With Seven Home Runs, Tate Lady Aggies Go Undefeated in Panama City Tournament
March 3, 2024
The Lady Aggies went undefeated this week in the Florida-USA Softball Challenge in Panama City Beach.
The varsity scored 21 runs in three games, 29 total hits, seven home runs and four doubles.
Kara Wine has three home runs during the tournament. Olivea Latner, Blakely Campbell, Kate Balagbagan and Peyton Womack added one dinger each.
During the two-tourney, Tate beat Mobile Christian 3-2, Chiles 9-3, and Holmes 9-3.
Pictured: (L-R) Olivea Latner, Kara Wine, Blakely Campbell, Kate Balagbagan and Peyton Womack had seven total tournament home runs for the Tate Lady Aggies. Photo for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.
Desne Fog Tonight; Rain By Monday Night
March 3, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Areas of dense fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 69. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. West wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Northview Lady Chiefs Go 2-3 In Weekend Tourney
March 3, 2024
The Northview Lady Chiefs went 2-3 overall at the Florida-USA Softball Challenge in Panama City Beach Friday and Saturday.
Northview shut out Altha 11-0 and defeated Port Saint Joe 11- 3 Saturday after falling to Liberty County 6-1 on Friday.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs Port Saint Joe 11- 3 Saturday. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Return to Towers on Casino Beach
March 3, 2024
The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards returned to their towers on Friday for the 2024 lifeguard season. Initially, Casino Beach will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, shifting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Sunday, March 10. As summer approaches, staffing will increase to provide coverage at up to 10 towers, which begin staffing Memorial Day weekend.
In preparation for the 2024 season, Pensacola Beach hired 19 new lifeguards and welcomed 39 returning lifeguards to a rigorous training program, including over 60 hours of open water training, emergency medical training and more. Interested in becoming a lifeguard? The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will host a tryout on Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at the UWF Aquatic Center.
Last season, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards performed 275 rescues from drowning and assists to swimmers experiencing distress. They also attended to 60 major medical incidents and assisted 51 patients for EMS transport. Lifeguards made contact with beachgoers over 183,000 times during the 2023 season, providing information about rip currents, beach condition flags and other safety tips.
“It’s that time of year again when we prepare for another busy beach season,” said Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood. “Throughout the year, our lifeguards have trained and remained prepared. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to beautiful Pensacola Beach.”
Ice Flyers Secure Back-to-Back Wins (With Photo Gallery)
March 3, 2024
by Bill Vilonam, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers took on their alter identity Saturday as the Pensacola Bushwackers, then continued a recent trend of being a different team.
All in a good way.
After taking a 2-0 lead in the four minutes into the second period, the Ice Flyers grinded out a 2-1 victory against the Fayetteville Marksmen for their first back-to-back home weekend wins since December 1 and 2 when beating Peoria twice.
“I think we’re all jelling,” said Pensacola goaltender Stephen Mundinger, who made 34 saves – many of them creating reaction from the Bay Center crowd of 5,202.
“With every winning team, you just have to get hot before the playoffs and I think that’s the direction we are going,” Mundinger said. “Guys are buying in, doing all the right plays. It’s a whole different feel in the (dressing) room in my opinion. We are going into games confident.
The win pushed the Ice Flyers (21-20, 3 OT losses) above .500 for the first time in a long while and with 45 points.
The players were attired in the Bushwacker uniforms that were so popular a year ago and that was part of a theme of other activities in the game.
FIRST PERIOD
The Ice Flyers delivered on their first power play chance. Joseph Widmar finished a perfect pass from Garrett Milan, who was fed the puck by Andy Willis. The classic “tick-tac-goal” was wristed by Widmar into the net with 13:34 remaining.
Mundinger made a big save midway through the period. The Ice Flyers finished with a 16-9 edge in shots.
SECOND PERIOD
Mitch Atkins gave the Ice Flyers a 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the period on an assist from Ivan Bondarenko. He finished a shot from the slot area and the Ice Flyers were seemingly on their way.
But the game got tight. Fayetteville got their goal with 10:17 left in the period.
Taylor Egan then got the crowd going when squaring off in a fight against Fayetteville’s Ty Proffitt. Both players landed punches, but Egan won the fight with a flurry at the end that got Proffitt on the ice.
