Aurora Paul Is Lipscomb’s Teacher Of The Year
October 10, 2024
Aurora Paul has been named the R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She will be contender for the Escambia County Teacher of the Year later this year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Named 2024 CMA Radio Station Of The Year: NewsRadio Wins Marconi Award
October 10, 2024
Wednesday, Pensacola’s Cat Country 98.7 won the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Radio Station of the Year Award, and sister station NewsRadio 92. won the Marconi Awards Medium Market Station of the Year.
Both stations are owned by Dave and Mary Hoxeng and Pensacola-based ADX Communications.
Cat Country 98.7 CMA Radio Station of the Year
This is the third time the station has won this prestigious CMA STation of the Year award, having previously won in 2017 and 2019.
The announcement was made Wednesday morning in Nashville by the CMA. The station was informed of the win by the multi-CMA award-winning group Brothers Osborne, who called into the Cat Pak Morning show hosted by Brent and Mel.
“The CMA Station of the Year award is the most prestigious award Cat Country can achieve and to get this award for doing what we do daily, working to serve and entertain our community, is an honor, ” said Mary Hoxeng, owner and general manager of WYCT, Cat Country 98.7. “I’m so proud of our entire team, and it does take everyone.”
The winners of the 58th Annual CMA Awards will be honored during the 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 November 21.
NewsRadio 92.3
Wednesday night, NewsRadio 92.3 announced as the winner of the Marconi Awards Medium Market Station of the Year by the National Association of Broadcasters at a ceremony in New York City.
This the stations first-ever win for this award.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida High School To Host Academy Showcase For 8th Graders And Families On Saturday
October 10, 2024
On Saturday, West Florida High School of Advanced Technology will welcome any interested 8th grade student and their guardians for an organized campus tour and informational sessions about the school’s 12 career academies.
Tours are alphabetically ordered by the student’s last name. The first tour will be for students with the last names beginning with “A” through “L” and will be held from 9-11 a.m. The second tour will be for families with the student’s last name beginning with the letters “M” through “Z” and will be held from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Current eighth grade students meeting the admission criteria and timely submitting an application for admission will be entered into the Escambia County School Choice lottery selection system.
WFHS will accept applications via the Open Enrollment office October 29-December 6, 2024. Apply online at www.wfhs.net. Click on the link: “2025-2026 WFHS Application.”
Tate High Wins Boys Golf Meet with Strong Individual Performances
October 10, 2024
The Tate High Aggies dominated the boys’ varsity golf match held at Perdido Bay Golf Club on Tuesday, taking first place with a team score of 146 (+2), beating out Washington, West Florida, and Escambia.
Leading the charge for Tate was sophomore Baylor Touchstone, who fired a 32 (-4), the lowest individual score of the day. Sophomore Ben Robinson shot an even-par 36 to place second among Tate’s golfers, while freshman Jacob Drysdale followed closely with a 38 (+2).
Parker Hassell, a junior, carded a 40 (+4), with junior Landon Ray contributing a 44 (+8), and Nolan Satterwhite, also a junior, posting a 45 (+9) to round out the Aggies’ strong team effort.
Washington (Pensacola) placed second in the team standings with a score of 179 (+35), while West Florida and Escambia both finished at 213 (+69).
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Volleyball District Playoffs Begin Monday For Tate, Northview
October 10, 2024
High school volleyball tournaments are set to being Monday.
In 6A District 1, the No. 5 Tate Aggies will travel to No 4 Pace at 6 p.m. Monday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals Tuesday at No 1. Gulf Breeze. In other Monday pairings, No 7 Milton will be at No. 2 Niceville and No 6. Crestview will be at No 3 Navarre with the winners facing off in the semis on Tuesday.
In Rural District 1, No. 5 Laurel Hill will be at No 4. Northview at 6 p.m. Monday. The winner will advance to the semifinals on Tuesday against No 1 Jay. Also Tuecay, No. 3 Central will take on No. 2 Baker. All of Tuesday’s games and Thursday’s final will be at Baker High School.
Pictured: Tate traveled to Northview on Monday. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Agencies To Assist With Hurricane Milton; Local Shelter Opens
October 9, 2024
Escambia County agencies are preparing to deploy and assist during and after Hurricane Milton, and Escambia County is opening doors at home to Hurricane Milton evacuees.
Escambia County Deploying Resources Ahead of Hurricane Milton
Escambia County is mobilizing and deploying resources to assist areas of the state expected to be impacted by Hurricane Milton, standing ready to help neighboring counties and the state with storm preparation and recovery.
Escambia County Emergency Management has already deployed to Levy County to support emergency operations ahead of Hurricane Milton, working in the Levy County Emergency Operations Center in Bronson, Florida. The county’s mobile command unit, THOR, will deploy after Hurricane Milton makes landfall to support rescue and recovery efforts in Central/South Florida, with the location to be determined by the state depending on the storm’s impact. Santa Rosa County Emergency Management will also deploy with THOR to assist impacted areas.
“We are always ready to respond to the call for help when our neighbors need us, and this storm is no different,” Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins said. “Hurricane Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall, and we will continue to be here to help impacted communities before, during, and after the storm. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to be there for our sister counties during difficult times like this.”
The American Red Cross opened a shelter for Hurricane Milton evacuees at the Pensacola Bay Center Tuesday night. The shelter is pet-friendly, with Escambia County Animal Welfare providing assistance with managing pet sheltering operations. The Pensacola Bay Center is located at 201 E. Gregory St. in downtown Pensacola.
