Solari, Wainwright Elected To District FFA Posts
June 24, 2013
Courtney Solari, president of the Northview High FFA Chapter, was recently elected at the 85th Florida FFA State Convention to serve as the 2013-2014 District I president. Logan Wainwright, 2012-2013 president of the Milton High FFA Chapter and former Northview student, was elected to serve as District I secretary.
Florida FFA District I includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington counties.
Pictured top: Florida FFA District 1 President Courtney Solari (left) and District I Secretary Logan Wainwright (right). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment 14U Pony Team Wins GCYBA District Allstars Championship
June 24, 2013
The Cantonment 14U Pony team brought home their second straight GCYBA District Allstars Championship Sunday. Cantonment beat Myrtle Grove 8-2 in Navarre to remain undefeated in the tourney to win the championship.
Team members are Clay Ryland, Corey Ryland , Money Purifoy , Josh Neese , Corey Grim, Quentin Sampson , Nickey Johnson, Travis Delacruz , Rod Smith and Chris Geoghagan. Coaches are Chris Ryland, Mike Neese, Wonder Purifoy , Barry Gunter and Ritchie Grim.
Pictured: Cantonment 14U Pony team celebrates their GCYBA District Allstars Championship win. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win 14-Inning Marathon 4-3 Over Montgomery
June 24, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos battled for nearly five hours and set a new season-high with 14 innings played before knocking off the Montgomery Biscuits 4-3 in the rubber match of the five-game set.
With the score tied at three entering the 14th, Ryan LaMarre smoked a double to left on the first pitch he saw to set the stage. Luis Durango then laid down a sacrifice bunt that the pitcher Neil Schenk (1-2) threw away into right field. LaMarre raced home to score, what proved to be, the winning run.
Wilkin De La Rosa walked two batters in the last of the 14th inning but got Keith Castillo to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the contest while stranding to tying run at second base. De La Rosa (2-4) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and walking a pair.
Montgomery had a chance to win the game in the last of the 11th as they put runners on first and third with just one out. Chris Manno countered the threat by striking out Mikie Mahtook and Cameron Seitzer to keep the game alive. Manno struck out six in three frames as the Pensacola bullpen combined to allow just one run on five hits in nine innings of relief with 11 strikeouts.
The Wahoos jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Montgomery starter Jake Floethe. In the second inning, Pensacola loaded the bases on a double and two walks before Floethe walked Durango to force in the game’s first run. Floethe was able to escape without further damage by getting Corey Wimberly to fly out.
In the fourth inning, Pensacola again loaded the bases with one out and Floethe’s lack of control contributed to two runs. LaMarre scampered home on a wild pitch before Devin Lohman drove home the Wahoos’ third run with a sacrifice fly to score Durango.
Montgomery came back with a pair of runs in the fifth inning against Pensacola starter Josh Smith. The Wahoos righty issued three walks to load the bases with two outs for Todd Glaesmann, who slammed a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Smith made it through five innings but settled for a no-decision as he allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in five innings.
Josh Ravin relieved Smith and allowed the tying run in the seventh as Robby Price led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild offering from Ravin.
Pensacola now returns home for the first of five games with the Mississippi Braves on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Blue Wahoos have yet to announce their starting pitcher while the Braves will go with Mitch Atkins (1-1, 4.67).
Navy Receives First F-35C Lightning II
June 24, 2013
The U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 received the Navy’s first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft from Lockheed Martin Saturday at the squadron’s home at Eglin Air Force Base..
The F-35C is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.
The F-35C will enhance the flexibility, power projection, and strike capabilities of carrier air wings and joint task forces and will complement the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which currently serves as the Navy’s premier strike fighter.
By 2025, the Navy’s aircraft carrier-based air wings will consist of a mix of F-35C, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers electronic attack aircraft, E-2D Hawkeye battle management and control aircraft, Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) air vehicles, MH-60R/S helicopters and Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics aircraft.
VFA 101, based at Eglin Air Force Base, will serve as the F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, training both aircrew and maintenance personnel to fly and repair the F-35C.
Pictured top: Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Tabert, F-35C Lightning II instructor pilot, U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-101 lands Saturday afternoon at Eglin Air Force Base’s 33d Fighter Wing after a two hour flight from Ft. Worth, Texas.
