Off Duty Firefighter Killed In I-10 Wreck
December 2, 2012
One person was killed in a wreck Saturday night on I-10 near Highway 29.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 21-year old Andrew Joseph Keeler of Pensacola was westbound on I-10 at a high rate of speed in his 2001 Chevrolet Camaro. Keeler braked as another vehicle changed lanes in front of him, lost control and overturned and struck several trees. Keeler, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital were he was pronounced deceased following the 7:35 p.m. crash.
Keeler was a career firefighter for Pace Fire Rescue.
Resident Wakes Up And Finds Car In Spare Bedroom
December 2, 2012
An Escambia County resident found an unwanted guest in his spare bedroom when he woke up Sunday morning.
He thought he heard a sound about midnight but did not notice anything unusual because curtains and blinds covered the inside of the window. But after daylight Sunday, the resident of Condor Drive in Gonzalez found that someone had wrecked a car through the window of his unoccupied spare bedroom.
The Florida Highway Patrol determined that the Dodge Avenger had rolled backwards from a nearby street and into the home. Troopers said another driver had hit the car, which was parked by the curb, causing it to roll downhill.
The FHP is continuing to investigate and look for the driver that hit the Dodge. The Ensley Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded to the call.
Pictured: A resident of Condor Drive woke up Sunday morning to find this car in his spare bedroom. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Flees After Late Night Highway 97 Crash
December 2, 2012
Authorities are working to determine who fled the scene of a traffic crash late Saturday night in Davisville.
The driver of a GMC Jimmy told authorities that he rear-ended another vehicle on Highway 97 just south of Meadows Road about 11:15 p.m.. The vehicle, the driver said, was stopped in the roadway on Highway 97 with no lights. After the collision, the vehicle was struck from the rear fled the scene, reportedly northbound toward Atmore. The vehicle was believed to possibly be a pickup truck.
The driver that remained on the scene of the crash was not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Pictured: The driver of this GMC Jimmy rear-ended another vehicle stopped in Highway 97 late Saturday night. The driver of the other vehicle then fled the scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Flomaton Christmas Parade
December 2, 2012
Hundreds of people from Flomaton, Century and surrounding areas attended the annual Flomaton Christmas Parade Saturday morning.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
International Paper Announces New Mill Manager
December 2, 2012
International Paper has been named Brett DeJong as mill manager for the Pensacola Containerboard Mill. DeJong will be responsible for the mill’s operations, employee engagement and financial success.
Most recently, he was the operations manager at the Augusta, Ga., Coated Paperboard Mill. Brett joined IP in 1997 in Global Technology, and has since held a variety of leadership positions at the Mansfield, La., Prattville and Augusta mills. He and his family will relocate to the Pensacola area.
“My family and I are looking forward to relocating to the area and learning more about the people and the community,” said DeJong. “Mobile is home for my wife, so we are very tied to the Gulf Coast.”
In a related move, former Pensacola Mill Manager Carl Gunter has been named mill manager for IP’s Prattville, Ala., Containerboard Mill.
Warm Week Ahead
December 2, 2012
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Sunday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
- Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
- Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
- Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
- Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
- Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
- Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
- Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 68.
Area Cheerleaders Compete In West Florida Regionals
December 2, 2012
Over 20 cheerleading squads took part in the UCA West Florida Regional Cheerleading Competition hosted Saturday by Tate High School.
Participating schools included Tate Hight, Northview High, Jay High, West Florida High, Pine Forest High and Ransom Middle School.
The Northview Chiefs varsity squad took first place in the Medium Varsity Non Tumbling Division. For a video of the Northview performance, click here.
Other results were not immediately available.
Pictured: Varsity cheerleading squads competed in the West Florida regionals Saturday at Tate High School, including Tate (top), Northview (below) and Jay (bottom). Submitted photos by Tammy Calloway for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Wins Women’s Soccer National Title
December 2, 2012
The University of West Florida women’s soccer team won its first national championship in program history with a 1-0 victory over UC San Diego on Saturday.
Chelsea Palmer scored the game-winner with an assist from Sashana Campbell. Tori Fish, Rachel Cutts and Campbell named to All-Tournament team along with the Defensive MVP Sarah Story and Offensive MVP, Palmer.
Pictured top: The national chamption UWF Argonauts. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: NHS Band Brings Cheer To Mall
December 2, 2012
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band, color guard, dance team and majorettes performed Saturday afternoon at Cordova Mall in Pensacola. The band used the performance as a fundraising opportunity to their trip next week to Orlando for the Class 1A football championship game.
For more photos, click here.Photos by Laura Gilmore, Leslie Gonzalez and Connie Brook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Video: Northview Cheerleaders At Tate Competition
December 2, 2012
(If you do not see the video above, it is because your home, work or school firewall is blocking YouTube videos.)