Jay High Inducts Four Into Athletic Hall Of Fame
November 4, 2022
The second class was inducted into the Jay High School Athletic Hall of Fame Friday night.
The new members are:
- Truss Shell – Class of 1949
- Terry Diamond – Class of 1966
- Rick Weekes – Class of 1970
- Matthew Dobson – Class of 1987
The induction ceremony took place during halftime as Jay hosted Wewahitchka at 7 p.m.
Truss Shell was an educator for over 35 years. He coached baseball, football and basketball at Jay, including as head baseball coach from 1960-1965. He was Jay Elementary principal from 1965-1987. As a coach, parent and grandparent, he has attended over 1,500 Jay High School sporting events.
Terry Diamond taught and coached at Jay High School for 35 years and continued to support the school following his retirement. He coached baseball for 22 years, winning 11 district championships, five regional championships and made the Final Four five times. He was named the Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2007. He also coached softball for one year. In high school, he placed on six different district championship teams, and was all-area in football, basketball and baseball his senior year.
Rick Weekes retired and coached for 30 years, with 26 of those in Santa Rosa County. He was a member of the 1970 state championship baseball team and was all-conference in football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball from 1971 to 1973 for the University of South Alabama and in 1974 for the University of West Florida.
Matthew Dobson was on the cross country team for four years, basketball for a year and track for six years. Dobson has a long list of running accomplishments and accolades. He was the overall winner in more than 250 road, cross country, and/or track races with course records in over 35 of these races. He holds several records. He was the first American to win the Walt Disney World Marathon in 2004. In 2004, he was the 49th overall out of 20,000 runners, the 16th American, in the Boston Marathon. He was 38th overall in the 2004 Chicago Marathon out of 40.000 and the 18th American. His personal records are marathon: 2:27, 10K: 29:31, 5K: 14:24, and mile: 4:13.
All information provided by Jay High School.
Escambia County Man Gets Federal Prison Time For January 6 Capitol Breach
November 4, 2022
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for his part in the January 6, 2021 beach at the U.S. Capitol.
Jesus Rivera, 38, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison followed by one year supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $500 in restitution.
He was found guilty of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building.
According to federal court documents, Rivera uploaded to his Facebook account a five minute video showing a crowd of individuals in the U.S. Capitol crypt. Approximately 13 seconds into the video, Rivera changed the direction
of the camera toward the individual recording the video and Rivera’s face is clearly visible. The video ends with the individual recording the footage, Rivera, beginning to climb out of a window.
Rivera uploaded two other videos to Facebook that allegedly show Rivera approaching the U.S. Capitol and then on the U.S. Capitol grounds surrounded by individuals demonstrating or protesting. In the videos, Rivera states, “record numbers here in DC.”. Rivera late states, “hey guys, if you are on here, share this live because I am about to take my ass to the middle of the state Capitol and see what’s going on, where they are trying to jump in.”
Pictured: Screenshots from Facebook videos that allegedly show suspect Jesus D. Rivera of Pensacola inside the U.S. Capitol and on the Capitol grounds.
Escambia Man Charged With Trying To Suffocate His Mother, 86, With A Pillow
November 3, 2022
An Escambia County man has been charged with attempting to suffocate his 86-year old mother.
Christopher Jerome Asmar, 54, is charged with two counts of attempted homicide and two counts of aggravated battery on a person 65 or older.
A health care employee called Pensacola Police to report that she observed unexplained bruising on her client that appeared to happen overnight after her other caregivers had left the home for the evening. The caregiver decided to return to the home after hours to check on her client. When she arrived, she could hear a disturbance inside the home and looked inside a window.
She observed Asmar yelling at his mother, calling her names, and striking her with a pillow. He then took the pillow and placed it over his mother’s face and used his body weight in an apparent attempt to suffocate her, according to police.
Police were called and entered the home to find the victim appearing to be overwhelmed and disoriented.
Asmar was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Century Man Charged With Aggravated Stalking Of Female PSC Student
November 3, 2022
A Century man has been charged with stalking and threatening a female student at a local college.
Kenneth Tyrese Lowery, 23, was charged with felony aggravated stalking with the threat of injury.
Lowery texted a fellow student the Pensacola State College Century Campus multiple times and made “inappropriate sexual comments” to her on various social media platforms, according to an Pensacola State College Police Department arrest report. The text messages included harassing language, and Lowery threatened to rape the female student, the report continues.
The victim told police that she did not feel safe at her home or at school due to the sexual threats.
Lowery remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday with bond set at $5,000.
Two Now Arrested, One Wanted In Escambia County Murder
November 3, 2022
A second person has been arrested in connection with a homicide last Saturday, as the alleged gunman remains on the run.
Alyssa Marie Blackburn, 22, is the second person charged with principal to first-degree premeditated murder. Lawrence Bonner, Jr., 44, was arrested Monday on a charge principal to first-degree premeditated murder.
The alleged shooter, 29-year old Jacob Monroe Colville, is wanted for first degree premeditated murder.
The victim has been identified by family members as 22-year old Jesse Allen Geoghahan.
Saturday, the ECSO responded to the 1000 block of Medford Avenue where they found Geoghahan. with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Blackburn contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had been shot inside the residence.
Bonner allegedly gave Colville the gun used in the murder. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Colville shot Geoghagan twice inside a closet, before shooting him a “few more times” as he limped out of the bedroom.
They fled in a stolen 1996 Toyota Avalon, which was later found burning under the Mobile Highway Bridge over Eleven Mile Creek.
A security system in the residence captured the murder, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
By The Numbers: How Many Calls Did Escambia Fire Rescue Answer Last Month?
