Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Honored For State Championship Win
February 8, 2022
The Tate High School cheerleaders were recognized at the school after winning the 2022 FHSAA Small Varsity competitive cheerleading championship.
The state champ cheerleaders were honored last Thursday night at a basketball game where the Aggies beat Milton and on Friday a pep rally in their honor. During the pep rally, the varsity cheerleaders were led into the gym by the Showband of the South through a spirit tunnel of other athletic teams, including baseball, softball, basketball and the junior varsity cheerleaders.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Members of the state championship team, coached by Morgan White, are:
- McKenzie Alfred
- Brooke Alvare
- Kyndell Ammons
- Kaylenia Bailey
- Landry Bellard
- Lanie Brown
- Jaiden Bryant
- Taylee Edwards
- Makayla Hartley
- Alexis Hudson
- Erin Johnson
- Ryleigh Maxwell
- Paige McKinney
- Lainey Patrick
- Emma Romero
- Alyssa Roye
Johnson, Romero and Ammons also won a state championship with Coach White during their freshman year in 2019.
The hard work and dedication of the team were highlighted at both the basketball game and pep rally.
Tryouts for the team were held last May, with practices held multiple times a week in the summer and daily once school started. In addition to cheering for football and basketball games, they hosted several Lil Aggie Camps and volunteered in the community throughout the year.
Their competitive season began in November at the Aggie Cheer Classic where they earned first place in game day, first place in traditional and grand champions. In December at the UCA Nationals qualifier in Tampa. the team earned first place out of 16 teams and a bid to the UCA Nationals.
At the Chipley Tiger Cheer Challenge, they won place game day, first place traditional, best choreography, best stunts, and grand champions of the competition, qualifying the team for regionals.
At regionals, the Aggies scored high enough to skip semi finals and proceed straight to finals at the FHSAA state competition.
Competing against the 17 top teams from across Florida, the Tate High School varsity cheerleaders brought home the state title.
The Tate varsity state champions and the junior varsity team will now compete in the UCA Nationals in Orlando.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Charged With Stealing Motorcycle From Molino Store
February 8, 2022
A Century man has been charged with stealing a motorcycle from the Molino Tom Thumb.
David Allen Cormany, 55, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that his 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle broke down at the Tom Thumb at Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. He said he locked the forks, left it in gear and took the key.
A deputy immediately recognized Cormany on surveillance video. Cormany and an unidentified man allegedly picked up and loaded the motorcycle on a utility trailer behind Cormany’s Jeep, according to an arrest report. The deputy had seen Cormany driving a jeep of the same color pulling a utility trailer about a week before the incident.
Cormany was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
The arrest report does not state if the motorcycle was recovered.
Over 700 Student Works In 68th Annual Youth Art Focus; Winners Named
February 8, 2022
For 68 years, the Pensacola Museum of Art, in partnership with the Escambia County School System, has presented the Youth Art Focus exhibition, highlighting the best work from art students and educators from Escambia County Schools.
The Youth Art Focus, a partnership of the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Escambia County School District, has highlighted the best work from art students and educators for over 68 years.2022
Since its first year in 1954, Youth Art Focus has created an opportunity to expose students to the world of fine art in a professional museum environment, while giving the public a chance to experience and appreciate the accomplishments of Escambia County’s fine art education programs.
There are over 700 works in the exhibition each year. Both middle and high school student works are juried, and winners are selected for first, second and third in five different media categories, as well as a best in show, and outstanding artistic achievement. Educator works are also juried and winners are selected for first, second and third, as well as best in show.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Best in Show: Mariah Richburg | “Cortes” | Pensacola High
High School Winners:
Painting:
- 3rd: Makayla Amante | “Self Portrait” | Escambia High
- 2nd: Haleigh Johnson | “Lilith” | Escambia High
- 1st: Roman Bassett | “Sunset at the Beach” | Pensacola High
Drawing:
- 3rd: Alex Southard | “Floating through the Smoke” | West Florida High
- 2nd: Emilee Norris | “Classy” | JM Tate High
- 1st: Andrew Enkey | “Concrete Feathers” | West Florida High
Photography / Digital Arts:
- 3rd: Lana Carter | “Waterfall” | Pensacola High
- 2nd: Kiromi Martes | “California Vibes” | Pensacola High
- 1st: Kaitlyn Kuehmeier | “Reflected Pool” | JM Tate High
3-Dimensional Works:
- 3rd: Alex Szymansri | “Red” | JM Tate High
- 2nd: Joshua Scott | “Mood Swings” | JM Tate High
- 1st: Selma Milan | “Bozo Box” | Escambia High
2-Dimensional Works (Printmaking, Mixed Media, etc.)