Escambia County’s Animal Search and Rescue, or ASAR, team is also standing by for deployment. The ASAR team has members from Animal Welfare and Escambia County Fire Rescue who are trained to respond to disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes or other large-scale animal rescue incidents.
The Escambia County Equestrian Center is accepting equine and small livestock evacuees from Hurricane Milton on a first come, first served basis. For more information, contact the Equestrian Center at 850-941-6042 or 850-554-1155, or email equestrian@myescambia.com.
Escambia County EMS and Escambia County Fire Rescue are also standing by and are ready to deploy if requested by the state.
“Escambia County will continue to provide any resources we can to assist those impacted by Hurricane Milton,” Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno said. “It’s times like this when it’s imperative that we all come together to support our neighbors, and I am incredibly proud of our team for always being ready and willing to answer the call for help. We will continue to pray for the safety of everyone in the path of Hurricane Milton, and Escambia County will remain ready to help them in any way we can during this difficult time.”
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Preparing to Assist
Once again, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to help those in the path of Hurricane Milton.
Having only been back for a week after providing law enforcement assistance and helping with cleanup from Hurricane Helene, the ECSO’s Hurricane Response Team is prepared and ready to help our neighbors who will be affected by Hurricane Milton. The ECSO’s Hurricane Response Team is comprised of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office employees who have volunteered to respond to disaster areas.
The team will assist the residents of affected areas as they work to recover from the hurricane’s impact. The team will also assist in clearing the trees and debris blocking roadways that could prevent first responders and citizens from getting assistance.
The team is completely self-sufficient and equipped with chainsaws, generators, sleeping quarters, showers, full cooking facilities, skid steer to help clear roads, ATVs, high water rescue vehicles, and other equipment that can be used to assist in search and rescue operations along with law-enforcement duties.
“Despite the considerable challenges, our team remains fully committed to supporting their fellow Floridians. I commend these employees who have volunteered. They represent the sheriff’s office and Escambia County well” said Sheriff Chip W. Simmons.
Man Wanted For Attacking Woman In Flomaton Is Now Jailed
October 9, 2024
A suspect on the run since mid-September is behind bars for allegedly attacking a woman in Flomaton, not far from the Alabama-Florida state line.
Christopher Moody, 38, was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond on charges of assault third degree, kidnapping second degree, theft of property third degree, and robbery third degree.
Flomaton Police Chief Dereck Lowry said a woman had pulled to the side of the road the afternoon of September 17 near a railroad trestle in the area of Railroad Street and Martin Luther King Drive when Moody approached.
“After she stopped, she cracked her door open and he came out of nowhere,” the police chief said last month. He said Moody assaulted the woman and attempted to rob her before fleeing. A K-9 team responded for a manhunt, but they were hampered by a sudden downpour.
The area of the alleged crime is about 1,200 feet north of the Alabama-Florida state line. The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office also took part in the search for Moody after the incident. Flomaton Police later released undated screenshots of Moody from a video recorded at the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard in Century (pictured below).
FPD previously released an image from a surveillance video of Moody (pictured bottom) in a Flomaton convenience store the day before the incident.
Moody was described by police as a being a homeless individual from Mobile.
Rehearsals Begin Thursday For Tri-City Children’s Choir; Join Now
October 9, 2024
Rehearsals are beginning for the Tri-City Children’s Choir, a program of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus.
Young singers in the Century, Jay, Flomaton, and surrounding areas in grades 1-6 are invited to join now.
Weekly rehearsals begin on October 10 from 4-5 p.m. at the First Pentecostal Church Century Campus at 8451 North Century Boulevard.
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify, with rates as low as $25 per month.
To learn more and register, visit www.TriCityChoir.org or contact program director Holley Driver at (850) 324-6182.
Holly Driver has more than 15 years experience in music lessons, including piano. She grew up playing and singing at First Pentecostal Century and has taught in the Escambia County School District for over 15 years. She also served as the choral director at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Molino for nine years during which the choir grew under her direction and leadership.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office: Woman ‘Bit A Large Chunk’ Off Cellmate’s Eyebrow
October 9, 2024
An Escambia County Jail inmate has been accused of biting off a “large chuck” of another inmate’s eyebrow, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The ECSO said the victim has been in a cell with the suspect, 27-year old Asia Simone Harvey of Orlando, for three days.
“Those three days proved difficult for the victim as Harvey began acting irrationally,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Ultimately, Harvey began throwing toilet water at the victim, grabbing her by the hair, and punching her. Harvey then jumped on top of the victim, bit her in the arm, and then bit a large chunk of her eyebrow off.”
Corrections officers were able to pull Harvey off the victim, who has not been identified.
Harvey was charged with felony aggravated battery. She was already being held on a charge of misdemeanor battery for an unrelated incident. She remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
Fiery I-10 Crash Claims One Life In Escambia County
October 9, 2024
A driver died in a fiery single vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon on I-10, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the witnesses reported the small SUV was traveling west in the inside lane of I-10 near the Ninth Avenue overpass before veering to the right and colliding head-on with a large oak tree. The vehicle then burst into flames.
Escambia County EMS pronounced the driver deceased at the scene at 3:05 p.m.
As of Tuesday night, FHP had not identified the driver.