Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold On Pensacola Boulevard
December 6, 2019
Someone is over $94,000 richer today after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket at a Pensacola Boulevard convenience store.
The ticket sold at the Tom Thumb on Pensacola Boulevard at Airport Boulevard was one of two winning tickets sold for Thursday night’s drawing and is worth $94,200.32. The second winning ticket was sold in Ruskin.
The 217 tickets matching four numbers won $140 each. Another 7,410 tickets matching three numbers are worth $11 each, and 77,295 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Thursday’s winning numbers were 5-19-26-32-36.
Pensacola Beach Toll To Go All Electronic, No More Cash By Spring
December 6, 2019
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to stop accepting cash for tolls to Pensacola Beach.
Beginning as early as March only electronic payments will be accepted for the toll to cross the Bob Sikes Bridge; toll takers will not take cash. The funding for the conversion and needed signage will come from toll funds.
The county experimented with suspending cash payments during Blue Angels and Fourth of July weekends. And now they’ve decided it really will speed up traffic to the beach to do away with cash.
Drivers will pay by SunPass, Toll-by-Plate or E-Pass when the conversion is complete.
Authorities Say Social Media Rumors Of Planned Tate High Shooting Are Unfounded
December 5, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Escambia County School District are investigating rumored threats of violence Friday at Tate High School. Both say the threats circulating on social media are unfounded, and they are reassuring parents that Tate High will be a safe place on Friday and everyday.
One of the Snapchat images circulating on social media states that some is “gonna shoot up the school”, but does not actually state when or even what school.
“The Escambia County Sheriffs Office is aware of the rumors of a possible school shooting circulating social media. As of now there are no credible threats,” Amber Southard, ECSO spokesperson said. “We are going to continue to work with the Escambia County School District and extra personal will be in place at Tate High School.”
“We are aware of social media posts. Potential threats are evaluated by both school officials and law enforcement,” Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Thursday night “Any student proven to make threats against a student or school will be charged with a crime and removed from the school.”
The rumored threats of violence at Tate come after the battery of a student on Wednesday. Read more…
NorthEscambia.com photo.
One Teen Arrested, One Wanted In Connection With Tate High Battery
December 5, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has made one arrest and is looking for another teen in connection with the battery of a student Wednesday at Tate High School.
Lester Cheatham, 17, was arrested on a charge of felony battery Thursday afternoon. The ECSO is looking for 16-year old Ya’Marcus Gross on an outstanding warrant for felony battery.
Videos taken by students show the altercation. The victim falls to the ground after being punched in the face. He can be then be seen on the ground being punched and kicked by at least two other students.
The student was released from the hospital and is now recovering at home, Amber Southard, spokesperson for the ECSO, told NorthEscambia.com Thursday. She said social media rumors that the student died or lost his sight are simply not true.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gross is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com images.
Area Christmas Events And Parade List: Some Have Been Rescheduled Or Canceled
December 5, 2019
Here is a schedule of area Christmas parades and events. Note that some events have been canceled or rescheduled as noted below.
Century
A Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Friday at the Century Chamber of Commerce. The event was moved from Nadine McCaw Park to the chamber building due to the threat of rain. A chamber open house will begin at 4:30 p.m. Santa will be there for pictures, plus there will be live music and refreshments.
The Century Christmas Parade will be Friday, December 20 at 5 p.m.
Molino
The Molino Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 7 at 11 a.m. from West Crabtree Church Road to the Molino Ballpark. Santa will be at the park after the parade.
Atmore
The Atmore Chamber of Commerce has postponed Thursday night’s planned Jingle Bell Walk due to a death in the community. Jingle Bell Walk has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 12 from 4-7 p.m.
The Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade themed “A Dr. Seuss Christmas” will be Saturday, December 14 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Flomaton
The Flomaton Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 7 at 10 a.m. from Flomaton High School through downtown.
Jay
The Joy in Jay celebration is Saturday, December 7, 2019. The Christmas parade from Highway 4 to Commerce Street is at 10 a.m. Santa available for photos after the parade, and there will be vendors on Commerce Street and the Gazebo Park There will be games and rides for the kids to enjoy and caroling horse drawn wagon rides for all. Events end at 5 p.m.
Poarch
The PCI Christmas Parade Scheduled for Friday, December 6 has been canceled.
Pensacola
The Pensacola Christmas parade starts at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 14 at Spring and Garden streets.
Pictured: Last year’s tree lighting ceremony in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Injured In Highway 297A Rollover Crash
December 5, 2019
A driver was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident Wednesday night.
The crash happened about 11:10 p.m. on Highway 297A near Sandicrest Drive. The vehicle came to rest on its side in a ditch, trapping the driver inside.
The adult female was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS. An update on her condition was not available.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment and Beulah Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Bratt, Jim Allen And Molino Park PATS Classes Provide Christmas Cheer Around The World
December 5, 2019
The Program for Academically Talented Students (PATS) classes at Jim Allen, Molino Park and Bratt Elementary schools made a real difference this holiday season through Operation Christmas Child. They worked hard to fill 42 shoe boxes with school supplies, hygiene necessities and toys. The Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes will to be delivered to children who live in poverty around the world. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
From Tate High To Alabama And Clemson: Woody McCorvey Of Atmore Named To Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame
December 5, 2019
Woody McCorvey of Atmore, a longtime college football coach that began his career at Tate High School, is one of eight people to be inducted into the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
McCorvey is currently the Clemson Associate Athletic Director of Football Administration.
