Undefeated Northview Chiefs Head To State With 21-11 Win Over Union County (With Gallery)
December 3, 2022
It’s been a decade since the Northview Chiefs brought a state championship trophy back to Bratt, but they have a little trip to Tallahassee planned to pick up the hardware and earn the rings.
The Chiefs defeated the Union County Tigers 21-11 Friday night in Bratt’s Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in the Class 1-R state semifinal.
It was the toughest battle of the season for the Chiefs as they improved to a school-record 13-0.
“It feels awesome,” Northview head coach Wes Summerford said. “It’s a little bit surreal right now. It will probably take a few hours, and yeah, we’re going to Tallahassee!”
Summerford credited a team effort for the win, but gave extra credit to his seniors, several of whom have played together since their youth football days.
“That’s our senior leadership,” Summerford said. “These guys will run through a brick wall for each other, and they just about did that; I think they did everything but that tonight.”
For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Band, cheerleaders, fans, celebration and more photos coming soon.)
In the first couple plays of the game, Jefferson broke free for a long sprint down to the 1-yard line. But the Tigers held him from crossing the goal line in four straight downs.
But in the second quarter, the Chiefs would be first on the board on a 37-yard run from Jefferson and a good extra point by Brandon Ferguson.
In the second quarter, Jefferson was in again from 32-yards out. Toss in a field goal from the Tigers, and it was 14-3 at the half.
In the fourth, Union County was in from 2-yards out to cut Northview’s lead to 14-9.
After eating about eight minutes off the clock, QB Kaden Odom found Jefferson for another touchdown with just over a minute to go to seal the win, 21-11.
“The best moment of the game is when we scored that touchdown,” Summerford said. “We were just trying to get a first down. I never had any doubt these seniors would come up with a big play, and boy they did with that catch.”
“Jamarkus told me before the play…he’s like ‘dude, I’m going to slip out and be open, I promise. Give me the ball, and I trusted him’,” Odom said. “I took a lick, but delivered a strike to him.”
“We always talk about big time plays, big time things,” Jefferson said. “Kaden told me that he was going to give it to me; he told me to make a play. And that’s exactly what he did. He threw it to me, and I made a play.”
The Union County Tigers finished their season at 8-3.
The Northview Chiefs will face Hawthorne (11-0) in the state 1R championship game. Hawthorne is coming off a 28-0 shutout of Blountstown Friday night. The FHSAA 1-Rural state title game will be played at 7 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, December 10 at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here. (Band, cheerleaders, fans, celebration and more photos coming soon.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Showers, Fog For Saturday Night
December 3, 2022
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Christmas In Century Kicks Off With Tree Lighting, Caroling (With Photo Gallery)
December 3, 2022
Christmas in Century kicked off Friday evening with a tree lighting ceremony.
The event included visits with Santa, caroling by the Tri-City Children’s Choir, and the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree in Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Next Friday, the Century Christmas parade will roll at 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by the movie “The Grinch” and food — all free — from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at Anthony Pleasant Park.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Legislative Delegation To Hold Public Hearing On Local Requests
December 3, 2022
The Escambia County state legislative delegation will hold a public hearing next Wednesday.
Delegation members will consider local bills, hear presentations from governmental and other entities, and take public testimony on proposals for the 2023 regular session of the Florida legislature. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend.
The meeting will take place December 7 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the Pensacola State College Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at 1000 College Boulevard in Pensacola.
The Escambia County legislative delegation consists of Sen. Doug Broxson, Rep. Michelle Salzman and Rep. Alex Andrade.
FHP Makes Drug Trafficking And Weapons Arrest After Chase
December 3, 2022
An Escambia County man is facing a long list of drug and weapons charges after fleeing from a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
A trooper was conducting traffic enforcement on West Michigan Avenue in the area of Montgomery Avenue when he observed a silver 2022 Chevrolet Malibu commit several traffic infractions. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle occ by 26-year old Dymitri Antonio Thomas.
Initially, the vehicle pulled onto the east shoulder of Montgomery Avenue, but when the trooper exited his vehicle, Thomas made a U-turn and fled southbound on Montgomery Avenue before making a right turn onto West Michigan.
Thomas traveled westbound in the eastbound lane of West Michigan and struck a Nissan SUV.
Thomas exited the vehicle and ran away.
Two troopers arrived on scene and chased the suspect on foot. Troopers said while Thomas was running, he removed a Glock 48 .9 mm handgun from his waistband and thew it to the ground. The gun was later recovered by troopers.
