FHSAA Moves Football Championship Games To Tallahassee, Daytona Beach
April 6, 2019
The road to the state football championship will be a shorter one for 1A-3A teams and a change of scenery for other classes.
The FHSAA announced Friday that the 1A-3A state championship games will be played in Tallahassee for at least the next three years, and the 4A-8A games will be held in Daytona Beach.
“I think this was a great move by the FHSAA,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “The FHSAA is starting to listen more to schools’ requests, and this is a big step in what schools and coaches want. Over 90% of the 1A schools are from Pensacola to Jacksonville, so this makes sense.”
For Northview High School, for instance, the distance to a state championship game drops from about 450 miles to Orlando to about 200 miles to Tallahassee. That means a much easier trip for teams and fans, Marshman said.
When Northview defeated Trenton for the 2012 1A state championship in, over 3,000 Northview fans were on hand in Orlando in what was then known as the Florida Citrus Bowl. It’s now called the Camping World Stadium and holds 65,000 people.
The 1A-3A championship games will be played December 5-7 this year on the artificial turf in the 6,500 capacity Gene Cox Stadium.
“The smaller stadium will make a big difference in the feel of the game,” Marshman said. “There’s no way for a 1A team to fill the stadium in Orlando. But in Gene Cox in Tallahassee, teams can look up and it will be a big time feel with a stadium that’s nearly full.”
The 4A-8A games will be placed December 11-14 at Daytona Stadium, capacity 15,000.
“After listening to feedback from our membership, we felt having two locations stretched out over two weeks made the most sense,” FHSAA Executive Director George Tomyn said. “This new schedule gives families and fans the most flexibility when it comes to supporting their student-athletes.”
Both venues recently underwent significant renovations. Daytona’s $20 million renovation included new field turf, remodeled locker rooms, an open-air VIP club, VIP space with theater seating and a completely redesigned expansive concourse area. Gene Cox Stadium underwent an $800,000 renovation featuring installations of completely new field turf and a pair of HD video boards.
For a Pensacola area team, such as Tate High School, the distance to Daytona Beach and Orlando are essentially equal.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs won the 2012 1A state championship in Orlando. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Spring Livestock Show Winners Announced
April 6, 2019
Results have been announced from the recent Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization Spring Livestock Show.
Youth exhibited chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, sheep, goats, and cows. In addition to showing their animals in the show ring, youth were quizzed on their knowledge of their projects. In the show ring youth may compete in two types of classes, one focused on the youth which is known as showmanship, and the other focused on the animal in either a breed or weight class.
Results were as follows:
Beef Breeding Supreme Champion- Izzy Kent
Beef Breeding Reserve Champion- Savannah Bradshaw
Grand Champion Preview Steer- Savannah Bradshaw
Reserve Champion Preview Steer- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Grand Champion Market Steer- Lane Booker
Reserve Champion Market Steer- Jessica Conti
Grand Champion Market Swine- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Reserve Champion Market Swine- Keaton Fuqua
Grand Champion Market Meat Goat- Isabella Kent
Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat- Madison Fendley
Grand Champion Dairy Goat- Tucker Padgett
Reserve Champion Dairy Goat- Madison Fendley
Grand Champion Sheep Breeding- Austin Manning
Reserve Champion Sheep Breeding- Emily Miller
Grand Champion Bird- Kyler Bennet
Reserve Champion Bird- Griffin Lavallee
Grand Champion Rabbit- McKenzie Gray
Reserve Champion Rabbit- Jillian Zukoski
Grand Champion Cavy (Guinea Pig)- Addison Miller
Reserve Champion Cavy (Guinea Pig)- Emily Miller
Beef Breeding Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Mary Oliver
Intermediates- Maevree McElhaney
Seniors- Isabella Kent
Cow-Calf Pair Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Ally Oliver
Seniors- Isabella Kent
Market Steer Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- John Parker Miller
Seniors- Keaton Fuqua
Market Swine Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Allen Thomas Bridgers
Intermediates- Payton Fuqua
Seniors- Madison Behrends
Meat Goat Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Andrew Fendley
Seniors- Madison Fendley
Dairy Goat Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Tucker Padgett
Intermediates- Andrew Fendley
Seniors- Madison Fendley
Sheep Breeding Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Intermediates- Austin Manning
Seniors- Emily Miller
Rabbitt and Cavy (Guinea Pig) Showmanship 1st Place Winners
Juniors- Tucker Padgett
Intermediates- Catherine Proud
Seniors- Hannah Roger
Pictured top: 2019 GCA/NRYO Reserve Champion Market Steer winner Jessica Conti with Ronnie and Debbie Gilmore of Gizmo Angus Farms in Molino who bred the steer. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Driver Rear-Ends School Bus
April 6, 2019
A school bus was rear-ended Friday on Olive Road in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 33-year old Michael Tremer of Pensacola was driving a GMC Envoy east on Olive Road at Davis Highway when he failed to see a school bus stopped in traffic.
