UWF’s Pete Shinnick Named Gulf South Conference Coach Of The Decade
June 17, 2020
In four years of competition, it’s safe to say the UWF football program has been a difference maker in Division 2 college football. More proof of that came to fruition on Tuesday when the Gulf South Conference named its Football All-Decade Teams for the 2010s, which featured three Argonauts and head coach Pete Shinnick being named the Coach of the Decade.
Marvin Conley was named to the First Team, while Tate Lehtio and John Williamson were voted onto the Second Team.
Shinnick has been the architect of one of the most inspiring startups in the history of college athletics, taking UWF to the NCAA D2 Playoffs twice in the first four years of the program. The Argonauts reached the title game in their second year and won the national championship last December in year four – becoming the second-fastest startup to win a football title in NCAA history.
The Argonauts are 35-17 all-time and own the highest postseason winning percentage in NCAA history at .900 with a 9-1 record with a minimum of 10 games. Shinnick was named the National Coach of the Year by multiple outlets in both 2017 and 2019.
Conley is a 2-time All-America selection from Tampa, Fla. who is UWF’s career leader in interceptions, interceptions returned for a touchdown, solo tackles and pass break-ups. He is second with 212 total tackles and was a 2018 First Team All-GSC selection when he had 62 tackles, two interceptions and three PBUs.
Lehtio ended his career as the program leader in receptions with 215 and receiving yards with 2,463, including 70 catches for 733 yards and seven touchdowns in postseason play. He is second with 4.13 receptions per game, 14 touchdowns, and 90 points scored. He was a 2019 All-Region and First Team All-GSC honoree. The Parkland, Fla. native finished national
championship season with 1,120 receiving yards and 80 yards per game. He was also 3-time GSC Fall All-Academic selection, a CoSIDA Academic All-District choice and a NFF Hampshire Honor Society recipient.
Williamson was one of the most dominant defensive linemen of the decade. He started for two seasons at defensive end for UWF, compiling 110 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and a school-record 21.0 career sacks, which ranked fifth in GSC history at the time (currently seventh). He was particularly nasty in the 2017 national runner-up season when he set the league single-season sacks record with 14.5, earning him All-America, All-Region and All-GSC honors. The Stockton, Ala. native was a 2-time CoSIDA Academic All-District and 2-time GSC Fall All-Academic performer.
Rogan Wells of Valdosta State and Tavarius Wilson of North Alabama were named the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Decade, respectively.
Heroes Of The NAS Pensacola Terror Attack Honored (With Photo Gallery)
June 17, 2020
Heroes of the December terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola were honored Tuesday.
Personnel assigned to NAS Pensacola’s Navy Security Forces and Fire and Emergency Services Gulf Coast were honored for their reactions to the attack. Those honored were:
- Master-at-Arms 1st Class Donald Scott with the Navy And Marine Corps Medal
- Master-at-Arms 2nd Class David Link with the Navy And Marine Corps Medal
- Daniel Dugger with the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Medal for Valor
- Charles D. Hogue with the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Medal of Freedom and Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Medal for Valor
- Cassandra Avant with the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Medal for Valor
- Robert Johnson with the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Medal for Valor
- David Clark with the Commander, Navy Installations Command Certificate of Life Saving
- James McCabe with the Commander, Navy Installations Command Certificate of Life Saving
- Chad Goetter with the Commander, Navy Installations Command Certificate of Life Saving
- Robert Wragg with the Commander, Navy Installations Command Certificate of Life Saving
For a gallery with additional photos, click here.
Captain Timothy Kinsella, commander of NAS Pensacola, remembered the three killed during the attack – Ensign Kaleb Watson, Petty Officer Mohammed Haitham and Petty Officer Cameron Walters.
“If not for the brave actions of the men and women here before you, the list of fallen would be much longer,” Kinsella said. “It has been said that courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway. John Wayne said that. Despite the fear, despite the danger, a lot of good people saddled up that morning.”
Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Timothy Schumaker and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Graduating Seniors Will Pick Up Graduation Tickets Thursday Morning
June 17, 2020
Northview High School graduating seniors will be pick up their graduation tickets for their guests by driving through the school bus loop on Thursday, June 18 between 9 and 11 a.m.
Students will also receive and cords or medals that can be worn during the ceremony, along with printed instructions.
Northview’s graduating seniors must arrive at the Pensacola Bay Center on Wednesday, June 24 between 12:45 and 1 p.m. fully dressed for graduation. Students should park toward the front of the Bay Center where a staff member will direct them to a special entrance.
