State Cross County Results: Jay, West Florida, Central, Pensacola Christian
November 18, 2012
Area schools Jay, West Florida, Central and Pensacola Christian competed in the state cross country finals in Tallahassee on Saturday.
Individual and team results from area schools were as follows:
CLASS 1A GIRLS
63. Jorja Agrait, Jay — 21:08.79
83. Jessica Thornton, Jay — 21:39.48
111. Savannah Brown, Jay — 22:14.33
119. Lauren Cochran, Pensacola Christian — 22:23.26
146. Jenna Thornton, Jay — 23:25.19
167. Alexis Mitchem, Jay — 24:31.66
173. Kendra Weekes, Jay — 25:25.69
174. Danielle Free, Jay — 26:08.12
CLASS 1A GIRLS TEAM
22. Jay — average 22:35.89
CLASS 1A BOYS
30. Jeremy Carlson, Pensacola Christian — 17:04.15
44. Joshua Balentine, Pensacola Christian — 17:12.62
51. Micah Kemp, Jay — 17:23.30
69. Justin Jekel, Pensacola Christian — 17:42.74
92. Kody Johnson, Pensacola Christian — 18:09.55
101. James Parker, Pensacola Christian — 18:18.75
128. John Crist, Pensacola Christian — 18:54.07
141. Christopher Peterson, Pensacola Christian — 19:09.20
CLASS 1A BOYS TEAM
11. Pensacola Christian — average 17:41.57
CLASS 2A GIRLS
16. Kaysi Roberts, West Florida — 19:27.95
63. Charlene Sanchez, West Florida — 20:47.63
83. Raleigh Nesbitt, West Florida — 21:04.37
94. Jordan Sortino, West Florida — 21:16.42
124. Miranda Wiley, West Florida — 21:56.65
139. Hanna Moore, West Florida — 22:23.12
169. Lynn Arthur, West Florida — 24:13.15
CLASS 2A GIRLS TEAM
12. West Florida — average 20:54.61
CLASS 2A BOYS
7. Alec Clark, West Florida — 16:15.68
89. Alexander Bullock, West Florida — 17:43.02
98. David Wright, West Florida — 17:54.47
105. Dylan Wakefield, West Florida — 17:58.31
120. Diamond Garrett, West Florida — 18:11.34
144. Seth Modin, West Florida — 18:34.51
165. Mark Sortino, West Florida — 18:56.38
CLASS 2A BOYS TEAM
14. West Florida — average 17:36.55
Brothers Charged With Killing Former Reporter Now In Escambia Jail
November 18, 2012
Brothers accused of killing a former Pensacola News Journal reporter and burying his body in concrete in Georgia are now being held in the Escambia County Jail.
Twin brothers William J. Cormier and Christopher Cormier, both 31, of Winder, GA, are charged with homicide and robbery in connection with the death of Sean Dugas, 30, of Pensacola. Christopher Cormier is held without bond, and William Cormier has a $250,000 bond.
On September 13, Pensacola Police Department received a report that Sean Dugas, 30, of Pensacola had not been heard from since August 27 when he talked with a friend by phone. Dugas and the female friend planned to go to lunch that day, but when she arrived at his house to pick him up, he wasn’t home.
The woman left a note on Dugas’ door asking him to contact her, but he didn’t. The female friend continued trying unsuccessfully to contact Dugas over the next few days. When she returned to the house September 7 to check on him, the house was empty except for a television.
Detectives determined the Cormier brothers had been houseguests of Dugas in the days leading to his disappearance. The investigation also determined that in addition to contents in the home, a collection of Magic the Gathering gaming cards worth an estimated $25,000 to $100,000 had been stolen from the house. Harnett said the cards were sold in Pensacola, Tennessee and Georgia.
While investigating the missing person report, officers developed leads, which led to them contacting police in Winder, Ga., on October 8. Police in Winder discovered Dugas’ body that same day buried in their father’s yard at his residence in Winder.
William and Christopher Cormier were taken into custody by Georgia authorities and charged with concealing the death of another. An autopsy determined Dugas died from blunt force trauma.
The investigation determined Dugas was murdered August 27 in Pensacola, and that William Cormier drove to Wal-Mart afterward to purchase materials to conceal the body, investigators said.
Photos: NHS Band, Dance Team, Cheerleaders
November 18, 2012
For a photo gallery featuring the Northview High band and dance team during Friday night’s playoff win over Cottondale, click here.
For a game action summary, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tucker Offically Retiring As Department Of Corrections Boss
November 18, 2012
Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker is officially stepping aside as head of the agency, the latest in a series of changes for the state’s prison system.
“Unfortunately, I’ve reached that point in my career where, because of retirement, that I have to leave the agency,” Tucker said in a video farewell published on YouTube.
Tucker was expected to leave the agency no later than March, when his time in the state’s Deferred Retirement Option Program is up. He has openly looked for other jobs, including seeking to join a North Florida effort to crack down on drug trafficking and the office of the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Ann Howard, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, said Tucker would be with the agency through the end of the year but is currently using annual leave.
