FWC Issues Alert After Chronic Wasting Disease Found In Alabama Deer
January 11, 2022
For the first time, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in a state that borders Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is sounding a precautionary alarm.
CWD was recently detected in a hunter-harvested deer in northwestern Alabama, making it the 28th state where CWD has been documented. CWD, which is a brain and central nervous system disease that is always fatal to members of the deer family, has not been detected in Florida to date.
The FWC asks people who plan to hunt deer or members of the deer family outside of Florida to be vigilant in helping reduce the risk of CWD spreading into Florida. FWC said an important step is to be aware of and follow the rules that prohibit importing or possessing whole carcasses or high-risk parts of all species of the deer family originating from any place outside of Florida.
Under the new rules, which took effect July 2021, people may only import into Florida:
- De-boned meat
- Finished taxidermy mounts
- Clean hides and antlers
- Skulls, skull caps and teeth if all soft tissue has been removed
The only exception to this rule is deer harvested from a property in Georgia or Alabama that is bisected by the Florida state line and under the same ownership may be imported into Florida.
West Florida High Cheer Captain Jazmine Olsen Commits To Western Kentucky University
January 5, 2022
West Florida High School varsity cheerleading captain Jazmine Olsen has committed to cheer for Western Kentucky University in the fall. The WKU cheer team was the 2021 D1A All Girl UCA national championship team.
Olsen is also a competitive all star cheerleader for the Cheer Athletics Worlds team.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lil Aggies Winter Cheer Clinic Set For January 14
January 2, 2022
The Tate High School Lil Aggies Winter Cheer Clinic will take place on Friday, January 14.
The clinic will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the game will follow at 7:30 p.m. The Lil Aggies cheerleaders will cheer on the Tate varsity boys basketball teams as they take on the Navarre Raiders.
The cost of the event is $40 per athlete, which includes an exclusive Lil Aggies basketball bow, pizza and a drink before the game, and game admission. Registration and payment are due by Monday, January 10th.
Click or tap here for a RSVP form.
From Tate High To Alabama And Clemson: Atmore’s Woody McCorvey Named ‘Legend’ Of Camellia Bowl
December 24, 2021
Woody McCorvey of Atmore, a longtime college football coach that began his career at Tate High School, has been named the 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl Alabama Football Legend.
McCorvey, who was the Alabama State University Hornets’ quarterback from 1968-71, earned his bachelor’s degree from ASU in 1972.
McCorvey began his coaching career with a six-year stint (1972-77) at Tate High School.
The Camellia Bowl “Legend” Award is “given annually to a person who has made a significant contribution to college football in the state of Alabama”. he award was presented during a luncheon in Montgomery Thursday.
McCorvey has had a stellar career of more than 40 years as a football coach or administrator for college championship teams at the University of Alabama and Clemson University where he now serves as the chief of football administration under head coach Dabo Swinney. McCorvey has also coached at North Carolina Central, Alabama A&M, South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi State.
McCorvey’s outstanding record of accomplishments has earned him a number of laudable awards, including his induction into the Atmore Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Past recipients of the Camellia Bowl award include Bobby Bowden, Pat Dye, Woodrow Lowe, Gene Stallings, Johnny Davis and Larry Blakeney.
“I am elated to be associated with all of the previous winners for this award, especially Coach (Gene) Stallings,” McCorvey said. “I worked for him for seven years at Alabama, and we have continued that relationship over the years. Pat Dye meant a lot to me and was instrumental in my career. Larry Blakeney, Woodrow Lowe and Bobby Bowden all had influences. It’s a great honor to be this year’s recipient.”
The 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl, pitting the Ball State Cardinals against Georgia State Panthers will be played at 1:30 p.m. Christmas day in Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. The game will be aired on ESPN.
Blue Wahoos Switching To Artificial Turf
December 22, 2021
Construction is underway at Blue Wahoos Stadium to transition the award-winning Minor League stadium to an artificial turf playing surface in 2022.
“The transition to artificial turf is a very important step forward for our stadium,” team President Jonathan Griffith said. “After 10 seasons of use, our natural grass field did not meet Major League Baseball specifications for affiliated stadiums. Putting in turf now ensures that the Blue Wahoos will be compliant with MLB regulations and helps secure the long-term future of affiliated Minor League Baseball in Pensacola. We’re putting in a Major League quality playing surface at our ballpark that mirrors the field our players will play on when they make it to the Major Leagues with the Miami Marlins.”
Beyond meeting Major League Baseball field specifications, the artificial turf field will allow the team to hold additional future community events at the stadium.
“Our mission as an organization is to improve the quality of life in our community, and we see holding family-friendly events at Blue Wahoos Stadium throughout the year as a way to help create a more vibrant downtown,” Griffith said. “With an artificial turf field, we’ll be able to hold events more frequently and hold even larger events at the ballpark during the season and off-season.”
Centrally located in downtown Pensacola, Blue Wahoos Stadium is the home to the Blue Wahoos, University of West Florida Football, and over 200 total events on an annual basis. In its first 10 years, the ballpark has been a frequent award-winner, being named the Double-A South Ballpark of the Year three times and the Ballpark Digest Double-A Ballpark of the Year twice.
