Over 3,000 Students Attend STEM Event Before Blue Angels Air Show
November 10, 2024
Over 3,000 Escambia and Santa Rosa County students had the took part in a STEM day before before last weekend’s Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show.
NAS Pensacola hosted exhibits and static displays from numerous Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-focused organizations.
Our STEM event featured a unique partnership between the air station and a dozen STEM-focused organizations,” Capt. Terry Shashaty, the NAS Pensacola commanding officer said. “I know that the thousands of students participating in this experience were inspired by what they were able to see. These interactive and entertaining displays were amazing, and our partnership with our school districts was unparalleled.”
Displays at the daylong student event – as well as at the two-day Airshow, included:
- NASA – Interactive displays, aircraft, and astronauts from Stennis, Marshall, Kennedy, Goddard, and Johnson Space Centers
- Aviation Inspiration Mentorship Program – F-35 Simulator and VR Experience
- Pensacola Mess Hall – Hands on exploration of light and the science of space
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab – Hands on learning with remotely operated vehicles
- Integration, Innovation, Inc. – Augmented Reality Experience with helicopter trainers
- Chappie James Flight Academy – Wind tunnel demonstration
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at FSU – Magnet exploration activities
- Purdue University – Exploration in the importance of protecting your noggin’
- DreamBIG Entertainment – Cockpit photo experience
- Lockheed Martin
- Navy STEM
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Ice Flyers Fall To Knoxville Ice Bears
November 10, 2024
In a hard-fought battle that capped off the Blue Angels Night festivities, the Pensacola Ice Flyers fell short against the Knoxville Ice Bears, losing 5-3 on Saturday night. The defeat evened out the weekend series, following the Ice Flyers’ impressive 6-4 win on Friday night.
The excitement began with a crowd-pleasing fight between Ice Flyers defenseman Jake Hamilton and Cam Tobey. However, the first period quickly took a turn as the Ice Bears scored three unanswered goals, leaving the Ice Flyers searching for answers heading into the first intermission.
The spirited crowd of 6,235 at the Pensacola Bay Center kept hopes alive as the second period began. Ivan Bondarenko netted his first goal of the new season just three minutes in. Although Knoxville answered later to maintain their three-goal lead, Greg Smith managed to cut the Ice Bears’ advantage in half with 4:27 left on the clock, closing out the scoring for the second period.
Despite numerous scoring chances in the third, the hometown team couldn’t complete the comeback. Jake Hamilton found the back of the net with 2:53 left in the game, but the rally fell short when Knoxville’s Lucas Helland scored on an empty net.
“The crowd looked amazing, anytime you can play in this environment, you wanna put your best effort forward,” said Head Coach Gary Graham. “We’re gonna go back to the lab next week. We’ve got 4 days to prepare for a really big Huntsville series.”
What’s Next?
Next Game: Friday, November 15 at Huntsville
Next Home Game: Saturday, November 16 for the fan-favorite Star Wars Night
Alabama Man Charged With DUI In Crash That Injured Six From Cantonment
November 9, 2024
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE
The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested an Alabama man for DUI in connection with an I-10 crash Thursday night that injured six Cantonment residents, including a 14-year-old boy that suffered critical injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 14-year-old was the passenger in a van along with five other Cantonment residents ranging in age from 12 to 50 that suffered minor injuries.
FHP said the van and a pickup truck were involved in the crash, and at least one vehicle rolled over.
Troopers charged the driver of the pickup, 49-year-old Shawn Reynolds Wilber of Daphne, Alabama, with DUI with serious bodily injury. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1,500.
The crash happened just before 10 p.m. on I-10 westbound, just west of the Highway 29 exit.
Hundreds Attend Byrneville Elementary Fall Festival (With Photo Gallery)
November 9, 2024
Hundreds of people attended the annual Byrneville Elementary Fall Festival Friday evening at the school.
The event, organized by the Byrneville PTO, was packed with family-friendly fun, games, and fall festivities. Festival-goers enjoyed an array of activities, including a pirate ship ride, rock climbing, inflatables and more. Attendees testedtheir skills at games such as bull riding and a cake walk. The event also featured a haunted house, face painting, vendors, and a basket auction.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The festival is a major fundraiser for Byrneville Elementary, with all proceeds supporting school programs and resources.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Multiple Injuries In Highway 29, Neal Road Crash
November 9, 2024
Multiple people were injured in a two vehicle crash Friday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Neal Road in Cantonment.