THIRD PERIOD
No scoring, but plenty of end of game drama.
Mundinger made of one of his biggest saves of the game with 8:09 left on a point-black shot by Fayetteville right in the slot area.
The Ice Flyers then got a power play opportunity with four minutes left when the Marksmen were called for too many men on the ice. They had a few shots, but nothing led to a goal.
With 1:15 left, the Marksmen pulled goaltender Ryan Kenny, who made 35 saves.
NOTABLES
Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris presented a $25,000 check to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.
The team honored front office executive Brenden Arney, who worked his 100th game Saturday night.
QUOTABLES
Ice Flyers Coach Gary Graham:
“It was good. We’re slowing trying to build some momentum. The captains had a good meeting this week to set up some long-term goals. We had 14 games left, now we have 12 games left and we’re kind of breaking it up in a couple seven game segments with some goals to achieve each game. I thought it was a great idea. They are really leading right now.
Guys are stepping up right now. I thought it was a playoff style game. Both goalies played really well. Both teams checked well and both teams clamped down defensively, reminiscent of more what a playoff game would look like.”
NEXT FACEOFF
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Peoria Rivermen
WHEN: March 8-9
WHERE: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois
$55 Million Construction Project Beginning At I-10, Nine Mile Road Interchange
March 2, 2024
Construction will begin this month on a $55 million Florida Department of Transportation improvement project on I-10 at the Nine Mile Road interchange (Exit 5).
Planned improvements include replacing the existing I-10 overpass at Nine Mile Road to increase vertical clearance and to accommodate future improvements. The project will enhance traffic safety and mobility for the 62,000 drivers who travel the interchange daily.
During construction, the speed limit on I-10 will be lowered to 60 mph and 35 mph on Nine Mile Road. Lane closures on I-10 will be permitted Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and lane closures on Nine Mile Road will be permitted between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Drivers will encounter lane closures and traffic pacing operations on I-10 near Nine Mile Road Sunday, March 3 through Thursday, March 7 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform striping and barrier wall work. Vehicle pacing operations, also known as “rolling roadblocks,” are used to create gaps in traffic so that short-duration construction activities can be completed. In addition, traffic on I-10 will be temporarily shifted to the outside (right) beginning Sunday, March 3 so crews can begin bridge construction work. The shift will be in place until spring 2025.
FDOT will hold a virtual project update (VPU) for the I-10 at Nine Mile Road interchange (Exit 5) project beginning at noon (CST) Thursday, March 7.
Gilman Homers, But Chiefs Fall To Liberty County In PC Tourney
March 2, 2024
The Northview Chiefs fell to Liberty County 6-1 Friday at the Florida-USA Softball Challenge in Panama City.
Jamison Gilman opened the scoring for the Chiefs in the Panama City Tournament with a solo home run to center field in the first inning, her first career home run.
Gilman went four and two-thirds innings in the circle for Northview, giving up eight hits and six runs while recording three errors and six strikeouts while walking two. Mikayla McAnnally went two and a third innings, giving up two hits, no runs, striking out two and walking one.
Gilman and Avery Stuckey had two hits each. Keeli Knighten, Chloe Ragsdale, Mary Clayton Dawson, Makayla Golson and Daviona Randolph each added a hit for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs tournament night game Friday against Marianna was rained out.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Candidate For Escambia School Board District 5 Has Withdrawn; Three Remain
March 2, 2024
Scott Taylor has withdrawn as a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County School Board.
Thomas C. Harrell prefiled Wednesday with the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
Thomas Harrell, Joshua Matthew Luther, and Jim Taylor previously prefiled to seek the position.
The Escambia County School Board is a nonpartisan office on the 2024 ballot.
Students Learn About Ag During Northview’s ‘Fresh From Florida’ Event (With Gallery)
March 2, 2024
About 600 elementary school students learned about agriculture first hand Friday morning during the Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program in Bratt.
The program gave students a chance to see farm animals, take part in hands-on activities, and learn more about how food gets from the farm to their table.
The program was moved indoors this year due to rain.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Previous Northview Fresh From Florida programs have been named the best in the state by the Florida FFA and the chapter has been recognized nationally for their efforts.
Photos for NorthEscambi.com, click to enlarge.
Lower 70s for The Weekend
March 2, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Chance of showers then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming north in the morning.
Saturday Night: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 62. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.