Northview Chiefs Roll To 4-0 With Dominant 35-0 Win Over Port St. Joe
September 12, 2026
The Northview Chiefs made a resounding statement Friday night, proving their shift into Class 1A competition won’t slow down their dominant momentum.
Behind a relentless, multi-touchdown performance on the ground from sophomore Tyson Phifer, explosive downfield strikes from junior quarterback Caleb Levins, and a brick-wall defensive effort, the Chiefs blanked the visiting Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks 35-0 to remain undefeated on the season.
Northview set the tone midway through the opening quarter With 7:20 on tje clock, Phifer powered his way into the end zone to draw first blood and put the Chiefs up 7-0. The sophomore sensation wasn’t finished, showcasing his field vision and speed midway through the second quarter. At the 7:44 mark, Phifer reversed field from 45 yards out, weaving through defenders to wide open space for a highlight-reel touchdown to stretch the advantage to 14-0 heading into halftime.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
Look for a gallery with cheerleaders, Tribal Beat band, and fans by Monday.
While the Chiefs took a comfortable two-score lead into the break, they broke the game wide open midway through the third quarter. Levins dropped back and launched to senior wideout JJ Jacobs, who broke free for a 75-yard touchdown sprint at the 7:32 mark.
Up 21-0, the Chiefs refused to let off the gas. Just seconds into the final quarter, Phifer delivered the dagger, bursting through the defense for a 32-yard rushing touchdown at 11:52 to make it 28-0.
A little over three minutes later, Northview’s aerial attack struck again. Levins connected with Christian Fountain on a 32-yard touchdown strike with 8:35 remaining. The score triggered Florida’s continuous running clock under the 35-point mercy rule, sealing the shutout victory.
The win moves Northview to a pristine 4-0 on the year. Having jumped to the newly formatted Class 1A from the former rural division, the Chiefs have looked every bit like district frontrunners, outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 167-25 through the first month of action.
Northview will look to keep their perfect streak intact next week as they cross state lines into Monroe County, Alabama, to take on the winless Monroe County High Tigers (0-3). Kickoff in Monroeville is set for 7 p.m. Friday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Veterinary Academy Students, Mascot Sadie Visit School Board
September 12, 2026
Students and mascot Sadie from the Tate High School Veterinary Science Academy visited an Escambia County School Board workshop this week.
Teacher Rachel Veninga and four students highlighted the academy’s programs and accomplishments.
The Tate High School Veterinary Science Academy is a four-year career academy that gives students opportunities to explore veterinary and animal science careers while gaining hands-on experience each year as they build upon the skills learned previously.
Several former students are now veterinarians and veterinary assistants, or are working in animal science careers.
Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
25th Anniversary Of 9/11 Observed At NAS Pensacola
September 12, 2026
Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, service members, local first responders, and community members gathered at Naval Air Station Pensacola on Friday to honor the victims and reflect on a quarter-century of vigilance.
The installation marked the milestone anniversary with multiple observances, bringing together both those who lived through the tragedy and a new generation of service members tasked with carrying its legacy forward.
At the Charles E. Taylor hangar, personnel from NAS Pensacola and the Naval Air Technical Training Command (NATTC) joined emergency personnel and civilian staff for a solemn ceremony featuring a reading of the timeline of the 2001 attacks and a moment of silence.
“For a quarter century, our nation has kept a solemn promise: we will never forget,” said Capt. Ronald Rumfelt Jr., commanding officer of Naval Aviation Schools Command, who served as guest speaker. “To never forget is not merely a slogan, it is an operational imperative. For 25 years, the men and women of our armed forces have answered the call born on that morning. Some of you may not have been born when our nation was attacked, yet stand here, entrusted with the task of bearing our heritage into the future, and keeping our solemn promise: we will never forget.”
Later in the day, the public gathered beneath the suspended aircraft of the National Naval Aviation Museum’s Blue Angels Atrium for a second observance featuring firsthand accounts from retired military officers whose lives were directly altered by the events of that day.
