Northview Gets District Win Against Chipley (With Gallery)
April 13, 2019
Northview 3, Chipley 0
The Northview Chiefs picked up another big district win Friday night with a 3-0 shutout of Chipley.
Seth Killam pitched the win for the Chiefs. He lasted six innings, allowing no runs on four hits and striking out 11. Nick Venable earned the save out of the bullpen with the last three outs.
Killam , Venable , Jacob Bryant, Tanner Levins and Jackson Moore each had one hit for Northview.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Another Earthquake Strikes Friday Night; Fourth In Two Days
April 13, 2019
The fourth earthquake in two days struck the North Escambia area Friday night.
The magnitude 1.8 tremor was centered between Little Escambia Road and Chavers Creek Road in Escambia County, AL, or about six miles northeast of Century at 10:48 p.m. According to the USGS magnitude scale, the weak quake would not have been felt except by just a few people under especially favorable conditions.
On Thursday, a magnitude 2.6 earthquake struck at 10:51 p.m. near Upper Creek Road south of Sardine Road in Escambia County, AL, or about nine miles northwest of Century. A 2.8 earthquake occurred at 3:11 p.m. Thursday a short distance away near Little Escambia Creek in Escambia County, AL. And another quake, a 2.5 magnitude, occurred in about the same area at 11:33 a.m. Thursday.
The four tremors in two days made nine earthquakes in the North Escambia area in since March 6.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Escambia area sits on the Bahamas Seismic Zone (the BSZ). Several earthquakes have occurred along this zone in recent years, but most are too weak to be felt by residents. While not a likelihood, the USGS says another significant earthquake could happen in the area at any time.
The last recorded earthquake in Florida before this year was a 5.9 in the Gulf of Mexico felt across much of Florida in September 2006.
At 3:35 a.m. on October 24, 1997, a significant earthquake startled a large number of people in Escambia County, Ala., and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. The quake, which measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, was centered near the Little Rock community in Escambia County, Ala., and was felt as far away as Eglin AFB, and Gulfport, Miss. It was the strongest earthquake in the southeast in 30 years. No significant damage was reported.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Softball: Northview Splits With Jay (With Gallery); Tate Gets Big Win Over Milton
April 13, 2019
Jay 9, Jay 1
Northview 5, Jay 3 (JV)
The Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 9-1 in a varsity district game Friday night in Bratt, while the JV Lady Chiefs defeated Jay 5-3.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Tate 10, Milton 1
Tate 14, Milton7
The Tate Lady Aggies cruised to an easy 10-1 win over Milton Friday night in Milton.
Avery Beauchanie earned the victory for the Lady Aggies, giving up one run on one hit in seven innings, while striking out five.
Beauchanie, Shelby McClean, Gabby Locke, Amber Decoux and Ryleigh Cawby each had a couple of hits for Tate.
Pictured: Jay defeats Northview in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members
April 13, 2019
New members were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society during a candlelight ceremony Friday at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle school students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character.
