McDavid Man On Ride-along With Escambia Deputy Injured; Hit And Run Driver Charged
October 6, 2019
A young McDavid man on a ride-along with an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was injured in a hit and run crash Saturday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 21-year old Benjamin Preston of McDavid was injured as a result of the crash and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. He was participating in a ride-along with Deputy A. Nichols about 4:30 Saturday when the crash happened at West Jackson Street and North Green Street.
The deputy was responding to a call when 29-year old Gary Daniel York of Pensacola pulled away from a stop sign and failed to yield right of way to deputy, troopers said. York’s Hyundai Santa Fe collided with the deputy’s Tahoe before the Tahoe collided with a tree and a fence.
Preston was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. Family members said he suffered a minor cut on his face and was treated and released. Nichols suffered minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital.
Both Preston and the deputy were wearing the seatbelts.
After the wreck, York and two passengers fled from the scene. York (pictured) was captured by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office hiding in an abandoned house a block away. The identities of the other two passengers are unknown.
York was charged with leaving the scene of a serious bodily injury, felony driving with a suspended license, felony burglary, and felony criminal mischief with property damage. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Sunday with bond set at $16,000.
Jay Peanut Festival Draws Thousands (With Photo Gallery)
October 6, 2019
The annual Jay Peanut Festival attracted thousands of people Saturday and Sunday.
The Jay Peanut Festival at the Gabbert Farm is a fall tradition on the Gulf Coast, showcasing the history, agriculture, food and fun of Santa Rosa County. What started as a chance for local kids and farmers to show off their best of the season has become an annual event covering 15 acres and drawing about 70,000 people to the Gabbert farm over two days.
The event included tours of the 1930s Farm Museum, food booths, dozens of arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, games and fun. The Jay Peanut Festival was also a chance to try all varieties of peanuts – boiled, green, fried, candied and more.
The Jay Peanut Festival dates back to 1990 when the Gabberts started the event in memory of their daughter, Melissa, a 19-year-old who died earlier that year from cancer.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain, More Seasonable Temps On The Way
October 6, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: A 10 percent chance of showers. Sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses Offered In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
October 6, 2019
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in October. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The locations and times of the online completion course are:
Escambia County
Oct. 10 (6 to 10 p.m.) & Oct.19 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Langley Bell 4-H Center
3730 Stefani Road in Cantonment
Oct. 16 (6 to 10 p.m.) & Oct. 19 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Molino Community Center
6450 Highway 95A in Molino
Santa Rosa County
Oct. 9 (6 to 10 p.m.) & Oct. 19 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Jay Community Center
5259 Booker Lane in Jay
Oct. 19 (7 to 10 a.m.)
Santa Rosa County Extension Office
6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at (850) 265-3676.
Crimson Vs. Blue: Youth Football Takes The Field At Tate High School
October 6, 2019
Youth football players had a chance to get a taste of what it’s like to play in a big high school stadium Saturday during the first Crimson vs. Blue game in Tate High School’s Pete Gindl Stadium.
Not only did they have a chance to play in the stadium, they were also able to use the locker rooms for an authentic experience. The days events included games between several Cantonment Cowboys and Ensley Chiefs teams, and a matchup between the Perdido Bay Juniors and the Ensley Juniors.
Photos courtesy Dorrian Vance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Day Of Caring Helps Dozens Of Nonprofits And Schools
October 6, 2019
Throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Friday, United Way of West Florida volunteers rolled up their sleeves and gave back to area nonprofits and schools by completing over 150 service projects for the organization’s 27th Annual Day of Caring.
Ascend Performance Materials made upgrades to the nature trail at Escambia Westgate School. The upgrades will allow for better accessibility for students including the addition of a new ramp, 10 new benches and a walkway.
Volunteers spent the day at Jim Allen Elementary School pulling out and sorting workbook pages.
A group from the University of West Florida MD College of Health worked hard to pull weeds, pick up limbs, clean and organize a storage area and spruce up around Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment.
This year, nearly 1,200 individuals put on their Live United t-shirts and got to work helping non-profit agencies and schools with projects like landscaping, maintenance and beautification, painting, reading to children, and more.
“It’s such a special day,” said United Way Education Outreach and Volunteer Manager Kristy Craig. “So many amazing people are really excited and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference and create a stronger community.”