Retired Cmdr. Steve Scheibner, who was an American Airlines commercial pilot in 2001, shared the harrowing story of how close he came to being aboard the first plane used in the attacks. Scheibner was originally scheduled to pilot American Airlines Flight 11 before his schedule was changed on September 10, 2001. Flight 11 was hijacked the following morning and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
“I think all of us, if we’re old enough, remember exactly where we were on that terrible day,” Scheibner said. “That first television screen you saw is etched into your mind forever. It’s one of those moments where your brain takes a snapshot of exactly where you were.”
Attendees also heard from retired Vice Adm. John Totushek, former Chief of Naval Reserve and Commander of Naval Reserve Force, who was working inside his office at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building in Arlington, Virginia.
“God bless the brave people that fought fires and went into buildings and rescued people that day,” Totushek said. “God bless the military people and contractors who worked so hard to get the Pentagon back up and running in less than a year. And we’ll never forget. It’s up to us and our leadership to be ever watchful.”
The museum ceremony concluded with the presentation of a ceremonial wreath and the playing of “Taps.”
Photo by Ens. Anthony Aspenson/U.S. Navy for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Aggies Rebound in Crestview, Roll to 28-7 District Win
September 12, 2026
The Tate Aggies improved to 3-1 with a strong 28-7 road win over the Crestview Bulldogs on Friday night.
The Aggies were coming off a low-scoring 6-3 home loss last week to the Escambia Gators.
The Bulldogs bit first to take a 7-0 lead, but you can’t keep the Aggies down for long.
Milton transfer Cade Pierce found Efidarius Bryant for the touchdown to tie it at 7. After a big interception from Kaden Poston, Pierce scrambled on a keeper for the TD to make it 14-7. Pierce then found Bryant in the end zone for another score to make it 21-7, putting Tate firmly in control on their way to a 28-7 Class 5A District 1 win.
Next week, it’s the annual “Summerford Bowl” as Coach Rhett Summerford’s Tate Aggies head across town to take on brother Wes Summerford’s West Florida Jaguars at 7 p.m. The Jaguars (1-3) are coming off a Thursday night loss to Bay, 54-20.
Pictured: Tate fell to Escambia last week NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
High School Football Scoreboard
September 12, 2026
Here is Friday night’s North Escambia area high school football schedule, along with a few scores from Thursday night games.
FLORIDA
Friday
- Tate 28, Crestview 4 [Recap story...]
- Northview 35, Port St. Joe 0 [Photos, recap story...]
- Choctawhatchee at Escambia (postponed until 10/1 – field conditions)
- Pensacola at South Walton 31, Pensacola High 12
- Pensacola Catholic 45, Carver Collegiate 0
- Pace 37, Wakulla 29
- Niceville 28, Navarre 23
- Fort Walton Beach 28, Milton, 0
- Jay – Open
- Central – Open
Thursday
- Washington 56, Gulf Breeze 0
- Bay 54, West Florida 19
- Williamson 19, Pine Forest 18
ALABAMA
- T.R. Miller 28, Flomaton 14
- Escambia County (Atmore) 52, Wilcox Central 6
- Escambia Academy 49, Munroe (Quincy, FL) 20
- W.S. Neal 61, Excel 24
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat the Port St. Joe Tiger Sharks on Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Whack 3 Homers, Arquette Extends Hitting Streak in 8-4 Win
September 12, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos kept their foot on the gas on Friday night with an 8-4 win over their future playoff opponent Biloxi Shuckers.
As was the case with the first two games of this series, the Shuckers loaded the bases and scored in the top of the first inning. Gabe Bierman got himself into trouble quickly, throwing 12 straight out of the zone to begin the game. Through a pop out and a couple of ground outs, Bierman was able to limit the damage to just the one run.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Max Williams let the good times roll with a solo shot out to left field, his 6th bomb in 7 games. The 1-1 tie did not last long, however, as Biloxi regained the lead in the second with an RBI single from Dylan O’Rae.
