Karl Jernigan Named New Tate Aggie Baseball Coach
June 7, 2017
Former Pace High School assistant coach and Florida State standout Karl Jernigan has been named head baseball coach for the Tate Aggies, replacing the retiring Greg Blackmon.
Jernigan was a four-year starter for the Florida State Seminoles in center field. He recorded career-highs with a .332 batting average and 15 stolen bases in 2000 and was regarded as one of the top defensive center fielders in the country. he was responsible for one of the most memorable victories in FUS history. His three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning gave FSU a 14-11 win over Stanford in the 1999 College World Series and a spot in the national title game.
Jernigan was drafted by the Oakland A’s, playing pro ball for three years. He spent the last 12 years as an assistant coach — at Milton for two years and then at Pace for the past 10 years.
Blackmon played on the UWF Baseball team from 1989 to 1990 under head coach Jim Spooner as a top first baseman. He holds the UWF career record for top batting average (.375) and is second in on-base percentage (.461). He is listed as third in slugging percentage (.570) and sixth in homeruns (13). In 1989, Blackmon was named to the All-Tournament team for his performance in the 1989 NAIA College World Series. By 1990, Blackmon held the second best single-season batting average (.472), slugging percentage (.624) and on-base percentage (.543). In 1990, he hit 11 homeruns as a third all-time record in the single season records.
Upon graduating from UWF, Blackmon continued to compete in the game as the head baseball coach at Tate High School in Cantonment, Florida for eight years. He led the high school team to two state championships in 1998 and in 2005 and posted a 202-42 record in eight seasons, leading them to five 6A Final Four appearances. Under his leadership, the Tate High School baseball team was crowned district and regional champions five times, as Blackmon was named the 6A Coach of the Year in 1998 and a six-time District I Florida Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year. He later received the Fred Waters Award in 1999 for his exceptional community contributions and devotion to the game of baseball.
Blackmon retired after the 2005 season to seek his master’s degree. He returned to the Aggie program six years later. His last two teams finished one win shy of a return to the state final four.
Northview Quarterback Club Announces New Officers
June 7, 2017
The Northview High School Quarterback Club has announced new officers and board members for the upcoming year. They are:
President – Jerry Fischer
Vice President – Josh Edwards
Secretary – Tammy Wilson
Treasurer – Courtney Nichols
Concession stand manager – Susan Hagan
Spirit merchandise – Jan Coleman
Programs and Ads – Genia Bayshore
Media – Carrie Bryan
Board Of Directors:
Ronald Peebles
Kent Calloway
Gary Killam
Kyle Wilson
Ronnie Cloud
Lonnie Wilson
Kevin Bryan
The next meeting of the Northview High School Quarterback Club will be at 6:30 p.m. on July 11 in the NHS Media Center.
No Injuries In West Kingsfield Road Crash
June 6, 2017
There were no injuries when in single vehicle wreck Tuesday morning on in the 1900 block of West Kingsfield Road. The driver lost control, left the roadway and struck an embankment. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Body Of Missing 12-Year Old Naomi Jones Discovered (With Gallery)
June 6, 2017
The body of missing 12-year old Naomi Jones was discovered Monday afternoon in the area of Detroit Boulevard and Ashland Avenue in Eight Mile Creek.
The body was discovered about five miles from where Jones was first reported missing about 1 p.m. last Wednesday in the 1400 block of East Johnson Avenue. The body was found by men who were looking to go fishing.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan says the case is now being investigated as a homicide.
Multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including scores of volunteers, have spent the past several days searching for Jones.
Click here for a photo gallery.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Woman Charged With Stealing From Her Real Estate Company Employer
June 6, 2017
An Atmore woman as been charged with stealing from the local real estate company where she worked.
Jamie LeAnne McCoy was charged with theft of property first degree for the alleged theft of property exceeding $2,500, according to the Atmore Police Department. She was released from the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton after posting a $10,000 bond.
The complaint was filed after the owner of Reynolds Real Estate found numerous discrepancies in business financial records, according to police reports. McCoy had worked at the company for many years, most recently as the office manager, according to the Reynolds Real Estate website.
