Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
May 1, 2021
Tate High School recently named students of the month.
For February, the students of the month were Tucker Philley and Brianna Deason (pictured below).
For March, the students of the month were Caleb Strickland and Shelby Lollie (pictured above).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County High School Mourns Loss Of Coach
May 1, 2021
The Atmore community is mourning the loss of a beloved coach.
Escambia County High School Boys basketball coach John Shears, 44, has passed away at his Mobile home. He was also an offensive coordinator for the Blue Devils football team and a physical education teacher.
“Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all who loved him,” the school said in a statement. “Rest in Heaven Coach Shears.”
Counselors have been made available to ECHS students.
Funeral services have not yet been announced.
Escambia County Self-Reports Sunshine Law Violation By Library Board To State Attorney
April 30, 2021
Escambia County has self-reported a Sunshine Law violation by the library board to the State Attorney’s Office.
For now, prosecutors won’t take any action against four members of the West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance for a meeting they held Monday in Century.
“We are not taking any action at this point, but there clearly was an apparent violation,”Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille told NorthEscambia.com Thursday afternoon.
The meeting was advertised for the Main Library downtown, not Century. Florida’s Sunshine Law requires that adequate public notice be given for public meetings, including time and the correct location. When NorthEscambia.com notified the board of the discrepancy in the legal notice, the board continued the meeting for a short period of time. And that, according to the State Attorney’s Office, is where they went wrong.
“It was accidental and unintentional, but the meeting should not have gone forward once they learned of the problem,” Marcille said. He added the county “will correct any issues created by the meeting and the manner in which it was held,” and hold additional training.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers confirmed Thursday night that she is sending an assistant county attorney to the next WFPL Board of Governance meeting to provide a Sunshine Law refresher lesson.
For more about Monday’s meeting, click or tap here for an earlier story.
Pictured top: West Florida Public Libraries Director Todd Humble (far left), and Board of Governance members (L-R) Robin Reshard, Grace Buenatista, and Bradley Vinson during a meeting Monday afternoon at the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Humble, with board member Dr. Laura Bryant in the background. Pictured below: Reshard and Bryant remained the Century Branch Library parking lot at 6:33 p.m. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Bay Bridge Opening Still Planned For Week Of May 31, FDOT Says
April 30, 2021
With just over a month left to finish the job, the Florida Department of Transportation says the Pensacola Bay Bridge will open with at least two lanes of traffic by the week of May 31.
FDOT contractors have completed the installation of multiple stay-in-place forms and are currently pouring and leveling concrete on the bridge. Following the completion of the concrete pours on the bridge deck, crews will construct barrier walls designed to create a reinforced, protective wall for motorists traveling over the bridge. Additional work will include the installation of electrical conduit and roadway striping.
“The targeted reopening of the bridge remains the week of May 31, 2021. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022,” FDOT said Thursday afternoon.
Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, May 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.
Jay Man Charged With Pistol Whipping Woman During Escambia Armed Burglary
April 30, 2021
A Jay man has been charged after allegedly breaking into a home, pointing a gun at a woman, and pistol whipping her.
Darrell D. Gandy, 35, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and armed burglary of an occupied residence.
Gandy allegedly forced his way into a residence on Bush Street.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office she was inside her residence when she was attacked by a man she did not personally know, but she said the man knows her wife. The victim said Gandy pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at her. He then approached her, pistol whipped her across her forehead, and then slammed her against the living room wall, according to an arrest report. He then ran from the home.
The victim’s wife witnessed the incident and corroborated the victim’s statements. She stated she recognized the suspect immediately as Gandy, a family friend.
Gandy remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
ECSO: Man Beat Woman With Chair For 30 Minutes, Punched Deputy In The Face
April 30, 2021
An Escambia County man beat a woman with a chair for half an hour and punched a responding deputy in the face, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Cornelious Williams, 47, is charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and aggravated battery in a domestic violence situation.
About 6:40 Thursday morning, ECSO deputies responded to a man down call in the 700-block of Yonge Street. Once on scene, deputies found a female victim severely beaten and in the middle of the road. The domestic violence occurred inside a nearby home, where the victim was beaten with a chair for 30 minutes, deputies said.
The woman was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
Deputies found Williams inside the home.
“Williams punched a deputy in the face while resisting arrest; however, he was taken into custody,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Williams was booked into the Escambia County Jail with no bond.
