Tate High Graduate Wins Food Network’s Great Cookie Challenge
December 4, 2019
A Tate High School graduate has won a national cooking baking championship.
Stephanie Torres, who graduate from Tate in 2009, won the $10,000 grand prize in the “Christmas Cookie Challenge” that aired Monday on The Food Network.
Torres and the other bakers face challenges that included making Christmas cards and tree toppers from cookies.
“This experience was surreal. When I was contacted last December to see if I was interested in interviewing, I really didn’t think I would want to even try to be on the show,” Torres said. “I really didn’t think I would want to even try to be on the show. I was unsure of leaving Addie for 5 days, I wasn’t even sure if I had the personality to be in a competition like this, and I was unsure of how my mental health would respond if I utterly failed! Thankfully, with the help of my friends and family, I took the leap and went through the crazy interview process and found out I was casted.”
The show was filmed last February, but she had to keep the results secret until the final episode aired.
Torres now lives in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, with her husband and children where she operates the Little Love Cookie Company. She was a culinary specialist in the Coast Guard for six years, and her husband is still active duty.
Photos courtesy Food Network for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Family Members Identify Fiery Fatal Crash Victim As Atmore Native
December 4, 2019
Family members have identified the victim of a fiery fatal crash as an Atmore man.
They say 28-year old Randell Gordon Nichols, Jr. passed away in the crash about 3:30 a.m. Friday, November 29 near Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road, just north of Alabama-Florida state line. Nichols only person found inside the burned vehicle.
Nichols’ obituary says he was an Atmore native now living in Birmingham and was in Atmore for Thanksgiving.
Alabama State Troopers did not immediately release Nichols’ name following the crash as they worked to make a positive identification.
Jim Allen Fifth Graders Decorate Escambia Sheriff’s Office Christmas Tree
December 4, 2019
Fifth grade students from Jim Allen Elementary School decorated the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday.
It’s an idea that started with Jim Allen’s school resource officer. Over the last few weeks , the students worked to create the handmade ornaments to trim the tree.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“We’ve got some folks that the holidays are a huge deal at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. They are people that, guess what, reach out to our community. So, when we can draw the school systems into this, itjust makes it that much better,” Sheriff Morgan says.
This was the first year students have decorated the ECSO tree, but Morgan says they will invite the students back year.
The Jim Allen students also got a behind the scenes tour of the ECSO including the dispatch center, and they also saw a K-9 demonstration and met the people and horses of of the mounted posse.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, including photos courtesy NewsRadio 92.3/1620, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Holding Tryouts
December 4, 2019
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will host two tryout events in December for a job with a starting pay of $14.57 per hour.
Tryout dates:
- Saturday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m
- Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
The tryouts will take place at the University of West Florida Aquatic Center, located at 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 72. Applicants are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes early and to bring all relevant certifications to the tryout event.
Position requirements for employment include the following:
- Able to swim 600 yards in a pool in 10 minutes or less
- Able to run 1.5 miles on a track in 12 minutes or less
- Be at least 16 years old
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification is preferred
Attending and passing a tryout is required to be considered for employment. If you pass the physical tests in the allotted time and meet all of the other requirements, you will be scheduled for an interview. If selected to be hired, you will receive paid training. Training includes, but is not limited to, successfully passing 80 hours of open water training and emergency medical training.
Click here if you are a student at an accredited secondary school, vocational school, college or university to fill out an online application prior to the tryout. Students must be currently enrolled or have intent to enroll next term.
Click here if you are a non-student to fill out an online application prior to the tryout.
Stafford Announces Availability Of 2020 College Scholarship
December 4, 2019
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford has announced the 2020 Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections (FSASE) college scholarship. Three $1,200 scholarships will be awarded this summer by FSASE for the 2020 school year.
The scholarship is available to juniors or seniors attending an accredited Florida university or college, with a major in: political science, public or business administration, or journalism/mass communications. Among the requirements, students must have maintained a “C” average or above the previous year, demonstrate financial need and be registered to vote.
Copies of the application and full eligibility requirements may be downloaded from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections website at EscambiaVotes.com or may be picked up at the Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor. Completed applications must reach the Supervisor’s office by close of business Friday, February 28, 2020.
Stafford will forward one application with a written recommendation to the FSASE Scholarship Committee, which will review the submissions from all 67 Florida counties. The scholarships will be awarded by the Association and the winner will be announced at the 2020 FSASE Summer Conference in May.
Students from Escambia County were scholarship winners in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2016.
Gas Leak Closes Part Of Nine Mile Road Near I-10
December 3, 2019
A portion of Nine Mile Road was closed due to a gas leak Tuesday afternoon.
Westbound Nine Mile at near I-10 was closed for a short time due to a broken natural gas main. The Florida Department of Transportation advised the roadway was reopened about 3 p.m.
The leak was reportedly caused when a backhoe struck a 6-inch gas main. Pensacola Energy was on scene making repairs.
Married Former Escambia County Deputies Arrested
December 3, 2019
Two former Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies, a husband and wife, have been charged in connection with falsifying training records.
