Tate Graduate Morton Graduates From Basic Military Training
August 27, 2017
U.S. Air Force Air National Guard Airman Christopher A. Morton graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Morton is the son of Stefanie R. and Wade F. Morton II of Pensacola.
He is a 2015 graduate of J.M. Tate High School.
Construction Workers Hit Gas Line Near Beulah Elementary
August 26, 2017
Construction workers hit a one and three-quarter inch natural gas line Saturday morning near Beulah Elementary School. Woodside Road between Mobile Highway and Helms Road was closed as repairs were made. There were no injuries reported. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Troopers Identify Pedestrian Killed On Quintette Road
August 26, 2017
The victim of a fatal crash early Thursday morning on Quinette Road has been identified.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 17-year old Robert Joshua Krohn of Pensacola was struck and killed on Quintette Road just after 2:00 a.m. Troopers still don’t know why he was in the roadway.
According to FHP, a 2007 Toyota Cruiser driven by Trenton Rhodes was traveling west on Quintette Road just off Highway 95A when he struck Krohn. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he later passed away.
No charges have been filed.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Injured When Pickup Hits Tree
August 26, 2017
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash early Saturday morning on Beulah Road.
The driver of a GMC Sierra lost control on Beulah Road near Muscogee Road and hit a tree about 12:30 a.m. He was transported to an area hospital by private vehicle with injuries that were not considered life threatening. The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Blacksher
August 26, 2017
The Northview Chiefs opened their 2017 regular season at home with a 14-7 win over the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs.
“It was a hard fought physical game. Two physical football teams, two disciplined football teams, two hard-nosed football teams,” Northview head coach Dereck Marshman said. “It really came down to we just had a six minute ball possession drive. Defense played lights out, offense was just a step or two away from really blowing this thing out. We had a touchdown on a string and it was out of his hands and they picked it off and returned it and that’s what they scored on. We had two hard-nosed football teams, two physical football teams, two young football teams that fought to the end.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Marshman said he was mostly pleased with Northview’s performance Friday night in Bratt.
“I think (we need to improve on) just execution of little things, like I said we dropped a pass, we ran wrong a couple of times, but overall we’ve just got to continue improving each week on all our positions.”
After a back and forth battle the teams remained scoreless until the second quarter when the Chiefs scored on a four-yard run from Seth Killam. With a 2-point conversion pass to Tim Bush, Northview was up 8-0 heading into half time.
Then with 3:33 to go in the third quarter, Killiam was in from 33 yards out to make it 14-0. Blacksher answered with a touchdown for a 14-7 score. The Chiefs ended the game with a drive that lasted just over six minutes to end the game.
Next week at 7:00, the Northview Chiefs will host the Escambia Academy Cougars from just up the road in Canoe, AL.
“Next week is going to be a big game, Marshman said. “I haven’t really thought about it yet. They run a good program over there. It’s going to be challenging. They have great skilled athletes so we will have to see how we respond to that.”
For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader and band photos will be published by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Arrested For Crystal Meth In State Line Traffic Stop
August 26, 2017
A Flomaton woman was arrested by Alabama deputies on meth charges after a traffic stop just north of the Florida line.
Bethanie Cash Ward, 40, was charged with possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center and later released on a $5,000 bond.
Deputies assigned to the Escambia Co. Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit stopped Cash’s BMW on Old Atmore Road after she crossed the center line. She provided deputies with consent to search her vehicle.
During the vehicle search, deputies reported finding two packages of what field tested positive for crystal methamphetamine, according to a report.
New Escambia County Mass Transit Director Named
August 26, 2017
Mike Crittenden has been selected to serve as the county’s mass transit director. The newly created internal position reports to the county administrator and is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Escambia County Area Transit System, or ECAT, and paratransit systems. Crittenden has over three decades of transportation experience in the public and private sectors in the areas of fleet operations, logistics, project management and transportation research. His start date is immediate.
“I’m very excited to be back working for Escambia County residents.” Crittenden continued, “I am looking forward to collaborating with our elected officials, community leaders, stakeholders, customers and employees to improve ECAT and paratransit’s overall operating efficiency.”
In his most recent position, Crittenden was employed with First Transit where he served in several roles over 17 years including region director of operations for the southeast and general manager of ECAT. Prior, he held senior management positions with Destiny Transportation Group, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the Center for Urban Transportation Research. He holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Alabama State University and a Transportation and Logistics Management Certificate from the United States Air Force Technical Training Center.