“We’re very pleased that the Blue Wahoos are dedicated to continually improving an already-great ballpark,” Geoff DeGroot, Director of Player Development for the Marlins, said. “The transition to artificial turf will enhance our player development and prepare players to play on the same surface when they reach loanDepot park.”
In addition to improving the playing surface, additional upgrades are expected this off-season at Blue Wahoos Stadium to meet new facility requirements including the installation of LED ballpark lighting and the addition of a new batting cage.
Century’s Showalter Named New Manager Of The New York Mets
December 19, 2021
Buck Showalter has been named the new manager of the New York Mets, according to an announcement Saturday on Twitter from team owner Steven Cohen.
ESPN is reporting it’s a three-year deal, but that had not yet been officially announced late Saturday night.
Showalter has managed the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. The 65-year old has a career record of 1,551-1,517.
Showalter’s family moved to Century in the late 1950’s. His father served as a teacher, coach and principal at Century High School and Carver Middle in Century for 23 years. Buck Showalter played Little League ball in a thriving program in Century, and he graduated from Century High School. Century’s modern day Showalter Park bears the family name.
Photo courtesy Baltimore Orioles for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Downs The East 14-0 In All-Star Game
December 18, 2021
The top high school seniors from across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties took part in the Pensacola Sports All-Star Game Friday night at Washington High School.
The West players from Escambia County beat the East players from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa 14-0. Head coach for the East was Jerad Dampson from Jay. Head coach for the West was Rhett Summerford, now of Tate High School and former coach at West Florida High.
Tate High’s Jaxson Stafford received the All-Star Academic Award (highest GPA on the West team) and the All-Star Community Service Award.
The roster included:
From Northview: Travis Nelson, Mekhi White and Logan Misenar
From Tate: Jaxson Stafford, Warren Henke, Zach Van Skyhawk, William O’Brien, Kabron Purifoy and Jaden Lewis
Pictured top: Northview All-Star players. Pictured below: Tate All-Stars, Academic Award winner Jaxson Stafford. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Tate And Other Escambia County Sports Teams Earn State Academic Honors
December 17, 2021
Several high school athletic teams in Escambia County excelled not only on the field, but also in the classroom.
The Florida High School Academic Team Champion recognition program honors teamwork not only in competition, but in academics as well. The program recognizes teams in each of the Association’s sanctioned and recognized sports, naming an Academic Team Champion in each classification based on GPA.
Several Northview High School teams were among the top-ranked in their class by GPA:
- Northview football, No. 2 in state in 1A, 3.033 GPA
- Northview girls volleyball, No. 3 in state in 1A, 3.361 GPA
- Northview boys golf, No.4 in the state in 1A, 3.802 GPA
- Northview boys cross country 2A, 3.73 GPA
- Northview girls cross country 2A, 3.069 GPA
- Northview girls golf 1A, 3.625 GPA
Tate High School teams recognized for the their team GPA were:
- Tate girls volleyball 6A, 3.624 GPA
- Tate boys cross country 4A, 3.266 GPA
- Tate girls cross country 4A, 3.405 GPA
- Tate boys golf 3A, 3.066 GPA
- Tate girls golf 3A, 3.433 GPA
Several other Escambia County school had GPAs above 3.0.. Notably, Washington High School’s Boys Cross Country had the best team GPA in Class 3A at 3.849. and the Pensacola High boys golf team was No. 4 in Class 2A with a team GPA of 3.6.75
Tate High Cheerleaders Win Several Top Awards At Chipley Competition
December 13, 2021
The Tate High School Aggie cheerleaders earned several awards during a weekend competition at Chipley High School.
The junior varsity cheerleaders were runner-ups in the game day competition.
The Aggie varsity cheerleaders won the first place game day, grand champions game day, first place traditional, grand champion traditional, best stunt, and best choreography awards.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Name Rhett Summerford As Head Football Coach
December 9, 2021
Tate High School has named Rhett Summerford as their new head football coach.
Summerford is coming to the Tate Aggies from the head coaching job at West Florida High School. The Jaguars finished this season at 9-2 and second in District 1 5A, dropping the regional semifinal game to Baker County. The Jaguars outscored opponents 351-129 in 2021.
“He’s coming home,” Tate High Principal Laura Touchstone told NorthEscambia.com Thursday morning. “He is a Tate alumnus, and we are happy to have him back.”
Summerford played football and baseball at Tate, and previously served as an assistant football coach at Tate. He will officially be on the job at Tate in January.
Football runs big in the Summerford family. Rhett’s brother Wes is the current head football coach at Northview High School, Dad Neil has a long history in local high school football, including as a member of Tate’s staff under Carl Madison when Tate won a state championship back in 1980.
Tate head coach Jay Lindsey resigned in early October as the Aggies stood at 1-5 and having been outscored by opponents 165-23 on the season.
Graphic courtesy Tate Football for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.