Tremer was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. The bus driver was not injured.
Termer was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
There were no students on the bus.
Beauchanie Throws Complete Game Shutout As Aggies Get Kissimmee Klassic Win
April 6, 2019
The Tate Aggies shut out Eau Gallie (Melbourne) 4-0 Friday afternoon in the 2019 Kissimmee Klassic Softball Tournament.
Avery Beauchanie threw a complete game shutout in seven innings, allowing three hits, walking three and striking out six.
Amber Decoux and Hannah Halfacre led the Aggies with two hits each.
Blue Wahoos Open Season With Doubleheader Sweep Over Mobile
April 6, 2019
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos unveiled their touted pitching tandem Friday night against the Mobile BayBears and witnessed a pair of gems.
In a memorable season-opening double-header sweep, Jorge Alcala tossed five shutout innings, helping lead the Blue Wahoos to a 7-0 victory in the first game. Brusdar Graterol, the Twins top pitching prospect, took the mound in game two and yielded only a run while pitching into the fifth inning in Pensacola’s 4-3 extra innings win at Hank Aaron Stadium.
“It was a good start. Those guys gave a good effort, especially on the pitching side,” said Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego, who was making his Double-A debut as Pensacola begins its new era as a Minnesota Twins affiliate.”The pitching was unbelievable.”
The Blue Wahoos knocked six hits and worked four walks in game one on their way to seven runs. Alcala, who struck out six in 5.0 shutout innings and allowed just three hits, was helped by some terrific defense. Jimmy Kerrigan made a highlight reel catch in the fourth inning, tracking a ball onto the centerfield warning track and holding on as he crashed into the wall. The next inning, Jaylin Davis made a diving catch in right to prevent a Mobile rally.
After his web gem, Kerrigan hit a two-run homer in his next at-bat. Offensively, Luis Arraezreached base three times, twice with base knocks and once on a walk.
The second game was far different than the opener. After going up 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI snigle by Taylor Grzelakowski, the Blue Wahoos didn’t score again until the fifth when Jordan Goresingled home Kerrigan. After Mobile answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, the score held at 2-1 until the seventh.
In his Double-A debut, the 20-year-old Graterol allowed just three hits over 4.2 innings. He allowed one run and walked two while striking out six and flashing 100 miles per hour on the radar gun multiple times.
Graterol left with the 2-1 lead and Andro Cutura held the BayBears at check out of the bullpen for 1.1 innings, allowing no hits while striking out one. The lead didn’t hold, though, as the BayBears broke through with one swing in the home half of the seventh on a solo homer by Brendan Sanger off Cody Stashak.
Because it was a doubleheader, both games were seven-inning games. However, with the score tied 2-2 following the homer, the Wahoos headed to extra innings for the first time in 2019.
They quickly loaded the bases in the eighth. With the pace-of-play runner starting at second, Luis Arraez knocked a single, his fourth of the day, and Brian Schales walked. A ground out by Grzelakowski brought home Gore to put the Wahoos up 3-2, giving the Wahoos first baseman four RBIs on the night.
The Wahoos pushed home what ended up being a crucial insurance run, using a fielder’s choice ground out by Jaylin Davis to move Schales to third and a wild pitch to bring him home.
Mobile threatened to extend the game in the bottom of the eighth. A single by Jahmai Jonesleading off the inning scored the pace-of-play runner and cut Pensacola’s lead to 4-3. After Stashak struck out Jack Kruger, Borrego summoned reliever Dusten Knight from the bullpen to try and lock down the save. He delivered, getting a ground out and a strikeout to end the game and complete the doubleheader sweep by the Wahoos, capping off the evening by doing a backflip on the field.
“I saw what we expected,” Borrego said. “Those guys were aggressive. Those two guys were excited to start the season and they gave it their best,” Borrego said.
It was the first time Borrego had managed a team in the U.S. outside of Florida. Prior to joining the Blue Wahoos, all of his managerial stints were in Fort Myers with the Gulf Coast League Low-A team, and the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, who he led to the 2018 Florida State League title.
“I am really excited,” he said. “And hopefully my coaches and players, too. They are excited. We had some really bad weather but finally we got good weather. We have a really good team. Every game we are going to battle.”
The Wahoos (2-0) will continue the five-game home road series against Mobile Saturday night. The Wahoos and BayBears will play a total of 25 times in 2019. During the 2018 season, the Blue Wahoos hit .243 against the BayBears and were outscored 113-91.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Former Navy Federal Employee Pleads Guilty To Producing And Possessing Child Porn
April 5, 2019
A former Navy Federal Credit Union employee pleaded guilty Friday morning to federal child porn charges involving a local girl.