At least two injured were transported to area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash, and troopers have not released further details.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
The Brackets Are Out: Tate Aggies, Jay Royals Set For Playoff Games Next Friday Night
November 9, 2024
The Florida High School Athletics Association has announced the first round playoff pairings for next Friday night, inclung games for Tate and Jay high schools.
In the immedia North Escambia area:
- The No. 8 Tate Aggies will travel to the Jacksonville suburb of Ponte Vedra to take on the No 1. Nease Panthers.
- The No. 5 Jay Royals will host the No. 12 Fort White Indians.
Here are the playoff games for other Escambia County area teams:
Rural
- No. 12 Fort White at No. 5 Jay
Class 2A Region 1
- No. 2 Catholic will host No. 7 Walton
Class 4A Region 1
- No. 5 Ed White (Jacksonville) at No. 4 Pine Forest
- No. 6. Riverside (Jacksonville at No. 3 Escambia
Class 6A Region 1
- No. 8 Tate at No 1. Nease (Ponte Vedra)
- No. 5 Oviedo at No. 3 Pace
Pictured: The Tate Aggies in a 35-14 defeat of Crestview in October. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dabrowski’s Big Night Against Former Team Lifts Ice Flyers To First Home Win
November 9, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
The Ice Flyers newly acquired Sam Dabrowski had a little emotional tinge while glancing at this former team prior to Friday night’s game.
“There were a couple times when I saw the (Knoxville Ice Bears) jerseys and I had a little double take where I was like, wait, these aren’t my teammates,” Dabrowski said. “But I know how they compete.
‘I’ve practice with them for longer than I’ve practiced with these guys here in Pensacola, so I am familiar with everyone on the ice and their tendencies and how they play. And I just try to play my best game.
He did just that.
Dabrowski scored a pair of second period goals – his first two with Pensacola – as the Ice Flyers won a 7-4 scoring fest Friday against the Knoxville Ice Bears before a crowd of 5,330 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The attractive adult jersey giveaway had fans waiting outside the Bay Center well before the doors opened for the replica jersey style worn Friday by the Ice Flyers.
When the game began, the Ice Flyers fans had more reasons to cheer in what became the first home ice win of the season.
Cameron Cook and Matt Weisner scored goals just 1-minute, 11 seconds apart in the first period for a 20 lead at intermission.
The teams combined for seven goals in a wild second period, which saw Ice Bears’ goaltender Stephen Mundinger, who played for the Ice Flyers most of last season, pulled after giving up a fourth goal on just 14 shots faced with 13:39 left in the second period.
The Ice Flyers then sealed the game in third period when Ivan Bondarenko slipped a perfect pass behind him to Jordan Henderson, who then rifled a wrist shot into the net 5:44 remaining for a 6-4 lead. CJ Hayes then made a diving whack at the puck with a defender on him for an empty net goal with 15 seconds left to complete the night.
“It’s good for the group, I think we’ve been getting our fair share of chances, we just haven’t been burying (pucks) and I think that’s what has been frustrating,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “So the longer that goes, guys start squeezing their sticks.
“It’s all about confidence in this game. More confident players, the better they’re going to play, so it is good to see the team finally get rewarded. We got a few bounces for once (Friday), haven’t been getting a lot of those.
“On the flip side, I can’t sit here and be happy giving up that many goals. It’s not our standard. We’ve had way too many games this season giving up too many goals.”
The teams will rematch Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Bay Center on Blue Angels Night with the Ice Flyers wearing spectacular Blue Angels uniforms in honor of the U.S. Navy famed flight demonstration squadron based at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The recognition follows the Blue Angels final air show of 2024 last Saturday in Pensacola and occurs on Veterans Day weekend.
FIRST PERIOD
Cameron Cook started things off for the Ice Flyers working the puck free off the boards from a faceoff and then rifling a wrist shot past Stephen Mundinger less than six minutes into the first period.
Matt Weisner quickly followed on a perfect pass from C.J. Hayes, who worked himself around the back of the net, then found Weisner open for a one-timer that became a 2-0 lead at intermission.