In total, 76 companies and civic groups combined to make up 105 Day of Caring teams.
Since the inaugural Day of Caring in 1993, United Way of West Florida has coordinated over 28,000 volunteers to complete 2,572 projects for agencies and schools in the community.
Pictured: Volunteer groups hard at work during the United Way Day of Caring included Ascend Performance Materials (top) at Escambia Westgate School, volunteers at Jim Allen Elementary School (below) and Panhandle Equine Rescue (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century CRA To Hold Quarterly Meeting Monday
October 6, 2019
The Century Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will host their quarterly meeting on Monday.
The agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting includes discussion of an interlocal agreement with Escambia County to provide an executive director the Century’s CRA and the 2018-2019 CRA annual report.
The redevelopment area will receive 95 percent of the property tax generated in excess of the frozen base value as property values rise. It is estimated that will amount to about $10,000 the first year for the beginning in 2020.
The CRA funds will be used to improve conditions in the 510 acres, bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King.
Youth Football Scores: NWE, Flomaton
October 6, 2019
Here are Saturday’s youth football scores from Flomaton at NWE at Northview High School:
Freshmen
NWE 35, Flomaton 0
Sophomores
Flomaton 31, NWE 6
Juniors
NWE 35, Flomaton 0
Seniors
NWE 32, Flomaton 31
Triumph Board Approves $14.5 Million UWF Grant
October 6, 2019
The University of West Florida is further positioned to find and fill critical gaps in Northwest Florida’s high-tech workforce through a newly approved Triumph Gulf Coast grant. Triumph’s board of directors unanimously approved the grant agreement on Friday to address shortages in additive and advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.
“This project is a result of a majestic effort on behalf of the UWF team and the Triumph staff,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. “The vision for the future is to be the leading destination for education, research, workforce development and training. This is great news and we look forward to moving this project forward on behalf of Triumph Gulf Coast and the Northwest Florida region.”
Triumph, the nonprofit corporation organized to administer funds recovered by the state for economic damages that resulted from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, awarded $14.5 million toward the University of West Florida Project 10[X]. UWF is committing $22.95 million, the remaining cost of the estimated $37.45 million project. The project received provisional approval subject to negotiating a term sheet and legal contract.
Through the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, the Sea3D Additive Manufacturing Laboratory and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, UWF will offer industry certifications that align with the Florida Career and Professional Education Act. UWF plans to produce more than 3,000 certifications in these areas over the five-year project timeframe.
“Industry certifications are recognizable, transferable skills that will continue benefiting the prosperity pipeline for many years to come,” Saunders said. “This project will produce some of the nation’s most talented and elite professionals who are highly skilled, credentialed and ready to work.”
UWF serves as the Centers of Academic Excellence Regional Resource Center for the Southeast U.S., as designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. Through its Center for Cybersecurity, the University partners with federal, state and local agencies, as well as private-sector companies.
Surprise Storm Hits Bratt, Downs Trees And Power Lines, Wreaks Havoc At Northview Homecoming
October 5, 2019
A surprise thunderstorm in Bratt Friday evening brought high winds and lightning that caused minor damage, downed trees and power lines and wreaked havoc with homecoming and football at Northview High School.
The Northview stadium was evacuated twice due to lightning, and two power failures due to downed trees plunged the campus and surrounding communities into darkness.
Schools officials abruptly ended outdoor homecoming court activities just after 6 p.m. as lightning popped nearby, moving everyone into the school gym to try again. A short time later, the power went out, leaving homecoming activities and a crowded gym in the dark for about an hour. Fans and players were rushed out of the stadium again at halftime due to lightning. The power was cut off during halftime for emergency repairs on nearby Pine Barren Road, leaving the stadium in the dark and significantly delaying the game.
Homecoming floats parked in the stadium were flattened by high winds during the storm.
Trees were reported down in multiple locations around the Bratt area, and some minor damage to at least one home was reported.
Pictured above: The Northview stadium in the dark at halftime Friday night, except for emergency lighting provided by fire trucks and an ambulance. Pictured below: Homecoming activities moved into the school gym due to lightning, but the power went out for about an hour. Pictured next below: Storm clouds approach the stadium during the start of homecoming activities, with lightning forcing the NJROTC and homecoming court to run for cover. Pictured bottom: Homecoming floats in the stadium were flattened by high winds. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
