Fourth-Ranked Blountstown Stops Northview 35-19
September 15, 2018
The Northview Chiefs lost a hard-fought game 35-19 on the road Friday night against the Blountstown Tigers, the state’s fourth-ranked team in 1A.
The Chiefs and the Tigers were both 2-1 headed into Friday night’s contest as the Chiefs were looking for payback for a 46-point loss to the Tigers last year in Bratt.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Northview Coach Derek Marshman said. “I’m proud of how our kids battled, battled back from 20-6.”
Northview took an early 6-0 lead on their first possession of the game, but Blountstown answered with 20 points to make it 20-6 by the end of the first.
“We had two good opportunities in the fourth that we just could not capitalize on, including a tough interception…We are going to get back excited and show improvements to get back on a winning track to get to 3-2,” Marshman said.
Northview will host Holmes County next Friday night at 7:00.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Blackwater State Forest To Grow By 800 Acres
September 15, 2018
The Blackwater River State Forest will expand by 800 acres due to the acquisition of the Florida Forever Project Area Wolfe Creek Forest.
The land acquisition is home to a number of rare and endangered species and serves as a major wildlife corridor with frontage on Big Coldwater Creek. The land will also act as a buffer for the Naval Air Station Whiting Field.
The Florida Forest Service will manage the tract as part of the Blackwater River State Forest, Florida’s largest State Forest with over 211,000 acres, by applying sound forest management practices.
Escambia Tax Preparer Sentenced For Filing False Tax Returns
September 15, 2018
A former Escambia County tax preparer is headed to federal prison for preparing false tax returns.
Benell English, 57, was sentenced to 41 months and ordered to pay $182,877 in restitution to the IRS.
English, a tax preparer at Select Tax Service, prepared and filed false tax returns with the IRS between 2013 and 2017 by fraudulently increasing or decreasing taxpayers’ income to maximize refunds. A jury convicted English of 18 counts of preparing false tax returns in May.
Southern Pine Electric Crew Helping Restore Power In North Carolina
September 15, 2018
A crew from Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Escambia County, AL, rolled into Dobson, NC, Friday to help restore power after the landfall of Hurricane Florence.
The seven linemen and one engineer will assist Surry-Yadkin Cooperative.
Pictured top: (L- R) Adam York, Grayson Peters, Kirk Carter, Zack Carter, AJ Faircloth, Norris Brooks, Ricky Quates and Tracy Emmons. Pictured below: Southern Pine Crews arriving in Dobson, NC. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Files 28 Charges Against Bratt Man For Selling Deer Meat
September 14, 2018
A Bratt man is facing over two dozen charges after he allegedly sold illegal deer meat to an undercover Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer.
Hunter Anthony Chavers, 23, was arrested this week on eight felony counts of selling an illegally taken deer, four counts of possession of freshly killed deer out of season, eight counts of not possessing evidence of a deer’s gender and eight counts of failing to tag deer meat.
On January 29, Chavers met an undercover FWC officer in the parking lot of the Tom Thumb in Molino. He sold the officer meat from two deer for $120 cash, and the transaction was witnessed by a second FWC officer from a nearby location, according to a warrant affidavit.
On February 13, Chavers contacted the undercover FWC officer, met him at the Tom Thumb and again sold him the meat from two deer, court documents state.
Investigators said Chavers sold them the meat from another deer on February 23, and three additional deer on March 15. Deer season in Florida closed on February 25.
On March 22, FWC officers said they were conducting surveillance on Chaver’s vehicle when he walked to the bed of a pickup truck, opened a cooler and removed the head of a freshly killed buck. He placed the head on the ground and took several photographs with his phone, officers said.
The FWC said Chavers illegally possessed and delivered eight deer, three of which were out of hunting season, to an undercover FWC investigator.
Chavers did not have a hunting license or deer permit from the FWC. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday with bond set at $28,000.
Additional charges in the case are possible.
Much of the deer meat was donated to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.
Attorney: Century Not Required To Advertise For Bids
September 14, 2018
Century is not required to advertise for bids before making a purchase, and the town council — or citizens — have the power to start the process of amending the town’s charter, according to the town attorney.
Council present Ann Brooks raised questions about purchasing procedures and the charter in an email to attorney Matt Dannehisser.
The town charter states:
“The council shall request and receive bids and award contracts involving expenditures of Five-Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or more. Except in emergencies, the council must approve the expenditure of amounts greater than One Hundred Ninety-Nine Dollars ($199.00) and less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), prior to the expenditure.”
Dannheisser said in his email that while the town charter must be followed, the charter does not require that the town “advertise for bids” before awarding a contract. Because there is not requirement for advertising, written proposals or competitive sections, he said the town could receive bids “thought simplistic processes such as calling vendors on the phone and receiving oral proposals.”
“That can be accomplished through simplistic processes such as calling vendors on the phone and receiving oral proposals,” he wrote, adding that the town council “may use its discretion whatever procedure it deems to be in the Town’s best interest”.
He said it appears the town could use a state or county bid list for expenditures, or create their own bid list.
Brooks also inquired if the town could amend its charter.
Dannheisser said it could be amended under home rule by ordinance or by a petition signed by 10 percent of registered voters — both of which would require a vote during the next election or a special election.
Scattered Showers, Low 90’s
September 14, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Ernest Middle Defeats W.S. Neal 28-0
September 14, 2018
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles opened their season Thursday night with a 28-0 win over W.S. Neal in East Brewton.
The remainder of the EWMS football season looks like this:
- 9/20 Summerdale at EWMS, 6 p.m.
- 9/25 EWMS at Saraland 6 p.m.
- 10/4 W.S. Neal at EWMS, 6 p.m.
- 10/11 Escambia Cty. Middle (Atmore) at EWMS, 6 p.m.
- 10/18 EWMS at Summerdale, 6 p.m.
Ernest Ward has the only middle school football team in Escambia, FL.
High School Football Finals
September 14, 2018
Here are tonight’s high school football game in the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Pensacola High 21, Tate 7
- Blountstown 35, 19
- Jay 30, Wewahitchka 22
- Pine Forest 27, Gulf Breeze 15
- Escambia 49, West Park 0
- Pensacola Catholic 17, Milton 13
- Pace 58, Booker T. Washington 33
- Navarre 53 Choctaw 7
- Lynn Haven Mosley 13, West Florida 10 (Thursday)
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 35, Patrician 7
- Hillcrest 26, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
- Flomaton 35, Excel 12
- Clarke County 46, W.S. Neal 13
- T.R. Miller 40, St. Michael Catholic 0 (Thursday)
Escambia BOCC Declares September As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
September 14, 2018
The Escambia County Commission recently proclaiming the month of September 2018 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The BOCC also commended and thanked the Rally Foundation and other community supporters for all they do to educate the public about childhood cancer. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.