Pine Meadow Elementary School’s Cassi McGee Named Escambia County Teacher Of The Year
February 3, 2024
Pine Meadow Elementary School’s Cassi McGee has been named the Escambia County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
McGee was honored during the 39th Annual Golden Apple Awards Friday night at Washington High School.
McGee will now be in the running for Florida’s Teacher of the Year.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Tate High Holds Community Career, College And Job Fair
February 3, 2024
A career, college, and job fair was held Thursday at Tate High School for students, families and community members.
The event hosted over 1,800 stueents over the day.
About 45 companies, colleges, and training programs were scheduled to attend and provide information about employment, and seondary opporunities.
Participants included: Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Army. Florida Department of Health, Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Air Force, Cox Communications, Navy Federal Credit Union, Circle K, Florida Forest Service, Ingals Shipbuilding, Escambia County Emergency Communications, and U.S. Marines.
Colleges attending included: Mississippi State, Pensacola State, University of South Alabama, University of Alabama, and University of West Florida.
The event was hosted by Tate FFA and Tate Guidance Department.
Photos by Tate High School Yearbook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Military And Overseas Vote-by-mail Ballots On The Way
February 3, 2024
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office began sending vote-by-mail ballots Friday, to eligible military and overseas citizens. Voters will either receive their ballot by mail or electronically, depending on their chosen method of delivery. Absent military voters and those living overseas can request, mark, and track their absentee ballots electronically.
Vote-by-mail ballots for all eligible domestic voters will be mailed beginning on Thursday, February 8. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed for the Presidential Preference Primary Election is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7. Voters may track the status of their ballot by clicking Track My Ballot at EscambiaVotes.gov. The U.S. Postal Service recommends voters mail ballots at least one week before the due date.
The 2024 Presidential Preference Primary is for Republican voters. Florida holds closed partisan primary elections; you are only eligible to vote in primary contests for the party in which you are registered
Pictured: Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender with vote-by-mail ballots headed to military and overseas citizens. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Panhandle Regional Science And Engineering Fair Winners Announced
February 3, 2024
Last week, The University of West Florida hosted the 69th Annual West Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The fair was a great success and many young scientists were able to spotlight their work. Escambia County Public School students award winners were:
- Henry Merritt — Beulah Middle School
- Elizabeth Flores — Beulah Middle School
- Audrey Small — Beulah Middle School
- Lauralai Scheper — Beulah Middle School
- Zachary Mitchell — Beulah Middle School
- Rebekah Leibach — Beulah middle school
- Christopher Taylor — Beulah Middle School
- Kenley Bruck — Beulah Middle School
- Sophia Senarosa — Booker T Washington High School
- Sophie Thompson — Booker T Washington High School
- Noah McIntyre — Brown-Barge Middle School
- Kinley Lucas — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Kade Leyran — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Anastaia Leonisio – Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Olivia Miller — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Boston Rice — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Lorelai Goulette – Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Ryu Heis — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- James Tockey – Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Lilley Armour — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Caleb Carter — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Kayden Anderson – Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Gian Torres — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Mason Kukulus – Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Brantley Harvell — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Jaxon McDonough - Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Charles Turbiville — Jim C Bailey Middle School
- Zella Trahan — Pensacola High School
- Aya Prince — Pensacola High School
- Evana Lin — Pensacola High School
- Alice Zhang — Pensacola High School
- David Knoblock – Pensacola High School
- Jack Doyle — Pensacola High School
- Lark Keckler — Pensacola High School
- Ryan Schuhbauer – Pensacola High School
- Roxanna Boland — Pensacola High School
- Elisabeth Collins — Ransom Middle School
- Micah Frazier – West Florida High School of Advanced Technology
- Jordan Foster — West Florida High School of Advanced Technology
- Elisabeth Peters — Workman Middle School
Ice Flyers Fill Arena, Fall To Birmingham
February 3, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Ice Flyers had a filled arena Friday on their special 15th anniversary weekend, created plenty of scoring chances, had strong goaltending and evoked crowd reaction from several hard checks.
But a too-familiar, empty feeling, became the final narrative.
The Birmingham Bulls got a deflected goal midway through the second period and made it stand in a 1-0 victory against the Ice Flyers before a sellout crowd of 8,049 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
“(Bulls) made one more play than we did and that’s what the game came down to,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “Tip your hat to Birmingham, they’re the top defensive team in the league for a reason. They are very structured. They defended very well.”
It was the Bulls sixth consecutive win against the Ice Flyers, further burnishing their position atop the SPHL standings. Birmingham backup goaltender, Drennan Atherton, a Winter Haven native, who played a game earlier this season for the Ice Flyers, earned his first shutout by stopping all 34 Ice Flyers shots.
His performance included several big stops in the first period and kept the packed arena from having a goal dance celebration to start the annual $5 ticket weekend. The Ice Flyers will get another opportunity Saturday in a sold-out game against the Macon Mayhem to complete back-to-back discount games.
“I’m disappointed for the guys, because again, I know how badly they wanted to get a win for the big crowd,” Graham said. “But I told them (afterward), we get back here, we’ll have a big crowd (Saturday), we have to get points.
