Pine Forest Win 1-6A Crown; Tate Still In Playoffs
October 31, 2015
It’s been 35 years…since 1980 when Carl Madison’s Aggies won state…since Tate has won a district championship. Friday night at home seemed like as good of a time as any to end that lengthy steak in Cantonment as the Aggies and Pine Forest Eagles put their perfect 2-0 district records on the line.
But in the end, Pine Forest claimed the District 1-6A championship 47-28 over Tate.
The Eagles were first on the board with a 7-0 lead with 5:23 to go in the first. A pass from Sawyer Smith to Aldondo Thompkins set up a Dee Thompson touchdown for a 7-7 tie just seconds into the second quarter. Pine Forest struck again to make it 13-7 with 6:03 in the half. Tate answered with a Madison Lockman touchdown, 14-13, with 5:01 in the second.
Headed into the final quarter, the game was tied 28-28, with Pine Forest going on a 19 point unanswered scoring spree.
Pine Forest will travel to Jacksonville Trinity Christian next Friday night before hosting the first round on the playoffs November 13 against the winner of a Gulf Breeze-Pace-Milton shootout.
The District 1-6A runner-up Tate Aggies will be on the road November 13 for a first round playoff game at e District 2-6A Navarre.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Look Out For Florida’s Top 10 Creepy Crawlers
October 31, 2015
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reminds residents and visitors to be on the lookout for these 10 creepy, crawly, invasive and destructive pests found in Florida. In addition to threatening Florida’s $123 billion agriculture industry and the more than 2 million jobs it supports, pests pose a serious risk to commerce, the environment, public health and the food supply.
On average, a new invasive pest is introduced in Florida every month, and that trend will only increase with the continued rise of global commerce and travel. Know the signs of emerging and existing pests and diseases to help protect Florida.
source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Baker Takes District Title From Northview; Chiefs Still In Playoff Hunt
October 31, 2015
The Northview Chiefs and the Baker Gators battled it out in Bratt Friday night for the District 1-1A championship, with Baker coming out on top 35-21.
The Chiefs were on the board first with a 2-yard touchdown run from junior Toney Harrison for a 6-0 lead with 4:43 to go in the first quarter.
Baker answered just inside the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead over the Chiefs with 11:03 on the clock with a 5-yard touchdown run. After a 72-yard run, Baker scored on the next down for a 13-6 lead over Northview with 8:54 to go in the first half.
And again, Baker would score with 6:07 in the half for a 21-6 advantage over the Chiefs.
The Chiefs added two to close out the half with a safety, still trailing Baker 21-8.
Baker increased their lead to 28-8 with 7:18 to go in the third. Gavon Grant found Jacob Dunsford for a 27-yard touchdown run to close the Gator gap to 28-15 following a good kick from Seth Killam..
The Gators gained another TD with 3:43 in the third, 35-15. Then with 7:21 in the game, the Chiefs worked to come back, adding a 44-yard touchdown run from Harrison for a 35-21 Gator advantage.
“Missed opportunities,” Northview head coach Wheatley said. “They break a couple of big runs, to their credit, and that was the difference in the game…I thought we were going to be able to cash it in late and cut it to one score, but we didn’t get it done.”
Baker (7-2, 2-0) took the District 1-1A championship with the win, while the Northview Chiefs (2-7, 1-1) are still in the hunt as the playoff series begins in two weeks. The Chiefs will begin round one of the playoffs on the road November 13 at District 2-1A champion Vernon.
For more photos, click here. (Senior Night, band, cheerleader and dance team photos will be posted by Monday)
NorthEscambia.com, click here.
Man Charged With Murder For Child Abuse Death
October 31, 2015
Escambia Sheriff’s Investigators have arrested a man in connection with the death of a 14-month-old child.
On October 21, Escambia Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Sacred Heart Hospital for a suspected child abuse case. When they arrived, they received information that A’Niyla Marie Mitchell was undergoing treatment for injuries she had sustained as a result of what appeared to be blunt force trauma to the head. A’Niyla was placed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
At about 5 p.m. on October 23, A’Niyla succumbed to her injuries.
Cornelius Kendale Nickson is charged with first degree murder and aggravated child abuse. He is currently being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Friday Football Finals
October 31, 2015
Here is a look at tonight’s high school football final scores:
FLORIDA
- Baker 35, Northview 21 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Pine Forest 47, Tate 28 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Escambia 28, Washington 26
- Navarre 47, Gulf Breeze 7
- Milton 30, Pace 27
- West Florida 23, PHS 13
- OFF: Jay, Catholic
ALABAMA
- W.S. Neal 26, T.R. Miller 17
- Bessemer 20, Escambia Academy 8 (Thurs. pm)
- Flomaton 22, Monroe County 20
Appeals Court Ruling Will Send Century Man Back To Prison On Drug Charge
October 30, 2015
A Century man that recently completed a prison sentence for a drug charge will be headed back to prison following an opinion issued this week by Florida’s First District Court of Appeals.
Steven Daniel Kite was arrested as part of the “Operation Blister Pack 2″ sweep in April 2013. It took an Escambia County jury just under an hour to find Kite guilty of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a listed chemical – pseudoephedrine.
