Northview Beats Holmes County 17-6 To Advance To Regional Finals
May 12, 2023
With a 10-run final inning and two home runs, the Northview blasted by Holmes County 17-6 in the 1A regional semifinals Thursday night in Bonifay.
Chloe Ragsdale and Emma Gilmore both homered for the Chiefs.
Jamison Gilman led off for the Chiefs, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out two in four innings. Aubrey Stuckey pitched three innings, allowing two nits, no runs and striking out two.
Stuckey led Northview at the plate, going 4-4. Gilmore was 3-5, A Flowers went 2-3, Ragsdale and M Golson were 2-5. K Alvare, R Brooks and Mary-Clayton Dawson eached added a hit.
Next Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Jay Royals (15-11) will host Northview (15-12) in the regional finals. The winner advances to the final four.
Escambia County Accounting Specialist Evelyn Rancifer Retires After 49 Years
May 12, 2023
Escambia County Accounting Specialist Evelyn Rancifer Retires has retired after 49 years of service. She last worked in the county’s engineering department.
Rancifer’s employment with Escambia County began on August 6, 1973, as a clerk typist in record indexing at the Escambia County Comptroller’s Office. She was quickly promoted to recording, then to accounts payable. She transferred to the engineering department in 1998 and served for over 20 years with various job duties. In the same time frame, she also worked at the Pensacola Bay Center (then the Pensacola Civic Center) as an usher, a ticket-taker and a supervisor.
This was actually the second time Rancifer retired from the county. She retired for the first time in August 2008 after 35 years, but returned for nearly another 15 years. Her second and final retirement was on her 73rd birthday, May 9, 2023.
As an engineering accounting specialist, she supported the day-to-day operations of engineering and other departments at the Central Office Complex by overseeing accounts payable. By focusing her attention on the details of invoices before sending them for payment, she has caught errors and saved the county significant sums of money over the years.
Over her tenure with the county, Rancifer has received multiple Employee of the Month awards and was named Employee of the Year in 2001.
“What an honor to celebrate a woman I have looked up to my entire life,” said Escambia County District 3 Commissioner and Chairman Lumon May. “Evelyn’s impact on my life and the life of others will never be forgotten. Evelyn is the true epitome of a public servant, and Escambia County was blessed to have her for so many years. Evelyn, we wish you the best in your retirement and thank you for your dedicated service to our community.”
“We will sorely miss Evelyn,” said Escambia County Director of Engineering and County Engineer Joy Blackmon, P.E. “She is our longest-tenured county employee of nearly 50 years! We are so grateful to have served alongside her. While her work ethic is beyond reproach and her ability is phenomenal, she brings a sparkle to every day with her sweet nature and playful sense of humor. We love you, Evelyn. Enjoy your retirement3″
Northview’s Cason Burkett Signs To Play Baseball At Coastal Alabama
May 12, 2023
Northview High School senior Cason Burkett signed Monday to play baseball for the Coastal Alabama East.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Up 6-0 As Game With Barons Suspended by Rain
May 12, 2023
Bennett Hostetler’s grand slam highlighted a six-run first inning for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Thursday in a game that was suspended due to rain in the middle of the second inning.
The game will be picked up Friday at 4:30 with the Blue Wahoos leading the Birmingham Barons 6-0.
Friday’s regularly scheduled game will follow approximately 30 minutes after the completion of Thursday’s suspended game. The Friday contest will be shortened to seven innings.
The Blue Wahoos scored six unearned runs against Vince Vannelle in the first, capitalizing on an infield error to score the game’s first run before an RBI single from Joe Rizzo and Hostetler’s grand slam. M.D. Johnson worked a scoreless, hitless first inning in a brief start – the righty’s third in a row that was cut short by weather.
The Blue Wahoos will resume Thursday’s contest on Friday afternoon in Birmingham.
written and photo by Erik Bremer/Blue Wahoos
Flomaton Man Sentenced To Prison For Killing Century Man Using A Propane Tank
May 11, 2023
A Flomaton man has been sentenced 15 years in state prison for the negligent manslaughter of a Century man using a propane tank in July 2021.
Judge John Simon sentenced 35-year old Timothy Lavon Johnson on Thursday. He was convicted in March of the death of Christopher Lynn Hunter who passed away 10 days after he was hit in the head by Johnson with a propane tank.
According to court documents, Johnson struck Hunter in the head at least once with a steel propane take such as the type used on an outdoor grill. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to an aggravated battery report on Hilltop Road at Alger Road at 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
They arrived to find Hunter bloody and beaten, crawling around the ground, the report states. He was transported to the hospital, where he died on July 28, 2021. The autopsy revealed that his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head that caused severe hemorrhaging.
At sentencing, prosecutors argued that the Johnson’s decision to leave the victim alone with his injuries was inhumane.
Witnesses on the scene were interviewed, but initially provided very little information about what happened.
‘Big Day For Century’ – Brazilian Manufacturing Company Expanding To Century, Signs Lease
May 11, 2023
‘This is a big day for the Town of Century.”
“It’s a big day for the council and a big day for our new partners that are coming in. We are very excited about having you here.”
That’s how Mayor Ben Boutwell opened a meeting Thursday morning to officially announce a lease signing with a 50-year of foreign manufacturing company coming to Century.
AlgaPlast Corp. inked a lease for a town-owned industrial park building commonly known as the Helicopter Technology Building. AlagaPlast is the new American subsidiary of Grupa GA230 of Arujá, Brazil.