The Wahoos opened up the bottom of the third with back-to-back doubles from Jay Beshears and Cristian Hernández, once again evening the score at 2-2. Hernández proceeded to steal third and eventually came home on a sac fly off the bat of Max Williams. The double from Hernández was his 28th of the season, tying him for second in the Southern League and putting him alone in second for doubles in a single season by a Blue Wahoo.
An inning later, Payton Green kept his hot-hitting ways going with an RBI knock, extending the lead to 4-2. Tristan Stevens took over for Bierman in the 4th inning and the Shuckers got to him in the 5th, with Damon Keith slamming a game-tying two-run job out to left field, his 6th against the Wahoos this season.
With Stiven Cruz (L, 4-3) on the mound for the Shuckers, Cristian Hernández hit a ball 112.1 mph 406 feet over the center field wall, putting Pensacola ahead 5-4. The seventh inning saw a two-run bomb from Colby Shade and the eighth bore witness to an RBI single from Aiva Arquette, who extended his hit streak to 12 games with the knock.
Following 1.2 scoreless innings from Jaydenn Estanista (W, 3-1), Jack Sellinger (S, 9) got the final 8 outs of the ballgame, wrapping up the 8-4 win for the ‘Hoos. They now sit at 79-56 overall and 43-23 in the second half. The 23 games above .500 is a season high for Pensacola. The Shuckers fell to 64-68 and 29-38.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night.
written by Charlie Hobert
Where Were You That September Morning?
September 11, 2026
We publish this piece on an annual basis, and we encourage you to comment below, answering the question ‘Where Were You That September Morning?
September 11, 2001. It’s been 25 years.
Life, at least when that morning began, seemed good. I’ve always been a work at home dad, so I was home with my two girls. The youngest was almost four months old, and the oldest was approaching her fourth birthday. It was a normal morning. The little one was asleep, “fat and happy” as we used to say, after a morning bottle. The oldest was in the living room just a few feet from my office watching PBS Kids on the TV as I worked on a project for a client.
Then this arrived in my inbox:
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:52am– World trade center damaged; unconfirmed reports say a plane has
crashed into tower. Details to come.
I got up, walked to the living room and flipped the TV to CNN. They were talking about how a pilot could make such an error, hitting such a large building. They were speculating that it was just a small plane. But then as the TV news helicopters zoomed their cameras in closer, the anchors were beginning to notice what I had already thought….those holes the tower were to big to have been a small plane.
(continues below photo)
I called my wife at work in Atmore. She had seen the breaking news email, and had tried to visit the CNN website to see the story. If you remember trying to use the internet that morning, it was near impossible to get a news website to load; they were all overloaded. She was unable to see the pictures. I was describing what I saw on the TV to her.
I managed to grab a picture from CNN via my web server and then download and email it to her. We were speculating about how it could happen when the second one hit.
I remember saying “wait, hold on, wait…”. I told her what I just watched on the TV. The second plane had hit the other tower. We quickly decided that we were at war as the anchors on TV speculated again that perhaps there was a problem with some navigational system, causing jetliners on a beautiful, clear morning in New York to fly into some of the tallest structures in the world.
Another breaking news email arrived:
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:21am– Second plane crashes into World Trade Center.
She and I began to speculate ourselves that we were at war. What would we do? What should we do? What about the kids? It was not panic, understand, but just that protective momma and daddy instinct, I suppose. Prayer. That was a good idea. Maybe go to the bank and get out a little cash. That seemed like a good idea. How would you prep for a war on American soil? We were not sure.
I continued to relay information about what I was seeing on TV to my wife at work, who, in turn, would relay the information to her coworkers. They had a TV, but no cable service or antenna. They ended up fashioning a homemade antenna to see a fuzzy picture.
Meanwhile, the breaking news emails kept arriving…
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:32am– Sources tell CNN one of two planes that crashed into World Trade
Center was an American Airlines 767.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:42am– President Bush calls plane crashes at World Trade Center a
terrorist act.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:45am– Significant fire at the Pentagon. Details to come.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:46am– White House evactuated. Details to come.
