Tate High School Names The Top Of The Class Of 2019
May 24, 2019
Tate High School has named their honors graduates for the Class of 2019.
Valedictorian is John David Dixon (pictured left), and salutatorian is Aaron Hunter Harberson, (biographies below).
The Top Ten Percent honors graduates are as follows:
1. John David Dixon
2. Aaron Hunter Harberson
3. Lauren Li Brown
4. Briana Elizabeth Sabin
5. Jazmine Marie Endress
6. Melody Qing Owens
7. Jordana Rebecca Jernigan
8. Kirsi Celeste Patel
9. Dylan Nicholas Dorion
10. Mackenzie Erin Presley
11. Jessica Marcella Alvarado
12. Denali Elisabeth Netzer
13. Natalie Kate Gandy
14. Sasha Phoenix Isaak
15. Faith Carroll Grover
16. Malina Ho
17. Ashton Grace Campbell
18. Makenna Charlene Stafford
19. William Alexander Burns
20. Michelle Oliveira Luther
21. Dominic Richard Erie
22. Kara Bernice Killam
23. Nishea Samone Hendricks
24. Alafaire Ruth Rafferty
25. Cassilyn Giselle Owens
26. Gabrielle Alise Locke
27. Madison Kate Fall
28. Julia Nicole Banta
29. Rachel Loyce Bethea
30. Amanda Jane Breeden
31. Gregory Alexander Williamson
32. Hailey Elizabeth Dukes
33. Aidan Foster Sloman
34. Bradley Troy Edgar
35. Emily Katherine Werkeiser
36. Brett Asa Fillingim
37. Gracie Irene Cole
38. McKenna Paige Royer
39. Robert Donald Vose
40. Zachary Curtis McQuaid
41. Lauren Elizabeth Rawls
42. Brooklynn Ashley McCoy
43. Cynthia Ashley Reichelderfer
44. Lauren Michelle Seibert
45. Disha Dharmendra Soni
46. Michael Joseph McPherson
47. Emma Catherine Williams
48. Kasey Elizabeth Scott
49. Haley Ann Barrera
50. Megan Ann Zimmerman
- Graduation for the Tate High School Class of 2019 will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Valedictorian – John David Dixon
Final GPA: 5.550
Dixon is the son of Scot and Susan Dixon. He is a National Merit Commended Scholar, and has been accepted to the University of Florida and plans to double major in astrophysics and music. His dream career is to work at NASA.
His other honors and activities include:
- Band Member, 4 years – Trumpet Co-Section Leader for Senior Year
- All-County Honor Band, 4 years
- All-State Honor Band, 1 year
- Tate Academic Team, 2 Years
- All-County Academic Team, 2 Years – 2018 Florida State Champion
- 2018: Won the Florida Commissioner’s Academic Challenge and named to “Team Florida” for National Competition
- Clubs: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, English Honor Society, Science Honor Society
Dixon’s scholarships include: Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar, University of Florida College of Music Scholarship, Northwest Florida Gator Club.
Salutatorian – Aaron Hunter Harberson
Final GPA: 5.350
Harberson is the son of Susan Harberson. He has been accepted to the University of Florida and plans to major in chemical engineering.
- 2019 Tate Tennis Scholar Athlete
- Competed at FHSAA State Finals for 2 years
- 2019 Tate Tennis Scholar Athlete
- Clubs: National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Mu Alpha Theta, English Honor Society, and Science Honor Society
Harberson is a Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar.
Photos courtesy Jim Owen Studio.
Multi-Agency Drill Held At Century Correctional Institution
May 24, 2019
A multi-agency drill was held Friday morning at Century Correctional Institution on Tedder Road.
People in the area may have seen emergency vehicles and air traffic in the area, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“These drills provide an excellent opportunity for training between FDC staff and our law enforcement and first responder partners,” the FDC said in an email to NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview’s Venable Signs With Enterprise State
May 24, 2019
Northview High School’s Nicholas Venable has signed to play at Enterprise State Community College.