Ernest Ward Middle School Presents Year End Awards
June 6, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School recently presented the following year-end awards:
Language Arts
6th Grade Highest Academic Average — Emily Levins
6th Grade Most Improved — Tylor Forman
7th Grade Highest Academic — Anna Adams
7th Grade Most Improved — Tereasia Burt
8th Grade HIghest Academic Achievement — Amber Gilman
8th Grade Most Improved — Madalin Roberts
Reading
6th Grade Highest Academic Average — Tiana White and Ryan Andrews
6th Grade Most Improved — Britney Kimbler
7th Grade Highest Academic Average — Tereasia Burt
7th Grade Most Improved — Hannah Hassebrock
8th Grade Highest Academic Average — Naudia Carach
8th Grade Most Improved — Brittany Walston
History
6th Grade Highest Academic Average (World History) — Drake Allen Driskell
6th Grade Most Improved (World History) — Wyatt Jarvis
7th Grade Highest Academic Average (Civics) — Anna Adams
7th Grade Most Improved (Civics) — Da’merion Findley
8th Grade Highest Academic Average (American History) — Amber Gilman
8th Grade Most Improved (American History) — Amalyah Chastang
Math
6th Grade Higest Academic Average — Alexia Yeater (Mancuso)
6th Grade Most Improved — Luke Moye; Travis Sunday
7th Grade Highest Academic Average — Anna Adams
7th Grade Most Improved — Kara Hawkins (Sellers)
8th Grade Highest Academic Average — Naudia Carach
8th Grade Most Improved — Amalyah Chastang
Algebra 1 Highest Academic Average — Amber Gilman
Algebra 1 Most Improved — Jeremiah Morris
P.E.
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Boy — Jamarkus Jefferson
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Girl — Leila Boutwell
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Boy — John Bashore
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Girl — Payton Gilchrist
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Boy — Lane Wilson
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Girl — Mary Paige Nassar
Agriculture
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Wheel — Takayla Chiles
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Ag — Shakyria Dixon
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Ag — Amber Gilman
Culinary
6th Most Outstanding Wheel Wheel — Kaden Odom
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Culinary — Miyhanna Davidson
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Culinary — Ashley Ragsdale
7th-8th Most Outstanding Personal Development — Angelina Heritage
Manufacturing
6th Most Oustanding Wheel Wheel — Emily Levins
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Manufacturing — Drake Allen Driskell
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Manufacturing — Sarah Hetrick
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Manufacturing — Savannah Doremus & Peggy Sunday
Graphic Arts Academy
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Wheel Wheel — Jessica Stabler
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Business — Hunter Borelli
8th Most Outstanding Achievement/MOS Specialist Certification IIT — Maggie Amerson, Kenley Brown, Meredith McGhee, Emily Stabler, Ariel Ward, Brayden Mickel, Torrie Edmonson
6th-8th CCTV Most Outstanding CCTV — Luke Bridges & McKenna Simmons (6th), Madelyn McAnally & Wylder Gibson (7th), Emily Stabler (8th)
Band/Chorus
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Band — Bradley Hamilton
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Band — Adrianne Shanks
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Band — Michael Sanders
6th Most Outstanding Achievement Chorus — Sara Long
7th Most Outstanding Achievement Chorus — Shelby Cotita
8th Most Outstanding Achievement Chorus — Mary Paige Nassar
Fuel Ed/Compass
6th -8th Most Outstanding Achievement — Brittany Walston
6th – 8th Most Outstanding Achievement — David Warren
Principal Awards
6th Principal Award — Ramyia Pogue
7th Principal Award — Dallas Cleckler
8th Principal Award — Amalyah Chastang and Ryan Pendleton
Take Stock In Children – Harley Walker, Jonathan Gibbs, Miyhanna Davidson, Paige Gibbs
Duke Talent Search — Anna Adams, Adrianne Shanks
Cox Hero Award — David Lamb
Student of the Year — Taviana Parker
Nokomis and Meadows Stop Sign Relocated Today
June 6, 2017
Effective today, the stop sign at the intersection of Nokomis Road and Meadows Lane near Davisville will change to improve safety, according to Escambia County.
The stop sign was previously on the westbound lane of Nokomis Road. Today, the stop sign will be moved to the southbound lane of Meadows Lane.
Motorists are advised to use caution when navigating the intersection during and following the transition period.
