Century High Stadium Sign Is Headed To Historical Park To Honor Kayo Stanton, The Voice Of The Blackcats
May 15, 2020
“Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeee come the Blackcats!”
So many times those words echoed through Kayo Stanton Stadium at the former Century High School. Very little of the stadium remains today; the remnants of the home bleachers and the press box remain, but they suffered heavy structural damage during the EF-3 tornado that hit Century on February 15, 2015.
On Thursday, crews used a crane to remove the “Kayo Stanton Stadium” sign from outside the press box and transported it to the Alger-Sullivan Historical Park where it will be put on display.
The main Century High School school building was constructed in 1937. Century High School closed a quarter century ago after being merged with Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill to form the current Northview High School.
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Who was Kayo Stanton?
Kayo’s full name was Vivian Earl Stanton, Jr. “Kayo” is a term used in boxing to denote a knockout but his daughter Anne Williamson of Thomasville said his nickname was for a character in the 1930s-50s “Moon Mullins” Sunday comic strip named “Kayo.”
Stanton’s deep voice was easily recognizable – his trademark was “Heeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeee come the Blackcats,” as the Century team came onto the field before the game started. His son, David Stanton said his father borrowed the line from the Florida Gators after attending games in Gainesville when David was a student there. “He came back and tried it, and it went over pretty good,” he said. “He kept it for the next 20 years.”
Kayo didn’t try to be a play-by-play announcer. He once said, “The fans can see what’s going on. I just tell them the yard marker, since we can see from this high vantage point. The men who work as spotters in the press box tell me the players’ numbers and I pass that to the crowd.”
The stadium was named in his honor during the football season of 1990. He was beginning to be paralyzed from the cancer by the end of the football season, but he could still walk some at the time of the dedication. By the end of the season he was confined to a wheelchair and would listen to the games from the wheelchair sitting in his front yard.
Stanton was “The Voice of the Blackcats” as public address announcer for Century football for 40 years, starting in the early 1950s.
Stanton was also a third generation businessman in Century. At 19, he went to work for his father, Bubba Stanton, at Stanton’s grocery on Mayo Street. The family closed the grocery store in 1963, and when Bubba died in 1964, Kayo took over the operation and eventually turned it into a furniture store.
Stanton prepared for games as if he were going to broadcast them, studying series records against Century’s opposition for the week and scores against common opponents, to be shared with the fans.
His attendance record was almost spotless, even after he opened another store in Pensacola in 1979. The new store kept him out of town for much of the week in the six years it was open. But Fridays always found him in the press box.
Stanton’s tenure was interrupted only once, as family ties put him in a different place in the stadium during the 1968 season. That was the senior season for Kayo’s son David, an All-State linebacker for Century.
But he returned to the booth the following year and stayed for the next 20 years, before cancer forced him to give up announcing. He died June 13, 1991.
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Century Blackcat Football
Century’s high school ventured into football in the early 1930s. According to “Blackcats: A history of Century Football 1931-1975″ by Jim Curenton, football was first played behind the Baptist and Methodist churches in 1931. In 1934, Marvin Kelly donated a parcel of land northwest of the present-day Carver-Century K-8 (the site of present-day Showalter Park) and it was used for Century’s athletic teams. Football was played at Kelly Field during the daytime hours since there were no lights.
It’s not clear just when the first games were played at the new high school, built in 1936. Curenton’s book says of the 1941 season, “Kelly Field had not been used as a football field in two or three years.” At any rate, at the end of World War II, for the first time, home games were played under lights on the field behind the new high school. Century played its first night game against W.S. Neal. A solid white ball was used to make it more visible at night. Curenton reported that since grandstands were non-existent and there were no fences as yet, crowds pressed closer and closer to the action, actually narrowing the field of play.
The school property bordered the crest of a hill on the edge of a small swamp around Findley Branch. Coach Bill Turberville took advantage of the slope. He had the boys carry each other up the hill repeatedly to build the legs and endurance of the players. Coaches following Turberville also used the slope for practice drills, and Eddie Simmons believes Coach Jay Smith made the most use of it. He had two boys race down the hill – one boy had to block them both and push them back up the hill. He would alternate two on one going up and then going down, tackling and blocking.
By 1944 a grandstand was erected on the north side of the field. It was a wooden affair with about five or so rows of seats, seating maybe some 50 people. However, it was a start. It was a sign of progress and of a “slowly growing interest in high school football,” according to Curenton. Crowds increased and that resulted in larger stands being constructed. Later cars pulled up to the fence on the south side and fans sat in their autos, blowing their horns when there was an exceptional play. About 1948, a grandstand and dressing rooms were built with wooden seats atop them. Running water was added to the dressing rooms in 1952, with Kayo Stanton doing most of the plumbing work.