SECOND PERIOD
Just 47 seconds into the period, as fans were still returning from the first intermission break, Dabrowski scored his first Ice Flyers goal on assists from Cook and Shane Bull.
Knoxville answered less than a minute later to make it a 3-1 and ignite the scoring spree.
Dabrowski scored again, assisted by the same two linemates again, to make it 4-1 with 13:39 left. He was acquired by the Ice Flyers on Oct. 26 and made the trip with the team last weekend to Roanoke and Fayetteville.
“We kinda had a little bit of slow weekend last weekend when we were thrown together for the first time without a whole lot of practice time,” Dabrowski said. “With a week of practice together (this week) things started to click.
“The game plan was laid out for us, we executed, did what we were supposed to.”That goal led to Mundinger getting pulled and ignited Knoxville to make it a 4-3 game with the next two goals before Bull scored with 2:06 left in the period.
THIRD PERIOD
Henderson’s goal late in the period followed both teams getting power play chances earlier in the period. Ivan Bonderenko’s pass made the difference in setting up the goal-scoring play.
The Ice Bears pulled their goaltender with 1:15 remaining and had a two-man advantage briefly as the Ice Flyers killed off a penalty then Hayes’ great hustle play sent the puck into the net for the final goal.
GAME NOTABLES
The jerseys worn Friday night by the players and the fans will be followed on Saturday with the players wearing the Blue Angels uniforms in a partnership with the U.S. Navy’s famed squadron.
“You go around the world, everyone knows who the Blue Angels are,” Graham said. “I think these jerseys are probably the best I’ve ever seen, and I have seen a lot of cool jerseys in my lifetime. That jersey we will be wearing I think is the sharpest thing.”
Parts Of North Escambia Officially In A Severe Drought
November 9, 2024
Portions of North Escambia are in a severe drought, according to the latest data released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center.
The Walnut Hill, Enon, Molino and McDavid areas in the severe drought, while the remainder of Escambia County are in a moderate drought. The data used for the map includes rainfall through Tuesday.
There is slight chance of rain in the forecast for Friday.
Cantonment Boy Critically Injured In I-10 Rollover Crash
November 8, 2024
A 14-year-old Cantonment boy was critically injured in a crash Thursday night on I-10 in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said he was the passenger in a van along with five other Cantonment residents ranging in age from 12 to 50 that suffered minor injuries. The driver of the pickup, a 49-year-old from Daphne, Alabama, received minor injuries.
FHP said the van and a pickup truck were involved in the crash, and at least one vehicle rolled over. Troopers have not released any information on the cause of the crash as the investigation continues.
The crash happened just before 10 p.m. on I-10 westbound, just west of the Highway 29 exit.
‘Jeff Bergosh Is Grateful’ — Longtime Public Servant Says Goodbye At Last Commission Meeting
November 8, 2024
Longtime public servant Jeff Bergosh said goodbye Thursday night during his final meeting on the Escambia County Commission.
Bergosh has served District 1on the Escambia County Commission for the past eight years, following 10 years on the Escambia County School Board. He was defeated in the Republican primary by challenger Steve Stroberger who will take office later this month.
I just want to reiterate just how grateful I am. How gratified being a member of the school board when my all three of my children were in the public schools of Escambia County where I’m a very, very big champion of public schools,” Bergosh said, reminiscing about being on stage as a school board member when two of his three children graduated.”
“I just want the word, the takeaway, from tonight to be that Jeff Bergosh is grateful. He’s grateful for a great family. His faith. I’m grateful for my faith in God because you need it,” he said. “I you don’t have faith in God, you’ve got nothing.”
“”I’m thankful to all the citizens,” he added. “I’m thankful to my family for tolerating this 18-year endeavor that I’ve been in. And I just I want the citizens to know that this has been the honor and the privilege of my life.”
“I will look back with fond memories the good times, the bad times, the memories, I’ll look back fondly and will miss this but as I said before, I’m bullish on the future of Escambia County. I know that we’ve got great things in the works and I I’m rooting for you guys as I leave.”
Commission chair Steven Barry presented Bergosh with a proclamation honoring his service to Escambia County.
Pictured: Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh during his final meeting Thursday night. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.