Ready For Some High School Football? Plenty Of Action Tonight
August 26, 2011
Three North Escambia area football teams in Florida will be in preseason action tonight, while it’s the first night of the regular season for Alabama teams.
Northview Chiefs
The Northview Chiefs’ will host Panama City Bay at home Friday at 7:00 in a preseason classic. The Chiefs are ranked No. 1 in the new Florida High School Athletic Association Rural Division, according to MaxPreps.com, after coming with one game of playing for a state championship last year. Third-year Head Coach Sid Wheatley and his Chiefs will sit out September 2 with an open date before traveling to Marianna on September 9.
Tate Aggies
Head Coach Ed Rigby and his Tate Aggies will travel down Highway 29 for their kickoff classic at 7:30 Friday night against Pensacola High School. The Aggies, coming off a 3-7 season, will open their regular season at home in Pete Gindl Stadium against Washington next Thursday, September 1.
Jay Royals
The Jay Royals will host the Baker Gators at 7:00 Friday night for their kickoff classic game. The Royals, 0-10 last year, will look for their first regular season win under new head coach Kent Smith, a 1979 Jay grad, at home September 2 against Rocky Bayou.
Flomaton at W.S. Neal
The Flomaton Hurricanes will blow into East Brewton Friday night to take on the W.S. Neal Eagles. The Eagles, who were 0-10 last year, are under the leadership of first-year coach Doug Hoehn and looking for improvement. The Hurricanes beat W.S. Neal 35-0 last year. Neal has lost 15 straight games, and they’ve lost their last 21 regional games.
Escambia County High at T.R. Miller
Last year’s game between the Escambia County High School of Atmore and Brewton’s T.R. Miller was a battle, ending with a 35-34 win for Atmore in one overtime. Tonight, ECHS will be on the road against T.R. Miller at 7 p.m. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in Alabama 4-A — T.R. Miller at No. 7 and ECHS at No. 10.
Clarke Prep at Escambia Academy
It’s week two of play for private schools in Alabama, and the Cougars of Escambia Academy will play host to Clarke Prep of Grove Hill at 7 p.m. in Canoe. The Cougars are coming off a big 30-2 win last week over Sparta, and a looking to avenge last year’s 51-31 loss to Clarke Prep.
Flags Ordered At Half Staff Today For Lance Cpl Travis Nelson
August 26, 2011
Florida Governor Rick has ordered all state and national flags in Escambia County to be flown at half staff Friday for Lance Corporal Travis M. Nelson who died August 18 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Nelson’s funeral will be held Friday in Atmore. Flags in Escambia County, Alabama, and Atmore have not been ordered to half staff. A spokesperson for Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said his office does not order flags to half staff for fallen soldiers.
Pictured: The flag at half-staff at the Walnut Hill Community Center. The name of Lance Cpl Travis Nelson was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor Monday. He was the first Walnut Hill area resident killed in action since 1969. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Meet The NHS Chiefs Tonight, Football Friday Night
August 25, 2011
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will sponsor the annual “Meet the Chiefs” at 6:00 tonight at the NHS stadium.
Planned festivities for the night include performances by the Northview Chiefs Tribal Beat Marching Band, the Northview High School cheerleaders, the brand new Northview Dance Team, and the introduction of the 2011 Northview varsity and junior varsity Chiefs. Admission is free. Hot dog plates and spirit items will be available.
The Chiefs will host a preseason Fall Classic against Bay High School Friday night at 7:00.
The Northview High Quarterback club is holding a membership drive during Meet the Chiefs on Thursday night and during Friday night’s football game. Membership is $10 per family.
“Come out and support the Chiefs,” said Alan Purvis of the NHS QB Club. “Its going to be a great year.”
Pictured: Two Northview defenders take down a Trinity Christian Conqueror in the Class 1A Semifinals last December. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Buses Will Be Held At Ernest Ward This Afternoon
August 24, 2011
Buses will be held at Ernest Ward Middle School this afternoon until the motorcade with the remains of LCpl Travis Nelson pass the school. Parents that wish to pick up their child may do so in the “car rider” line and must exit and head toward Bratt (away from Highway 97).
For more about the motorcade, click here, or check our Facebook.
Line The Streets: Residents Can Pay Respect To Fallen Marine Today And Friday
August 24, 2011
North Escambia area residents are encouraged to line the streets today and Friday to pay respects to the local Marine who was killed in action last week in Afghanistan.
Wednesday
The body of Lance Cpl. Travis Nelson, 19, will be transported in a small procession Wednesday afternoon from the Pensacola Naval Air Station to an Atmore funeral home.