He accepted a full baseball scholarship and will utilized as an infielder. At Northview, Venable led the state in 1A baseball in steals with 31. His batting average was .550, with 10 doubles and three triples. His only strikeout of his senior year was his final at bat against Bozeman in the state tournament.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Gets Life For Strangling Woman, Torching Her Home
May 24, 2019
An Atmore man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for a 2013 strangulation death.
Collis McCaster, now 46, was originally charged with capital murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder for the death of 60-year old Mildred Jackson Morris.
Firefighters responded a call of smoke coming from her home at 227 Adams Street about 5:20 a.m. on June 8, 2013. Once the fire was contained and firefighters were able to enter the residence, the remains of Morris were found on the living room couch where family members stated she normally slept. Morris was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. Fire officials said the fire was contained mostly to the living room of the home.
McCaster was arrested a few hours later. He underwent a polygraph test and confessed to the crime.
Pictured top and bottom: A woman found dead following a fire at the Adams Street home in June 2013 in Atmore was murdered. Pictured below: Firemen fill out statements for law enforcement following the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NOAA Predicts Near Normal 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season
May 24, 2019
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting that a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is most likely this year. This outlook forecasts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance of a below-normal season. The hurricane season officially extends from June 1 to November 30.
For 2019, NOAA predicts a likely range of 9 to 15 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes.
“With the 2019 hurricane season upon us, NOAA is leveraging cutting-edge tools to help secure Americans against the threat posed by hurricanes and tropical cyclones across both the Atlantic and Pacific,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Throughout hurricane season, dedicated NOAA staff will remain on alert for any danger to American lives and communities.”
This outlook reflects competing climate factors. The ongoing El Nino is expected to persist and suppress the intensity of the hurricane season. Countering El Nino is the expected combination of warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and an enhanced west African monsoon, both of which favor increased hurricane activity.
“New satellite data and other upgrades to products and services from NOAA enable a more Weather-Ready Nation by providing the public and decision makers with the information needed to take action before, during, and after a hurricane,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2019 Atlantic seasonal outlook in August just prior to the historical peak of the season.
Century Splash Pad Closed Due To Electrical Issues
May 24, 2019
The splash pad in Century is closed for electrical maintenance, according to the town. There’s no word on when it might reopen.
The splash pad at Showalter Park was supposed to open this year the week of March 18 for spring break. The opening was delayed about a month, also due to electrical issues.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Set Season High In Hits In 10-5 Victory
May 24, 2019
Much like Wednesday night, the Blue Wahoos fell behind early on Thursday evening in Tennessee against the Smokies.
But this time, they hit back in the biggest way.
Every Blue Wahoos batter had at least one hit as Pensacola produced a season-high 15 hits in a 10-5 win at Smokies Stadium.
The Blue Wahoos (29-18) put up a trio of crooked innings, erasing an early 3-0 deficit by scoring four times in the second, twice in the fifth, and three times in the sixth. Four Wahoos had multiple hits, led by Travis Blankenhorn (3-5, 3 RBI, 3 R) and Jaylin Davis (3-4, HR, 2 R).
On the mound, Blue Wahoos starter Sean Poppen had his shortest outing of the season, exiting after giving up three runs on five singles in the first inning.
Williams Ramirez replaced him in the second and worked the next three innings, allowing just one hit to earn his first win in his second game with the Wahoos.
After falling behind 3-0, the offense immediately responded, scoring four runs in the second to take the lead. Taylor Grzelakowski led off with a walk. Caleb Hamilton singled. Mark Contreras followed with an RBI double. With two out, Travis Blankenhorn smashed a two-run double. Alex Kirilloff followed with a single to score Blankenhorn.
After the Blue Wahoos answered with those four runs in the second, the game stayed that way until the fifth inning.
In that frame, the Blue Wahoos padded their lead with two out. With Blankenhorn on second base after a leadoff single, Davis walked. Grzelakowski followed with a two run-double down the right field line to score both runners.