Lisa Hall is charged with falsifying records for Kelly Hall showing that Kelly had completed required training when in fact he had not. Kelly Hall is charged with allowing Lisa Hall to falsify those reports when he had not done the online training.
The investigation revealed that Lisa Hall’s training sessions were completed immediately prior to Kelly Hall’s often within single minutes of one another, while Kelly Hall was documented to be performing other tasks, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
Kelly Hall was terminated from his job, while Lisa Hall resigned.
The charges are the result of an investigation into the alleged falsification of mandatory training records pertaining to their employment with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, from 2014 to 2019.
Both were booked into the Escambia County Jail Monday night and released on $16,000 bond each a short time later.
The mugshots of both Halls are exempt from release under Florida law due to their status as former law enforcement.
Woman, Her Mother Charged With Making False Child Abuse Claims Against Father, Local School Principal
December 3, 2019
A local woman and her mother are charged in a case involving the filing of a false police report making child abuse claims against a father and a local elementary school principal.
Cheryl Nadine Smith, 62, and Monica Lynn Kidd, 34, were both charged with making a false statements to law enforcement.
According to an arrest report, Smith alleged the father had beat the children with a bullwhip, and had intentionally taken the children’s seat belts off and tried to wreck his vehicle. She also alleged he had made threats to cut the children’s heads off with an axe, to lock them in a wire fence, to hit them with 2×4’s, and to cut their throats with a knife.
Smith also adamentely claimed that the father and a local elementary school principal had taken a child into a utility closet on school property and beat him with a paddle or 2×4, the report states.
ECSO documents show Smith and Kidd have filed several reports claiming child abuse by the father. Reports also note that Kidd and the father were in a custody battle.
An ECSO report states the claims made by the child are “very disturbing” and that the child “may possibly have been coached and led to believe that these incidents actually happened”.
The report states the ECSO has evidence that all of the claims made by Smith against the father and school principal are false, including the fact the principal was not on campus when the incident involving her allegedly took place.
The deputy did not observe any injuries to the child on initial contact on November 8, but he did on November 9. The child was in the care of Smith and Kidd from November 8-10, and “it is likely these injuries possibly occurred while (the child) was in the care of Kidd and Smith”, the arrest report states.
Both women were released from jail on $1,500 bond.
The Department of Children and Family Services was also notified and in reference to Kidd and Smith making false accusations, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: Cheryl Nadine Smith. Kidd’s mugshot was not released under Florida law because she is a current, former, spouse or child of a law enforcement officer.
State Attorney Reopens Domestic Violence Case Against Cantonment Man
December 3, 2019
The State Attorney’s Office has reopened a domestic violence case against a Cantonment man.
John Chess Foster, 50, is again charged with domestic battery by strangulation and battery in a June 2019 incident. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The case was originally dropped in late October because prosecutors were unable to locate the victim to testify.
In June, a woman who said she had lived with Foster for the past three years alleged he had been abusing her. She told deputies that Foster slapped her, kicked in the stomach and hit her across the arm with a belt. She said Foster grabbed her by the throat while placing his other had over the top of her nose and face. She said he pressed her against a wall using bathroom door while telling her he hoped her neck would break and she would die, according to an arrest report, before releasing her and sticking her in the left temple.
When she woke up the following morning and packed to leave, Foster searched her things, asking what she was stealing, the report states, before kicking her in the left hip.
In their report, deputies noted that the woman had a bruise under her eye, bruising on her neck, a bruise consistent with a belt strike on her arm and boot print on her shorts near her left hip. She refused medical treatment.
Foster was in the news in October when he was charged with human trafficking, sexual battery, false imprisonment and battery. Those charges were later dropped because the victim did not cooperate with investigators and information provided by a neighbor contradicted the victim’s claims.
Tate High School Souper Bowl And Student Gallery Night On Friday
December 3, 2019
The Tate High School Art Department is hosting their fifth annual “Souper Bowl” and their annual Student Gallery Night on Friday, December 6, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Art Building.
“Pottery students are working hard on handmade ceramic bowls and other arts and crafts for sale specifically for this event. All the proceeds are going towards Tate’s ceramics program, which will help cover expenses for clay, glaze, tools and equipment maintenance. Student artists from all over the Tate Art Department will also be selling a variety of artwork including photography, paintings, jewelry, etc. This is a great opportunity to get some unique holiday gifts,” said said Jennifer Rodriguez, Tate Art educator.
“We find ourselves working harder each year to raise funds to pay for our materials. Aggie Artists accomplish a lot on a limited budget. With a little more we could give our students more experiences, update ancient equipment and create bigger pieces of art with higher quality materials,” said Rodriguez “By supporting our Souper Bowl you will contribute to students sculpting their ideas into clay, throwing bowls on the potter’s wheel and more.”
There will be art, food and fun for all ages during the event. The cost is $10 to purchase a handmade bowl plus food and drink, or $5 to purchase just food and drink. Donations of pots of soup or chili, drinks and side items will be accepted.