Family members and guests should report to the Bay Center between 1 and 1:45 p.m. with tickets in hand. There will be no entry after 1:45 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Molino Manhunt Called Off With No Arrest
June 16, 2020
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office manhunt in the Molino area was called off Tuesday afternoon with no arrest.
A suspect wanted on a violation of probation warrant fled from deputies in the area of Highway 95A and Highway 196 about 1 p.m. Deputies set up a perimeter in the area and K-9 units were called to assist in the search.
The ECSO did not release the name of the suspect or any description.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Pilot Killed In Crop Duster Crash Identified
June 16, 2020
The pilot was killed when a crop duster plane crashed north of Atmore Tuesday morning.
Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson has identified the victim as Eddie Gideons, a well-loved member of the local community.
“Escambia County lost a good man today,” Jackson said.
The plane went down off Gideons Lake Road off Atmosphere Road. That’s just north of I-65 near the Poarch/Jacks Springs Road Exit.
It crashed about 7:30 a.m. in a brushy area near a gravel lake.. The accident scene was just behind a lake house in an area Jackson said was initially difficult to reach.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the initial death investigation. The FAA is responding to investigate the cause of the crash.
There was no one else on board the single engine aircraft.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Motorcyclist Airlifted To The Hospital After Highway 97 Crash With Pickup Truck
June 16, 2020
A motorcyclist was critically injured in a crash with a pickup truck Monday night in Davisville.
The crash between the motorcyclist and a Nissan Titan happened about 8:35 p.m. at Highway 97 and Nokomis Road. The motorcyclist was thrown into the windshield of the truck.
He was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional information.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Free Produce Giveaway Wednesday At Highland Baptist Church
June 16, 2020
Highland Baptist Church will host a free fresh produce box giveaway again this Wednesday.
It will take place from 3-4 p.m., or while supplies last at the church, 6240 Highway 95A in Molino. It is limited to one box per vehicle. The produce is being provided in conjunction with the USDA and Gulf Coast Produce.
For more information, call (850) 587-5174.
Suspected Burglar Caught In The Act In Jay
June 16, 2020
A suspected burglar was caught in the act in Jay.
Michael Bradley Shelby, age 32 of Jay, was caught by the owner as he tried to break into an enclosed utility trailer at a barn in the 5300 block of Wiley Scott Road, according to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Shelby told the owner he was trying to use the phone because he had been in an altercation with another individual at the the place he had been staying “down the street”.
The deputy noted Shelby appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics based upon his speech and movements, and tools were used in an attempt to pry open the side door of the trailer.
Shelby told the deputy “maybe, I don’t know” when asked about breaking into the trailer, and he admitted to smoking spice, the report states. He remained in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
Century Council Takes Issue With Only Nominee For Vacant Council Seat, Postpones Decision
June 16, 2020
The Century Town Council decided Monday night to wait until their next meeting to appoint someone to a vacant seat on their board.
Ben Boutwell resigned from the council last week to run for mayor. That put his Seat 3 position on this year’s ballot, and allowed the council to appoint a new member for the rest of the year to fulfill the remainder of his term.
Monday night, Council President Ann Brooks said she thought it was important the council not appoint any current candidate to the council, and nominated Mary Bourgeois to the seat.
Bourgeois ran for a council seat in 2016 but was defeated by James Smith. She owns a local business and is president of the local chamber. But the problem with Bourgeois for council member Luis Gomez, Jr. was the fact the she is campaign treasurer for Shelisa McCall, a candidate for the seat. Gomez said the appointment might make it appear that the council is biased toward a particular candidate.
“That might be a little bit of an unfair advantage,” Gomez said.
Mayor Henry Hawkins noted that Bourgeois is also chairperson of the town’s Charter Review Committee, and that would be a conflict of interest.
There were no other nominations made Monday.
On the recommendation of Gomez and Hawkins, the council agreed to submit their nominations by the close of business on July 1 and make an appointment at their next regular meeting on July 6.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Portion Of Pineville Road Closed For A Month For Bridge Repair
June 16, 2020
South Pineville Road at Jackson Springs Branch will be closed for bridge repair for about a month.
Additionally, South Pineville Road will be closed for through traffic from Occie Phillips Road to Highway 97A.
The 30-foot long wooden support bridge was constructed in 1966.
NorthEscambia.com graphic and submitted photo, click or tap to enlarge.
