Gulf Power Storm Team Home After Week In Icy Georgia
February 18, 2014
Icy roads and downed power poles and lines were a few of the hazards Gulf Power Company’s storm team encountered as they helped Georgia Power restore power to customers following last week’s winter storm.
The 82-person crew was released from storm duty late Sunday afternoon and returned to Northwest Florida late Sunday night.
“They all worked safely and gave hope to customers who had lost power,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications manager. “Our crews continue to hone their skills working winter storms this year and we were glad to help Georgia Power’s customers get their power back on.”
The crews left February 10, donned snow chains, and worked in Jonesboro, Ga., just south of Atlanta most of the week. Over the weekend, they went east to Waynesboro, Ga., to help complete restoration. Georgia Power restored power to more than 700,000 customers.
It was the third time this winter Gulf Power crews were called on to restore power. In December, a team went to the Dallas area. And in late January, Gulf Power had to deal with its own winter storm.
“When the power’s out, there’s no better sight on your street than a bucket truck rolling up,” Rogers said. “The experience gained from being deployed to assist in these storms helps our crews be the best they can be right here at home.”
Pictured: Gulf Power storm teams work in northern Georgia. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Honors Winning Football Team, Cheerleaders
February 18, 2014
The state champion Northview Chiefs honored their football players and cheerleaders during their annual banquet Monday night.
For a bonus photo gallery, click here.
The following football players and cheerleaders were awarded:
FOOTBALL
- Academic Award - Austin Cunningham
- Chief Award – Tristan Portwood, Andrew Edwards
- Leadership Award – Nathan Shipps, Dalton Daniel
- Most Improved Award - Keondre Lett, Nick Lambert
- Head Hunter Award - Emmanuel Etheridge
- Mr. Intensity Award – Tristen Creamer
- Mr. Versatile Award – Cameron Newsome, Tydre Bradley
- Outstanding Offensive Lineman - Baccari Ramar, Danny Slay
- Outstanding Defensive Lineman – La’Quan Thomas
- Outstanding Back - LaDarius Thomas
- All-Purpose Back – Brannon Freeman
- Most Valuable Defensive Player – Jeffrey Taylor, Hunter Sherouse
- Most Valuable Offensive Player – Neino Robinson, Daulton Tullis
- Senior Award – Nathan Shipps, Dalton Daniel, Tristen Creamer, Baccari Ramar, Danny Slay, La’Quan Thomas, Brannon Freeman, Jeffrey Taylor, Neino Robinson, Daulton Tullis, Andrew Edwards, holden Moore, Tony Haynie.
- Subway All-Star Team members – Jeffrey Taylor, La’Quan Thomas, Neino Robinson, Daulton Tullis and Brannon Freeman.
- All-State team – 1st Team – Neino Robinson; 2nd Team – Brannon Freeman, La’Quan Thomas; honorable mention, Daulton Tullis, Jeffrey Taylor
- All-Area – 1st Team – Neino Robinson
- All-Panhandle Elite – 1st Team – Neino Robinson; honorable mention, Daulton Tullis, La’Quan Thomas, Jeffrey Taylor and Hunter Sherouse.
JV CHEERLEADERS
- Most Improved - Mallarie Rigby
- Most Spirited – Mallory Gibson, Peighton Dortch
- Most Dedicated – Dariane Guy
VARSITY CHEERLEADERS
- Most Versatile – Mariah Albritton
- Perseverance Award – Chloe Leonard
- Squad Strength – Hannah Gibson
- Spirit Award - Madison Arrington
- Best All Around - Katelynn Calloway
Pictured top: (L-R) Most Valuable Defensive Players Hunter Sherouse and Jeffrey Taylor; Most Valuable Offensive Players Daulton Tullis and Neino Robinson. Pictured below: Cheerleaders Mariah Albritton, Chloe Leonard, Ali Martin, Olivia Neal, Courtney Weaver, Anna Fischer and Katelynn Calloway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pace Patriots Down Northview Varsity; JV Chiefs Win
February 18, 2014
The Northview Lady Chiefs split games with the Pace Patriots Monday in Bratt.
Pace defeated the varsity Chiefs 6-2, while the JV Chiefs beat Pace 7-3 in an afternoon game.
A Northview at Chipley match-up scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled due to field conditions at Chipley. The varsity and junior varsity Chiefs will host Baker Friday night.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Athletes Compete In Winter Olympics
February 18, 2014
As the Winter Olympics continue in Russia, Florida sports fans will see what seems like a most unlikely sight: Fellow Floridians in Sochi, Russia, as part of the U.S. Olympic Team. That’s Floridians … in the Winter Olympics.
The Florida High School Athletic Association is encouraging residents from Pensacola to Key West to pull for the state’s athletes, several of whom competed at the high school level for FHSAA member schools.
“We’re used to seeing Floridians compete in a wide range of summer sports, from swimming and diving to track and field, but you don’t usually associate the Sunshine State with events like bobsledding and speedskating,” noted Dr. Roger Dearing, FHSAA executive director. “Whether the sports are common in our state or not, we can all take pride in the incredible accomplishments of these Florida athletes.”
Floridians on the 230-member U.S. Olympic Team in Sochi include three speedskaters who attended FHSAA member schools, as well as a member of the bobsled team who attended the University of Miami. In addition, the head coach of the U.S. men’s bobsled team now calls the Sunshine State home.
Florida has a rich tradition of sending champion athletes to compete in the Olympics, but it’s more typically the Summer Games. Two years ago, FHSAA saluted 29 Olympians who attended FHSAA member schools before earning spots in the London games. Several of Florida’s current Winter Olympians grew up competing in non-winter sports whose skills translated to winter sports
“These outstanding athletes highlight the value of athletic competition for young boys and girls. This is the same value we try to instill in every high school student-athlete competing at FHSAA member schools. You never know where it might lead you – even to a place in the Winter Olympics,” said Dearing.