- 3rd: Chloe Babin | “Kaleidoscope of Music” | West Florida High
- 2nd: Mykayla Derouin | “Clementine” | JM Tate High
- 1st: Sarah McCain | “Bandaids” | BT Washington High
Outstanding Artistic Achievement:
- Ashley Copp | “Headspace” | Pine Forest High
- Bella Minshew | “Up” | BT Washington High
Middle School Winners:
Painting:
- 3rd: Maci Glenn-Moore | “First Light“ | Workman Middle
- 2nd: Charlee Delacruz | “Winter is Coming” | Beulah Middle
- 1st: Madison Hatcher | “Writer’s Block” | Beulah Middle
Drawing:
- 3rd: James Tutol | “Grimace” | Jim C. Bailey Middle
- 2nd: Han Gia Nyugen | “J-HOPE” | Beulah Middle
- 1st: Chloe Mandocdoc | “Day of the Dead” | Bellview Middle
Photography / Digital Arts:
- 3rd: Kaitlyn Graves | “Stepping Out” | Jim C. Bailey Middle
- 2nd: Isabella Carnes | “Sidewalk Scenes” | Beulah Middle
- 1st: Trista Peaden | “Windows” | Ransom Middle
3-Dimensional Works:
- 3rd: Elizabeth Lawyer | “Dog” | Bailey Middle
- 2nd: Donta’ Hall | “Neon City” | Bellview Middle
- 1st: Parker Mims | “Dinosaur Egg” | Ransom Middle
2-Dimensional Works (Printmaking, Mixed Media, etc.)
- 3rd: Chloe Loughridge | “Untitled” | Ferry Pass Middle
- 2nd: Aubrey Jones | “Egyptian Royalty” | Bellview Middle
- 1st: Karma Leonard | “Wave Runner” | Bellview Middle
Outstanding Artistic Achievement:
- Jaymes Lingenfelter | “Poinsettia” | Hope Horizon
- Steven Schwartz | “Chilly Penguin” | Westgate
Educator Winners:
Best in Show: Winston Foster | “Eastern Star” | Beulah Middle
- 3rd: Megan Brees | “Untitled” | Montclair Elementary
- 2nd: Matthew Brabham | “Florida Man” | Molino Park Elementary
- 1st: Cat Roberts | “The Roberts Girls: Pineapple Magnolia & Lilly” | Pine Forest High
Honorable Mention:
- Rebecca Burt | “Kristen’s” | McArthur Elementary
This year’s exhibit is on display at the Pensacola Museum of Art at 407 South Jefferson Street in Pensacola through February 27.
Photos courtesy Pensacola Museum of Art of NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSO Warns About Arrest Warrant Scam Calls
February 8, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is once again warning the public about another warrant scam.
The department said they recently learned of an incident in which a scammer called a victim and claimed to be a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The phone number had been spoofed, or altered, so that it appeared on the recipient’s caller ID to have originated from the ECSO Administration Building.
The scammer claimed the victim had previously been served a subpoena to settle a debt, but failed to appear. The scammer told the victim this had resulted in a warrant, and they needed to send a large amount of money to avoid an arrest.
The sheriff’s office wants you to call them at (850) 436-9620 and report calls like this. Do not send any money or provide your personal or financial information.
Other tips:
- Always be suspicious of any threatening calls claiming to be from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
- Always be suspicious when asked to send an electronic payment, “Green Dot” card payment, or wire transfer.
- Trust your instinct. If you feel that something “just isn’t right”, call your local law enforcement agency and report it.
“It is much easier to prevent fraud in the first place than to recover your money after the fact,” ECSO said.
Escambia Awarded $1.2 Million Grant For Flooding, Storm Surge Prep Projects
February 8, 2022
Escambia County has been awarded $1.2 million to help prepare coastal and inland communities for the adverse impacts of flooding and storm surge. The grant was part of $404 million for 113 environmental resilience projects across the state through the Resilient Florida Grant Program.
Projects receiving funding in Escambia County included
- Ellyson Industrial Park Drainage Improvements
- Oakfield Acres-Belle Mead Drainage Improvements
- Frinchez Heights (Sabra, Erwin, Whitmire, Ernestine Area) Drainage Improvements
- Surrey-Windsong Pond, Outfall and Rehabilitation
Each project will take approximately one year to complete. Including the local match associated with these projects, the approximate total cost is $2,864,736.