Tucker is the second prisons chief to leave under first-term Gov. Rick Scott, who appointed Tucker to the job after former Corrections Secretary Ed Buss left in August 2011. Tucker had been commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Tucker inherited an agency that has been forced to slice positions and found itself in the middle of a long-running battle between the Legislature and unions over whether to privatize prisons in South Florida and health-care services across the state. A hearing in the fight over health-care privatization scheduled for Thursday morning was delayed until Monday for reasons unrelated to Tucker’s departure.
“As you are all aware, it has been a difficult year,” Tucker said in his video message. It had been viewed more than 100 times by around noon Thursday.
Tucker conceded the agency was “still struggling,” and said his one regret was that he wasn’t staying longer.
“I wish I could have stretched the numbers from being the sixth secretary in seven years, and hopefully whoever replaces me will be someone with a longer tenure in this position that can lead you to be the agency that I think all of you and I know that you can be,” Tucker said.
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
No Injuries In Cantonment Rollover Wreck
November 18, 2012
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident early Sunday morning in Cantonment. The accident occurred about 3:30 a.m. on Highway 95A just off Highway 29, behind the former Gee Willies gas station.
Further details have not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Cantonment station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Fire Damages Home
November 18, 2012
Fire damaged a home just north of Old Chemstrand Road Saturday evening. The fire was reported about 5:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Lindsay Lane. Smoke was showing from the single story home when the firefighters arrived on scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Molino, Bellview , Ensley and Ferry Pass stations of Escambia Fire rescue responded to the fire, along with Escambia County EMS.
Pictured: Fire damaged this home on Lindsay Lane Saturday evening. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gov. Scott Appoints Molino’s Giraud As Santa Rosa Judge
November 17, 2012
Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment of Jose “Tony” A. Giraud, of Molino, to the Santa Rosa County Court.
Giraud, 46, has served as an Assistant State Attorney in Pensacola since 1998. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army from 1986 – 1990. He received bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and a law degree from Florida State University College of Law.
“Tony’s years of service with the Office of the State Attorney in Pensacola demonstrates that he is dedicated to helping Florida families,” Scott said. “I am confident that Tony will make a great addition to the bench and will serve Santa Rosa County with the fairness and integrity that he has displayed his entire career.”
Giraud will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Ross L. Bilbrey to the First Judicial Circuit.
Weekend: Sunny And Cool
November 17, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind around 5 mph.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
- Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Northview Chiefs Destroy Cottondale To Advance To Region Final
November 17, 2012
The Northview Chiefs destroyed the Cottondale Hornets Friday night to cruise into the Region 1-1A final game next week.
“It’s a great win; it’s a great way to start the playoffs,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said. “We were able to get some big plays when we needed it.”
For a photo gallery, click here. (Band and cheerleader photos will be published Sunday.)
The Chiefs opened the scoring just 21 seconds into Friday night’s game with a 46-yard run from La’Mikal Kyles. A good kick, and at 7-0 Northview was just warming up the scoreboard on a cold night in Bratt.
Cottondale’s Sheldon Vann scored on a one-yard run. The Hornets failed a on a two-point attempt, 7-6 with 5:49 in the first. “We got off to a little bit of a slow start,” Wheatley said. But with a few adjustments, the Chiefs defense shut down Cottondale.
In the second quarter, sophomore LaDarius Thomas was in for a TD with a four-yard run, 17-6 with 3:51 in the half. The Chiefs followed up with a 21-yard run from Kevin Vaughan, 22-6. And with less than five seconds to go in the half, the Chiefs scored again with a 92-yard interception return by Neiko Robinson, 36-6.
With 8:00 in the third, Northview scored again with a 14-yard Vaughn dash, 43-6. That kicked in the mercy rule and a started a running clock to make an inevitable loss a little easier on the Hornets.
With just under three minutes in the third, Neino Robinson returned a Cottondale punt 48-yards for a touchdown, 50-6. And the Chiefs scored again when Cameron Newsome recovered a fumble in the end zone after a 75-yard by sophomore Jaron Myles, 57-6.
Despite totally dominating every 1A opponent this session by average of just over five touchdowns, Wheatley said the Chiefs won’t be resting on that confidence headed into the Region 1-1A final game next Friday night at home against Freeport. During regular season, Northview beat Freeport 42-0.
“We’ve still got to go to work , and we’ve got to get a little better next week. It only gets tougher as each week rolls by,” Wheatley said. “Freeport is always tough. They are well coached. They are going to get after you; you have to be very disciplined.”
For a photo gallery, click here. (Band and cheerleader photos will be published Sunday.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Playoff Football Finals
November 17, 2012
Here are final football scores from around the North Escambia area Friday night:
FLORIDA
- Northview 57, Cottondale 6 [Read more, photos...]
- Freeport 26 Graceville 21
- Tallahassee Godby 28, West Florida 10
- Catholic 22, Jacksonville Trinity Christian 21
- Crawfordville Wakulla 42, Gulf Breeze 19
- Navarre 30, Pace 10
- Milton 38, Niceville 31 OT
ALABAMA
- Midfield 22, TR Miller 20
- Fayette 34, WS NEal 6