The Pentagon on fire? The White House evacuated? Notice that in CNN’s email they were in such a hurry that they misspelled “evacuated”. One sentence at a time, the situation became more grave.
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:55am– CNN confirms a plane hit the Pentagon
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:03am– One of World Trade Center towers collapses; fire forces
evacuation of State Department
Subject: CNN Breaking News
From: BreakingNews@CNN.COM
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:30am– Second World Trade Center tower collapses in Manhattan
Over and over, we watched those towers collapse on TV, and we watched our Pentagon burn.
Our almost four year old asked a lot of questions. “Were people hurt? Did they need a Band-aid?” The magnitude of the event was lost on a four year old. Looking back at those first few hours, I think the magnitude of the event was lost on all of us.
Like many Americans, I sat glued to the TV that day, continuing to watch the video of the towers falling. Our almost four year old asked if another building fell down or if it was the same one. It was time to change the channel on the TV.
You might remember that many of the entertainment TV stations ran network news feeds. Others just simply ran screens about the day’s events. There was no USA network, no ESPN, no MTV. But on PBS, we found children’s programming at a time it was not normally on. For a little while, sitting in the living room floor holding my kids, the world stopped turning that September day, as we watched Big Bird and the Cookie Monster.
Country artist Alan Jackson later wrote a song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?”.
Some of those lyrics:
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cryDid you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don’t know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left belowBut I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where where you when the world stopped turning that September day? Your comments are welcome below.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany (Reynolds) Landis, click to enlarge.
Florida Executes ‘Hog Trail Killer’ Daniel Conahan For 1996 Murder
September 11, 2026
Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. was put to death by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison for the 1996 strangulation of 21-year-old Richard Allen Montgomery in Charlotte County.
Conahan, 72, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m., according to the state Division of Corrections.
Dubbed the “Hog Trail Killer,” Conahan reportedly killed Montgomery after paying him to pose for nude photos in the woods and was suspected of similar homicides in southwest Florida.
Conahan is the 15th inmate put to death this year by the state after a modern-era record 19 in 2025.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has also already signed a warrant for Curtis Wilkie Beasley to be executed Sept. 29 for the 1995 murder of a Polk County woman.
Conahan, who contested the charges, was convicted in 1999 of Montgomery’s death and his counsel sought further DNA testing of evidence collected from Montgomery’s body and the scene where the body was found.
Hours before the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request for a stay.
The Florida Supreme Court denied a similar request for a stay last week.
Conahan’s main argument was the 30-day period between DeSantis signing the death warrant and the execution date is not long enough for him to fully investigate and litigate both his pre-warrant and post-warrant claims, which he asserts violates his due process rights.
But the Florida justices noted Conahan hadn’t identified additional claims that could be raised beyond the warrant-to-execution period and, “more crucially, ignores the fact that he had almost twenty-three years before the warrant was signed.”
Conahan was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and kidnapping. A jury unanimously recommended a death sentence.
Conahan was given the “Hog Trail Killer” moniker as he was investigated but not charged in the deaths of five other men found along remote dirt tracks that were known as hog trails from North Port to Fort Myers between 1993 and 1996.
The first body found was discovered in 1994 by hog hunters in northern Charlotte County.
According to court records, Conahan, an unemployed nurse, lured Montgomery into woods in northern Charlotte County to take nude bondage photos. Montgomery told friends he was going out to make a few hundred dollars.
Montgomery’s body was found a day later wrapped in carpet padding. Investigators were in the woods because county workers found the decomposing remains of another man later identified as Kenneth Smith.
Conahan was arrested in February 1997, accused of raping Montgomery, strangling him and cutting off his genitals to eliminate DNA tracing.