Motorcyclist Killed In Early Morning Crash
June 23, 2013
A motorcyclist died in after running off the road in Santa Rosa County early Sunday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 45-year old James Mandabach of Milton was northbound on Glover Lane south of the intersection with Lambert Lane. He failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway and overturned onto the shoulder of the road. Mandabach was ejected from his Harley Davidson onto the roadway.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 12:20 a.m. crash.
A Hero’s Goodbye: Family, Community Honor Fallen Soldier (With Photo Gallery)
June 23, 2013
Hundreds and hundreds of people turned out Saturday to honor Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas, 31, who was killed June 10 while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Patriot Guard members stood guard outside the East Hill Church of God in Christ in Pensacola for the memorial service. An estimated 400 Patriot Guard riders escorted the funeral procession from the church to Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola for the graveside service.
Many supporters held signs and waived flags in support for the solider and his family. Rumors were rampant prior to the service that the Westboro “church” would protest the funeral, prompting many to stand outside the service with signs targeting the Kansas hate-group “Westboro Baptist Church” — a controversial “church” that protests at the funerals of fallen soldiers.
“WBC You’re Mean”, read the sign of young girl. “God Is Love”, read a sign held by Father Nathan Monk, a Pensacola priest, as he stood next to an American flag. “Jesus (Heart’s) The Troops and So Does Pensacola”… “WBC The Village Idiots”…”God Loves All” – were just a few of the other signs outside the church aimed at the Westboro “church”.
For a photo gallery, click here.
During the memorial service, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller spoke in tribute to Thomas, as did his brother Darrin Thomas and friend Randae Jordan.
Staff Sgt. Thomas attended Pensacola High School and joined the Army after graduation.
Thomas was assigned to the 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command out of Kleber Kaserne, Germany. He leaves behind his wife, Michelle, also an active duty member, three stepchildren, and his mother, Irma Oliver.
During his service to his country, he earned numerous awards: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
Pictured: The funeral service of Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas Saturday afternoon in Pensacola. Photos by Mark Taylor for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino’s Gindl Gets First MLB Hit
June 23, 2013
Molino’s Caleb Gindl had his first hit Saturday for the Milwaulkee Brewers in their 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Gindl picked up his first Major League hit — a single — as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, before stealing his first bag.
He was called up by the Brewers a week ago for Ryan Braunl, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a thumb injury. Thursday against the Houston Astros, Gindl made it to third on an error — hitting a drive that was dropped by an Astros’ center fielder.
Century Reports Financial Bottom Line Is In Good Shape
June 23, 2013
The financial bottom line at the Town of Century is in good shape, according to the town’s accountant.
The latest figures show the town’s water and sewer fund with about $240,000 available, including about $35,000 from a motor vehicle wrecks settlement. Excess money from the water and sewer fund is used toward the town’s general fund.
Overall, the town’s general fund is about seven percent below projections, but expenses are over over 10 percent less.
Next month, the town will begin the budget making process for the next fiscal year. In July, the town’s accountant will meet with department heads who will in turn present their budget requests on August 1. Tentative budget workshops are set for August 15 and August 29, if needed.
Tate’s Eion Blanchard Awarded Telluride Summer Scholarship
June 23, 2013
Tate High School junior Eion Blanchard has been awarded a full scholarship to the 2013 Telluride Association Summer Program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, “Food”.
This year Telluride Association is co-sponsoring four programs, two with Cornell University and two with the University of Michigan. These six-week-long educational programs involve college-level seminars for gifted and highly motivated high school juniors.
Admission to the TASPs is highly selective. This year’s 64 participants were chosen from 1,256 applications from all parts of the United States and abroad. The Telluride Summer Programs solicit applicants from high scorers on the Educational Testing Service’s PSAT and receive recommendations of potential applicants from school teachers and counselors.
Telluride Association is an independent not for profit educational organization that has offered summer programs to high school juniors of exceptional promise since 1954.
Photos: Nature Photography Contest At Century Care Center
June 23, 2013
The residents at Century Care Center held their own Nature Photography Contest last week.
Most of the photographs were taken around the Century Care courtyard, and they were judged by staff and resident photographers. First place went to Carolyn Moye (top), second place to Clarice Simmons (left) and third place to Mittie Allen (below).
Other photographic entries are below.