“The board and I would like to thank the state of Florida for the funding to complete these projects in some of our most vulnerable areas,” said District 1 Commissioner and Chairman Jeff Bergosh. “Flooding after a storm is a topic many of the citizens in our county are passionate about. Through this funding, we will continue to build Escambia County’s resilience to flooding and stormwater damage.”
Three People And A Dog Rescued After Becoming Stranded By Rising Floodwaters From The Escambia River
February 7, 2022
Three people and their dog were rescued from a North Escambia campground Monday after they became stranded by rising floodwaters from the Escambia River.
The two men, one woman and a dog were on higher ground at a campground on Cotton Lake Road, but they were unable to leave due to the flooded dirt road. The 911 caller said they believed the water would be over the hood of their car if they tried to leave.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded about 10:10 a.m. and called for a boat in order to reach the campground near the Cotton Lake Boat Ramp.
The boat was used to rush one camper suffering a medical emergency back to an awaiting ambulance for transport to an area hospital.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office then responded with their high water rescue vehicle. They rescued the remaining two other campers and the dog.
The individuals and the dog were rescued by about 1:30 p.m.
There is currently a flood warning in effect for the Escambia River.
Photos ECSO for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gibson Road Bridge In Molino Has Been One Lane For Months. Here’s What Is Happening To Replace It.
February 7, 2022
In late October, the Escambia County Commission awarded a contract to design a replacement bridge for Gibson Road over Alligator Creek in Molino.
It’s in the middle of one of the areas a developer seeks to rezone from agriculture, which allows for a maximum residential density of one dwelling unit on each 20 acres, to agricultural residential, allowing up to one home per four acres.
We reached out to Escambia County to find out the status of the bridge, which has been reduced to one lane for months.
The $167,178 design contract was awarded to Mott MacDonald of Florida. They are due to submit 30% design plants to the county in March, with complete plans due by April 5.
“Plans for bidding will be ready in June, subject to permitting,” said Andie Gibson, Escambia County media and public information manager. “We anticipate that construction will start in August with final completion in March 2023.”
The Gibson Road over Alligator Creek 78-foot wood-supported bridge was constructed in 1959 and is currently beyond its designed service life. It’s also listed as being structural deficient, and there is history of the creek overtopping the bridge. In August 2020, the eastbound lane of the bridge was closed after a failed Florida Department of Transportation inspection.
The roadway and bridge will be designed with an increased elevation to prevent overtopping. Mott MacDonald is allowed under their contract to utilize a design that includes a prefabricated steel or precast concrete structure.
The bid opportunity was sent to 444 emails, with just four responses.
Gibson Road connects Highway 97 and Crabtree Church Road.
Tate Aggie Classic Baseball Tournament Set For March
February 7, 2022
Organizers have announced the Tate High Aggie Classic baseball tournament will be back this spring.
The annual tournament draws teams form around the country and takes place at several locations across the area. This year’s Aggie Classic will be March 14-17.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies won the 2019 Aggies Classic with a 5-3 victory over Choctaw, Oklahoma. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
36 Gallons Of Crude Oil Spilled From Pipeline Near Century
February 7, 2022
About 36 gallons of crude oil were spilled during an incident east-northeast of Century Sunday morning.
According to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection notice, a release occurred at 6:33 a.m. on a St. Regis Gas Treating Facility production line located in Escambia County, Florida.
An employee saw steam release from the site and notified the field lead and control room senior operator, and the production line was isolated by 7:10 a.m. A vacuum truck was called to remove any fluids.
According to the FDEP notice, about 136.2 barrels of produced water and rainwater mix and 36 gallons of crude oil were recovered.
Spill booms were placed at the release site. The line will be contained and flushed with fresh water in advance of inspection and repairs. All impacted soil will be removed and disposed of at an approved landfill.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Flood Warning Extended For Escambia River
February 7, 2022
The flood warning has been extended for the Escambia River near Century.
The warning is now extended until Friday afternoon, with minor flooding forecast.
At 10 p.m. Sunday, the stage was 17.9 feet.
The river will fall to 17.1 feet early Tuesday morning. It will then rise again to 17.8 feet Wednesday evening. It will fall below flood stage late Friday morning.
Flood stage is 17 feet.
The Perdido River near Barrineau Park is expected to remain below action stage of 9.0 feet. Minor flood stage for the Perdido River is 13 feet.