Honoring First Responders, Lives Lost On And Since 9/11
September 12, 2021
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday to mark the 20tth anniversary of 9/11.
The event in the WSRE parking honored those how died on 9/11 and those that have died since in the war on terrorism.
Lance Cpl. Jonathan R. “JR” Spears of Molino was killed by enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi on October 23, 2005. His father, Tim Spears, was one of those attending Saturday’s ceremony.
“Unfortunately there will be more and we just want them to know that we are here for them, we’ve been through it and if they need anything we’re here to support them and get them the help that they need,” Tim Spears said.
“He came home that day from school on 9/11 and said ‘This has really affected me and I need to do something,’” Tim Spears said. “The next year when he graduated, that was one of the first things that he did. He went straight to the Marine Corps recruiter.”
Spears was the first Escambia County Marine to be killed in Iraq.
“That [was] one of the main things we were worried about was eventually JR would be forgotten and thanks to a lot of people so far, that has not come true,” Tim Spears said.
Jonathan R. Spears is one of the over 7,000 names appearing on the GoldStars Tribute Wall that was on display Saturday.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Photos courtesy WSRE for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: NWE Football Jamboree
September 12, 2021
Northwest Escambia held their jamboree Saturday at Northview High School.
Participating leagues included NWE, Jay, Neal and Andalusia.
For a photo gallery from sophomore games, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain Returns To Our Forecast
September 12, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Today: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind around 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
No. 1 UWF Rolls Past SW Baptist, 63-14
September 12, 2021
Anthony Johnson, Jr. scored three times and Rodney Coates caught a pair of touchdown passes as No. 1 UWF defeated Southwest Baptist, 63-14, in the first-ever game at Pen Air Field on Saturday night.
UWF (2-0) reached the end zone on its first nine possessions for 63 unanswered points after SBU scored on the opening drive of the game. The Argos amassed 30 first downs, the second-most in program history behind 31 against Shorter in 2016.
Austin Reed was 20-for-26 and 257 yards with a UWF single-game QB rating of 210.7 as he played into the opening drive of the second half with the Argonauts leading 54-7.
UWF played its first-ever game on campus Saturday, entertaining 5,463 fans to a school-record eighth-consecutive victory.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Coates’ day featured nine receptions for 126 yards – both career-highs – as UWF posted the second-highest scoring game in program history. David Durden caught four passes for 66 yards, including TD receptions of 23 and 36 yards.
Johnson tied his school-record of three rushing TDs on just four carries. Shomari Mason led the team on the ground with 74 yards.
UWF dressed 92 players and saw the majority of them participate, including backup quarterback Wyatt Eget, who led the team on two scoring drives and completed 6-of-9 passes for 64 yards.
Cooper Callis had 230 yards passing on 22-of-34 for the Bearcats (0-2). He was also sacked three times by UWF as De’Marco Artis, Jerquan Newton and Ricky Richardson got into the backfield.
UWF finished with nine quarterback hurries and forced its first turnover of the season on a kickoff.
UWF will play its next game on the road, traveling to Texas A&M Commerce (1-1) on Saturday night. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas is at 6:00 p.m.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos: Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Swimmers Beware: There’s A Lifeguard Shortage At Pensacola Beach
September 12, 2021
Escambia County says there is a shortage of lifeguards on Pensacola Beach. That’s because many of the lifeguards are students that have returned to the classroom, leaving Pensacola Beach with limited lifeguards between September and May.
“We plan to staff Casino Beach seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. through 6:30 p.m.,” said Pensacola Beach Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood. “All sections of the beach are open, and I would not advise anyone to avoid any particular area. Just remember that the safest area to swim is with a lifeguard present.”
Lifeguard shortages during the school year are not uncommon at Pensacola Beach. Many of the Pensacola Beach lifeguards are either in high school, college or recently graduated. Once school is out of session, staffing on Pensacola Beach increases.
“Staffing will increase again in May, once the school session has completed,” said Greenwood.