Jefferson Throws Shutout As Northview Beats Jay For District 1-1A Title
April 30, 2021
Jamarkus Jefferson threw a one hitter Thursday night as the Northview Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals 2-0 for the District 1-1A championship.
Jefferson allowed just one hit in seven innings and sat down four at Jay’s home field. The sophomore also led Northview at the plate, going 1-2.
“It felt good. We did what we had to do to win,” Jefferson said. “We’re a young team, and we are going to do it.”
For a game action gallery, click here.
For a gallery from the post game celebration, click here.
Northview really is a young team with just two seniors and one junior.
“It feels great. These young guys stepped up, the seniors stepped up and they continued to lead like we expected them to,” coach Jeremy Greenwell said. “It’s a good feeling for our program, but it’s coming together for the last five years and it’s finally where we want for sure.”
It was the first district title for the Chiefs since 2015.
Carson Walters took the loss for the Royals, giving up two runs and one hit while striking out six in seven innings. Todd Macks had Jay’s only hit of the night.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the regional tourney beginning Friday night, May 7. They will play the loser of Friday night’s Holmes County (Bonifay) and Paxton game.
“I think everybody is about equally talented,” Greenwell said. “It’s going to be fun to host it.”
“We are going to win it,” Jefferson predicted.
For a game action gallery, click here.
For a gallery from the post game celebration, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Wins District 1-1A Crown; Niceville Beats Tate In District 1-6A
April 30, 2021
District 1-1A
Jay 2, Paxton 1 (8 innings)
The Jay Lady Royals walked off with the District 1-1A championship 2-1 over Paxton Thursday night.
The game was tied at one in the bottom of the eighth when Madison Mathis singled on a 1-2 count to score one run. Jay had tied things up in the bottom of the fifth with one run when Caitlyn Gavin lined out.
Mattie Cochran gave up one run and four hits over eight innings, striking out seven and walking none.
Brett Watson led Tate at the plate, going 2-4. Alayna Lowery, Christa Sanders, Mathis and Kassidy Nevels also had hits for the Lady Royals.
District 1-6A
Niceville 8, Tate 1
Niceville defeated the Tate Lady Aggies in the District 1-6A playoffs Thursday night, 8-1.
Abbie Burks took the loss for Tate, allowing 12 hits and seven runs over six innings while walking one.
Hannah Halfacre and Cam Wolfenden led the Lady Atties at bat, both going 2-3. Christina Mason and Michayla Kent each added one hit for Tate.
Escambia School District Will Now Allow Live Audiences At Performances And Events
April 29, 2021
The Escambia County School District will now allow in-person audiences for fine arts performances and events, according to Superintendent Tim Smith.
The change comes after district policy that was in place since the beginning of the school year forced the cancellation of in-person performances of a Tate High School Drama production. Parents and students took their concerns to NorthEscambia.com and the Escambia County School Board. Most of the complaints centered around why sporting events could have live audiences but fine arts performances and other events could not.
“The new change is that ECSD schools are now able to be hold student events following the same guidelines as athletic events. This includes allowing 50% capacity of audience attendance,” Smith said. His decision came Monday but was not immediately announced as he communicated with the high school and middle school principals in the county.
In addition to the 50% capacity, the same as sporting events, there are a few caveats.
“These activities, such as fine arts performances, must be voluntary for all with no impact on student grades,” the superintendent said. “If someone is uncomfortable performing or attending, they should not come to the event. Schools also may explore options for virtual ways to share these events whenever possible, either live or by posting video recordings.”
The events must also adhere to the district’s requirements for the use of masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing.
When possible, schools are being encouraged to hold events outside. Each school will review their calendar and notify parents of updates.
Athletics were allowed to have restricted audiences all school year due to Florida High School Athletic Association rules.
Former Oklahoma Detective Gets Life In Prison For Killing His Police Chief At Pensacola Beach
April 29, 2021
A former small town Oklahoma police detective was sentenced Thursday afternoon to life in prison for killing his police chief during a law enforcement conference on Pensacola Beach in 2019.
Michael Patrick Nealey, 50, was found guilty of second degree murder for the death of Mannford Police Chief Lucky Miller.
It took a jury about two hours Wednesday to return the guilty verdict. Nealey will be sentenced on April 29.
Prosecutors said the murder was the result of an alcohol-fueled night. Prosecutors say the medical examiner determined Miller was beaten and strangled or suffocated to death.
Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.