ECUA Lifts Boil Water Notice For Beulah Area
November 24, 2019
A Precautionary Boil Water Notice issued by the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has been lifted for the Beulah area.
The boil water notice was issued after a 12-inch water main break early Thursday morning for the area of Mobile Highway from Beulah Road east to Dooley Drive and for Dooley Drive.
Bacteriological sampling shows the water to be safe, according to ECUA.
Tate Grad Beal Completes Marine Boot Camp
November 24, 2019
U.S. Marine Corps Private 1st Class Jackson Evan Beal graduated from boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, recently.
The recruit completed an intensive, 12 week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Marine core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. It concluded with a 58 hour exercise in endurance called the Crucible.
Beal is the son of Rich and Jennifer Beal of Pensacola.
He is a 2019 graduate of J. M. Tate High School where he was involved in ROTC for four years..
Tate Varsity And JV Cheerleading Teams Earn Bid To Nationals
November 24, 2019
The Tate High School varsity and junior varsity cheerleading teams have both earned a bid to the 2020 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Opens NCAA Playoffs With 38-17 Rout Of Wingate
November 24, 2019
The 20th-ranked UWF Argonauts scored 31 unanswered points and forced three turnovers to defeat fourth-seeded Wingate, 38-17, in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs Saturday.
Anthony Johnson, Jr. ran for 109 yards on 19 carries as UWF (9-2) advanced to the second round for the second time in as many appearances. The Argos rushed for 195 yards and outgained the Bulldogs 360-264 overall.
Austin Reed threw for 165 yards with eight completions and three of those going for touchdowns. Tate Lehtio led the team with five receptions for 81 yards a score.
Quentin Randolph followed last week’s career game with two more touchdowns on two catches Saturday. He has now caught five touchdowns in his last nine receptions.
After Wingate made a 24-yard field goal on its opening drive, the Argos capitalized on a muffed punt that setup a 37-yard boot of their own by Austin Williams.
Two possessions later, Reed found Randolph down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown. UWF got another score right before halftime when Johnson reached the blue and gold checkerboard end zone from five yards out as part of a 9-play, 60-yard drive in just 1:56.
Wingate received the second half kickoff and Andre Duncombe, Jr. intercepted Shaw Crocker’s third-down pass and returned it 12 yards to the 13. Two plays later, Reed connected with Tate Lehtio to put UWF up 24-3.
The Argonauts then began running the ball and consuming large chunks of time off the clock. Their next scoring drive was the longest all season and lasted 7:51, before Reed and Randolph connected again, this time on a 7-yard pattern with 4:11 left in the third.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the fourth quarter as they bookended a 16-yard Jaden Gardner run with 6:18 to play that extended the UWF lead to 37-10.
Wingate (10-2) managed just 131 rushing yards after entering the game averaging 199. Their 264 yards were the second lowest this season.
Henry Montgomery had a career-high 11 tackles to lead the UWF defense.
UWF opened its 2017 playoff run with a 31-0 win over the Bulldogs at Irwin Belk Stadium. Prior to Saturday’s outburst, that was the most points scored in playoff history for the Argos.
With the win, UWF advances to the second round where it will meet top-ranked and defending national champion Valdosta State (10-0) next Saturday in Valdosta, Ga.
Early Morning Fire Destroys Camper In Molino
November 23, 2019
Fire destroyed a large camper in Molino early Saturday morning.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the 4300 block of Crabtree Church Road about 1:18 a.m. after receiving reports of a structure fire. They found the camper totally destroyed at a home that is located about 2,000 feet off the roadway.
The fire was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Cantonment Man, Six Others Charged With Soliciting Sex From Teens Online
November 23, 2019
Seven people, including a Cantonment man, were busted in “Operation Rotten Pumpkin”, an undercover sting that targeted the online solicitation of underage teens for sexual activity.
The seven were arrested after the operation Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons.
Those charged were:
- James David McAllister, 34, Cantonment
- James Patrick Dibble, 20, Pensacola
- Kevin Gerald Dailey, 25, Pensacola
- Benjamin Larry Marshall, 33, Pensacola
- Ronaldo Castro Bautista, 54, Orange Beach
- Michael Dawayne Gulley, 23, Prichard
- Patrick John Bradt, 47, Crestview
Investigators used social media or websites like Craigslist and Skip the Games to pose as 18 or 19 year olds to engage persons in conversation. Then the investigators told the individuals that they were really 13 or 14 years old, according to Simmons.
“Hundreds of people were engaged, but the majority backed out quickly when they realized it was a 13 or 14 year old boy or girl,” the chief deputy said. The seven charged and another dozen or more continued the conversations and in some cases exchanged pictures. Those charged drove to a predetermined location under the pretense of a sexual meeting with the underage children but were instead met with deputies and the SWAT team. The investigation into other individuals continues.
“The children of Escambia County are not fair game, Simmons said.
“We need to guard our children,” Sheriff David Morgan said. “The are easily seduced into these types of activities.”
Operation Rotten Pumpkin involved the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Pensacola Police Department, State Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security and the sheriff’s offices from Santa Rosa, Walton and Okaloosa counties.