November 3, 2022
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to 152 fires during October.
The department’s 1,688 calls also included 208 vehicle crashes and 462 medical calls.
Details are in the infographic below.
This infographic includes a sampling of Escambia Fire Rescue calls for service during October 2022.
Ransom Middle School Academic Team Competes in Fall Tournament
November 3, 2022
Members of the Ransom Middle School Academic Team traveled to Collegiate High School in Niceville recently to compete at the 15th Annual Fall Tournament at Northwest Florida State College.
The students competed against high school students on high school level questions. They scored points in every round, won two matches, and made it to the playoffs.
Ransom Academic Team members are: Aden Bailey, Nicholas Brown, Addisyn Butler, Bryan Chen, Izzy Killebrew, Dash Morado, Jordan Schellang and Nathan Sims.
Courtesy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Dollars For Doers: Navy Federal Celebrates Employee Volunteerism With Grants
November 3, 2022
Navy Federal Credit Union is recognizing the volunteer service of its employees by awarding a record number of grants to nonprofits through its annual “Dollars for Doers” program. To celebrate the program’s 15th anniversary, the credit union awarded 150 employees with $1,000 grants each, to donate to the nonprofit where they serve their time. Typically, the program recognizes 100 employees.
Navy Federal is also celebrating a major milestone of the “Dollars for Doers” program by reaching $1 million granted since its inception. This is also the first year the program is recognizing virtual volunteerism.
“No matter when, where or how our team members volunteer, their service matters and creates meaningful change,” said Brandi Gomez, corporate social responsibility program manager at Navy Federal. “They are a force for good that deserves to be celebrated for consistently taking care of our communities, and our Dollars for Doers program allows us to do just that.”
Nearly 40% of the nonprofits chosen are in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Here is a full list of nonprofits that were awarded “Dollars for Doers” grants in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties:
- 309 Punk Project
- A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue
- Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies
- Believers Life Center
- Bellview Youth Sports Association
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
- Breaking Bread Outreach
- Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers
- Chain Reaction
- Choral Society of Pensacola
- Council on Aging of West Florida
- Escambia County Council PTA
- Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence
- Feeding the Gulf Coast
- FoodRaising Friends
- Friends of the Escambia County Animal Shelter
- General Daniel Chappie James Flight Academy
- Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival
- Habitat for Humanity
- Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area
- James B. Washington Education & Sports
- Junior League of Pensacola
- Krewe of Vixens – Ovarian Cancer Awareness
- Liberty Sertoma
- Ministry Village at Olive
- My Brothers and Sisters
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Pensacola Chapter
- Northwest Florida Community Outreach
- Northwest Florida Guardian Ad Litem Foundation
- OASIS Forida
- Pack-A-Sack
- Park Place Baptist Ministries
- Pensacola Dream Center
- Pensacola Habitat for Humanity
- Positively Pensacola
- ReadyKids!
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida
- Stamped Film Festival
- Sunday’s Child
- The Birthday Party
- The Mylo Foundation
- Troop 632 Scouts BSA
- USO Northwest Florida
- Water and Youth Safety
- Youths Left Behind Corp
Challenged Book ‘Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ Removed From Escambia Schools For Sexual Content
November 2, 2022
The Escambia County School Board voted 4-1 to remove a book challenged by a Northview High teacher from school libraries.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a 1999 novel by American writer Stephen Chbosky. According to publisher Simon & Schuster it is a “bestselling coming-of-age story that takes a sometimes heartbreaking, often hysterical, and always honest look at high school in all its glory.” It was a #1 New York Times bestseller for over a year and named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.
It was challenged by Vicki Baggett, chair of the Language Arts Department chair at Northview High School with over 30 years in the classroom.
In her challenge, Baggett said the book contains “extreme sexual content descriptions, bestiality and a language alert, using a “shock effect to engage teenage minds”. A committee at Northview High School voted during the summer to keep the book available as an optional twelfth grade study novel, and Baggett appealed.
About a month ago, School Superintendent Dr. Smith implemented a “Restricted Section” in school libraries for “Perks of Being a Wallflower” and over 100 other books until they can be reviewed by the school board. Students must have parental permission to access any of the books in the section.
Tuesday night, the school board voted 4-1, with Patty Hightower dissenting, to remove “Perks fo Being a Wallfllower” due to sexual content not allowed in schools by Florida law.
“What is our standard for ensuring good conduct and manners for our students when I can’t even when I can’t even repeat some of the stuff that is here into this mic, or I wouldn’t, because of the values I have,” Board Chair Kevin Adams said.. “Our decency standards are not high when we allow this type of inappropriate material, content in our district.
“I wondered why so many students have mental health issues, bad disciplinary problems. I believe they are being poisoned by what they hear and what they read. We need parents to be parents. We can do a better job protecting children with those that choose not to be exposed to adult knowledge and materials. Period. We as a school district must do a better job to ensure that we are not purchasing age inappropriate materials for our media centers and classrooms. The parents trust us to do what is right for their children.”
One challenged book, the Bible, has been returned to the shelves in Escambia Schools. State law says the Bible is allowed in schools and has a place in education in Florida.
After The Gulf Coast Seafood Fire, The Flag Still Waved. This Is What Happened Next.
November 2, 2022
When Gulf Coast Seafood on Nine Mile was destroyed by fire Monday morning, the American flag near the front door continued to wave.
The Stars and Stripes were were prominent in many of the fire photos on NorthEscambia.com, set against a background of smoke and blue sky.
When the fire was out, the flag still stood over the business. Members of Escambia County Fire Rescue lowered in the flag, folded it and presented it to the business owner in an act of respect.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