A probable cause search of the vehicle found a trafficking amount of fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, and other drug paraphernalia.
Thomas was apprehended in the parking lot of Publix on Mobile Highway. He was charged with:
- Resisting without violence
- Possession of firearm/ammunition by convicted felon
- Operating a motor vehicle without a valid license
- Prisoner escape
- Reckless driving
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Possession of marijuana with intent to sell
- Trafficking fentanyl
- Trafficking cocaine
- Trafficking oxycodone
Jail records also show eight additional charges against Thomas by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office including:
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- Tampering in a felony proceeding
- Battery
- Grand theft
- Aggravated battery with a pregnant victim
- Resisting without violence
- Providing a false ID to law enforcement
- Possession of a a controlled substance
Thomas remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $309,500.
Escambia Names Top 10 Teacher Of The Year Finalists
December 3, 2022
The top 10 finalists for Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year have been named.
In alphabetical order, they are:
- Audrey Brown – Brentwood Elementary
- Nikki Gill – Tate High School
- Anna Harageones – A. K. Suter Elementary
- Gary Horne – Washington High School
- Melanie Johnson – Kingsfield Elementary
- Angela McFarland – West Florida High School
- Christopher Norris – Ransom Middle School
- Linda Patti – Escambia Virtual Academy
- Allison Roberts – Success Academy
- Sara Smith – Beulah Elementary School
The district will narrow the list to five finalists to be announced later this month, and the Teacher of the Year will be named in late January. Teachers of the year from all schools will be honored at a special event in the spring.
“These outstanding educators reflect the skill, knowledge and compassion that our students benefit from each and every day. They represent ten of the finest examples of instructors who make sacrifices each day in order for our students to accomplish their educational goals,” said ECPS Superintendent Timothy Smith. “We look forward to celebrating these top ten finalists, as well as all of our outstanding Teacher of the Year nominees, and our hard-working teachers throughout the district.”
Pictured: The Golden Apple Award. File photo.
Cox Files Protest Over Commission’s Choice Of EREC For North Escambia Fiber Internet
December 2, 2022
Cox Communications has retained a law firm and filed a formal protest against the Escambia County Commission’s fiber internet selection of Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC).
A letter to the county from Orlando law firm Gunster states that Cox wants the memorandum of understanding with EREC rescinded and, instead, awarded to Cox.
Escambia County originally sought proposals to provide fiber to homes north of 10 Mile Road, with another upcoming request for proposals for the area south of 10 Mile Road. The county committed up to $10 million to the area north of 10 Mile Road, with another $12 million for the area to the south.
The proposal from EREC includes only their electric franchise territory, an area essentially north of Barrineau Park Road. As a member owned electric cooperative, EREC would provide fiber internet service to all 4,000 plus homes and businesses in their territory. Cox submitted a proposal to provide broadband internet to about 2,500 homes in unspecified areas north of 10 Mile Road.
Acceptance of the EREC proposal would be followed by a second phase to the south.
In their protest, COX claims the proposals from EREC and other companies are invalid because they do not include the complete originally specified area north of 10 Mile Road. For that reason, Cox contends they should win. In addition, the Cox proposal scored higher than EREC’s in a county selection committee ranking.
Commissioners, however, altered the original requested service area at a November 28 meeting because they felt the EREC proposal would better serve the unserved and underserved residents of North Escambia. In addition, District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry pointed out that EREC is owned by the residents they serve.
Escambia County’s contribution toward fiber internet in the county will come from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
PROPOSAL DETAILS
EREC Proposal
Under their proposal, EREC requested $6 million from the county toward a $24 million project. They proposed fiber internet to some 4,000 plus homes and businesses — every single home and business in their footprint — and a fiber ring connecting about two dozen county facilities. The first homes could receive service as early as next summer.
Three basic speed tiers proposed by EREC are:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.95/month
- 1 Gig/1 Gig — $79.95/month
- 2 Gig/2 Gig — $99.95/month
Cox Proposal
In their proposal, Cox requested the county provide $16.3 million toward a $24.4 million project to construct a 132 mile fiber ring to 44 county facilities and provide fiber internet to 2,514 “underserved” households. Their proposed timeline was 18-36 months to complete the residential portion, with 36 total months needed to ring the county facilities.
