Ernest Ward Middle Beats Central Baldwin (With Photo Gallery)
September 24, 2021
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles beat the Central Baldwin Middle School Bears 20-0 Thursday night in Walnut Hill.
The Eagles travel to Jay next Tuesday at 6 p.m. before hosting Snook on October 5.
Ernest Ward Middle School has the only middle school football team in Escambia County, Florida.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Celebrates Senior Night With 3-1 Win Over Jay (With Gallery)
September 24, 2021
The Northview Lady Chiefs celebrated their seniors Thursday night before celebrating a big 3-1 win over the Jay Royals.
Northview defeated Jay 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20.
The Chiefs honored eight senior players: Nevaeh Brown, Mia Starns, Kinzey Powell, Cassie Davis, Grayson James, Taylor Levins, Kayla Dixon and Payton Gilchrist.
For a senior night and game action photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscamiba.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baker Tops Northview By One In Overtime Thriller
September 24, 2021
The Baker Gators topped the Northview chiefs by one in an overtime thriller Thursday night.
Going for a two-point conversion win or lose, the Gators won 43-42.
The Gators jumped out to a 7-0 lead a little over three minutes into the game on a 43-yard touchdown run from Kayleb Wagner, who set a state record last week with 535 rushing yards on just 25 carries and six touchdowns against South Walton.
A couple of minutes later, Jamarkus Jefferson was in the end zone from two yards out for the Chiefs. With a good kick from Brandon Ferguson, the ballgame was in a 7-7 tie in Baker.
Wagner added a 69-yard touchdown in the first, 14-7 Baker headed into the second. Baker scored again with about nine minutes to go in the half from, you guessed it, Wagner to expand the Gators lead to 21-7 over the Chiefs.
Northview answered with a 15-yard pass from quarterback Kaden Odom to Jefferson with a great catch in the corner of the end zone, narrowing the Baker lead to 21-14 after another good Ferguson kick.
But Wagner was not done with an 11-yard TD run, before the Chiefs scored again. Baker was up by a touchdown 28-21 at the half.
Early in the third, Odom found Jefferson from 16 yards out, and Ferguson nailed the PAT to tie the game at 28-28. Baker scored again with a 62-yard run from Wagner, 35-28 Gators to round out quarter number three.
Northview tied it up 35-all in the fourth when Odom found Wyatt Scruggs, setting up an overtime showdown.
In the first overtime period, QB Odom connected with Jefferson with a 3-yard pass, and once again Ferguson put the pigskin through the uprights, 42-35 with the Chiefs on top.
On Baker’s OT possession, Brandon Moss had a 10-yard TD run and was in for the two point conversion and the Baker win.
Northview has not beat Baker in the regular season since the Chiefs’ 2012 state championship run.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Beat The Washington Wildcats (With Photo Galleries)
September 24, 2021
Coming off a loss Wednesday night at Pace, the Tate Lady Aggies beat the Lady Wildcats of Washington High School in three straight sets Thursday night.
Tate beat Washington 25-23, 25-21, 25-20.
On Wednesday, the Lady Aggies fell to the Patriots in Pace, 3-1. Pace won 25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23.
Up next, the Lady Aggies will be at Pine Forest on Monday and at Pensacola Catholic next Tuesday.
For a photo gallery from Tate at Washington and Tate at Pace, click or tap here.
NorthEcambia.com photos by Crystal Tolbert, click to enlarge.
Saturday’s UWF Argos Home Football Game Canceled
September 24, 2021
The University of West Florida’s football game that was set for Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium has been canceled.
UWF announced late Thursday afternoon that their opponent, Fort Lauderdale, was unable to field a team for the game.
Ticket information will be forthcoming, according to the university.
The UWF Argos will return to the field on Saturday, October 2 when they travel to Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi.
Pictured: No.1 UWF beat No. 13 Texas A&M Commerce last week. Photos: Courtesy Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Wanted For Questioning In Connect With Murder Of Ladarius Clardy
September 23, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for Quaderis Deon Stallworth for questioning only in connection with the homicide of Ladarius Clardy.
Stallworth, 19, is considered armed and dangerous, according to the sheriff’s office.