As of Labor Day, Pensacola Beach lifeguards are no longer patrolling beaches owned by the Gulf Islands National Seashore, including Opal Beach in the Santa Rosa area, Langdon Beach in the Fort Pickens area and Johnson Beach in the Perdido Beach area. Swimmers are encouraged to swim only at their own risk in those areas.
Lindgren’s Career Night, Homers From Burdick And Bleday Power Wahoos To Win
September 12, 2021
Jeff Lindgren (W, 6-8) struck out a career high 10 Shuckers over seven one-hit shutout innings as the Wahoos picked up a 6-0 win Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Lindgren, who is the only Wahoos pitcher to turn in seven innings with two runs or fewer allowed this season, has now achieved the feat twice. On Saturday, he allowed just one hit and two total baserunners during his 20th appearance of the year. Biloxi’s only hit came in the second, when Chad Spanberger lined a single to center with two outs.
After a Gabe Holt reached via a Demetrius Sims throwing error in the third, Lindgren and the rest of the Blue Wahoos pitching staff retired the final 20 batters to end the game, striking out eight of the last nine batters. Lindgren struck out the side in the fifth and then struck out the side to end his night in the seventh.
Offensively, the Blue Wahoos looked sharp right from the very get-go. Pensacola took the lead in the bottom of the first after Lazaro Alonso knocked in JJ Bleday with a two-out RBI double off Justin Bullock (L, 2-4, 7.77).
Pensacola scored three more runs in the bottom of the third when the Wahoos hit for the cycle as a team. After a leadoff triple from Galli Cribbs Jr., Kameron Misner hit his first of two doubles on the night to give Pensacola a 2-0 lead. Peyton Burdick immediately followed with his 23rd home run of the season, which made it 4-0 Pensacola. After JJ Bleday flew out, Alonso singled to complete the team cycle.
The Wahoos added two more when Bleday hit a towering two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Wahoos a 6-0 lead.
With the win, the Wahoos postseason chances remain alive. The 2021 Blue Wahoos home finale is Sunday afternoon.
Escambia School District Increases Substitute Teacher Pay
September 11, 2021
The Escambia County School District has increased substitute teacher pay depending on their level of education.
A substitute teacher with a high school diploma now receives $75 per day. A substitute who has earned 60 college credit hours or an associate degree receives $85 daily.
A substitute with a bachelor’s or higher degree is paid $95 per day, while a substitute teacher with master’s degree or Ph.D. receives $105 each day. A substitute teacher on a long term-assignment, who meets specific requirements, now receives $130 daily.
“We hope that the salary increase for substitute teachers will assist our daily instructional activities at all school sites,” said Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services Keith Leonard. “Our substitute teachers are an important part of our academic instruction on a daily basis. We appreciate our substitute teachers and the salary increase is one small way to provide an example of that appreciation.”
On average, these new rates of pay represent an increase of 15.6% for substitutes across all educational levels. To apply for a substitute teaching position with the Escambia County School District, click on the following link: click or tap here
Where Were You That September Morning?
September 11, 2021
We publish this piece on an annual basis, and we encourage you to comment below, answering the question ‘Where Were You That September Morning?
September 11, 2001. It’s been 20 years.
Life, at least when that morning began, seemed good. I’ve always been a work at home dad, so I was home with my two girls. The youngest was almost four months old, and the oldest was approaching her fourth birthday. It was a normal morning. The little one was asleep, “fat and happy” as we used to say, after a morning bottle. The oldest was in the living room just a few feet from my office watching PBS Kids on the TV as I worked on a project for a client.
Then this arrived in my inbox:
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:52am– World trade center damaged; unconfirmed reports say a plane has
crashed into tower. Details to come.
I got up, walked to the living room and flipped the TV to CNN. They were talking about how a pilot could make such an error, hitting such a large building. They were speculating that it was just a small plane. But then as the TV news helicopters zoomed their cameras in closer, the anchors were beginning to notice what I had already thought….those holes the tower were to big to have been a small plane.
