ECSD Teams With Company To Offer NCAA Assistance To Student Athletes
November 30, 2021
The Escambia County School District will be making the CoreCourseGPA.com program available to all high school campuses to help better prepare high school athletes for NCAA/NAIA academic eligibility.
The platform also provides a wealth of recruiting resources to assist families with the recruiting process. The program is designed to allow families to take ownership of this process, with assistance from CoreCourseGPA.com, according to the school district.
District athletic directors and counselors will be trained In upcoming workshops. A CoreCourseGPA.com representative will assist schools with setting up faculty accounts, and information will then be provided to students.
“As a former college coach, I was always very impressed with families that used CoreCourseGPA. The recruiting and academic information was organized exactly as a college or university needs it,” ECSD Director of Athletics Casey Thiele said. “This valuable resource will help Escambia County students and families navigate the complexity of NCAA and NAIA eligibility requirements. Because 33% of all NCAA required classes are offered during the freshman year, this tool will help our students get off to a great academic start.”
Mervyn LeRoy Simmons Jr.
November 30, 2021
Mervyn LeRoy Simmons Jr, 67 a native of Pensacola, FL passed away on Saturday November 27, 2021,
surrounded by loved ones. “Merv” or “Roy” (depending on who you were) was one of the nicest, caring
people you could ever meet with a great sense of humor. He was always looking for a laugh and once it
got started it would roll on until your sides were hurting. Roy was a very private person and if you were
in his circle, you knew it.
Mervyn graduated from Tate High School in 1972, he played trumpet in Tate’s Showband of the South.
He worked with Fluor-Daniels as a Pipe Fitter in the early 70’s and was there for 16 years. From there he
opened Nine Mile Paint & Body where he restored vehicles, his favorites being antiques and hot rods.
Anything that had wheels on it he was attracted to, he could ride a unicycle like nobody’s business. In
the mid 90’s he worked as an Estimator for CharCo General Contractors in Brewton, Alabama for 8 years
and when left from there he managed Lake Stone Campground for about 5 years. He moved back to
Pensacola in 2012 to settle into retirement with his wife Ann. He spent a great deal of time on his boat,
“Makin’ Memories” at the Bahia Mar marina. His boat was his getaway to think and a thinker he was. He
was once referred to as the “Mayor of Bahia Mar” always lending a hand when he could.
Mervyn is preceded in death by his father and best friend, Mervyn LeRoy Simmons Sr and his brother,
Curtis Simmons. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Ann Simmons, Mother, Dorothy Griffith,
Stepfather, Don Griffith, sister, Rhonda (Tony) Mathews, sons, Lyle (Amanda) Simmons and Jason
Fillingim and daughter, Julie Simmons. Stepbrother, Keith Griffith, stepsister Gay Burdick, stepdaughters
Heather (Steve) Gonzalez and J.B. Owens. Granddaughters, Lyla, Bentley, Lola, and Bailey and grandson
Hunter. Aunts, Janice Bricker, Sally Cline and Uncles, Carl Bricker, Jim Burnette, and Larry Burnette.
Many cousins, nieces, nephews and countless close friends from over the years.
The last 9 months have flown by for the family, and we are so thankful for the supportive staff of Dr Jafri
of Baptist Oncology, Mervyn’s Primary Dr, Lance Raney and Covenant Hospice. The care and
professionalism they have shown us during this time does not go unnoticed.
Pallbearers will be John Connell, Lyle Simmons, Tony Castille, Steve Gonzalez, Tony Mathews and Phil
Mathews. Honorary Pallbearers will be Clint Culpepper, Bobby Vangilder, Joe Steele and Neal Roe.
Graveside services will be Monday, December 6 th at Pensacola Memorial Gardens, 3:00.
No Injuries When School Bus Backs Into Dodge Challenger On Cantonment Road
November 29, 2021
There were no injuries when an Escambia County School bus backed into a Dodge Challenger Monday morning in Cantonment.
The bus was stopped facing north on Chesapeake Trail just north of Yellowstone Pass about 9:07 a.m. The Florida Highway Patrol said the bus driver began backup up the bus, which collided with the Dodge Challenger.
There were no injuries to the either driver or any of the 14 students on the bus, according to FHP.
The bus driver, a 42-year old female from Cantonment, was cited for improper backing after the FHP crash investigation.
Three Charged With Theft of Corn And Peanuts From Local Farmer
November 29, 2021
Three people have been charged with stealing from a Walnut Hill farmer that was selling his products on the honor system.
Gregory Paul Traynor, age 47 of Pensacola; Bradley Parker Henderson, age 40 of Cantonment; and Michael Darrol Dunson, age 40 of Pensacola, were each charged with first degree misdemeanor petty theft.
RELATED: Thieves Hit Walnut Hill ‘Honor System’ Farmer Again Monday
Authorities believe they are the three people caught on camera during the early morning hours of November 19 stealing 27 bags of deer corn, peanuts and ear corn being sold at the farmer’s roadside bin and barn on South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. The suspects can be seen on surveillance video loading up the bags into a van that was later determined to be yellow. Part of that video, first posted by NorthEscambia.com, is below.
About two dozen bags of corn and peanuts were recovered and returned to the farmer.
