Christmas Toys Giveaway Held In Cantonment
December 17, 2017
PCS Outreach Ministries held their 12th annual Toys Giveaway Saturday at Carver Park in Cantonment. The event, sponsored by Willie Kirkland, Jr. and Rev. John Powell of Truck for Youth, also included free hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and popcorn. Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 4 crew members also took part in the day’s events.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senior Citizen Christmas Banquet Held At Quintette Community Center
December 17, 2017
The annual Senior Citizen Christmas Banquet was held Saturday at the Quintette Community Center. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Seventh Bulb: House Burns, No Smoke Detectors
December 17, 2017
A structure fire on the 5700 block of Wickford Lane represents the seventh red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath. Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call reporting the residential structure fire at 4:12 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Crews arrived on scene to find flames and heavy smoke coming from the single-story home.
Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 4:37 a.m. No one was injured in the fire. Three adults and seven children were able to escape the fire by climbing out the windows. The home sustained smoke and fire damage, and all occupants were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Navy Fire Department also provided assistance.
There were no working smoke detectors in the residence, and a child alerted the family to the fire.
If your home doesn’t have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
Santa’s New Ride: Jolly Old Elf Tours Beulah On Fire Truck
December 17, 2017
Santa Claus was spotted in the Beulah area Saturday. He traded his sleigh for a fire truck ride through the neighborhoods with the volunteer members of the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Middle School Students Learn About Cotton, Timber In North Escambia
December 16, 2017
Seventh grade students from Workman Middle School visited North Escambia Thursday to learn about the cotton and timber industries. The students learned about cotton from producers Brett Ward and Heath Ward in Walnut Hill and forestry from landowner John Russell and Escambia County Forester Cathy Hardin in Oak Grove. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Than A Dream: Northview Grad Very First To Sign With UWF Argos
December 16, 2017
The University of West Florida Argo football team fell in the national championship game on Saturday. Not a bad way at all to cap just the second ever season for the team..
Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the national championship game.
And for Northview High School graduate Blake McCall, the game marks the end of a three year dream. McCall made history in December 2014 as the very first student athlete to sign with the new University of West Florida football team during the NCAA midyear transfer signing period.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to be here,” McCall told NorthEscambia.com from Kansas City, KS, Friday afternoon, just over 24 hours ahead of kickoff of the NCAA Division II National Championship game against Texas A&M-Commerce. “I’m not sure anybody really thought we’d be here right now; it’s taken some of us by surprise.”
“I knew we would do well; it’s just unreal,” the UWF senior remarked.
Putting it all on the line in a championship game is not new to McCall. It wasn’t the national stage, but a first-ever state title for the Northview Chiefs in 2012.
McCall helped lead Northview to an 11-3 overall record and a 4-0 district record as a senior. Northview averaged 42.9 points per game and took the Florida Class 1A state championship with a 42-21 win over Trenton High School during his senior year. McCall was a three-year starter and played all five positions in the offensive line.
“That was a crazy senior year,” said Mccall, who grew up in Bratt about a mile away from Northview. “I keep telling the guys now about being in a championship game, even though it was on a smaller scale.”
In 2013, he redshirted during his freshman year at Division I Jackson State. And during the 2014 season, he saw playing time as a redshirt freshman at Jackson State. On the offensive line, McCall helped lead the team to 25.8 points and 376.1 total yards per game.
Then he met a coach named Pete Shinnick who was working to build a brand new team at the University of West Florida.
“He is one of the most genuine guys I ever met. He was selling a new team when he recruited me, and I have learned that he does what he says,” McCall said.
Perhaps partially due to the inspiration instilled by Shinnick, McCall hopes to coach college football when he graduates.
But in the here and now, he knows that folks back home in Bratt and North Escambia will be rooting for their hometown boy as they watch the game on ESPN2 beginning at 5:00. (The game is also available on the WatchESPN app.)
“I love that community,” he said. “I have received so many Facebook messages and texts from people back home. It means a lot.”
Now, he’s focused on Saturday evening as the DII national championship game kicks off.
“Knowing that you are here in the national championship game will take your breath away,” McCall said as he nears his final football game. “Man what a way to go out. It’s surreal.”
Pictured top: Blake McCall, John Williamson and Devin Gibson at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS — site of today’s NCAA Division II National Championship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Convicted Of Local Shooting Death
December 16, 2017
A Cantonment man was convicted Friday of shooting another man in Cantonment in 2016.
An Escambia County jury found 21-year-old Marquis Derrell Bryant guilty Friday afternoon. Bryant shot 29-year old Alphonso Leon Griffin. Griffin suffered a gunshot wound and was found in the yard of a residence in the 200 block of Sheppard Street in Cantonment just after 9 p.m. on July 23. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he later passed away.
A sentencing date for Bryant has not yet been set.
Kids Shop With A Cop For Christmas
December 16, 2017
Over 60 Escambia County children will have presents for Christmas thanks to the Shop with a Cop event on Friday.
Chief Deputy Chip Simmons, over 90 children, over 70 deputies and civilians and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Explorers met at the Ensley Precinct on Hood Drive and then walked over to Walmart. They were escorted by the Escambia County Mounted Posse.
Smiles filled the store as children were grabbing their carts taking off with their deputy to shop with their $200 gift card. The gift cards were provided through the generous donations of many Escambia County businesses, organizations, families, and individuals.
Over 5,500 Jars Of Peanut Butter Donated To Local Food Pantries
December 16, 2017
Thousands of jars of peanut butter were delivered Friday in Escambia County to area food banks, thanks to the generous donations of local residents and peanut producers.
The peanut butter was collected during the recent UF/IFAS Extension Annual Peanut Butter Challenge and donated by the pallet by Mike and Rodney Helton and Ken Barton from the Florida Peanut Producers Association. All total, more than 20 food pantries will receive their share of over 5,500 jars of peanut butter.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Now Six Bulbs Lit In ‘Keep The Wreath Green’ Fire Safety Campaign
December 16, 2017
Sixth Red Bulb Lit
A structure fire on the 6200 block of Trent Street represents the sixth red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath. Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call reporting the mobile home fire at 5:05 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Crews arrived on scene to find the mobile home on fire and 50 percent involved.
Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 5:52 a.m. The fire destroyed 50 percent of the home, and it was declared a total loss. Three occupants were at the residence at the time of the fire, but all were able to get out with no injuries reported. The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
There were no smoke detectors present in the residence.
Fourth and Fifth Bulbs
Two structure fires that occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 13 represent the fourth and fifth red bulbs on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath.
Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call at 11:22 a.m. reporting a residential structure fire in the 900 block of Bremen Avenue. Crews arrived on scene to find a working fire with black smoke showing from the multi-family residence. Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 11:48 a.m., with one apartment in the duplex sustaining fire damage along with heavy smoke and water damage. The other apartment was saved, but all occupants have been displaced due to damage to the shared electrical system. The two adults and seven children who were displaced are being assisted by the American Red Cross. No injuries were reported. ECFR determined that the fire was caused by unattended cooking. The apartment where the fire started did not have a working smoke detector.
The second fire occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. in the 7200 block of North Palafox Street, at the Palafox Landing apartment complex. The apartment’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire prior to ECFR’s arrival. No one was injured in the fire, but occupants of the first and second floor were displaced. ECFR determined that the fire was caused by unattended cooking. Working smoke detectors were present and alerted residents to the fire.