However, Kite moved for and obtained a judgement of acquittal on the conspiracy to traffic count. The trial judge cited two grounds for the judgement of acquittal — inaccurate wording and the failure to prove that there was any agreement between Kite and any other person to purchase and deliver pseudoephedrine. The state appealed the ruling.
Wednesday, the appeals court found the acquittal on the conspiracy to to traffic count to be incorrect and ordered the trial court to reinstate the jury’s original guilty verdict.
The appeals court found that Kite did conspire to traffic in methamphetamine. Between December 2010 and April 2013, Kite made 53 purchases of pseudoephedrine, totaling 123.94 grams, from various pharmacies. He would deliver the package of pseudoephedrine to the home of a known methamphetamine cook and receive half a gram of meth each time in return.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, Kite faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years on the reinstated trafficking charge. The seven years must be served day by day without the possibility of parole or gain time. He will not be able to receive any credit for the two years already served under the possession charge.
Kite previously received a two year sentence, with credit for 122 days previously served, on the possession charge. According to Florida Department of Corrections records, Kite was released from prison on September 20. A court date for sentencing on the reinstated charge has not yet been set.
In 2013, Operation Blister Pack targeted nearly 80 individuals on methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine related charges. Many of those arrested were involved with drug groups dubbed “The Village Group”, centered around “The Village” area of Forrest Street and Lakeview Avenue in Cantonment; and “The Ayers Group”, a group centered around Ayers Street in Molino, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Offfice.
Teen Convicted Of Attempted Murder
October 30, 2015
An Escambia County teen is facing up to 40 years in prison under Florida’s 10-20-Life law.
Marquis Weathers was convicted by Escambia County Jury of two counts of attempted second degree murder with a firearm and two counts of aggravated battery.
The conviction stemmed from a shooting that occurred when Weathers was just 16. On October 27, 2014, off Rio Grande Circle, two individuals suffered gunshot wounds while sitting in their car. Both victims survived their injuries. Weathers and the co-defendant Jamaal Ervin Williams, 18 were arrested two days later.
Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh scheduled sentencing for December 8. Weathers is facing a minimum of 40 years in state prison as a minimum mandatory. Williams is facing trial next week.
Northview High’s FFA Receives National Chapter Award
October 30, 2015
The Northview High School FFA chapter was awarded one of the highest national honors presented by the National FFA this week in Louisville, KY. Northview’s FFA received the Two Star Chapter award during the 88th National FFA Convention & Expo. In addition, the Northview High School FFA Alumni received a bronze award. Pictured top: In Louisville, KY, are Northview FFA sponsor Perry Byars and officer team member (L-R) Haylee Weaver, Mitchell Singleton, Kaitlyn Kleinatland, Courtney Weekly and Cody Kite. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
National Manufacturing Month Event Held At Ascend
October 30, 2015
Along with FloridaWest, Ascend Performance Materials opened its doors for a special breakfast and tour Thursday as part of an effort to change people’s perceptions about today’s manufacturing environment and draw attention to the outstanding opportunities that a career in manufacturing can provide.
Manufacturing Month is an annual national event supported by thousands of manufacturers as they host students, teachers, parents, job seekers and other local community members at open houses, plant tours and presentations designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers
Manufacturing is a key driver in the Northwest Florida regional economy, providing approximately 16,523 direct jobs that generate approximately $1,123,521,993 in total wages with average wages per worker in excess of $67,000 per year.
Pictured: Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry presented a proclamation declaring the month of October 2015 as “National and Florida Manufacturing Month” in Escambia County. (L to R) District 3 Commissioner Lumon May, District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, Donnie McMahon representing FloridaWest, Ascend Plant Manager John Johnannemann, District 4 Commissioner Grover Robinson, Danita Andrews, Director of Business Development for FloridaWest. Pictured inset: Rep. Clay Ingram addresses the group. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Executes Man For 1985 Murders
October 30, 2015
After months of delay as attorneys debated whether a sedative could be used in executions, murderer Jerry Correll was put to death Thursday night at Florida State Prison near Starke.
The execution was the 22nd under Gov. Rick Scott, the most for any governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Correll, 59, was pronounced dead about an hour after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay.
Correll had been on Death Row for nearly three decades for the June 30, 1985, stabbing deaths in Orlando of his ex-wife, Susan Correll; their 5-year-old daughter Tuesday Correll; his ex-wife’s sister, Marybeth Jones; and his ex-mother-in-law Mary Lou Hines.
Scott initially signed a death warrant for Correll in January, but the execution was put on hold because of a U.S. Supreme Court case about whether a drug used in the lethal-injection process violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court case involved an Oklahoma execution, but Florida uses the same drug, midazolam, as part of its lethal-injection process.
The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the use of midazolam, but the Florida Supreme Court refused to lift a stay of Correll’s execution. Attorneys for Correll argued that midazolam posed a higher risk to him because of his alleged brain damage and history of drug use. Orange County Circuit Judge Jenifer Davis held a hearing in August and ruled against Correll.
The Supreme Court upheld Davis’ decision Oct. 2 and lifted the stay of Correll’s execution. The execution put Scott one ahead of former Gov. Jeb Bush, who oversaw 21 executions during his two terms. The most executions under the watch of any governor since 1924 is 35, coming while Spessard Holland, later a U.S. senator, was in office from Jan. 7, 1941 through Jan. 2, 1945, according to the Department of Corrections.