Northview Names Students Of The Month
May 25, 2019
Northview High School has named Abe Leatherberry and Maggie Lane as May Students of the Month. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mike Hill Says He Will Propose Abortion Ban Similar To New Alabama Law
May 25, 2019
Florida Rep. Mike Hill says God has told him to sponsor a bill next year to ban almost all abortions, very similar to a bill signed into law in Alabama recently.
Hill sponsored a fetal heartbeat abortion bill during the recent legislative session that included exceptions for incidents such as rape, domestic violence and incest.
“I’m going to fight like hell to kill this bill,” Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried posted on twitter, asking for retweets “if you’ll fight for women’s rights with me”.
“We need MORE per se unconstitutional bills in state legislatures. Sad,” President Donald Trump tweeted later Friday afternoon on Hill’s plan.
Four-Run Sixth Inning Downs Pensacola Against Tennessee
May 25, 2019
A night after setting a career high for hits, the Blue Wahoos managed just five in a 5-1 loss to Tennessee on Friday evening.
After scoring the game’s first run in the third inning, the Blue Wahoos (29-19) missed opportunities with leadoff baserunners in the middle innings, then had their last nine batters retired in order to end the game.
The win pushed Tennessee (24-23) back above .500 and gave the Smokies a 2-1 series edge heading into Saturday night’s fourth game.
Pensacola scored their only run in the third. Travis Blankenhorn singled, then stole second. Alex Kirilloff followed with an RBI single.
The Smokies tied the game with a run in the fourth against Pensacola’s Jorge Alcala, who entered in the third inning after Sam Clayworked two scoreless innings in an opener role.
The sixth inning changed the game. After giving up a leadoff walk and single, Alcala committed a throwing error on a fielder’s choice play that loaded the bases. He then gave up consecutive singles that scored three runs. After intentionally loading the bases again, a one-out sacrifice fly scored the fourth run of the inning.
Alcala (5-2) absorbed the loss, his first since April 26 when he allowed six runs against Jacksonville in a three-inning outing that was his shortest this season.
The Blue Wahoos missed a chance to get back into the game when the first two batters in the sixth inning reached on walks. But Mitchell Kranson was picked off first base, then reliever P.J. Higgins got a pair of ground outs to end the inning.
In the seventh, Ben Rortvedt led off with a walk, but Higgins retired the next three batters. The Blue Wahoos were retired in order in the eighth and ninth.
Body Found In Escambia County Woods, Neighbor Charged With Murder
May 24, 2019
A body was found bound in duct tape and wrapped in a tarp Thursday in Escambia County, and the victim’s neighbor has been charged.
A deputy found the body in a wooded area off Idlewood Drive in southern Escambia County.
The victim, 54-year-old Charles Daniel Locke, had been missing since May 19. Deputies questioned his neighbor, Kalvin Dewayne Allison. They say Allison pushed Locke, who fell and hit his head at his home in the 300 block of Frisco Road.
Deputies reported finding the victim’s checkbook and keys at Allison’s home.
There’s no word on a possible motive for the murder.
Local Man Charged With Mass Shooting Threat
May 24, 2019
A local man has been charged with using his Facebook page to threaten a mass shooting at two businesses.
Michael Anthony Hall, 23, allegedly threatened to “shoot up” Hitachi Cable, a manufacturing company in the Ellyson Industrial Park, and Kelly Services, an employment agency on Corporate Woods Drive. He is facing a second degree felony charge of making a terroristic threat. He was released from the Escambia County Jail Thursday on a $50,000 bond.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Hitachi Cable on Ely Road in reference to threats after the company became aware of possible threats on Hall’s Facebook page. According to an arrest report, he made threats such as, “Now if when I spray the whole building”; “smell the BLOOD (metal) from the bodies from the highway”; “I promise to God when I get me a Mack or an Uzi, I’m [expletive] you [expletive] up, spraying the whole building”; and “I want to smell the blood from the bodies from the highway”.
Deputies were able to positively identify Hall from photographs on his Facebook page.
A Hitachi human resources manager told investigators that Hall had been terminated. He was a temporary employee and had voiced complaints about other employees. She told deputies that Hall stated that if certain coworkers kept talking “he was going to snap and they will need the police and ambulance there”, the arrest report states. The HR boss told deputies that she and coworkers feared Hall would carry out the threats.
A Kelly Services representative was brought in, and Hall again made threats about “laying out” specific employees, according to authorities.
Hall was taken into custody on Pompano Street in Cantonment.
The Escambia County Jail lists Hall’s home address as Pace Parkway in Cantonment, while the arrest report lists his address as Thorndale Place in Atmore.
Tate High School Names The Top Of The Class Of 2019
May 24, 2019
Tate High School has named their honors graduates for the Class of 2019.
Valedictorian is John David Dixon (pictured left), and salutatorian is Aaron Hunter Harberson, (biographies below).