Law enforcement tied Conahan to Montgomery through a police report filed in Fort Myers by Stanley Burden, who claimed to have been assaulted after being offered $150 to pose nude while tied to a tree in 1994. Fibers linking Conahan to both Burden and Montgomery were reportedly found at Conahan’s home.
Conahan was initially charged in July 1996 with attempted murder of Burden. The charge was dropped when Conahan was charged with Montgomery’s murder.
An attorney for Conahan sought to discredit Burden by noting he as a convicted pedophile.
written by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
9/11 In His Own Words: Inside The Pentagon – That September Morning
September 11, 2026
Steve Vanderwerff, a now retired public affairs action officer for Naval Education and Training Command in Pensacola, was inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 — less than 100 yards around the corner from the crash site in his new office. Less than a week before, his office had been located in the strike zone.
Vanderwerff describes, in his own words, that September morning….
My decision to join the Navy was solely based on my sense of adventure. The Navy’s ad from my childhood, “It’s not just a job it’s an adventure,” truly struck home. I envisioned myself a bell-bottomed, Dixie-cup wearing sailor right out of the movie “Mr. Roberts.” Ah the sweet pleasure of sailing the seven seas doing the hula-hula, late night pub crawls in Hong Kong, collecting an armful of tattoos and chasing after Thai girls and beer while being paid. So I enlisted. It was 1988. All has come true except for the tattoos.
The years flew by, a tour on USS Carl Vinson – the Navy’s Golden Eagle, two tours with Pacific Fleet Combat Camera, surviving SERE School, graduating from Syracuse University’s DoD film school, a science expedition to the North Pole; and a tour with the Blue Angels as their backseat aerial photographer pulling a lot of G’s. I was operating on maximum overdrive, high on adrenaline. The ad had come true. It wasn’t just a job it was indeed an adventure. Little did I know that I had yet to experience the adventure of a lifetime, one that was life altering, made me grow-up and come to fully realize what it means to serve my country in the United States Navy.
After my tour with the Blue Angels I was detailed to the Pentagon. I had heatedly disagreed with my detailer’s decision. Taking a Secretary of Defense staff assignment at the Joint Combat Camera Center (JCCC) didn’t exactly register very high on my fun meter. Driving a desk, supporting Com Cam policy and supervising the reception of imagery from forward deployed combat camera teams isn’t exactly how I had ever envisioned myself. Damn it, I was an operator! The likelihood or remote possibility of me running into something fun and adventurous like arm-wrestling Bolivian Blow Dart Peddlers or fire walking with Tahitian Mai Tai Jugglers while stationed in DC was slim-to-none. Didn’t he have something for me, like pulling G’s in a fast-mover (I could fill volumes about how to prevent power puking inside the cockpit)? Or what about breaking through the Arctic’s polar cap in a nuclear powered fast attack submarine and standing guard against polar bear attack as I had in the past? I’m not exactly sure if a polar bear attack on a US Submariner constitutes an act of war, if so who owns the polar cap? If he wouldn’t send me to any of the above, how about something a bit more cerebral like me hitting a foreign beach armed to the teeth with Kevlar wearing Marines or maybe photographing Navy SEAL’s in revved up low-altitude fast moving helos moving in and out of hostile territory? I had always been a big fan of that sort of action. He said no to all. It was time for me to take a seat at a desk and help others do what I wanted to do.
And so on a hot muggy day I checked in. It was August 2001. The Pentagon buzzed like a beehive. I was impressed by all of military’s, “Heavy Hitters” that walked the halls. There was a lot to learn, especially working with the other service branches. What was there not to like? The world appeared to be at peace. I was stationed in our nation’s capitol. I had a large cubicle, and my own computer with super fast T-line connections. A Starbucks was conveniently located one floor below. Best of all, I would be home every night for the next three years to annoy my wife and kids. My first month flew by moving JCCC into the Pentagon’s newly renovated wing.