Michael Lee DePine, 62, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty today to the production and possession of child pornography. Based upon his guilty plea, he will be required to register as a sex offender.
In December 2018, law enforcement officers received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that DePine and a local minor female were engaged in illicit sexual communications and activity via Facebook Messenger. After Homeland Security Investigations and the Pensacola Police Department geolocated DePine’s criminal activity to his Pensacola residence, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for the residence. In January 2019, law enforcement searched DePine’s residence. While the residential search was underway, DePine was located at his place of employment, Navy Federal Credit Union.
A forensic review of DePine’s seized digital media confirmed that he was in possession of multiple child pornographic images and videos of the minor victim. DePine produced these images and videos of the minor female in his bedroom at his residence on Lobelia Lane off West Nine Mile Road. The investigation revealed that DePine had been picking the minor female up at her residence in the middle of the night to bring her back to his residence and engage in sexual acts. DePine also provided the minor female with intimate apparel and electronic funds for her expenses.
Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said: “Tragically, the internet and social media can allow child predators a gateway to victimize children, the most innocent and vulnerable members of our communities. Together with our investigative partners, we will vigilantly pursue and prosecute those who hurt minors.”
“The harm this predator has caused to a young child is unimaginable to most of society,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “Thanks to the diligence of our special agents and the Pensacola Police Department, he will be held accountable for that harm, and we hope today’s guilty plea is a small step on the road to recovery for the young survivor of his crimes.”
DePine faces the following penalties:
- Production of Child Pornography — A mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of 30 years in prison;
- Possession of Child Pornography — A maximum of up to 10 years in prison;
- Registration as a Sex Offender; and
- Forfeiture of his Pensacola residence, his 2016 Lexus, and all the electronics used to commit the offenses.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 14 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.
A Navy Federal spokesperson said, “Navy Federal fully cooperated with investigators in this case. As soon as we learned of this investigation, Navy Federal took immediate and appropriate action.”
The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Pensacola Police Department, and the North Florida internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel David L. Goldberg.
Cantonment Man Charged With Abuse Of Wheelchair Bound Man
April 5, 2019
A Cantonment man was charged after allegedly attacking a wheelchair bound amputee.
Brian Christopher Holtman, 34, was charged with felony abuse of an elderly or disabled person.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, the victim said he was arguing with Holtman over financial issues when Holtman became upset and physically attacked him as they traveled along Plantation Road. Holtman lost control of his Honda Accord and hit several parked cars.
Holtman then fled the scene, the report states.
The victim refused medical treatment.
Holtman was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
New Florida Deer Hunting Rules Approved: Statewide Bag Limit, Harvest Reporting Required
April 5, 2019
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved news deer hunting rules that are in effect this year.
Annual statewide bag limit
One of the rules establishes a new annual statewide bag limit of five deer per hunter, of which no more than two may be antlerless (any deer, except a spotted fawn, without antlers or whose antlers are less than 5 inches in length). However, antlerless deer may still only be harvested during seasons when they are legal to take, such as during archery season and on antlerless deer days.
“The annual statewide bag limit was developed through extensive collaboration with FWC staff and stakeholders, and aligns with the goals and objectives outlined in the Commission-approved strategic plan for deer management,” said Cory Morea, deer management program coordinator.
Florida was the only state in the Southeast without a specified annual bag limit for deer.
“This adaptive approach to deer management is intended to improve hunting opportunities by encouraging harvest among more hunters as well as greater selectivity, while helping maintain a healthy and reasonably balanced deer herd,”Morea said.
Deer harvested under permits issued to landowners of the following programs are excluded from annual statewide bag, daily bag and possession limits – antlerless deer permit program, deer depredation program and private lands deer management program. Deer harvested on licensed game farms and licensed hunting preserves are also excluded from annual statewide bag, daily bag and possession limits.
Harvest reporting system
New rules require all hunters – including youth under 16 years of age, resident hunters 65 years and older, those with a disability license, military personnel, and those hunting on their homestead in their county of residence – to report deer they harvest. However, deer taken with a deer depredation permit or from a game farm or licensed hunting preserve do not have to be logged and reported through the harvest report system.
“Before moving a deer from the point of harvest, hunters who harvest deer are required to record in their harvest log information such as their name, date of harvest, sex of the deer, and county or wildlife management area where harvested,” Morea said.
Before the start of the deer season, hunters can access harvest logs online at MyFWC.com. Hunters should keep their harvest log nearby when hunting deer.
