Jay’s Caitlyn Gavin Inks Softball Scholarship With USA Jaguars
November 18, 2022
Jay High School’s Caitlyn Gavin signed a softball scholarship Thursday with the University of South Alabama.
A member of the varsity team since seventh grade, Gavin signs with the Jags after lettering for the Jay Lady Royals. As a junior, Gavin batted .372, recording 32 hits, 23 runs scored and 17 RBI. Of her 32 hits, 10 went for extra bases that season, including seven doubles and a pair of home runs. She led Jay to Class 1A state championship in 2022 – program’s first-ever softball state title – as the Royals finished with a 22-5 record.
Gavin batted .423 in 29 games during the 2021 season where she helped Jay to a 24-6 record. She drove in 39 with 33 hits and scored 33 runs, while also registering 12 home runs and four doubles. She was 5-for-5 with 6 RBI against Gulf Breeze and also drove in five in a postseason game against Holmes County.
“We love the way Caitlyn plays the game,” said Becky Clark, USA softball head coach. “She commits to all of the little things that add up to big moments. As a middle infielder, she has the tools to make all of the plays up the middle and in the hole. She loves the game and shows up to play every day. Offensively, she will work gap-to-gap with the ability to drive the ball out of the park as well. I am excited to see her growth and production once she gets in our system on a consistent basis.”
Escambia County Seeks Applicants for the Children’s Services Council
November 18, 2022
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications from county residents to serve on the Children’s Services Council (CSC).
In November 2020, 61% of participating voters in Escambia County supported the creation of the Children Services Council to be funded by an increase in ad valorem taxes of up to a maximum of 0.5 mil. The Children’s Trust of Escambia County will provide early childhood education, safety, developmental, preventative, health, and well-being services, including after school and summer enrichment programs.
The CSC is responsible for assessing the needs of the children in the county and developing a strategic plan for addressing unmet needs, which must then be submitted to the Board. The CSC, like the county, must also go through the process of adopting a millage rate and budget in accordance with Florida’s Truth In Millage (TRIM) Act, and the CSC must submit an annual report to the Board as required by Florida law.
Applications are available online at MyEscambia.com or in person at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, located at 221 Palafox Place, 4th floor. The application consists of several parts: an Escambia County CSC application, a questionnaire for Gubernatorial Appointments and an optional resume. Both applications must be completed and submitted together to be considered for an appointment. The deadline to apply is December 12, 2022, by 5 p.m.
To be considered for the CSC, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24-month period and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments are representative of the demographic diversity of the county’s population.
The Board of County Commissioners will nominate six applicants to be submitted to the Governor for review and potential appointment. Following the Board’s selection, the County Administrator will then send a letter to the Governor and the Governor’s Appointments Office with the list of six nominees to be considered for appointment to the CSC. All of candidates will be notified of their nomination. In accordance with Florida Statutes, the Governor then has 45 days to make a selection or request a new list of candidates.
Authorities Respond To Gas Leak On Bratt Road
November 17, 2022
.
Authorities responded a roadside gas leak in Bratt on Thursday
A passerby discovered the leak on Bratt Road east of Vaughn Road, just a short distance south of a power substation.
It appeared that a sign post was hit when the roadside was mowed in the last day or so, and the sign post may have damaged the pipe. The leak could be seen at times next to the post (look to the immediate left of the sign post in the photo above).
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded and stood by until Pensacola Energy arrived and made repairs.
There were no evacuations, and no immediate danger posed to a nearby barn and farm structures.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Crash Claims Life Of Pace Teen
November 17, 2022
A Pace teen died in a single vehicle wreck Thursday morning.
The 17-year old male was traveling west on White Road approaching Live Oak lane when he ran off the road about 9 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His car collided with a tree and overturned before hitting another tree and a utility pole. The teen was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Troopers said he was not wearing a seat belt. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
Another unrelated crash claimed the life of anther Santa Rosa teen Thursday morning on Chumuckla Highway.
17-Year Old Killed, Two Seriously Injured In Chumuckla Highway Wreck
November 17, 2022
A 17-year old was killed and two other people were seriously injured in a wreck Thursday morning on Chumuckla Highway in Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 17-year old female from Milton was traveling northbound on Chumuckla Highway north of Hidden Oak Road when she traveled off the right side of the roadway, lost control and traveled into the southbound lan Her SUV collided with a pickup truck driven by a 28-year old Jay woman.
A passenger in the SUV, a 16-year girl from Milton, and the pickup truck driver were both seriously injured in the 6:30 a.m. crash.
FHP said the occupants of the SUV were not wearing seat belts, but the Jay woman was properly restrained.
State troopers no longer release the names of traffic crash victims.
Another unrelated crash claimed the life of anther Santa Rosa teen Thursday morning on White Road.
Falling Gas Prices: Truck Knocks Down Large Gas Station Sign In Century
November 17, 2022
Gas prices fell rapidly Wednesday evening in Century.
A work truck apparently struck a large gas price sign at a Century gas station, sending the sign down into the parking lot.
