EREC’s Annual Meeting Is Virtual This Year (And Yes, You Can Still Get A Gift Bucket)
April 18, 2021
Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s 82nd Annual Meeting will be held virtually this year as a safety precaution due to COVID-19. And yes, you can still get one of those registration gift buckets.
The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 24. A link will be provided on www.erec.com, and information will be posted on Facebook prior to the start time for members to access the meeting.
“Safety for our members and employees is top priority at EREC,” said Ryan Campbell, CEO. “We are encouraging members to vote by absentee ballot to minimize their risk of exposure. With vaccines readily available now to the public, I’m hopeful the pandemic will soon be a distant memory.”
Absentee ballots will be available at the EREC offices in Jay and Walnut Hill until end of business on April 23. Members voting by absentee ballot will receive a registration gift bucket when their ballot is submitted in person to an EREC office. Members returning their absentee ballot by mail will be able to pick up their registration gift bucket after EREC has received their ballot.
Members unable to vote by absentee ballot can go to either EREC office Saturday, April 24, between 8 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. only and vote in person in a drive-thru setup. No registration gift buckets will be given to members voting in person April 24. They can be picked up later at either office.
Every member voting by absentee ballot or in person will be registered for prize drawings. Winners will be notified later for prize pickup at their local office. Members can find voting ballot information in their April issue of Florida Currents magazine. Election results will be posted on the EREC website and Facebook immediately after election office personnel complete the vote count.
“EREC’s annual meeting is different this year because of COVID, but I hope our members will join us virtually on the 24th,” said Campbell. “The presentation will include announcement of our scholarship winners and a 2020 hurricane recap video. Even though we can’t meet in person, we’re looking forward to this great opportunity to connect with our membership.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida State Forest RV Sites, Campsites Return To Full Operation
April 18, 2021
RV sites, tent campsites and horse stalls in Florida’s state forests are now fully open.
The Florida Forest Service said COVID-19 safety measures are still in effect, including a 10-person maximum at group campsites and a 50-person maximum for outside events and pavilion rentals. Inside events are restricted based upon building size.
For more information, click or tap here. To make reservations, visit floridastateforests.reserveamerica.com.
Pictured: Krul Lake Recreation Area in the Blackwater State Forest. File photo.
Fire Destroys Vacant Home In Quintette Area
April 17, 2021
Fire destroyed a vacant home in the Quintette area before daybreak Saturday.
The fire was reported at the end of Tyler Lane, off East Chipper Road, about 5:35 a.m. The 2,000 square foot wood frame home was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries reported.
The Cantonment, Molno, Ensley, Bellview and Brent stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Pace Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS were dispatched to the fire.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Legendary Football Coach Carl Madison Selected For FHSAA Hall Of Fame
April 17, 2021
Legendary football coach Carl Madison has been selected for induction into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
The football field at Tate High School was recently remained “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the legendary coach that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
Madison, who turned 90 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semifamous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The then 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
In 2009, Madison briefly came out of retirement to once again take to the field at Tate, this time as an offensive consultant.
Man Shot In Beulah During Domestic Dispute, Suspect In Custody
April 17, 2021
One person was shot and another was taken into custody Friday night in Beulah.
It happened about 8:30 p.m. in the 5000 block of Alder Avenue, just north of Frank Reeder Road.
A 20-year old male was transported to an area hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. His injuries were not considered life threatening.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting stemmed from a domestic incident, and a suspect was taken into custody.
Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High Boys Tennis Headed To Regionals For The First Time Ever
April 17, 2021
Tate High School boys tennis is headed to regionals for the first time in school history.
The Tate boys team is runner-up in District 1-3A.With finals wins at the #3 singles and #2 doubles, the Aggies pulled through the three day tournament. The Aggies boys top five are:
- Prosser Crow
- Evan Hered
- Barry Harberson
- Alex Grace
- Payton Herrington
The Tate High girls tennis team is tied for second with Washington and will continue play on Monday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Softball Beats Jay
April 17, 2021
The Northview Chiefs defeated the Jay Royals Friday night 7-6.
Emma Gilmore pitched the win for the Chiefs, going six innings allowing five hits and six runs while striking out six and walking two.
Alayna Lowery took the loss for Jay Royals Varsity. The pitcher lasted six innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs while striking out six. Lowery had a homer in the seventh.
Pictured: Emma Gilmore on the mound for the Northview Lady Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball’s Fryman And Glodfelter Commit To UWF, Licastro Commits To LBW
April 17, 2021
Three Tate High School baseball standouts made college commitments this week.
Junior pitcher Josiah Glodfelter and senior outfielder Jadon Fryman made commitments to the University of West Florida.
Senior Zak Licastor committed to Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Alabama.
Photos by Laura Glodfelter for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five People Shot At Apartment Complex; SUV Involved Found Torched At Quintette Park
April 16, 2021
A Ford Escape found torched in the Quintette Park Thursday night was the vehicle involved in the shooting of five people earlier in the evening at Oakwood Terrace Apartments, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said Friday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s office is looking for the two individuals pictured for questioning only in the incident.
About 6 p.m., the stolen Ford Escape occupied by four people pulled into the apartment complex on Truman Avenue in Pensacola. Two males with handguns fanned out, while two with long guns stayed nearby before. They all began to shoot, with about 40 rounds fired toward a group of people gathered outside.
Two females and three males were hit the gunfire. None of injuries were life threatening, but some are in serious condition. One person was shot in the chest and another in the head, according to the sheriff.
“These are people that intended to kill people, and they didn’t care who it was,” Simmons said. “They didn’t care if it was the person they were looking for, and they didn’t care for those person they were talking to. They didn’t care if it was a young child they were holding or a child in the area. They quite simply did not care.”
About 8:20 p.m. Thursday, a vehicle fire was reported in the Quintette Park. The Ford Escape was fully involved when the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue arrived on scene. It was located near the ball fields on the north side of the park. A gas can was visible just a few feet away from the burned out vehicle.
As of Friday afternoon, the four suspects had not been identified.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on the incident, or that may have seen the Ford Escape (pictured below at Oakwood Terrace prior to the fire), to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.
Update: At the time of the incident, ECSO believed six people were shot, but that number was later revised to five.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Five People Injured In Shooting At Escambia County Apartment Complex
April 16, 2021
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY WITH MORE DETAILS, CLICK OR TAP HERE.
Five people were shot at an Escambia County apartment complex Thursday evening.
About 6 p.m., a dark colored vehicle pulled into the Oakwood Terrace Apartments complex at 700 Truman Avenue and several people opened fire.
“A group of people exited that vehicle and just started opening fire. We estimated at least a dozen rounds have been fired,” said Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. “They were shooting indiscriminately into a group of people.”
Five people that were shot and transported to Baptist and Sacred Heart hospital.
As of late Thursday night, no arrests had been reported.
Update: At the time of the incident, ECSO believed six people were shot, but that number was later revised to five.
Pictured: Law enforcement at the Oak Terrace Apartments complex on Truman Avenue Thursday evening after six people were shot. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