“We are a Brazilian group; we have been in existence for the last 50 years,” Grupa GA230 and AlgaPlast CFO Marcos Martins told NorthEscambia.com. “We are dedicated to plastic injection products. Our core market is oil and gas products, and gas supply parts. We’ve come into the city of Century in order to increase our supply chain with a unit in the U.S. We are coming to think out of the box and reach different markets, different segments.”
“We have come in here looking for prosperity for us and to bring prosperity to the community,” Martins said.
The company expects their first pieces of large manufacturing equipment to arrive in Century in about August as they work to improve the electrical and other infrastructure in the building.. The hiring process for the first few staff members will follow, and they anticipate up to 25 employees within three to five with an average salary of $46,570 — the median in the Pensacola area.
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AlgaPlast’s lease mirrors a recent appraisal — $94,000 annually or $7,833 monthly — with the company paying for insurance, taxes and maintenance with a minimum five-year term. The lease signed Thursday morning has an effective day of June 1. In a special meeting, the town council approved the lease 4-0. Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. did not attend the meeting; no reason for his absence was publically announced.
The town re-acquired the 40,000 square foot industrial building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology company. The building has sat empty since then.
The Florida foreign direct investment economic development project was facilitated by the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, the economic development organization for Escambia County.
“This will go a long way in helping to elevate opportunities for so many residents and also for the town. Economic development comes with a capital investment in the community,” FloridaWest Business Development Officer Danita Andrews said.
Pictured top: Algaplast Corp. President and CEO Ed Carlos Curvelos (left) and Century Mayor Ben Boutwell sign a lease agreement Thursday morning. Pictured inset: AlgaPlast CFO Marcos Martins. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver And Passenger Now Charged After Police Chase Reaching 110 MPH, Chemstrand Crash
May 11, 2023
A high speed police chase reaching 110 mph ended with a crash into a power pole in Cantonment Monday, and now both the driver and passenger are facing multiple charges.
The driver, Winston Joseph Nobles, age 37 of Cantonment, was charged with fleeing and eluding with disregard to safety and causing injury, grand theft of a firearm, possession of burglary tools with intent to use, grand theft of a motor vehicle, armed burglary, criminal mischief property damage and petit theft. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond due to a bond revocation in another case.
The passenger, Christopher Wayne Holt, age 42 of Cantonment, was charged with grand theft of a firearm, possession of burglary tools with intent to use, grand theft of a motor vehicle, armed burglary, criminal mischief property damage and petit theft. He was released from jail Wednesday on a $100,000 bond.
Shortly after a black 2006 Toyota Avalon was reported stolen Monday in Pensacola, an Escambia County deputy spotted the vehicle at 2:56 a.m. and attempted a traffic stop as the driver turned from Pensacola Boulevard onto Hannah Street. The pursuit continued onto East Ensley Street and then northbound on Chemstrand Road. After running a red traffic light at Nine Mile Road, the vehicle continued northbound on Chemstrand Road, reaching 110 mph with the vehicle pulling away from the deputy.
The deputy observed Nobles lose control and crash into a power pole and a large sign at a Cumberland Farms convenience store. Holt was trapped in the passenger seat following the wreck, and Nobles had fled, according to an arrest report. Nobles was located with obvious injuries on the front porch of a home just over a block away in the 3200 block of Moss Point Lane, according to an arrest report.
Pensacola Police also responded and took possession of the vehicle.
About 1,000 Florida Power & Light customers lost power as a result of downed power lines.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Holmes County Tops Northview 3-2 In 1A Regional Semi (With Gallery)
May 11, 2023
Top ranked Northview fell to Holmes County 3-2 in eight innings Wednesday night’s 1A regional semifinal in Bratt.
The game remained scoreless through six innings before both teams scored two each to make it 2-2 headed into extra innings.
Jamarkus Jefferson went seven innings for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and two runs while striking out eight. Cason Burkett closed with the extra inning on the hill, surrendering one hit and one run with two strikeouts.
Burkett, Luke Bridges and Kaden Odom had two hits each to lead Northview at bat. Jefferson and Trent Knighten both added a run.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Northview ended their season at 17-7.
Holmes County advances to take on Jay Saturday; the Royals beat Paxton 9-6 Wednesday night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Falls To Leon 6-5 In Regional Quarterfinal
May 11, 2023
The Tate Aggies lost the lead late as they fell 6-5 to Leon Wednesday night in Tallahassee in the opening game of regionals.
Leon broke a 3-3 tie when they scored on an error in the bottom of the fifth
James Davis and Caden Kelly both had homers for the Aggies — Davis in the third and a long ball for Kelly in the seventh.
Drew Reaves went one and two-thirds inning for the Aggies, giving up three hits and two runs while striking out one. Rilee Lowery was on the mound for four innings, giving up one run and one hit with four strikeouts. Gabriel Patterson pitched for a third of an inning, surrendering one hit and three runs and striking out one.
Clifton Quiggins and Kelly had two hits each for Tate to lead at bat.
The Aggies ended their season at 18-8.
Also Wednesday night , No. 1 Pace lost to Winter Springs 10-4.
NorthEscambia.com file photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Charged With Fraud
May 11, 2023
A Cantonment woman is facing charges for allegedly using a debit card without permission.
Camie Denean Linton, 40, was charged with felony credit card fraud and misdemeanor petit theft.
The victim told deputies that Linton, described as her boyfriend’s cousin, took a total of $652.10. The charges included an inmate phone account, “Cash App Camie L” and Whataburger, The victim stated that she had denied Linton’s request to use her debit card to put money on the jail account.
She was released from jail on a $6,000 bond.