High School Football Playoffs Scoreboard
November 16, 2024
FLORIDA
REGION 1-6A
- Pace 49, Oviedo 21
- Nease 42, Tate 14 [Story, photos...]
REGION 1-4A
- Escambia 29, Riverside 28
- Ed White 26, Pine Forest 13
REGION 1-2A
- Walton 28, Pensacola Catholic 24
RURAL
- Fort White 23, Jay 2
ALABAMA
4A
- Fairfield 23, W.S. Neal 22
3A
- T.R. Miller 21, Trinity 7
Pictured: The Tate Aggies fell to Nease Friday night. NorthEscamia.com photos by James Vernacotola, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Is The 2024 CMA Radio Station Of The Year (With Gallery)
November 15, 2024
Next week, Cat Country 98.7 will receive the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Radio Station of the Year Award in Nashville. This is the third time the station has won this prestigious CMA Station of the Year award, having previously won in 2017 and 2019.
And that’s a big deal.
The CMA Radio Station of the Year Award is based on not only how they sound, but also ratings and community involvement.
This week, NorthEscambia.com sat in-studio with Brent, Mel, and Jordan during The Cat Park Morning Show to learn a little more about what makes the locally owned station deserving of the national award.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“What a what a treat to be recognized for serving our community at a national level,” Brent Lane said.
“It never gets old to be recognized by other professionals for the hard work that we put in all year round,” Mel added. “So, on that level, knowing that people that voted on this award, recognize what we try to strive to do every day in our community and give back. And then also sharing the country music story but we weave those two together and be recognized for that is huge.”
If there is a local community event, or a community need in the Pensacola metro, adds are you’ll find Cat Country involved. And that’s a point of pride for Brent and Mel.
“It’s a success through service model. We’re lucky to be locally owned and in doing the expectation is that we’re going to be community helpers. So, every opportunity that there is to give back, we have continued to give back,” Brent said.
“In our industry, it is rare that we are live and local, and so we live here. We are your neighbors,” Mel added. “We are experiencing everything that our community members are experiencing. So, we’re here; we’re not just some syndicated voice that has no idea what your town and your community is like.
“We actually show up, and we live next door to you. We can help you, and that’s I think super important for people to know — that we’re here to help them, no matter what whether it’s, hey, you’re having a lonely day and we’re here, you can make that phone call, or it’s a hurricane relief drive, or any of those type of events. We want to make sure we’re there, and we’re not only just a radio show, but we’re your friends and we’re your neighbors too.” she said.
This week, Pensacola has faced tremendous traffic problems thanks to CSX railroad crossing closures, with very little information made available in advance by the company. During our visit, there was a big focus on community-sourcing crossing closure information in order to share and make the morning community a little bit easier for listeners.
“What’s happening this morning with the railroad tracks is a major source of frustration for local drivers, and so to be able to talk about that in real time and give back is, is always continuing to double down on what we say we do which is be live, local and supportive,” Brent said. “so, whether it’s the railroad tracks being down, or a CSX train that goes off the tracks, or whatever that looks like to be able to have an opportunity to stand in front of you, and then be good stewards of the goodwill that you might give.”
And there are no plans to change that community focus anytime soon.
“As far as what we do in the morning, we’re going to continue to do. What you hear, what we are trying to do, Brent and Mel will be your morning friends,” Brent said. The, with a laugh, adding “And Jordan is your morning jester of traffic.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
WYCT, better known as Cat Country 98.7, is locally owned by Dave and Mary Hoxeng.
The winners of the 58th Annual CMA Awards will be honored during a Wednesday, November 20 ABC telecast (to be aired locally on WEAR 3) from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The CMA Awards show will also be available on Hulu beginning Thursday, November 21.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gonzalez Man Gets Two Life Sentences For Abusing Children
November 15, 2024
Thursday, a Gonzalez man was sentenced to two life sentences for sexually abusing children over a four-year period.
Zachary Joseph Staples, 31, was sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences in state prison and was designated as a sexual predator by Circuit Court Judge John Simon. Staples was sentenced after entering a plea straight up to the court on three counts of sexual battery by a person in familial authority and one count of promoting sexual performance by a child.
The investigation started after authorities received a report Staples had inappropriately touched a minor child that was in his custody. During the investigation, additional victims were discovered, and charges were filed for abuse that place between 2016 and 2020.
“This defendant is the ultimate predator that preys on vulnerable victims. A life sentence is more than appropriate for the heinous and atrocious acts perpetrated by this defendant,” prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer said.