Gov. Scott Ceremonially Signs Triumph Gulf Coast Bills In Pensacola
June 6, 2017
With the first check — for $300 million — on the way, Northwest Florida leaders know they must wisely invest the money across the region to ensure state lawmakers keep the BP settlement cash tap open.
After Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation Friday, the non-profit organization Triumph Gulf Coast is expected to eventually handle three-quarters of the $2 billion the state will receive over the next 13 years from BP in a settlement stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Triumph Gulf Coast board members said Monday the Legislature can always alter future payments if they fail to properly make economic-development and educational investments with the first batch of money.
“If we do a poor job with the first $300 (million) that’s not going to help us down the road,” said Allan Bense, a former state House speaker from Panama City who also chairs Triumph Gulf Coast. “There is $1.2 billion still out there. I’m mindful of the fact that the Legislature can pull that $1.2 billion. They can get that future money.”
Bense’s comments came as Gov. Rick Scott conducted the first of two ceremonial bill signings on Monday — in Panama City and Pensacola — for measures (HB 7077 and HB 7079) tied to the BP settlement. Scott signed the bills on Friday.
Scott said by wisely investing the money in infrastructure and education, Panhandle counties should be able to compete for manufacturing jobs against other Southern states.
“People love to be in the Panhandle, we should win those types of jobs,” Scott said. “On top of that, we should be able to get good back-office jobs, regional offices and corporate offices. All of these are things we have opportunity to do if we are wise to how we spend our money.”
The House and Senate spent much of this year’s regular legislative session battling over how the money could be used before ultimately reaching agreement.
Rep. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican who oversaw the issue in the House, expressed optimism Monday.
“I’m very pleased with the way to the board is set up,” Trumbull said. “This is going to be essentially a business entity. They’re a governmental entity, but the fact that they’re going to have the ability to look at each individual project. I truly believe that in the next 10 to 15 years, the Panhandle you see today, we’re going to see extraordinary growth directly because of Triumph.”
In addition to the money, the measures set minimums for how much each county — Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton — will receive and expands the Triumph board from five to seven members to provide more representation from less-populated counties.
Jorge Gonzalez, CEO of The St. Joe Company, said the money will help the region make up for years of economic development hindered by the devastating spill, which dumped millions of gallons of oil less than 100 miles off the Florida coast just as the region was emerging from the recession.
“It’s been a long seven years for many of us,” Gonzalez said. “This legislation is about creating jobs. It’s not about building buildings.”
Bense would like to see the money eventually help attract a large company such as Boeing.
“That’s what I would love, but in the meantime you have to hit singles and doubles,” Bense said.
However, no funding decisions or project vetting will be done until House and Senate leaders make their appointments to bring the Triumph board to seven, he said.
“I want to allocate as much as I can to economic development,” Bense said. “I don’t foresee us funding boat ramps or gun ranges, or things like that. I think those are county and city obligations.”
Pictured top: Gov. Rick Scott with local leaders at a ceremonial bill signing in Pensacola Monday afternoon. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
House, Senate To Convene Wednesday Afternoon
June 6, 2017
The House and Senate will meet early Wednesday afternoon as they start a scheduled three-day special session to take up budget-related issues. House members are scheduled to meet in their chamber at 12:30 p.m., with an Appropriations Committee meeting at 2 p.m. and a Rules & Policy Committee meeting at 6:45 p.m., according to the House website. Senators are scheduled to convene at 1 p.m., according to the Senate website. Gov. Rick Scott on Friday called the special session after reaching agreement with House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, on funding issues related to education, tourism marketing and economic development. Bills (HB 1A and HB 3A) have been filed in the House dealing with economic-development and public-school funding.
by The News Service of Florida
Atmore Pharmacy Burglarized; Narcotics Stolen
June 6, 2017
The Atmore Police Department is investigating an early morning pharmacy burglary.
About 2 a.m. Monday, May 29, Atmore Police responded to the Walgreen on South Main Street at Lindberg Avenue. Officers arrived on scene to find that business had been forcefully entered.
“The suspects used a pry bar to open the front doors. Once inside, the suspects ran toward the back of the building and forcefully entered the pharmacy area,” Atmore Police said in a statement Monday afternoon.
The suspects stole several pill bottles containing narcotics and then fled the building.
A description of the suspects was not provided by police, and no surveillance photos or video were made available.
While the crime occurred May 29, it was not disclosed by police until the afternoon of June 5.