“The urgency of this group, they have to start playing with a desperate, killer instinct. And will it happen? That’s the million-dollar question.”
The Ice Flyers (15-17, 2 OT losses, 32 points) had three power play chances in the game. They were only whistled for one penalty. They were able to pull goaltender Stephen Mundinger with 2:46 remaining and a timeout with a faceoff in the Bulls zone.
But even with chances in that final sequence, they could not get a shot into the net and Birmingham (24-6, 6 OT losses, 54 points) improved to 7-3 in the series with Pensacola this season.
“I go back to the first period all the scoring chances, Grade-As, that we had in the slot and we don’t bear down,” Graham said. “We missed the net a lot. And didn’t create enough second chances, greasy goals around the net. That is the issue for our team. We’ve talked about it this year, we have a forward group that we want it the easy way.
“We’ve gone through this in this season about crashing the net, getting positioning around the net front and scratching and clawing for goals.”
The game’s only goal came on what started as a pass. Birmingham’s Dillon Radin was created for a goal when his play in the goal crease area led to the puck bouncing off a skate and into the net.
“Unfortunately, bounces didn’t go our way,” Mundinger said. “We’re right there. One of those things where we ran into a hot goalie, he played well, but I think if a couple bounces go our way, that game is 5-0. It’s frustrating, but we’re playing good hockey.”
Mundinger was awed by scene in the arena where people were literally sitting in the final row near the Bay Center roof. From ice level to rafter left, the seats were filled. And it will occur again Saturday.
“I feel like every week here, you think like you get the best and it just keeps more and more,” Mundinger said. “Nothing but great things about playing here… more than I could have ever dreamed of when coming here. This is a special weekend. You want to win for everyone that’s there. “
For more photos, click or tap here.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Macon Mayhem vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Bratt Elementary Staffers Stuck To A Wall Using Tape In Relay For Life Fundraiser
February 3, 2024
The principal and two staff members at Bratt Elementary were stuck to a wall Friday in a fundraiser for Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.
Students purchased strips of duct tape in the “Stuck for a Buck” fundraiser.
Mrs. McCrory, Mr. Johnnie, and Coach Blackburn were stuck on a wall, raising over $1,400 for the Cancer Society
.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Curtis Jonath Kelly
February 3, 2024
Mr. Curtis Jonath Kelly, age 79, of Atmore, Alabama; passed away, Monday January 29, 2024 in Atmore, Alabama. He was a lifelong resident of Atmore and was a faithful member of Bratt Assembly of God
.
Mr. Kelly loved doing tractor work, especially planting gardens. He owned and operated Kelly Hauling for 14 years. Camping and fishing with his wife Alene was something he greatly enjoyed doing. Cutting grass, going to the mountains, traveling with his grandchildren was also favorite things to do. He most enjoyed spending time with family, friends and having cookouts. He was a long-time member of the American Legion. His greatest accomplishment was 55+ years of perfect attendance at Masland Carpets.
He is preceded in death by his parents Willie Harrison (Earlene Stewart) Kelly; wife Alene Kelly; sister Charolette Coleman; brother James Matthew “JM” Kelly.
He is survived by 2 sons, Alan Kelly of Pensacola, Florida and Chris Kelly (Victoria) of Canoe, Alabama; daughter, Janet James of Atmore, Alabama; brother, Hubert Kelly of Columbus, Georgia; 2 sisters, Glennie (Raymond) Peebles of Christian Home, Florida, Martha Miller of Gastonia, North Carolina. 6 grandchildren Derrek Gibson, Tori Gibson, Trinity Gibson, Daylyn Gibson, Grace Kelly and Gabe Kelly; 3 great grandchildren, Charity, Lilly and Maggie
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral homes, LLC. with Rev. Don Davis officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Six More Weeks Of Winter? North Escambia Weather Ducks See Shadow
February 2, 2024
On this Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, the world famous groundhog, and the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks have differed on their winter predictions.
Folklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring up in Pennsylvania.
We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks. And unlike their more famous Pennsylvania weather buddy, our weather ducks saw their shadow late this morning at our office, predicting six more weeks of winter in North Escambia.
This was one of the few times our weather ducks have predicted more winter. For those that might be a little unsure as to the weather ducks’ ability, we offer the two photographs below showing the weather ducks predicting six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day 2010 and 10 days later with their snowman.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Person Rescued; Dog Killed In Ensley RV Fire
February 2, 2024
A resident was rescued but a dog died in a travel trailer fire Thursday in Ensley.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a mobile home structure fire at the 10 block of East Hood Drive about 5:40 a.m.
The travel trailer was about half involved in fire when they arrived. ECFR firefighters were able to rescue one patient who was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
A dog was found deceased inside the structure, ECFR said.
The fire was brought under control in about 10 minutes. The travel trailer was a total loss, but nearby structures were saved.
The Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson is investigating the cause of the fire.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
February 2, 2024
Tate High School has named their Students of the Month for December. They are Synoma Perea and Carson Hindsman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.