Furthermore, this and possibly some additional information must be reported to the FWC’s harvest reporting system within 24 hours of harvest and prior to final processing of the deer, any parts of the deer being transferred to any meat processor or taxidermist, and the deer leaving the state.
“A harvest reporting system will foster bag limit compliance and give the FWC another source of deer harvest data,” Morea said.
Changes to private lands antlerless deer permit program
All antlerless deer taken on lands enrolled in the antlerless deer permit program must be tagged with an issued antlerless deer tag, even if they are harvested on a day when the take of antlerless deer is otherwise allowed (such as archery season) within the zone in which the enrolled lands are located. In addition, the deer must be recorded on the harvest log of and reported to the FWC’s harvest reporting system by the hunter who harvested the deer.
After the season ends, permittees must report the total number of antlerless deer taken on his or her enrolled properties by April 1.
“The antlerless deer permit program is intended to provide flexibility in managing deer populations. Tag issuance rates will be set by deer management unit and are designed to allow sustainable harvests while minimizing overharvest of antlerless deer, particularly females, on permitted lands,” Morea said. “Additionally, harvest information provided by antlerless deer permittees will help improve the FWC’s science-based deer management decisions.”
Because of this new tagging requirement for properties enrolled in the antlerless deer permit program, the application period for these permits and associated tags is earlier. May 15 is the earliest you may apply for all hunting zones, but deadlines vary by zone – July 14 for Zone A, Aug. 11 for Zone C and Sept. 29 for zones B and D.
Youth deer hunt weekend
Beginning with the 2019-2020 hunting season, youth 15 years old and younger who are supervised by an adult (18 years or older) may participate in a new youth deer hunt weekend. This new Saturday-Sunday youth deer hunt coincides with the muzzleloading gun season in all four hunting zones and is not available on wildlife management areas.
Youth may harvest one antlered or antlerless deer (except spotted fawn) and the deer counts toward their annual bag limit. Youth are allowed to use any method of take legal for deer and may even use dogs to pursue deer on deer-dog registered properties.
The dates for next season’s youth deer hunt weekend are December 7-8 in Northwest Florida’s Zone D.
No license or permit is required of youth hunters (15 years old and younger) or accompanying adults (18 years or older) who only supervise. Since the youth hunt coincides with muzzleloading gun seasons, supervising adults and other non-youth also may hunt but must use either a muzzleloader, bow or crossbow, and possess a hunting license, deer permit and muzzleloading gun permit, unless exempt.
If youth use dogs to pursue deer (only allowed on deer-dog registered properties), any person (16 years of age or older) participating in the hunt may not shoot or shoot at deer.
IP Donation Helping Kingsfield Elementary Students Keep Dry On Rainy Days
April 5, 2019
On rainy days like today, students at Kingsfield Elementary School are staying a little drier thanks to a donation from International Paper.
International Paper employees discovered there was a need for umbrellas at Kingsfield Elementary. The umbrellas would make sure students and teachers stay safe and dry while walking to the car rider line, bus line and getting into vehicles.
Mill employees Jennifer Waller, purchasing manager and Whitney Fike, communications manager, visited Kingsfield Elementary School and donated the umbrellas for the safety of the students, faculty and staff.
“Kingsfield Elementary is very grateful for the donation of 25 umbrellas for our faculty and staff to use while on car and bus duty. The umbrellas will provide much needed protection from the elements. We appreciate all that International Paper has done for our school this year,” said Maury Cowart, Kingsfield Elementary assistant principal.
Pictured: (L-R) Jennifer Waller, International Paper purchasing manager; Cassie Mense, Kingsfield Elementary teacher; and Whitney Fike, International Paper communications manager. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Officials Participate in National Donate Life Month Event
April 5, 2019
Local officials took part in a kick-off event Thursday for National Donate Life Month.
The event and month-long celebration are designed to raise awareness of the lifesaving role that residents of Escambia County can play by registering as an organ, tissue and eye donor. During National Donate Life Month, tax collector employees are participating in the annual Donate Life Challenge, a month-long effort among tax collectors and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to promote awareness of Florida’s organ donor registry.
“We are proud that in 2018 Escambia County remained in the top 10 counties statewide in the donor designation rate and that 58 percent of individuals visiting our office to get their driver license or identification card signed up to donate,” Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford continued. “We hope to increase that percentage this year.”
Tax collector employees help register potential organ donors by asking all driver license customers if they would like to join the registry. Eighty-five percent of Florida’s donor registrations now occur through driver license transactions. Donate Life Florida hit the 10 million donor mark last year and is the nation’s third largest registry. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance dozens more through tissue and eye donation.
Pictured: Escambia County Commission Chairman Lumon May, Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson were among those taking part in a National Donate Life Month kick-off event Thursday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.