Grover Hicks, Mr. Peavy and Angus Hall of the county’s maintenance crew used wheelbarrows to build a concrete extension onto the east end of the existing grandstand that was used by opponents’ fans.
A deep gully at the east end was filled in during Jim Manderson’s coaching tenure at CHS some time during 1952-54. A classroom was built adjacent to the southwest corner end zone and encroached on the end zone. In the 1980s, Paul Jones, owner of the land east of the field, donated property so the field could be extended in that direction.
The cement grandstand and press box on the south side wasbuilt with the help of the Century High School Quarterback Club in the 1960s and 70s.
Historical information and photos courtesy Jerry Simmons, Alger-Sullivan Historical Society. Modern day stadium photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Food Distributions Saturday At Gonzalez Baptist Church, Flomaton Community Center
May 15, 2020
Local food distributions will take place Saturday at the Gonzalez Baptist Church and in Flomaton.
Gonzalez Baptist Church
A drive-thru food distribution will be held Saturday, May 16 beginning at 10 a.m. at Gonzalez Baptist Church at at 1590 Pauline Street (one block off Highway 29 and Old Chemstrand Road, behind Winn Dixie).
Each person in a household will receive a box of food and an additional bag of non-perishable food. Last week, the church had enough for 200 families and quickly ran out of food. This Saturday, they expect to double that number.
Town of Flomaton
The Town of Flomaton will hold a food giveaway Saturday, May 16 starting at 10 am. at the Flomaton Community Center at 600 McCurdy Street.Persons do not have to be a resident of Flomaton to receive food.
Persons are asked to follow the route in the map below provided by the Flomaton Police Department. Signs and police officers will direct people in the direction they need to go. Persons receiving food must stay in their vehicle at all times. Each person will be also asked a few simple questions.
Pictured: A previous food distribution at the Gonzalez Baptist Church. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tiny Homes Could Become Easier To Build In Escambia County
May 15, 2020
Tiny homes could become easier to build in Escambia County by early next year.
New regulations from the Florida Building Commission are set to go into effect on December 31 that will offer some relief from stringent requirements that apply to standard residential construction. The rules loosen requirements on things like stair and landing sizes, ceiling heights and the size of rooms.
The Florida Building Code is used as the framework for the Escambia County’s building code. The Escambia County Commission on Thursday directed the county planning board to make local changes based upon the new state regulations.
Escambia County Commission Chairman Steven Barry said, “I think we’re going to have a lot of counties that are going down the path that we’re going, and I think it is a reasonable thing if our board ended up asking our planning board to discuss some of the variables that would be built into it, not the building code part, but on the land use and those types of things.”
All the provisions and regulations of the current Land Development Code (LDC) would apply. In all zoning districts, a tiny home could be a single-family dwelling per lot. A tiny home could be an accessory dwelling unit where a single-family dwelling unit exists. Up to four units would be allowed, without a site plan review, in zoning districts where multi-family dwellingsor multi-developments are allowed.
Commissioners also expressed that tiny homes could equate to more affordable housing in Escambia County.
Tiny homes are defined in Florida building code as being less than 400 square feet. Recreational vehicles do not qualify as tiny homes.
Central Water Works Issues Boil Water Notice Due To E. Coli Bacteria; Order Includes Century Prison
May 14, 2020
Central Water Works has issued boil water notice effective immediately due to the detection of E. coli bacteria. The warning includes not only the utility’s customers, but also the Century Correctional Institution.
Central is currently supplying the Century prison with water through an emergency fire hose connection after the failure of the Century water well that normally supplies the prison. At last report, prison inmates were not consuming the water from Central but were being provided with bottled water.
In a notice, Central Water Works said, “Fecal coliform [or E. coli] bacteria were found in some of the groundwater and distribution system samples taken on April 8, 2020. These bacteria can make you sick, and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.”
All customers of Central Water Works were advised to not drink the water without boiling it first for at least one minute.
On the date of the sample — April 8 — Central was not supplying water to the prison.
Click here to read the complete boil water notice and instructions.
Central Water Works was founded in 1965 and provides water for about 1,000 members in Byrneville, McDavid and outside the municipal service areas of Century and Flomaton.
Santa Rosa County Joins Escambia In Issuing Burn Ban
May 14, 2020
Santa Rosa County issued a burn ban Thursday morning, joined Escambia County which issued a burn ban Wednesday afternoon.
Outdoor burning is prohibited in both counties, including campfires, bonfires and burning trash. Enclosed outdoor cooking, such as on a grill, is allowed.
The Florida Forest Service is not issuing an burn permits at this time for Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
The burn bans in both counties will remain in effect until lifted by local government after significant rainfall.
ECSO: Man Wanted For Opening Fire At Pine Forest Road Gas Station
May 14, 2020
Deputies are searching for a man that allegedly opened fire at gas station on Pine Forest Road in Escambia County.
On Wednesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call at a gas station located in the 8600 block of Pine Forest Road at I-10. The victim told deputies that 27-year old William David Nicholson II, fired two shots at the victim, after the victim accidentally cut the suspect off in traffic.
The ECSO said Nicholson fired one shot into the victim’s driver’s side window and fired the other shot into the structure surrounding the gas pumps. The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury to the head and was taken to a local hospital.
At the time of the incident Nicholson was reported to be driving a green Kia SUV type vehicle with Florida license Z93OUE. Nicholson is a white male with red hair, blue eyes whom is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds.
A warrant for Nicholson’s arrest has been issued chagrining him with aggravated battery, firing a weapon in public, deadly missiles, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and criminal mischief. Nicholson’s bond was set at $71,000. Nicholson also has an unrelated felony warrant for his arrest for dealing in stolen property.
Anyone with information on Nicholson’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Hurst Hammock, Santa Rosa Fires Nearly Contained
May 14, 2020
The Florida Forest Service said Thursday that the two large wildfires burning since last week in Escambia County are nearing containment.
The Hurst Hammock Fire in Beulah has burned 1,191 acres and is now 98% contained. The 5 Mile Swamp Fire in Santa Rosa County is 2,215 acres and 97% contained.
Firefighters will continue patrolling fire lines and mopping up hot spots today. The team is leaving four brush trucks, three tractor/plow units and other specialized equipment in district to bolster local resources as the potential for new fires remains high until the area receives significant rainfall.
The weather forecast calls for relative humidity at 40-60%. Winds will be southeast at 10-14 mph with no rain in the forecast for the next several days. Given the conditions, Blackwater Forestry Center is not authorizing any burns and there are burn bans in effect for Escambia and Okaloosa counties.
Burn bans are in effect for Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Cantonment Man Arrested On 20 Child Porn Counts, Previously Charged With Luring An Underage Girl For Sex
May 14, 2020
A Cantonment man arrested last month on multiple felony charges after allegedly luring and trying to meet an underage girl for sex is now facing additional child pornography charges. Authorities said he possessed nearly 450 images depicting a wide range of child pornography.
Christopher James McElveen, Sr., age 40 of 801 Cedar Tree Lane, was charged this week with 20 felony counts of possession of child pornography. Last month, he was charged with luring or enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, traveling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
The nearly 397 child pornography images found on his computer depicted children as young as infants engaged in various sexual activities, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and an additional 47 child porn images were located on a USB drive.
Using the profile name “Chris McElveen” on a commonly used social media platform, McElveen initiated contact on March 23 with an undercover investigator posing as girl under the age of 13, according to an arrest report. The social media site was not named by authorities.
The investigator informed McElveen several times that his online persona was an underage girl. McElveen stated “I would prefer younger but its all good” and he initiated sexual conversation. His chats included statements that included “Im okay with you”, “age and all” and comments that he has previously engaged in sexual contact with a seven-year old girl, the report states.
“McElveen sent several messages of his sexual intent, he began inquiring about if my parents we at home or at work and expressed wanting to meet. McElveen advised that he wished to get a hotel room for a few hours with the underage female, and once again named the sexual acts he wished to perform with the underage female,” the investigator wrote.
A meeting location was established on Thursday, April 2, and McElveen drove his gold GMC van to the location and sent a message to the undercover social media profile which stated “Im parked on the side”. He was taken into custody without incident, and a search warrant was executed at his residence at 801 Cedar Tree Lane. His cellular phone was seized as evidence pending an additional search warrant.
McElveen’s statements to investigators were redacted from the arrest reports.
COVID-19 Testing Turnout Was Light In Century
May 14, 2020
Turnout was light Wednesday at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Century.
Just 55 tests were administered during a four hour period at the drive-thru testing site that did not require and pre-screening. Many times during the test period, there was no one in line.
The tests were available to anyone for any reason from age newborn and up regardless of symptoms. Those that were tested were advised to go home and self-isolate, wear a face covering and keep away from other people, including family members, until they receive their test results.
Wednesday’s testing event in Century was the first in Escambia County north of Cantonment. At a similar event at Carver Park in Cantonment late last month, a total of 306 people were tested with others referred to another testing location.
Community Health also offers drive-thru testing at Cantonment Pediatrics at 470 South Highway 29 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pre-screening is required for the Cantonment Pediatrics location by calling (850) 746-2684.
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce helped coordinate Wednesday’s testing in Century.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Class Of 2020 Members Receive Extra Surprises
May 14, 2020
The Northview High School Class of 2020 visited the school Wednesday to return items like uniforms, and they also received a few extra surprises.
Seniors received items such as a “We Love Our NHS Chiefs Seniors” yard signs with their name, their cap and gown, a photo banner and a “SENIORS 2020 – The One Where They Were Quarantined” senior shirt. They also received academic awards.
The seniors remained in their vehicles for the event for proper social distancing.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