ECUA Employee Golf Tournament Raises $10K For Children’s Hospital
November 15, 2024
The recent ECUA Employees’ Golf Tournament raised $10,0000 for the Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
Since 1999, the annual golf tournament has raised a total of $219,500 for the children’s hospital. There were 22 teams and 85 golfers, including 23 ECUA employees that took part in the tournament at the Scenic Hills Country Club. The tournament will return on October 17, 2025.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Creative Painting: Squeegee Art Saturday At Century Library
November 15, 2024
Squeegee Art is coming to the Century Branch Library Saturday morning.
The library will host a free creative painting session using squeegees for brushes from 11 a.m. until noon.
The Century library is located at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
Eagles Vs. Eagles: Ernest Ward Middle Falls To W.S. Neal
November 15, 2024
The Ernest Ward Middle Eagles boys and girls basketball fell to the W.S. Neal Eagles Thursday night.
In boys actions, Neal defeated EWMS 42-23, the Neal girls won 20-19.
Up next, Ernest Ward will travel to Central on Monday, November 18 with the girls at 5 p.m. to be followed by the boys.
NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Child Sex Abuse
November 15, 2024
Thursday, a Cantonment man was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing children that lived with him.
Nathan Dale Toms, 50, was sentenced to serve 25 years in state prison followed by lifetime sex offender probation and was designated as a sexual predator by Circuit Court Judge John Simon. Toms was sentenced after entering a plea straight up to the court on four counts of sexual battery by a person in familial authority.
The investigation arose from a report that Toms had inappropriately touched minor children that were in his custody. The abuse alleged took place between 2016 and 2023.
Prosecuting attorney Carrie Gilmer said, “Nathan Toms manipulated the victims and their family to gain trust and access to the victims. Hopefully, this sentence will bring some much-needed closure to the victims.”
One Airlifted After Highway 97 Rear End Crash
November 14, 2024
One person was airlifted to the hospital after a crash Thursday morning in Walnut Hill.
The adult female driver of a Hyundai Santa Fe rear-ended a Ford pickup truck and utility trailer on Highway 97 north of the Walnut Hill Community Center. The northbound pickup driver was reportedly stopped for a school bus that was waiting to turn left onto Wiggins Lake Road. The pickup driver attempted to pull out of the way, but was rear-ended.
The Santa Fe driver was airlifted by MedStar Air Care helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life threatening. The pickup truck driver was not injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Semi, Pickup Crash Closes Highway 29 For Hours In Cantonment
November 14, 2024
A crash involving a pickup truck and a semi closed Highway 29 in Cantonment for hours Thursday morning.
The 29-year-old pickup truck driver told troopers that he could not see due to the sun in his eyes when he tried to make a left turn in front of the semi-truck from Highway 29 to Neal Road about 7:23 a.m. After the collision, the semi ran off the road and into the ditch.
For a more photos, click here.
The pickup driver suffered minor injuries and was not transported, while the semi driver was transported with minor injuries to a Pensacola hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the pickup truck was cited for failure to yield right of way.
The roadway was closed for hours for cleanup, including the accident vehicles, a diesel fuel spill. and a large number of screws and other material on the road.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Now That Matt Gaetz Has Resigned After Being Picked For Trump’s AG, Who Will Seek His Seat?
November 14, 2024
Who will fill the Congressional seat that was held by Rep. Matt Gaetz?
Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump named Gaetz at his choice to be the next U.S. attorney general.
Shortly after the announcement, Gaetz resigned from Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that will give Gov. Ron DeSantis “about an eight-week period” to fill the vacancy, or early as January 3. DeSantis will set for the dates for a special election to choose a replacement.
RELATED: Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Resigns From Congress After AG Nomination
By Wednesday night, names of potential Congressional replacements began to circulate.
One, Florida House Rep. Michele Salzman, is making it clear that she’s interested.
“I must admit my phone has really been blowing up with texts and calls from many I respect since Congressman Gaetz was announced as President Trump’s pick for Attorney General,” she wrote on social media. “I am going to weigh my options and seriously consider it. I love representing Northwest Florida and getting things done.”
“It is an honor serve as a State Representative, so I am already doing what I love to do,” Salzman continued.
Another potential replacement for Gaetz is another Gaetz. Matt Gaetz’s father, Former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, recently won election to the Florida Senate District 1 seat that was held by Doug Broxson.
Other names being mentioned in statewide and local political circles Wednesday night included former Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, current Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, and Frank White.
White is former state representative, serving a single term from 2016-2018. He ran for Senate District 1 this year before bowing out to endorse Don Gaetz.
Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner has expressed interest in running for the Congressional seat.
A Democratic contender will likely also emerge for the special election, Gay Valimont who ran against Gaetz this year, is expected to run. Gaetz garnered about 66% of the vote to 34% to Valimont in the strongly Republican district.