Clardy, a former standout Pine Forest High School quarterback, was shot and found dead in a vehicle crash. His vehicle was found with over 50 bullet holes in a ravine at Hollywood Avenue and Fairfield Drive about 1 a.m. on July 1.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Stallworth is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Tropical Storm Sam Forms In The Atlantic, Expected To Become Major Hurricane
September 23, 2021
Tropical Storm Sam has formed in the Atlantic and is forecast to become a hurricane in next day or two and a major hurricane in about three days.
It is too early to tell exactly where Sam will go, and it’s expected to slow down. Models show the storm won’t near the Lesser Antilles until the middle of next week. Most of the early computer models curl Sam away from the United States by late next weekend, but it’s important to stay updated for any possible changes.
The latest information on Sam is in the graphics on this page.
Gary Diamond Of Molino Honored Posthumously As Florida’s Career Firefighter Of The Year
September 23, 2021
A firefighter from Molino was posthumously honored as Florida’s Career Firefighter of the Year in a ceremony this week in the Senate Chamber of the Florida Capitol.
Gary Diamond’s wife Cindy accepted the honor on his behalf from Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis.
Diamond was murdered at his Molino home on December 26, 2020.
“Gary was known as influence on others with the experience and passion to build a strong fire service community,” Patronis said, “dedicating his time to train younger generations of firefighters.”
Diamond joined the Ensley Volunteer Fire Department in 1982 before transferring to the Molino Volunteer Firefighter. He worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department in 1987 and went on to serve as Molino chief from November 1992 to September 1993. He left Escambia in County 2006 to pursue his career calling as a firefighter and EMT at Navarre Beach where he retired as a captain to return home to take care of a family member. At the time of his death, he was volunteering as a fleet transport driver for Escambia Fire Rescue, moving fire apparatus around the county as needed.
“Gary suffered a tragic death in December 2020 doing what he has been know to do his entire career, which was selflessly protecting others at the expense of his own life,” stated a proclamation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, CFO and Fire Marshal Patronis, and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried.
Diamond was among several members of Florida’s firefighting community honored for their outstanding accomplishments in the fire service industry recognized during the 2021 Fire Service Awards. Each individual or facility was nominated and selected by various fire service organizations across Florida.
Pictured above: Late firefighter Gary Diamond (left). His wife Cindy (right) accepted the Florida’s Career Firefighter of the Year honors on behalf of her late husband this week in the Florida Senate Chamber.
Fallen Escambia Fire Chief Dwain Bradshaw Among 18 Added To Florida Memorial
September 23, 2021
Taps played this week in the Florida Capitol Courtyard as 18 fallen firefighters were honored for answering their final call and making the ultimate sacrifice.
One of the 18 names now inscribed on the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial is Escambia County Fire Rescue District Chief Dwain S. Bradshaw.
Bradshaw, 41, lost his life early on the morning November 2019 in the line of duty on scene of a fatal crash on the Muscogee Bridge. He was a volunteer district chief at the Bellview Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, volunteer assistant district chief for the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, and lived a life of public service.
Bradshaw was also a Department of Defense firefighter at Naval Air Station Pensacola, an U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Mississippi Air National Guard and a former police officer in Bay Minette.
Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis hosted a ‘Ringing of the Bell’ ceremony to honor Florida’s fallen firefighters. He was joined by Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.
“With each ring, we mark the ending of a final call for the brave souls honored on these walls, the ones who lost their lives bravely and with honor. This year, as we reflect on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 and the tragic condo collapse in Surfside, it further emphasizes for everyone the tremendous sacrifices our first responders give to keep our communities safe. God bless these fallen heroes and their families,” Patronis said.
“We honor Florida’s firefighters who answered the call for service but did not come home. They dedicated their life to their communities and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations In Escambia County The Lowest Since July
September 23, 2021
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Escambia County have fallen to their lowest level since July 30.
On September 22, there were 158 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. That compares to 236 a week ago and nearly 400 about a month ago.
At Ascension Sacred Heart, there were 72 people being treated for COVID-19 on Wednesday, down from 110 one week ago. More than 90 percent of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Ascension Sacred Heart are not vaccinated.
“The continued decline in hospitalizations is good news for the community and our healthcare staff,” said Dawn Rudolph, president of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. “But this is not the time COVID-19 to think the threat is going away. We encourage everyone to help us stop COVID-19 spread by wearing masks in congested indoor spaces, social distancing, and, most important, getting the vaccine. Everyone in our community plays a critical role in keeping us safe from this virus.”
Chart data sources: Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist and West Florida hospitals. Graphic: City of Pensacola.