The procession, led by the Florida Highway Patrol and motorcycle riders from the Patriot Guard, will depart the main gate at Pensacola NAS at or after 2 p.m. Those wishing to show their respects in Pensacola are asked to line the sidewalks on South Navy Boulevard outside the base at 2 p.m.
The procession will travel up Highway 29 out of Pensacola, turning north on Highway 97 to Atmore. In Atmore, the procession will follow South Main Street (Hwy 21) to East Nashville Avenue (Hwy 31) to Petty-Eastside Funeral Home.
Almost 500 Ernest Ward Middle School students will be in front of the school — dressed in red, white and blue and waving hundreds of American flags – as Nelson’s remains pass the school that he attended in the sixth and seventh grades.
Residents wishing to pay their respects in Walnut Hill area asked to gather along Highway 97 north of Arthur Brown Road. Parking will be available at the Walnut Hill Community Center (Ruritan Building) and adjacent to the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department is opening their parking lot to those that wish to view the procession from that location. Residents should not gather or park on the grounds of Ernest Ward Middle during school hours.
In Atmore, people are asked to gather anywhere along South Main Street and East Nashville Avenue Wednesday afternoon. The public is requested to remain off the funeral home property as the procession arrives.
The exact time the procession will arrive in North Escambia or Atmore is not known. Updates will be posted on the NorthEscambia.com Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/NorthEscambia. “Like” the page so that alerts will appear on your Facebook wall. Click “Subscribe via SMS” in the left column of the page to receive updates on your cellular phone. (Procession updates will not be posted on NorthEscambia.com — you must visit and “Like” the Facebook page to receive updates.)
Friday
Visitation will be held Friday from 12:30 p.m. until funeral time at the Atmore First Baptist Church on South Main Street. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the church with Chaplain Lt. Commander Jeffrey Bornemann and the Rev. George Weaver officiating with military honors. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore.
The public is encouraged to line Main Street from the First Baptist Church to Oak Hill Cemetery to pay their respects on Friday. The public is requested to be in place along the highway by 2:30 p.m.
Pictured: A U.S. Marine Corps carry team transfers the remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Nelson at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Saturday night, August, 20, 2011. Photo by Steve Kotecki, U.S. Air Force, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
August 22, 2011
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Statement as of 6:55 PM CDT on August 22, 2011
The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
northern Escambia County in northwest Florida…
east central Baldwin County in southwest Alabama…
* until 745 PM CDT
* at 653 PM CDT…National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing damaging winds in excess
of 60 mph. This storm was located 4 miles west of century…or 11
miles west of Brownsdale…and moving south at 10 mph.
* Locations impacted include…
Molino… century…
Lat…Lon 3070 8756 3098 8750 3094 8730 3089 8729
3085 8731 3081 8729 3079 8731 3073 8731
3072 8727 3069 8727
time…Mot…loc 2355z 010deg 10kt 3087 8742
Send Us Your Back To School Pictures
August 22, 2011
Take lots of those first day of school pictures, and send us a few.
NorthEscambia.com will publish a gallery of back to school photos on Tuesday, and we would love to include your child. Email the photos to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion in our photo gallery. Please include your child’s name and school.
Superintendent: We’re Ready For First Day Of School
August 22, 2011
Today’s the first day of school in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, and school officials say they are ready.
“We are off to a good start,” Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. “Summer has flown by so fast, it feels like we are just picking up where we left off.”
Thomas said he looks forward to a successful year, with last year’s school grades rebounding overall across the county. “The sets us up this year to continue our strategy and have another great year,” he said.
Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver agreed.
“We are looking forward to a great year,” she said. “We are ready.”
Weather: Hurricane Irene And Lots Of Heat
August 22, 2011
Hurricane Irene and hot weather will dominate the weather news this week. Hurricane Irene continues on a path toward Florida; the latest information is in the graphic above.
Meanwhile on our stretch of the Gulf Coast, we’ll keep a watchful eye on Irene and keep the air conditioners humming. Here is your official North Escambia are forecast:
- Monday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. North wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Friday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Saturday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tropical Storm Irene Headed Toward Florida
August 21, 2011
Tropical Storm Irene formed Saturday evening, and residents around the Gulf Coast area need to keep a watchful eye on this one into next week. Forecast models take the storm into South Florida by week’s end, but a slight deviation in the forecast could take Irene into the Gulf or out over the Atlantic.
The latest info on Tropical Storm Irene is in the graphic above, click to enlarge.