Cheerleaders
September 6, 2016
The Northview High School Cheerleaders held a min-cheerleader camp that culminated with a performance at last Friday night’s game.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Capture Both Halves Of South Division
September 6, 2016
Pensacola Blue Wahoos second baseman Alex Blandino came through with arguably the biggest hit of the season when his double knocked in two runs and lifted his club to an improbable second half Southern League South Division title.
Pensacola swept all five games from the Birmingham Barons with a 3-1 victory Monday at Regions Field to end the second half 40-30, which was one more win than the Mississippi Braves (39-30). The Blue Wahoos finished with its best overall record at 81-59 since its inaugural season in 2012, while Mississippi finished the season 73-65.
Entering the last two games of the regular season, Pensacola trailed Mississippi by 1.5 games. Mississippi lost 7-0 to the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday and fell again, 4-1, Monday. Meanwhile, Pensacola won both games, 5-4, and, 3-1. It was Pensacola’s first sweep of a five-game series since July 9-13, 2015 against the Montgomery Biscuits.
In addition, Pensacola also became the first Southern League team to win three straight division titles since the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The Blue Wahoos captured the second half last season and the first half and second half this season. The Jacksonville Suns and Tennessee Smokies both did the same thing in 2009-2010.
It was all made possible when Blandino smacked a double to center field in the seventh inning to drive in the first runs of the game. The No. 14 Cincinnati Reds prospect’s extra-base hit scored third baseman Taylor Sparks and center fielder Jeff Gelalich and put the Blue Wahoos up, 2-0.
Pensacola padded its lead when right fielder Sebastian Elizalde knocked in his seventh RBI of the series with Birmingham when he smacked a two-out single in the ninth inning to drive in Gelalich for a 3-0 lead.
The Barons did score one run in the bottom of the ninth when DH Eudy Pina belted a one-out, solo homer to left field — his fourth of the season — off of Pensacola reliever Abel De Los Santos. He worked the final 1.1 innings and allowed one run, two hits, one walk and struck out one to earn his third save of the season.
Before scoring in the seventh, Pensacola had only two runners reach second base. In the fifth inning, Blue Wahoos catcher Chad Wallach doubled but was stranded there. In the sixth inning, Pensacola left fielder Phillip Ervin was hit by a pitch and then stole his career-high 36th base of the season to reach second.
Birmingham pitcher Thaddius Lowry threw seven innings in his fourth start for the Barons after being called up from the High-A Winston-Salem Dash. He allowed two earned runs on five hits, one walk and struck out two before giving way to Birmingham reliever Connor Walsh.
Meanwhile, Pensacola right-handed starter Nick Travieso pitched a season-high 7.2 innings and was replaced by De Los Santos after Travieso, the Reds No. 15 prospect, allowed Birmingham center fielder Hunter Jones to single and walked second baseman Joey DeMichele. De Los Santos got the next batter to ground out to him.
Travieso gave up five hits, walked one and struck out six. He improved to 5-7 with a 3.84 ERA. Coming into the game, the 22-year-old, who was placed twice on the 7-day disabled list this season, had one quality start in five appearances in August.
The Blue Wahoos go into the Southern League South Division playoffs against Mississippi with a five game win streak and have won 10 of its last 11 games.
Area Sailor Reenlists Atop Mount Fuji
September 6, 2016
A sailor from Santa Rosa county recently reenlisted atop Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan.
Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class Elijah D. Stotts, from Pace and CTR3 Henry R. Lundblad, from Lake Villa IL, said the oath more than 12,000 feet above sea level after a seven-hour climb through wind and rain.
“Choosing an ambitious site for my reenlistment goes hand-in-hand with my Navy career,” said Stotts. “I didn’t join the Navy because it would be easy. I didn’t hike the highest mountain in Japan because it would be easy. I did both because they are life accomplishments I can be proud of.”
Both Stotts and Lundblad are temporarily assigned to the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) as part of a NIOC direct support team, complementing Sailors from NIOC Far East in Yokosuka, Japan.
Lt.j.g. Stewart Atchley, from NIOC Yokosuka, and L.t.j.g. Christopher M. Jozwiak, from NIOC Hawaii, read the oath of enlistment for the Sailors at the summit.
“It’s always an honor to be a part of a reenlistment and re-administer the oath we all take to defend our constitution,” said Jozwiak. “Our relationship with our Japanese allies is a sign of the strength that oath carries. To perform this ceremony atop the highest and most respected mountain in Japan is a unique yet fitting place.”
“I felt honored when Petty Officer Lundblad asked me to do his reenlistment,” said Atchley. “Particularly on Mount Fuji being a difficult place to get to, I encourage him to continue to challenge himself throughout his career.”
NIOC Sailors routinely provide information warfare officers and enlisted personnel, expertise, and equipment while conducting signals intelligence, information, and cyberspace operations for U.S. 7th Fleet units.
“CTR2 Stotts and CTR3 Lundblad are a welcome addition to our support team aboard Barry,” said Atchley, the direct support officer temporarily assigned to Barry. “I hope having such an iconic start to their new enlistments will motivate them to continue with their high level of professionalism.”
Barry is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
Pictured: Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Elijah D. Stotts, right, from Pace, Fla., stationed at Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Hawaii reenlists with Lt.j.g. Christopher M. Jozwiak, left, from Fort Wayne, IN, at the 12,389 foot summit of Mt. Fuji. USN photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate, West Florida Football Teams Tackle Childhood Hunger
September 5, 2016
The Tate and West Florida football teams may have battled it out on the football field Friday night, but they also teamed up to fight childhood hunger.
The Aggies and the Jaguars joined the Escambia County Schools Backpack Program USA to tackler hunger. Football fans were urged to donate loose change or cash during the game. All donations were earmarked for Pine Meadow, McArthur and Jim Allen elementary schools, which were identified according to need by the Escambia County School District.
The event was organized by the Tate High School Quarterback Club, with fans of both teams sharing in the project to raise $500.
The mission of the Escambia County Schools Backpack Program is to provide weekend food supplements for at-risk children in area elementary schools.
Pictured are (L-R) Scott Stillman of the Escambia County School District, Temarques Dunnigan, Kaleb Moore, Shermari Jones, Trae Melton and Ladarryl Paige. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.