The Top Ten Percent honors graduates are as follows:
1. John David Dixon
2. Aaron Hunter Harberson
3. Lauren Li Brown
4. Briana Elizabeth Sabin
5. Jazmine Marie Endress
6. Melody Qing Owens
7. Jordana Rebecca Jernigan
8. Kirsi Celeste Patel
9. Dylan Nicholas Dorion
10. Mackenzie Erin Presley
11. Jessica Marcella Alvarado
12. Denali Elisabeth Netzer
13. Natalie Kate Gandy
14. Sasha Phoenix Isaak
15. Faith Carroll Grover
16. Malina Ho
17. Ashton Grace Campbell
18. Makenna Charlene Stafford
19. William Alexander Burns
20. Michelle Oliveira Luther
21. Dominic Richard Erie
22. Kara Bernice Killam
23. Nishea Samone Hendricks
24. Alafaire Ruth Rafferty
25. Cassilyn Giselle Owens
26. Gabrielle Alise Locke
27. Madison Kate Fall
28. Julia Nicole Banta
29. Rachel Loyce Bethea
30. Amanda Jane Breeden
31. Gregory Alexander Williamson
32. Hailey Elizabeth Dukes
33. Aidan Foster Sloman
34. Bradley Troy Edgar
35. Emily Katherine Werkeiser
36. Brett Asa Fillingim
37. Gracie Irene Cole
38. McKenna Paige Royer
39. Robert Donald Vose
40. Zachary Curtis McQuaid
41. Lauren Elizabeth Rawls
42. Brooklynn Ashley McCoy
43. Cynthia Ashley Reichelderfer
44. Lauren Michelle Seibert
45. Disha Dharmendra Soni
46. Michael Joseph McPherson
47. Emma Catherine Williams
48. Kasey Elizabeth Scott
49. Haley Ann Barrera
50. Megan Ann Zimmerman
- Graduation for the Tate High School Class of 2019 will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Valedictorian – John David Dixon
Final GPA: 5.550
Dixon is the son of Scot and Susan Dixon. He is a National Merit Commended Scholar, and has been accepted to the University of Florida and plans to double major in astrophysics and music. His dream career is to work at NASA.
His other honors and activities include:
- Band Member, 4 years – Trumpet Co-Section Leader for Senior Year
- All-County Honor Band, 4 years
- All-State Honor Band, 1 year
- Tate Academic Team, 2 Years
- All-County Academic Team, 2 Years – 2018 Florida State Champion
- 2018: Won the Florida Commissioner’s Academic Challenge and named to “Team Florida” for National Competition
- Clubs: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, English Honor Society, Science Honor Society
Dixon’s scholarships include: Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar, University of Florida College of Music Scholarship, Northwest Florida Gator Club.
Salutatorian – Aaron Hunter Harberson
Final GPA: 5.350
Harberson is the son of Susan Harberson. He has been accepted to the University of Florida and plans to major in chemical engineering.
- 2019 Tate Tennis Scholar Athlete
- Competed at FHSAA State Finals for 2 years
- 2019 Tate Tennis Scholar Athlete
- Clubs: National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Mu Alpha Theta, English Honor Society, and Science Honor Society
Harberson is a Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar.
Photos courtesy Jim Owen Studio.
Sunny And Hot Into The Weekend
May 24, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Memorial Day: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Light west wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Multi-Agency Drill Held At Century Correctional Institution
May 24, 2019
A multi-agency drill was held Friday morning at Century Correctional Institution on Tedder Road.
People in the area may have seen emergency vehicles and air traffic in the area, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“These drills provide an excellent opportunity for training between FDC staff and our law enforcement and first responder partners,” the FDC said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview’s Venable Signs With Enterprise State
May 24, 2019
Northview High School’s Nicholas Venable has signed to play at Enterprise State Community College.
He accepted a full baseball scholarship and will utilized as an infielder. At Northview, Venable led the state in 1A baseball in steals with 31. His batting average was .550, with 10 doubles and three triples. His only strikeout of his senior year was his final at bat against Bozeman in the state tournament.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Gets Life For Strangling Woman, Torching Her Home
May 24, 2019
An Atmore man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for a 2013 strangulation death.
Collis McCaster, now 46, was originally charged with capital murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder for the death of 60-year old Mildred Jackson Morris.
Firefighters responded a call of smoke coming from her home at 227 Adams Street about 5:20 a.m. on June 8, 2013. Once the fire was contained and firefighters were able to enter the residence, the remains of Morris were found on the living room couch where family members stated she normally slept. Morris was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. Fire officials said the fire was contained mostly to the living room of the home.
McCaster was arrested a few hours later. He underwent a polygraph test and confessed to the crime.
Pictured top and bottom: A woman found dead following a fire at the Adams Street home in June 2013 in Atmore was murdered. Pictured below: Firemen fill out statements for law enforcement following the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