Pictured page bottom: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons (left) and Sheriff David Morgan at a press conference Friday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Man Gets Max Sentence Of 30 Years For Setting Pregnant Girlfriend On Fire
November 23, 2019
A Beulah man received the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison Friday for the attempted murder of his live-in, pregnant girlfriend by lighting her on fire and hitting her in the head with a sledgehammer multiple times with enough force to cause a brain bleed.
Kenneth Duaine Swanger previously entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, kidnapping to inflict bodily harm or terrorize the victim, and aggravated battery on a pregnant person. He will be sentenced November 22.
Swanger, 43, and the 23-year old victim had been romantically involved and resided together for about a year preceding the offenses. The victim had originally worked for defendant as a maid prior to their relationship.
Between July and September 2018, Swanger set the victim on fire with lighter fluid, hit her over the head with a blunt object, and punished her with other numerous acts of verbal and physical abuse. Swanger misled friends and family by telling them the victim was a drug addict, and attempted to explain her injuries away as being related to her addiction. Though he told friends and family that he took her to the hospital and contacted law enforcement, it was later learned the victim was unable to leave the home without him, and he had screwed all of the doors and windows shut from the inside.
On September 15, 2018, the victim escaped, leaving everything behind, and ran to the Tom Thumb on Nine Mile Road and Beulah Road where she called her family in Mississippi. Once she received proper medical attention for her injuries, it was discovered she had second degree burns over 15% of her body, subdural hematoma, and broken fingers. At the time of her escape, she was 26 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s baby.
Hazmat Team Responds To Incident At Century Prison. Here’s What They Found.
November 23, 2019
A hazardous materials team investigated a suspicious piece of mail with a strange chemical smell was reported Friday afternoon at the Century Correctional Institution.
The Escambia County Fire Rescue hazardous materials team responded and determined the smell originated from a disinfectant wipe taped inside an envelope, according to an Escambia County spokesperson.
The envelope was apparently mailed to the facility on Tedder Road in Century and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. There was no official word if it was sent an inmate, but the facility does open, examine and read all routine mail sent to inmates according to Florida Department of Corrections protocol.
The envelope was reportedly taken a location outside the administration building, which is just outside the main gate.
The Florida Department of Corrections did not provide any further information.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
T.R. Miller Knocks Off Defending 3A Champion Flomaton (With Photo Gallery)
November 23, 2019
The T.R. Miller Tigers knocked off the defending 3A state champion Flomaton Hurricanes Friday night.
The Hurricanes took a 12-0 lead, but could not hold on in the 3-A quarterfinals in front of a packed house in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery, click here.
T.R. Miller’s Blake Jernigan was dragged down by Flomaton’s Alex Cash, forcing a fumble on the Tigers’ first possession. Flomaton’s Nicholas Turner then returned it deep into Miller territory, setting up a Daquan “Money” Johnson touchdown from two yards out on third and goal (second photo at bottom). After a missed two-point conversion, the Hurricanes were on top 6-0.
In the second quarter, it was Travon Brown ended an 85-yard, 15-play drive with an eight-yard touchdown at the pylon for the Canes (pictured left). Another missed two-point attempt and Flomaton was up 12-0.
The Tigers answered with a six yard touchdown run from Narkavis Campbell. The Tigers made the extra point to cut the Hurricane’s lead to 12-7.
With 11 second to go in the second quarter, a T.R. Miller’s Miller Hart found Darius Webb in the air between two Hurricane defenders for a 29-yard touchdown (first photo below). A good kick gave the Tigers a 14-12 advantage.
Johnson ended the night with 124 yards on 22 carries and 11 yards to two passes. Brown had 13 carries for 57 yards
The Flomaton Hurricanes ended their season at 11-2 record. T.R Miller marches on with their first trip to the semifinals since 2008 next Friday night at Mobile Christian.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Falls Short Of AISA Title 23-6 To Autauga Academy
November 23, 2019
Escambia Academy’s fell short of an AISA Class AA championship with a 23-6 loss to Autauga Academy Friday.
It was the fourth straight meeting between the two teams for the state championship, and the third win for the Autauga Generals.
The Autauga Generals took a 7-0 lead before the EA Cougars answered. Sophomore quarterback Landon Sims threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to senior Ty Williams to bring the Cougars within one, 7-6 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Troy University.
But the third quarter saw Autauga with two touchdowns in just 32 seconds, the second coming after a Cougar fumble.
“Defensively, we played probably about as good as we could play,” EA head coach Hugh Fountain said. “We had a few plays there at the end that gave them the points. But defensively I though we played really well.”
We just never could get into a grove on offense. We had so many penalties,” Fountain said of his Cougars, which were well north of 100 yards in total penalties. “It just kept killing any kind of a grove we could have to get into and move the football. I think really that’s what came back to hurt us.”
Escambia Academy’s season ended at 9-4 in the state runner-up spot.
The Cougars beat Autauga back in 2017 to win the state AA football championship, and EA also holds the AAA state football championship title from 2014.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