After the Smokies added a run in their half of the fifth, the Blue Wahoos answered with three more runs in the sixth inning. Jordon Gore’s one-out double scored Joe Cronin, who had hit a one out single. Blankenhorn then singled home Gore. Blankenhorn moved to second on Kirilloff’s walk, then scored on Mitchell Kranson’s single.
Relievers Ryan Mason and Cody Stashak continued their superb finishes by keeping the Smokies scoreless in the final three innings. The pair allowed just one hit.
With the series tied at 1-1, the Wahoos and Smokies will continue their five-game series tomorrow evening in Tennessee at 6:00 PM. Jorge Alcala (5-1, 4.09), the #18 prospect in the Twins system, is scheduled to start for Pensacola against Cubs #8 prospect Justin Steele (0-4, 9.33 ERA)
Century Audit Costing Thousands More Due To Problems; Mayor Didn’t Tell Town Council For Weeks
May 23, 2019
Century’s annual audit will cost thousands of dollars more due to several factors, including a scathing grand jury investigation, and the mayor tell did not inform the council for weeks, NorthEscambia.com has learned.
The audit for the 2018 fiscal year that ended on September 30 is due to the state by the end of June. The town was informed in an April 8 email sent to Mayor Henry Hawkins, Town Clerk Kim Godwin, and town CPA Robert Hudson that the auditing firm Warren Averett was increasing their fee from $21,000 last year to a minimum of $30,000 this year.
Hawkins repeatedly told the town council over the last several weeks that the firm would begin the audit after tax season, but he never mentioned receiving any communication from the auditor or the $9,000 fee increase to the council. In the meantime, the audit did not begin due to a lack of an engagement letter (a type of contract with a CPA firm).
But an email obtained by NorthEscambia.com shows Hawkins forwarded the auditor’s email to Chief Deputy Clerk of Finance Kristina Wood on April 9. “FYI,” Hawkins wrote. “Now where do they think we’re getting the money from?”
CPA Kristen McAllister of Warren Averett said in a May 20 email to Town Council President Ann Brooks, “I do not think you have been informed correctly. I reach out to the Clerk, Mayor, and Robert (Hudson) a month ago to discuss a change in the audit contract before we can begin.” She added the delay “did not have anything to do with waiting until after tax season”.
McAllister said the higher audit fee was due to concerns over the utility billing cycle, concerns noted in the grand jury report, incorrect information provided that required multiple adjustments in the past two audits and a failure to follow the audit timeline.
For a previous story with details on the March grand jury report, click here.
NorthEscambia.com file photo and document images.
Man Indicted For First Degree Murder; Shell Casings Found On Four Streets
May 23, 2019
Bobby Johndal Hawkins was indicted by a grand jury the charges of first degree premeditated murder with a firearm and attempted first degree premeditated murder.
During the early morning hours of April 15, Hawkins allegedly shot and killed 28-year old Kyle Isaiah Baldwin at the intersection of Sonnyboy Lane and East Ensley Street. An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy observed a Chevrolet Blazer traveling at a high speed up North Palafox Street and was able to stop the vehicle on Highway 29 and Hannah Street.
Baldwin was found slumped over on the front passenger seat and had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his lower chest area, and he was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of Baldwin’s vehicle was not injured.
The shots were fired from a 2019 black Cadillac driven by Hawkins as he chased Baldwin’s vehicle through Ensley. Shell casings were recovered along Sonnyboy Lane, Ensley Street, Johnson Avenue and North Palafox Street.
Hawkins’ vehicle was occupied by another individual who also participated in the shooting. That individual has not been identified. Hawkins is being held without bond.
New Phone App Will Give Escambia School Staff An Emergency Alert ‘Panic Button’
May 23, 2019
The Escambia County School District is purchasing a phone app that will give employees a panic button in the palm of their hands in the event of a campus security breach.
The panic button in the Volo app can trigger a lockdown, notifying school staff and law enforcement. The app is “geofenced” — meaning it will only work in specific geographic area such as on a school campus.
Use of the app by employees will be voluntary and training will be offered during the summer break.
The first year of a five-year contract will cost the school district $104,100 under an agreement approved 5-0 by the school board.