Walnut Hill VFD Honors Firemen, Community Member During Fish Fry (Photo Gallery)
November 4, 2018
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their 49th annual fish fry Saturday.
Arthur Levins was named Firefighter of the Year, an award chosen by his fellow firefighters, Gerry Steege was named Officer of the Year and recognized for his service to the department. Northview High School agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor Perry Byars received the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s Community Service Award for outstanding and dedicated service to the community.
Well over 600 people enjoyed fried and grilled catfish or grilled chicken plates during the event, with proceeds to be used to provide assistance to displaced fire victims in the area.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill VFD Community Member of the Year Perry Byars with District Chief Chris Brown. Pictured below: Fried catfish fresh out of the cooker, Officer of the Year Gerry Steege, Firefighter of the Year Arthur Levins, and a portion of the crowd. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
About A Third Of Escambia Voters Have Already Cast A Ballot
November 4, 2018
About a third of Escambia County voters have already cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday’s general election.
A total of 70,774 ballots received by Saturday represents a 33.23 percent turnout so far.
Early voting ended Saturday night in Escambia County with 39,052 votes cast. An additional 31,696 ballots had been received by mail.
A total of 26 ballots have been marked as provisional.
Polls will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.
NWE Freshmen Finish As ERC Freshmen Runners-up (Photo Gallery)
November 4, 2018
The Freshmen NWE Chiefs fell just short of an ERC championship Saturday with a 12-7 loss to Excel during play in Poarch.
For a NWE Freshmen photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders Win Big At Cheer For Hope Competition
November 4, 2018
The Tate High School Cheerleaders started their competitive season Saturday at Cheer for Hope in Ocean Springs, Miss.
The Aggie Varsity Coed squad won first place in their division and took the Show Stopper Award, which is awarded to the team with the highest score for the entire competition.
The Tate Junior Varsity Squad wone first place in their division, and they won the Stellar Stunts award.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Blue Angels Show
November 4, 2018
The Blue Angels annual Homecoming Air Show on board Naval Air Station Pensacola was held Friday and Saturday,
For a photo gallery from Saturday, click here.
For a photo gallery from Friday, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
No. 7 Valdosta State Too Much UWF In 48-21 Senior Day Loss
November 4, 2018
The UWF football team went toe-to-toe with undefeated Valdosta State but had too many second-half miscues in a 48-21 loss at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday night.
UWF led 21-17 late in the third quarter before VSU scored 31 unanswered to claim the victory.
UWF (6-4, 4-3 Gulf South) finished with 279 yards and got 149 on the ground. Chris Schwarz led the ground attack with a touchdown and 118 yards for his third 100-yard game of the season.
Senior Nick Belz made his first career start in place of the injured Sam Vaughn. Belz was 10-of-17 for 101 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
A total of eight players caught passes for UWF, with Ishmel Morrow and Tate Lehtio collecting three balls and a touchdown each. Martes Wheeler led all players with 14 tackles, including a forced fumble and pass break-up.
VSU (9-0, 7-0) had 557 yards and rushed for 391. Rogan Wells was 14-of-23 with a touchdown and rushed 11 times for 104 yards. His 81-yard run on third-and-13 two minutes into the game put the Blazers ahead 7-0. Jamar Thompkins had 114 yards rushing on 13 touches.
he Argonauts tied it at 14 midway through the second quarter on Belz’s two scoring passes. He hit Morrow from 24 yards and then benefitted from a Marvin Conley interception return to the 37 that setup a 6-yard pass to Lehtio with 7:29 left in the half.
The Blazers got a 38-yard Andrew Gray field goal to go ahead 17-14. Gray hit the left upright as time expired on a kick later in the period.
UWF grabbed its first lead of the game on a 1-yard Schwarz run with 5:22 in the third. The possession came as a result of a muffed punt by Brian Saunds that Sam Vaughn recovered at the four. It was the first time this season that the Blazers had been behind in the second half.
VSU regained the lead on the ensuing possession, taking advantage of a short kickoff and running seven times for 60 yards before Wells bootlegged in from the seven for a 24-21 edge.
Gray made his second field goal of the game early in the fourth after the teams traded turnovers, extending their lead to 27-21.
Raymond Palmer picked off Belz and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown three plays later for a 13-point lead. The Blazers added two more scores late for the final margin.
UWF will wrap-up the regular season next week with a road game at West Alabama (7-3, 4-3). Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Livingston, Ala.
Woman Critically Injured In Cantonment House Fire
November 3, 2018
A woman was critically injured in a house fire Friday night in Cantonment.
The fire in the 2500 block Portobella Place, just south of East Kingsfield Road, was reported about 8 p.m. Firefighters pulled the woman from the burning home.
The woman was transported by Escambia County EMS in critical condition to Sacred Heart Hospital due to smoke inhalation. An update on her condition was not available.
The home was heavily damaged by fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With Trafficking Fentanyl, Meth, Heroin, Cocaine
November 3, 2018
An Escambia County man is facing multiple drug and weapons charges.
Jerrel Lamar Leverette, 36, was charged with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine, possession of controlled substance with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, keeping a public nuisance structure for drug activity and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on $25,000 bond.
His arrest came after the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant in the 800 block of South Madison Drive.
During the search, narcotics officers found 3,418.2 grams of methamphetamine, 682.5 grams of heroin and Fentanyl, 35.2 grams of cocaine, seven hydrocodone pills, one AR015 style rifle and a handgun, and more than $9,400 in cash, according to the sheriff’s office.
Blue Angels Impress At Homecoming Show (With Photo Gallery)
November 3, 2018
The Blue Angels annual Homecoming Air Show on board Naval Air Station Pensacola will continue on Saturday.
Scheduled to perform are the Stearman Flight Team and Doc Serrato in his T-28C Trojan. Adam Baker will fly his Extra 330 to thrill the crowd, and Skip Stewart will pilot his Prometheus Biplane. The show will feature an F-22 Raptor demonstration from Langley Air Force base and a USAF Heritage Flight. Chris Darnell will drive the world’s fastest jet powered truck “Shockwave” at more than 300 miles per hour, and Keith Sayers and the Freestyle Motocross Team will perform amazing stunts.
Dozens of military and civilian aircraft will be on display. These static displays will include a variety of aircraft ranging from the present-day, state-of-the-art fighters to aircraft from the 1930s.
Gates open at 8 a.m. and admission and parking are free.
Pictured: Friday’s airshow at NAS Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Dominate Freeport, Head To Playoffs
November 3, 2018
The Northview Chiefs are headed to the playoffs with a winning season record.
The Chiefs wrapped up a winning regular season on the road with a 49-21 win over Freeport Friday night.
Northview jumped out to a 21-7 lead by the end of the first quarter, and doubled their advantage to a commanding 42-7 lead at the half.
The Chiefs (6-4) will host a playoff matchup next against Graceville.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.