It happened about 5:15 p.m. at the Marathon station at Highway 29 and East Highway 4, next to the Whataburger.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated and has not said how the accident occurred. There were no injuries reported.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Pictured above and below: A work truck apparently knocked over a large gas station sign in Century Wednesday evening. Pictured inset: A file photo take in October 2022 shows the size of the sign before the accident. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Army-Navy Game: Bettie, Ernest Ward Middle’s Goat, Joins The Navy For A Day
November 17, 2022
Wednesday was a big day for Bettie, one of the resident goats of the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA program, as she became an honorary member of the Navy for a day.
Bettie traveled from her home at EWMS in Walnut Hill to Naval Air Station Pensacola when she helped promote an upcoming watch party for the Army-Navy game.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Terrence Shashaty accompanied Bettie as they toured the base with Bill The Goat, the Navy’s football mascot, to encourage sailors to attend a watch party on December 10.
“Several sailors told me that seeing Ernest Ward’s goat made them feel like they were back home. Everyone had a great time as we came together as a community and cheered on our Navy home team,” said Steven Harrell, director of Workforce Education for Escambia County Public Schools. Harrell, dressed in overalls, was Bettie’s ride to NAS Pensacola.
Harrell said Bettie loved the attention she received and helped cheer, “Go Navy….Beat Army!”
The Navy Midshipmen will be at the Army Black Knights on December 10 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game is set to air at 2 p.m. on CBS.
The NAS Pensacola MWF Army-Navy Watch Party will begin at 1 p.m. at the National Naval Aviation Museum. The event is open to DoD cardholders only.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Pictured: Betty the Ernest Ward Middle School goat, cheers on the Navy football team Wednesday at NAS Pensacola. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged After Allegedly Using AirTag To Track His Ex-girlfriend
November 17, 2022
A Molino man is facing a criminal charge after allegedly using an Apple AirTag to track his ex-girlfriend.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that she met her ex-boyfriend Bailey l. Wilson, 23, to exchange custody of their child. During the exchange, Wilson placed a diaper bag in her backseat and took a photo of her vehicle’s tag, according to an arrest report.
About five hours later, she received a notification on her phone about an AirTag tracking her location since the time she met with Wilson.
The victim told deputies that she searched the diaper bag and found the AirTag.
When confronted by text messages, Wilson told the victim that he wanted to know where the child was at all times and that “as long as she is not anywhere she shouldn’t be she shouldn’t be scared or worried”, the arrest report states. Deputies noted that text messages corroborated the victim’s statement.
Wilson told deputies that he fears for the safety of the child because he claimed his ex-girlfriend is dating a convicted sex offender, according to the arrest report.
Wilson was charged with unlawful use of a tracking device. He was released from jail on a $200 bond.
Poarch Creek Documentary Premieres On Alabama Public TV
November 17, 2022
A new documentary about Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians premiered on Alabama Public Television (APT) Thursday. Produced by Jacksonville State University’s Longleaf Studios, “The Forgotten Creeks” can also be streamed from APT’s website and the PBS video app.
More than two years in the making, this documentary tells the story of the Poarch Creek people through their long and important history. It also traces how the Tribe has evolved from being an impoverished, isolated community to the independent, self-sufficient Indian nation it is today.
“We are honored that our Tribe was selected to be the subject of this documentary produced by Jacksonville State University and Alabama Public Television,” said Stephanie Bryan, Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Chair. “We feel incredibly blessed to have this recounting of both our history and our lives today.”
“The Forgotten Creeks” recalls the history of Alabama’s Mvskoke Creek Indians from Spanish contact in the 1500’s through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The documentary explores what happened to those Mvskoke Creeks who remained in Alabama following the Trail of Tears and documents those ensuing years of poverty, assimilation and discrimination that nearly destroyed their indigenous identity.
It also traces how finally, in 1984, after more than 40 years of unwavering advocacy by Tribal Leaders, the federal government recognized the Tribe as a sovereign, or independent, Indian nation with ancestral lands in Atmore, Alabama and elsewhere in the state. Federal recognition was the beginning of a new chapter in the Tribe’s history. Economic development brought self-sufficiency and the Tribe’s focus on educational opportunities, family values, and faith guided its transition to prosperity.
Man Charged In Highway 29 Hit And Run Pedestrian Fatality
November 17, 2022
The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a suspect in a fatal Highway 29 crash that claimed the life of a 53-year old woman on November 1.
Yahir Adan Moreno, 19, is charged with hit and run causing a fatal injury and tampering with evidence.
FHP said they located Moreno Wednesday with the 2020 white Chevrolet 2500 HD truck that struck and killed the woman on Highway 29 near Kenmore Road about 1:40 a.m. on November 1.
“The pedestrian was in the center lane of northbound U.S. Highway 29, traveling in an unknown direction. The vehicle’s front struck the pedestrian,” FHP said after the crash. “The vehicle continued traveling northbound, without
stopping.”
The pedestrian, Lisa Rowe., was pronounced deceased at the scene.