On a sunny, Tuesday morning I arrived at work. It was September 11, 2001. It was a little after nine a.m. when I got to work. My wife Dayle, was flying back home that day from attending a funeral in the mid-west. I was getting in late because I had to drop my kids off at school; playing the role of soccer mom somewhat new to me. My officer in charge was attending a conference in Norfolk, Va. and my operations chief was at a meeting down the road in Alexandria. When I got to the office everybody was huddled around the TV. The news was reporting that a plane had crashed into one of New York’s Twin Towers.
I stood flabbergasted as the tragedy unfolded. To my disbelief a second jet slammed into the Twin Towers. My memory is a bit fuzzy of what happened next, but as I recall, soon afterwards the Pentagon shuddered and shook. My co-workers and I looked at each other not sure of what had just happened. That sure seemed like one helluva sonic-boom I thought to myself. Having come from the “Blues” my mind still operated in the aviation world of thinking. The phone rang. I answered it. It was one of my guys who, was off for the day at home just across the Anacostia River at Bolling Air Force Base. He asked me if we had just been attacked. I said “is that what that was?” I said I wasn’t sure, there were no alarms going off. He said he thought so because looking from his back yard black smoke was pouring out of the Pentagon. Someone went out to investigate. They quickly came back. All they said was, “We gotta go.”
Smoke filled halls were filled with people making their way towards exits. The murmur of voices and shuffling feet was all that could be heard. No one had a clue to what had just happened. The idea of a passenger plane hijacked by terrorists and crashing into the Pentagon was as remote a possibility as Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming the governor of California. Not exactly knowing what to think I made my way outside. Once outside I saw thick black smoke rising from the building. I thought that maybe construction workers working on the renovation might have hit a gas main. All sorts of thoughts ran through my head as hordes of dazed and confused people continued to pour into the daylight. Seeking information I went to my car and turned on the radio to listen to the news. I sat stunned not believing what I was hearing. Holy-moley I thought. We’ve been attacked by terrorists, same as the Twin Towers. My God there are people in the wreckage. I spend my entire career trying to get into the action and when I think that I’m away in the rear the action comes looking for me. I heard approaching sirens in the distance. Then it dawned on me. My wife was flying home that day. My mind raced with morbid fear. Is she safe? Has she got on the plane yet? In a fog I made my way to the pre-determined rally point. Once there I set my personal emotions aside. I had people to muster and account for. The rest of JCCC showed up. All were accounted for. Then security officers were yelling for everybody to leave the area because another attack was imminent. Mass hysteria hit the crowd. What the heck was going on? Like cockroaches scattering when the lights come on, civilians, military personnel, politicians and bungling bureaucrats ran for cover. Somehow we all ended up on the other side of Highway 395. I knew I wouldn’t be seeing my car for a long time. More worries filled my mind, thinking of how would I get home and who would pick-up and care for my kids? The second attack turned out to be a false alarm. I set aside my worries, I focused on the positive. My wife would be ok and I would figure out how to get home and take care of my children, but first I had my duty to fulfill. Once again I accounted for my personnel.
Fortunately several members had grabbed their cell phones. The airways were jammed, but after repeated attempts we were able to get a hold of my boss. He instructed us to get to the American Forces Information Services (AFIS) in Alexandria, where he currently was and where we would set up shop. There was imagery to get out to the world. The story needed to be told. Because none of us had access to our cars we made our way to the nearest metro station. I tried repeatedly, but couldn’t reach my wife. I was scared. Fortunately I was able to contact a neighbor who would pick my kids up from school. Once at AFIS we went into action setting up a temporary JCCC – still and video imagery started to come in. Sec Def wanted his imagery. Hours later after repeated attempts I finally was able to get a hold of my wife. She was safe. Her plane had been delayed because of the tragedy. She had spent her time desperately trying to get a hold of me, fearing for the worst – widow hood. I assured that her I was un-harmed and that the kids were safe with a neighbor. We cried for our good fortune and the mis-fortune of others. I thanked God for watching over me and my family. I had been less than a hundred yards around the corner from the crash site. Late that night in the safety of my home with my kids snug in bed I realized that a week earlier before moving into the newly renovated wing, JCCC had been located in the area of impact and that a few of my office mates and I would have been in the old office that morning to make sure we had moved everything, but had not because we had been watching the Twin Towers tragedy on TV. I sighed with relief. It had been a close call.