Cox proposed package pricing as follows:
- 100 Mbps/100 Mbps — $49.99/month
- 250 Mbps/250 Mbps — $87.99/month
- 500 Mbps/500 Mbps — $99.99/month
- 1 Gig/1 Gig — $119.99/month
- 2 Gig/2 Gig — $149.99/month
UWF Student Arrested On Child Porn Charges
December 2, 2022
A University of West Florida student was arrested at his campus residence Thursday for child pornography by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Paul Tupas Roquelara, 21, was charged with 30 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count each of promoting a sexual performance of a child and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
The case began in November after multiple law enforcement investigators obtained downloads of files containing child sexual abuse material from a peer-to-peer network from Roquelara. Investigators determined that the internet protocol address was unique to the suspect at his residence in the Village East Apartment dorms on the UWF campus.
Agents obtained and executed a search warrant at Roquelara’s residence Thursday and seized multiple electronic devices. FDLE said forensic examinations of his devices uncovered evidence of videos featuring children being sexually abused, some younger than 5 years old.
Homeland Security Investigations and University of West Florida Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Roquelara was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond until first appearance.
FDLE said additional charges are pending further forensic review.
What You Need To Know: Northview Hosts Union County In State Semifinal Tonight
December 2, 2022
The Northview Chiefs will host the Fightin’ Tigers of Union County High in the FHSAA 1-Rural state semifinal.
The Chiefs (12-0) are coming off a powerful 42-6 win over previously unbeaten Chipley last week, while Union County (8-2) defeated Lafayette 41-6. Union County is from Lake Butler, just north of Gainesville. They have a 333 mile road trip to Bratt.
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium, Northview HS
- Tickets: $9, plus service fee.
- All tickets must be purchased through Gofan.co. Mobile device only; no printed tickets. Only FHSAA state series passes will be accepted.
- Parking: Donation. Arrive early for the best locations.
- Theme: “Light Up the Tigers”. Fans asked to wear necklaces, bracelets or anything that lights up.
- Weather: Comfortably cool, no chance of rain. Kickoff about 61 degrees, dropping only a degree or two by the end of the game. Light wind from the east.
Northview has averaged 44.33 points per game this season, while Union County has averaged 34.9. The Chiefs have averaged 389.9 total yards per game (278 rushing, 111.9 passing), while Union County has averaged 399.6 (271.1 rushing, 128.5 passing).
Players to watch:
- Northview: #6 Jamarkus Jefferson with 174.4 yards rushing, 196.7 total yards, and 22.3 average points per game; #4 Kaden Odom with 111.9 passing yards per game; #24 Luke Bridges with 8.2 tackles per game; #55 John Michael Ward with 70 pancake blocks and 0.5 sacks per game.
- Union County: #9 AJ Cortese with 127.7 yards passing, 191.5 total yards per game; #4 Rayvon Durant with 148.3 rushing yards and 9.6 points per game; Dayviontae Thompson with 5.7 tackles per game; Markus Strong with 1.1 sacks per game.
With a win Friday night in the semifinals, the Northview Chiefs will face the winner of tonight’s Blountstown (9-4) at Hawthorne (10-0) game in the state 1R championship game. The game will be played at 7 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, December 10 at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Visits Century Library, Has 11 More Library Visits Planned Across The County (With Gallery)
December 2, 2022
Santa Claus visited the Century Library Thursday night, and he will take time out of his busy schedule to make 11 more visits to libraries across the county before Christmas.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Santa posed for photos and took note of those special Christmas gift wish lists. He was asked for a variety of gifts, including a Barbie Dreamhouse, Peppa Pig, Thomas the Train, a telescope, games, a 4-wheeler, makeup, a trampoline, and a helicopter.
Santa made no promises, but hinted that some of the gift requests might just be doable for good little boys and girls. Well, except maybe the helicopter.
“That would probably be a little big for the sleigh,” the jolly old elf said.
Santa has the follow visits to West Florida Library branches planned before Christmas:
- Tuesday, Dec. 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Southwest Library
- Tuesday, Dec. 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Westside Library
- Wednesday, Dec. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Pensacola Library
- Thursday, Dec. 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Tryon Library
- Thursday, Dec. 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Molino Library
- Saturday, Dec. 10, 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Bellview Library
- Tuesday, Dec. 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Bellview Library
- Tuesday, Dec. 13, 3-4 p.m. – Tryon Library
- Thursday, Dec. 15, 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Southwest Library
- Saturday, Dec. 17, 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Pensacola Library
- Wednesday, Dec. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Molino Library
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