New National Junior Honor Society members at Ernest Ward are:
Raegan Abbott
Sarah Bailey
Haydn Baker
Kyle Blanton
Kelsey Boykin
Nate Caston
JaMiracle Culpepper
Riley Dawson
Presley Dortch
Harley Edmonson
Zykuria Fountain
Emilie Funck
Caden Garrett
Skielah Gaskey
Kaylie Glick
Maggie Godwin
Makayla Golson
Berklee Hall
Kaylee Hamilton
Leah Hetrick
Saniyah Hixon
Ja’Niya Hooks
Meredith Johnston
Allyson Jones
Shelby Kent
Joshua Lashley
James Lee
Leila Mason
Alyse McKillion
Jaquez Moorer
Mariyah Pettway
Chloe Ragsdale
Tyler Riggs
Isabella Sanders
Wyatt Scruggs
Payton Stoner
Lavon Taylor
Bentley Van Pelt
Skyler Williams
Carley Woodfin
They joined current members:
Drew Albritton
Erich Amerson
Leah Anderson
Ryan Andrews
Cheveyo Bingham
Luke Bridges
Karson Brown
Na’Khya Brown
Landon Chavers
Michael Cody
Ethan Collier
Ryan Dove
Kameron Enfinger
Lexi Evans
Logan Faith
Caitlyn Gibson
Emma Gilmore
Cross Goslee
Bradley Hamilton
Kohle Harigel
Cayla Houston
Johnnie Howell
Ruthie Huskie
Kayla Johnson
Trent Knighten
Emily Lambeth
Emily Levins
Kennedy Long
Sarah Long
Houston Lowry
Megan McGhee
Elianna Morales
Alyssa Moya
Kaden Odom
Drake Allen Oriskell
Cameron Partrick
Chase Pugh
Wyatt Ramsey
Madison Rowinsky
Leila Sanders
McKenna Simmons
Arquavlan Smith
Vivyan Smith
Jessica Stabler
Cole Stewart
Aubrey Stuckey
Clay Wilson
Alexia Yeater
Blake Yoder
Tate, Pace Split Friday Night
April 13, 2019
Pace 6, Tate 2
The Pace Patriots defeated the Tate Aggies 6-2 Friday night to split their regular season games 2-2.
Tied 2-2 after seven innings, the Patriots plated four runs in the top of the eighth to put the game out of the reach of Tate.
For Tate: Chase Tolbert 1-3, R; Jadon Fryman 1-2, R; Trevor Norton 1-2.
The Aggies are back in action next week against Choctaw and Navarre.
Tate 6, Pace 2 (JV)
The JV Tate Aggies completed their sweep of Pace by the score of 6-2 Friday. On Thursday, the JV Aggies beat Pace 7-6.
Photos by Crystal Tolbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Shut Out Jacksonville
April 13, 2019
Devin Smeltzer’s first start of the year in Mobile was going to be hard to top. After taking a perfect game into the 5th inning on the road and striking out 9 in Pensacola’s 5-0 win over Mobile on April 6th, the bar was high for his first home start of 2019 on Friday evening.
Consider the bar raised.
Smeltzer shined in his Blue Wahoos Stadium debut, working into the ninth in shutout fashion. He exited with one out in the game’s final inning to a rousing ovation from the Pensacola crowd, having thrown 8.1 scoreless innings without allowing a run on just three hits while striking out eight. Reliever Cody Stashak recorded the final two outs to earn his first save of the year and preserve Pensacola’s 2-0 victory, their third straight over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
With tonight’s win, Smeltzer now holds a ridiculous stat line on the season: two wins, 14.0 innings pitched, just five hits allowed, and 17 strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos, who have scored first in all eight games this season, continued their trend of taking an early lead. Jordan Gore led off the home half of the first with a single, just as he did last night, and came around to score following a Luis Arraez single and an RBI groundout by Taylor Grzelakowski.
In the second, Jimmy Kerrigan was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on an infield single by Tanner English. The hit was English’s first with Pensacola after being activated from the injured list earlier today. English also made a large impact in the field, making a pair of diving catches in center field.
With the 2-0, Smeltzer cruised, scattering three hits and needing just 85 pitches to work into the ninth. Stashak needed just seven pitches to record the games final out, sending the fans home happy in the fastest Wahoos game of the year: one hour and 57 minutes.
The win improves Pensacola’s record to 6-2 on the season, best in the Southern League. Jacksonville falls to 3-5 with the loss. The two team’s will continue their five-game set at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
Rollover Wreck Injures One, Cuts Power For Hundreds In Molino
April 12, 2019
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover accident involving a utility pole in Molino Friday afternoon.
The accident happened in the 400 block of Molino Road near the Molino Post Office about 4 p.m. The vehicle came to rest on its side. The driver was transported to an area hospital.
About 300 Gulf Power customers lost power as a result of the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Two Teens Charged In Alleged Sexual Battery At Pine Forest High School
April 12, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has concluded their investigation into an alleged sexual battery of a 15-year old at Pine Forest High School on April 9.