(continues below photo)
I called my wife at work in Atmore. She had seen the breaking news email, and had tried to visit the CNN website to see the story. If you remember trying to use the internet that morning, it was near impossible to get a news website to load; they were all overloaded. She was unable to see the pictures. I was describing what I saw on the TV to her.
I managed to grab a picture from CNN via my web server and then download and email it to her. We were speculating about how it could happen when the second one hit.
I remember saying “wait, hold on, wait…”. I told her what I just watched on the TV. The second plane had hit the other tower. We quickly decided that we were at war as the anchors on TV speculated again that perhaps there was a problem with some navigational system, causing jetliners on a beautiful, clear morning in New York to fly into some of the tallest structures in the world.
Another breaking news email arrived:
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:21am– Second plane crashes into World Trade Center.
She and I began to speculate ourselves that we were at war. What would we do? What should we do? What about the kids? It was not panic, understand, but just that protective momma and daddy instinct, I suppose. Prayer. That was a good idea. Maybe go to the bank and get out a little cash. That seemed like a good idea. How would you prep for a war on American soil? We were not sure.
I continued to relay information about what I was seeing on TV to my wife at work, who, in turn, would relay the information to her coworkers. They had a TV, but no cable service or antenna. They ended up fashioning a homemade antenna to see a fuzzy picture.
Meanwhile, the breaking news emails kept arriving…
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:32am– Sources tell CNN one of two planes that crashed into World Trade
Center was an American Airlines 767.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:42am– President Bush calls plane crashes at World Trade Center a
terrorist act.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:45am– Significant fire at the Pentagon. Details to come.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:46am– White House evactuated. Details to come.
The Pentagon on fire? The White House evacuated? Notice that in CNN’s email they were in such a hurry that they misspelled “evacuated”. One sentence at a time, the situation became more grave.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:55am– CNN confirms a plane hit the Pentagon
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:03am– One of World Trade Center towers collapses; fire forces
evacuation of State Department
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:30am– Second World Trade Center tower collapses in Manhattan
Over and over, we watched those towers collapse on TV, and we watched our Pentagon burn.
Our almost four year old asked a lot of questions. “Were people hurt? Did they need a Band-aid?” The magnitude of the event was lost on a four year old. Looking back at those first few hours, I think the magnitude of the event was lost on all of us.
Like many Americans, I sat glued to the TV that day, continuing to watch the video of the towers falling. Our almost four year old asked if another building fell down or if it was the same one. It was time to change the channel on the TV.
You might remember that many of the entertainment TV stations ran network news feeds. Others just simply ran screens about the day’s events. There was no USA network, no ESPN, no MTV. But on PBS, we found children’s programming at a time it was not normally on. For a little while, sitting in the living room floor holding my kids, the world stopped turning that September day, as we watched Big Bird and the Cookie Monster.
Country artist Alan Jackson later wrote a song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?”.
Some of those lyrics:
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cryDid you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don’t know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left belowBut I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where where you when the world stopped turning that September day? Your comments are welcome below.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany (Reynolds) Landis, click to enlarge.
Mostly Clear Tonight; Chance Of Rain Returns For Sunday
September 11, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast on this September 11th:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Mc David FL
30.87°N 87.48°W (Elev. 269 ft)
Visit your local NWS office at: https://www.weather.gov/mob
West Florida Blanks Tate 44-0 (With Photo Gallery)
September 11, 2021
The visiting West Florida Jaguars blanked the Tate Aggies 44-0 Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The game was scoreless until just over six minutes to go in the first quarter with the first of many West Florida touchdowns. And the Jaguars never looked back.
By halftime, it was 33-0.
The Aggies turned the ball over a half dozen times — a couple of fumbles, a couple of interceptions and a couple of bungled kickoffs.
The Tate Aggies will hit the road next Friday night to take on Navarre, while the West Florida Jags will host Arnold.
For a photo gallery, click here. Look for a student life, cheerleader and band photo gallery to be published by Monday on NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