Traynor was released on a $2,500 bond. Henderson and Dunson remained in the Escambia County Jail as of Monday evening with bond set at $2,500 each, according to jail records.
Images and video for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cowpen Creek Road, Tumbling Lane Closed In Canoe, Alabama, For Crossing Work
November 29, 2021
Two roads in Canoe, Alabama, will be closed for a few days for railroad crossing maintenance.
Both Cowpen Creek Road and Tumbling Lane are closed, according to Alabama State Troopers. According to troopers, North Canoe Road remains open.
Escambia Academy is located on Cowpen Creek Road. The school can be accessed using North Canoe Road and Myrick Avenue or Randolph Avenue.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Battery Of Ex-Girlfriend, Theft Of Her SUV And Child Support Funds
November 29, 2021
A Cantonment man stands accused of the battery of his former girlfriend, and the theft of her SUV and child support funds.
Rajaun Darnell Grandison, 38, was charged with felony aggravated battery, grand theft of a motor vehicle and fraud.
Grandison had been in “dating relationship” with the victim within the last six months, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, before breaking up about a month ago. During an argument, he allegedly choked the victim before taking her keys and driving off with her 2004 Ford Expedition.
Grandison used $53.23 off the victim’s child support debit card, according to an arrest report, mostly at convenience stores.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday with bond set at $4,000.
Keep The Wreath Green Fire Safety Campaign Begins Wednesday
November 29, 2021
The annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign begins Wednesday in Escambia County.
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with the Pensacola Fire Department, will launch its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign Wednesday, December 1. While a joyous time of year, cold weather, holiday decorations and festivities can create serious fire dangers. Firefighters hope to reduce the number of fires by promoting simple, life-saving holiday safety tips each day in December.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will also be on display at 21 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths also placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building and Pensacola City Hall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential homes. In 2020, 10 bulbs were changed to red on county wreaths.
The first of those fires was December 3 in the North Escambia area, injuring a resident as they rescued their cat from the blaze in the 600 block of East 10 Mile Road.
“With the increase in electrical fires in our county, we want to remind our citizens that overloading power strips and extension cords will cause a fire,” said Escambia County Fire and Life Specialist Ray Melton. “Keep live trees watered daily. It is also recommended that citizens use battery operated candles. If using candles, never leave them unattended. Escambia County has already seen three home fires from the use of candles since Oct. 1.”
If your home does not have a working smoke detector, call Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 595-HERO (4376) or (850) 436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
Pictured: A resident was injured and a cat was rescued during a mobile home fire December 3, 2020, in the 600 block of East 10 Mile Road. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
New Escambia Westgate Boardwalk Opens, Thanks To Ascend Cares
November 29, 2021
Escambia Westgate School recently held the dedication celebration for the Westgate Nature Trail, a project donated by the Ascend Cares Foundation.
A previous boardwalk had deteriorated due to weather. It was removed and a new wider walkway with rails was installed for hundreds of feet into the wooded area behind the school.
Escambia Westgate School serves children with physical and intellectual disabilities. The boardwalk will allow children in wheelchairs to have access and enjoy the beautiful woodlands behind the school. Around 100 Ascend Cares volunteers worked on the boardwalk, totaling nearly 900 volunteer hours through the summer and fall months.
“First of all a big thanks to Westgate for letting us participate in this program,” said Ascend Performance Materials Pensacola site director Matthew Stewart. “Second, thanks to over 100 Ascend volunteers who contributed nearly 900 hours. This was a five-month project that was a little more work than initially anticipated, but we persisted. We are so proud to support Westgate School and the amazing work they do, and we hope this boardwalk will be enjoyed by students and staff for years to come. It was a labor of love.”
For more photos, click to tap here.
The nature trail is on school property and is not open to the public.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Gets Prison Time For Narcotics Charges, Running From Deputy
November 29, 2021
A Cantonment man has been sentenced to two years in state prison on multiple narcotics charges after running from a deputy during a December 2020 incident.
Roderick Vernell Lewis, 35, pleaded no contest to two counts of possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest without violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.
On June 7, 2019, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Ruberia Avenue where a woman said she found her vehicle and the man that failed to return it.
A deputy observed Lewis standing with a large chain. He followed orders to put down the chain, and then ran from the deputy, according to an arrest report. The deputy chased Lewis through several backyards before finding him lying face down under a bush. Lewis refused commands to show his hands, forcing the deputy to draw his service weapon. After multiple commands, Lewis complied.
According to the ECSO, Lewis was observed removing a plastic bag from his pocket and begin digging in the dirt.
After Lewis was taken into custody, deputies recovered the plastic bag containing multiple types of narcotics that had been buried in the dirt. The narcotics in the bag tested positive for methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin.
Deputies determined no charges were warranted in connection with the original complaint involving a car that was not returned.
Bonus Photos: NWE Football Championships, Cheerleader Competitions
November 29, 2021
Northwest Escambia recently won three football championships, and the NWE cheerleaders placed in the Escambia River Conference.
NWE Freshmen 18, Neal 6
NWE Sophomores 26, Flomaton 0
Andalusia 7, NWE Juniors 0
NWE Seniors 8, Brewton 6
For a football action photo gallery, click here.
The NWE sophomore, juniors and senior cheerleaders all captured second place.
For a cheerleader competition photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Shawn Gomez for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