“The investigation revealed that no force was proven in the incident,” the ECSO stated Friday afternoon.
The two alleged assailants are age 16 and 17. Due to their ages, the ECSO said charges of lewd and lascivious behavior is being brought.
The investigation was conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office.
Escambia County Fire Insurance Rating Improves, Will Likely Mean Savings For Property Owners
April 12, 2019
An improved rating for the Escambia Fire Rescue will likely translate into an insurance cost savings for many Escambia County Residents.
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating for Escambia County has improved from a 5/5x to 4/4X, putting Escambia County in the top 30% of fire departments nationwide. The rating is countywide, regardless if the property is urban or rural.
Structures that are within five miles of a fire station (full-time or volunteer) and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant have now have an ISO 4 rating, while structures within five miles of a fire station but more than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant are rated at 4X. Properties located more than five miles from a fire station are rated an ISO 10, which is a class assigned to distant properties anywhere in the country, not just in Escambia County.
The five-mile criteria can also apply to Escambia County residents located within five miles of an out of county fire station that would be dispatched to their property under a mutual aid agreement, such as residents in Escambia County, FL, that are within five miles of the nearest Atmore fire station.
ISO is an independent party that provides, among other things, risk assessment information to insurance companies. For fire protection, ISO assigns fire ratings to a community between 1 and 10; 10 being the worst rating and 1 being the best fire protection coverage.
The program rates different elements of local fire protection. These include water supply, communications/dispatch effectiveness, and the operations of the fire department. Home and business property insurance premiums are partially based on program ratings.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Six Candidates In The Running For Escambia County Administrator
April 12, 2019
There are six names on list of candidates to be interviewed for the Escambia County administrator position. They are:
- Craig Coffey from Flagler Beach, FL. County administrator in Flagler County from 2007-2019, has 20 years experience as a city/county manager with extensive Florida county government experience and 11 years additional local government experience.
- Patrick Thompson from Woodbury, MN. County administrator in St. Croix County, WI. Over 36 years local government experience.
- David Strahl from O’Fallon, MO. County administrator in City of O’Fallon, MO. 30 plus years local government administration experience, none in county government.
- Christopher Martin from Gulf Breeze. He served as the commanding officer of Pensacola Naval Air Station and spent 27 years in the Navy.
- Janice Gilley from Molino. She has held the position of vice president of External Affairs at the University of West Florida for 10 years. She served one year as the national policy director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, one year as deputy chief of staff for the Florida House of Representatives and served as policy director and deputy policy director for year in the Executive Office of the Governor in Florida. She served as an Escambia County commissioner from 2002-2004.
- Cedric Alexander from Pensacola. He has 13 years government experience including deputy chief in the Office of the Mayor in Rochester, NY, public safety director in Dekalb County, GA, and a federal security director for the Department of Homeland Security.
Coffey, Thompson and Strahl were on a list compiled by the Florida Association of County Managers, hired by the county for $5,000 to create a short list from the 120 plus applicants
Michael Renshaw from Winder, Georgia, was the third name on the original list but pulled his name from consideration on Thursday after watching a BOCC Committee of the Whole meeting. In an email he said:
“I had an opportunity to view the live meeting of the Committee of the Whole this morning (April 11) pertaining to the County Administrator selection process. Please withdraw my name from any further consideration in this process. I wish you well in your future endeavors, and please extend my thanks to the members of FACM. If possible please advise your local media of my decision to withdraw as soon as possible, and confirm your receipt of this email.”
Renshaw was a county administrator in Barrow County, Georgia with nine years local government administration experience.
On Thursday, commissioners added Martin, Gilley and Alexander to the list. If they add any more candidates, they should be named by April 16.
The commission plans to interview candidates on April 29. Commissioners will meet individually with candidates one-on-one before conducting interviews in a public meeting.
Kenneth Griffin from Williamsburg, Virginia, was an alternate on the original list and withdrew his name after he accepted another position. He is a consultant and principal engineer at a private firm with five years experience as an assistant county administrator in Hillsborough County, FL.