Four candidates were interviewed by the selection committee which consisted of County Administrator Jack Brown, Assistant County Administrator Amy Lovoy and Citrus Connect Executive Director Tom Phillips.
Tate Aggies Roll Over Choctaw
August 26, 2017
The Tate Aggies beat Choctaw on the road Friday night, 49-21.
Choctaw took an early 7-0 lead with a touchdown on their opening drive. But the Aggies answered quickly with a touchdown from Shermari Jones to make it 7-7.
Junior quarterback Hunter Riggan found Alex Jones with a touchdown pass from near midfield, 14-7 Aggies. After another TD for a 21-7 score, Riggan was in on a QB-keeper for a 28-7 Aggie advantage. Tate advanced to 35-7 with a touchdown pass to senior Alex Young.
Up 42-21 at the half, Tate pulled most starters out in the second half as they went on to earn a solid 49-21 win.
Riggan had 252 offensive yards in the first half with 71 rushing for two touchdowns and 181 yards in the air for two more touchdowns.
The Aggies (1-0) will take on West Florida next Friday night at 7:00 at the Jaguars’ home turf at Woodham Middle School.
High School Football Scores
August 26, 2017
Here are area high school football scores:
Thursday, August 24
West Florida 42 Escambia 20
Friday, August 25
FLORIDA
Northview 14 J.U. Blacksher 7 [Read more...]
Tate 49 Choctaw 21 [Read more...]
Flomaton 36 Jay 7
Pine Forest 41, Pensacola 0
Washington 46, Milton 25
Navarre 56, Catholic 35
Gulf Breeze 36, Pascagoula 0
Fort Walton Beach 31, Pace 27
ALABAMA
Flomaton 36 Jay 7
B.C. Rain (Mobile) 34 Escambia County (Atmore) 18
Escambia Academy 42 Resurrection Catholic 21
TR Miller 41 Washington County 0
WS Neal 21 South Choctaw 6
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Jackson Downs The Wahoos
August 26, 2017
The Jackson Generals used three pitchers in the ninth inning and each pitcher struck out a Pensacola Blue Wahoos hitter to complete a, 1-0, shutout Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The game remained scoreless into the ninth inning until Jackson third baseman Marty Herum drilled a two-out solo homer, his first in Double-A, over the left field fence in the top of the ninth. Herum had five with High-A Visalia Rawhide before getting called up to the Generals July 19.
The Generals captured the series, 3-2, in front of the 15th sellout of 5,038 at the ballpark. Pensacola recorded its 14th shutout loss of the season.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said the loss was tough. With 10 games left in the second half, the Blue Wahoos fell to 28-31 and 5.5 games behind first place Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp who are 34-26. Friday’s loss hurts the ballclub’s chances of winning the second half and a Southern League record five straight halves.
Jackson put runners on first and second in the fourth and Pensacola pitcher Jose Lopez gave up a two-out single to right field to Herum. But Aristides Aquino fired the ball to catcher Joe Hudson to easily tag out first baseman Travis Denker at home to end the inning.
Both pitchers traded zeros most of the game. Through the first six innings, Lopez shut out the Jackson lineup on five hits, one walk and one hit batter, while striking out seven.
He is now 7-1 with a 2.34 ERA. The Pensacola righty has turned into one of the Southern League’s most dominating hurlers since July 6. He is 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA, allowing only nine runs in his last 66.1 innings over 10 starts.
Kelly said the key to Lopez mesmerizing hitters has been his aggressiveness in the strike zone after giving up 18 runs, 15 earned in his first four starts in Double-A.
“I thought he did a great job out there,” Kelly said. “He settled in about the third inning and pitched six scoreless. He could have easily pitched seven.”
Jackson starter Ryan Atkinson matched Lopez Friday. Atkinson blanked Pensacola’s hitters through seven innings, allowing two hits, five walks and striking out three. Reliever J.R. Bradley picked up the win to improve to 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA by tossing 1.1 perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts.
The Blue Wahoos’ Aquino singled to left field to lead off the second inning and reached second base on a ground out but was stranded. Pensacola wouldn’t get another batter past first base the rest of the game.
Pitcher Tyler Mahle, who started for the Blue Wahoos earlier this season, was called up from the Triple-A Louisville Bats to make his major league debut in a start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds announced.
For Pensacola and Louisville Mahle is 10-7 with a 2.06 ERA in 24 starts with 138 strikeouts in 144.1 innings pitched.