“It’s very humbling,” McCorvey said. “For me, it’s very special for having grown up in that state. To be a part of a special recognition like being the in Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, it took a lot of people with me going back to my mom and my my dad, the support of my family — my wife, my son, Marlon, my daughter-in-law, Brooke, my grandson, Beau — but on top of that, the players. That’s why I got into this business. This recognition is really for them because I’m standing on those guys.
“The other thing that’s important to me is the staffs that I’ve worked with all down through the years, all the way going back to the kids I coached in high school and every stop that I’ve made and everybody here at Clemson. Clemson has been a big part of what I’ve been able to do, and it’s really special to be part of a great group of other honorees I’m going into the Hall with.”
Among those McCorvey will join in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney, who was inducted as part of the Class of 2018.
“I’m just so excited for Coach McCorvey,” Swinney said. “He’s so deserving of this honor. He’s in the Atmore Hall of Fame, and now to know that he’s going into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, I just think it’s something that’s so deserving.
“And for he and Sylvester Croom to be going in together I think is just beautiful. Obviously, Sylvester was the head coach at Mississippi State and Woody was the offensive coordinator. I think Sylvester was the first African-American head coach in the SEC and Woody was the first African-American offensive coordinator at Alabama, and I just think about their journeys and the lives that they’ve impacted. I can just tell you, I’m not where I am today if it’s not for Woody McCorvey. I know this, there’s nobody more deserving than Coach McCorvey. I’m super proud, super happy, and I can’t wait to be a part of the celebration.”
Born September 30, 1950 in Grove Hill, Alabama, McCorvey played quarterback at Alabama State from 1968-1971. After starting his coaching career in the high school ranks, he began his collegiate coaching career in 1978 with NC Central. He has held positions at the University of Alabama, Alabama A&M, Clemson, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee. During his 26 plus years in college football, McCorvey has been a part of five national championship teams and 31 bowl games.
A 42-year veteran of college football as a coach or administration, McCorvey returned to Clemson for the 2009 season, Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s first full year. He has worked with four national championship head coaches and three coaches who earned induction in the College Football Hall of Fame.
McCorvey serves as the primary liaison between Swinney and the athletic and IPTAY administrations. He also oversees the management of the football administrative offices. He supervises the football budget and works with the academic staff that has helped Clemson earn NCAA Academic Performance Public Recognition Awards in eight out of the last nine years.
McCorvey coached at the Division I level for 26 years and went to a bowl game in 17 of those seasons. He coached or signed 36 players who went on to a professional football career as well. From 1990-2008, he coached in the SEC every year, including each of the last five at Mississippi State, where he served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in addition to coaching the quarterbacks.
McCorvey coached at Tennessee for five years from 1999-03. With him heading the running game, the Volunteers had a 46-14 record. He helped guide Tennessee to the 2000 Fiesta Bowl, 2001 Cotton Bowl, 2002 Citrus Bowl, and 2002 and 2003 Peach Bowls. Tennessee won three consecutive New Year’s Day Bowl games from 2000-02 as well.
Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, McCorvey worked one season at South Carolina, where he served as the wide receivers coach in 1998 under former Tiger assistant coach Brad Scott. McCorvey took the South Carolina job following an eight-year stay at Alabama from 1990-97. He served seven seasons as its wide receivers coach and the 1996 campaign as offensive coordinator. He was the assistant head coach in 1997 as well.
Alabama had five top-25 final rankings in his tenure, including three seasons in the top five. The Crimson Tide won the 1992 national title with McCorvey serving as wide receivers coach and Swinney as one of his student-athletes. That season culminated with a 34-13 win over heavily-favored Miami (Fla.) in the Sugar Bowl. During the 1990-96 era, Alabama posted a 70-16-1 record and played in six bowl games. With McCorvey at the controls of the offense in 1996, Alabama finished 10-3, including a win over Michigan in the Outback Bowl.
From 1979-82, he served as an assistant coach at Alabama A&M and helped that program to the No. 6 rushing offense in Division II in 1981 after finishing 11th in the nation in scoring offense in 1980. McCorvey began his college coaching career at North Carolina Central in 1978.
McCorvey began his coaching career with a six-year stint (1972-77) at Tate High School. A quarterback at Alabama State from 1968-71, McCorvey earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State in 1972 and a master’s degree from West Florida in 1977.
He was the recipient of the 2015 AFCA Outstanding Achievement Award for his contributions to college football. In 2010, the native of Atmore, Ala. was inducted into the Atmore Hall of Fame.
Other inductees in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 are Ronnie Brown, Sylvester Croom, Doug Kennedy, Q.V. Lowe, Jorge Posada, Duane Reboul and Steve Shaw.Starting with the first class in 1969, this will be the 52nd Class inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The eight newly elected inductees will bring the total number of inductees to 369.
The 52nd Annual Induction Banquet and Ceremony will be held in Birmingham on May 2, 2020.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDLE Charges Escambia Man With 30 Counts Of Possession Of Child Porn
December 5, 2019
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested an Escambia County man on child porn charges Wednesday.
Alexander Macalpine Vicha, 33, of 408 Pou Station Road, was charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography.
FDLE agents initiated an investigation in October 2019 when child pornography activity was identified on the internet. Agents executed a search warrant at Vicha’s residence Wednesday. While on scene, computer forensic examiners conducted forensic previews on a computer belonging to Vicha and located 30 images containing child pornography, FDLE said. These images depicted children as young as two years old.
Vicha was booked into the Escambia County Jail. He could face additional charges upon completion of forensic exams, according to FDLE.
Sunny Today; Rain For Friday
December 5, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.