Floridians participating in Sochi as members of the U.S. Olympic Team include:
- Eddy Alvarez, 24, of Miami, a speedskater who played baseball at Christopher Columbus High School
- Brittany Bowe, 25, of Ocala, a speedskater who played girls basketball at Trinity Catholic
- Joey Mantia, 28, of Ocala, a speedskater who was a world record holder in inline speed skating and attended Ocala Vanguard High School
- Lauryn Williams, 30, a former University of Miami track star who is a member of the two-woman bobsled team
- Brian Shimer, of Naples, head coach of the U.S. men’s bobsled team
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Killed In Highway 4 Wreck In Santa Rosa County
February 17, 2014
A Santa Rosa County man died in a single vehicle accident Sunday night in Berrydale.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 36-year old Marcel Edward Gauthier of Pace was traveling east on Highway 4 near Reeder Road about 10:20 p.m. when for unknown reasons he drifted across the highway and into a ditch. His 2006 Chevrolet Silverado struck a cement culvert and rolled several times.
Gauthier was later pronounced deceased at Jay Hospital from injuries sustained in the crash. Gauthier was not wearing a seat belt, according to the FHP.
Man Turns To Facebook, $1,000 Reward To Solve Local Burglary
February 17, 2014
A North Escambia man is turning to a reward and Facebook in hopes of catching whoever burglarized his mother’s home in Cantonment on Valentine’s Day.
“My mom is safe, and that is the most important thing to us,” Craig Morgan said on his newly created “Cantonment Fl. Break ins” Facebook page after the burglary on Filly Road. By Sunday night, the page had over 460 likes.
“My hope with this page is to make a stand against these cowards who are breaking in to all our homes in our community,” he said. “Never accept being a victim. It’s what they want you to do. Just accept. Not me. I will never rest until these cowards are brought to justice.”
The burglary occurred between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. last Friday, with the thieves forcing their way into the home, ransacking a bedroom and stealing jewelry belonging to his mother, as well as jewelry and other items from his father. Morgan’s dad, who retired from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in 1989, passed away three years ago.
On his Facebook page, Morgan has reached out to the community to identify several vehicles unusual to the neighborhood caught on video in front of the home on the day of the burglary. So far, all but one has been identified.
He intends for the Facebook page to be a place for others in the Cantonment area to share information about the burglaries in the Cantonment area — a virtual neighborhood watch of sorts.
Morgan is also offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the burglary. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Pictured: A ransacked bedroom at a home on Filly Road in Cantonment following a burglary last Friday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Posts Record 2013 Tourism Numbers
February 17, 2014
Florida attracted an estimated 94.7 million tourists last year, about a 3.5 percent increase over 2012. The figure marks the third consecutive year the state has posted a record number of visitors.
Visit Florida, the state’s tourism arm, estimated there were 91.4 million visitors in 2012 and 85.9 million in 2011.The bulk of the visitors are from the other states and U.S. territories, with the total growing 2.5 percent in year-to-year comparisons. Visit Florida also estimates that there were 3.7 million Canadian visitors, a 4.1 percent increase, and 11.5 million visitors from overseas, a jump of 11.1 percent.
The tourism number doesn’t include the projected 20.1 million in-state trips taken by Floridians in 2013.
Gov. Rick Scott, who has requested a $35 million increase in state funding for Visit Florida next year, to $100 million, announced the annual tourism figures during an appearance at Universal Orlando Resorts. Universal said the company will add nearly 3,500 new jobs this year as it expands in Central Florida. The company is constructing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, a new onsite hotel and expanding the CityWalk Entertainment complex.
Pictured: Pensacola Beach at sunset. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local School Districts Could Get Final Say On Textbooks
February 17, 2014
Contending that school districts have a “constitutional duty to decide what materials best suit their classrooms,” a Senate Republican filed a bill that would revamp the way textbooks and other materials are approved in Florida.
Bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, said the bill would eliminate the statewide adoption of textbooks and other materials and give the responsibility to school districts.
Also, the proposal would set up a process for local committees to review and recommend materials to school boards and also would create an appeals process for the public.
“Local school districts, not the state or federal government, are the most qualified to determine what textbooks are appropriate for Florida’s classrooms,” Hays said in a prepared statement.
by The News Service of Florida
Library’s Bookmobile Out Of Service
February 17, 2014
The West Florida Library’s Bookmobile is currently out of service. The library says they are currently investigating short and long term resolutions for the lighting and heating of the Bookmobile. For more information, call (850) 436-5060. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Anna Fischer Named Miss NHS 2014 (With Photo Gallery)
February 17, 2014
Anna Fischer was crowned Miss NHS 2014 Saturday night at Northview High School.
First Runner-Up was Jessica Amerson, Second Runner-Up was Danielle Scott, Third Runner-Up Olivia Neal, and Fourth Runner-Up was Julie Hester.
Other awards presented were:
- Self Expression Award – Anna Fischer
- Talent Award – Danielle Scott; Morgan Digmon (tie)
- Physical Fitness Award – Danielle Scott
- Creative Costume Award – Jessica Amerson
- Scholastic Award – Jessica Amerson
- Judges Award – Olivia Neal
- Distinguished Young Woman Award – Morgan Ward
- Spirit of Miss NHS – Brianna Smith
For a pageant photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Third Runner-Up Olivia Neal, First Runner-Up Jessica Amerson, Miss NHS 2014 Anna Fischer, Second Runner-Up Danielle Scott and Fourth Runner-Up Julie Hester. Pictured inset: Anna Fischer is crowned Miss NHS 2014 by Miss NHS 2013 Ariel Holland. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.