Years later, thinking about that bleak morning in September when all of America held its breath and our enemies cheered I give pause to reflect. Understanding, that on that day something awoke in me that had been missing in me, if not many others – service and sacrifice. I had spent my time in the Navy up until then thinking of what I could take or get out of the deal. My training, my many deployments, my wanting fun and adventure had always been about me. Sure, I had always been a good Sailor, but I had been driven by hubris and selfish desire. Not giving much thought to what it meant to serve my country. I was happy as long as I was able to collect a paycheck.
It didn’t happen overnight, but over the course of my tour at the Pentagon and supporting the “Global War on Terror” I found a new sense of purpose and energy. I worked long hours, determined to support the cause and give meaning to my duty. Gone were my days of thinking that being a Sailor meant being a sea going pirate, swashbuckling across the globe, with tales to spin and tell. People had died and would continue to do so without mine and every American’s full support to stop our enemies.
So when it was time for me to talk to my detailer about orders, I didn’t hesitate to ask for orders at the “tip of the spear” aboard a ship because that was where I was needed. My days of asking for fun and adventurous jobs seeking personal reward and glamour were over.
And so whenever I found myself on long arduous extended deployments while sailing in harms-way wondering why I had to be there and for what purpose I would think of all those who had gone before me and of their sacrifice and dedication to service.
I continued to serve with that sense of pride and purpose at follow-on duty stations, and continue to do so as a retired chief and civilian employee at Naval Education and Training Command, which develops the Navy’s workforce through education and training that builds personal, professional, and leadership skills.
When my time in the Navy, active duty and as a civilian, comes to a close I will be proud to say as President Kennedy so eloquently put,
“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
“I served in the United States Navy”
Northview Dominates Pine Forest In Clean Sweep; Tate Falls To Catholic
September 11, 2026
Northview Chiefs Sweep Pine Forest
The Northview Chiefs dominated on their home court Thursday night in Bratt, rolling past the Pine Forest Eagles in straight sets.
Northview took control of the varsity match early and never let up. The Chiefs kept the Eagles off balance at the net, setting the pace to claim the first two sets by identical 25-14 scores. Pine Forest looked to mount a rally in the third, but Northview shut the door with a 25-13 win to finish off the sweep (25-14, 25-14, 25-13).
For a photo gallery, click here.
The junior varsity Chiefs set the tone for the night with a sweep of their own.
Northview’s JV squad pulled away for a 25-16 win in the opening set, then blew things wide open in set two. The Chiefs strung together several big service runs to run away with a 25-8 victory, capping off an unbeaten night for the program.
The Northview Chiefs dominated on their home court Thursday night in Bratt, rolling past the Pine Forest Eagles in straight sets.
Northview took control of the varsity match early and never let up. The Chiefs kept the Eagles off balance at the net, setting the pace to claim the first two sets by identical 25-14 scores. Pine Forest looked to mount a rally in the third, but Northview shut the door with a 25-13 win to finish off the sweep (25-14, 25-14, 25-13).
The junior varsity Chiefs set the tone for the night with a sweep of their own.
Northview’s JV squad pulled away for a 25-16 win in the opening set, then blew things wide open in set two. The Chiefs strung together several big service runs to run away with a 25-8 victory, capping off an unbeaten night for the program.
Next week, Northview will travel to Laurel Hill on Monday, host Central on Tuesday, and be at W.S. Neal on Thursday.
Pensacola Catholic Sweeps Tate
The Pensacola Catholic Crusaders swept a trio of volleyball matches from the Tate Aggies on Thursday in Cantonment.
In varsity action, Catholic took a 3-0 victory over the Aggies.
Pictred: The Northview Chiefs varsity beat Pine Forest 3-0 on Thursday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
