Northview Chiefs Win Florida 1A State Championship
December 8, 2012
The Northview High School Chiefs won the Florida Class 1A football championship Friday night in Orlando, beating the Trenton Tigers 42-21.
The road to Orlando had been oh so long for the Chiefs — losing out the past couple of years a the state semi-final level — making the victory oh so much sweeter Friday night.
The state title is the first ever for Northview, the only Escambia or Santa Rosa County team to make the Citrus Bowl in Orlando this year.
There were 3,609 fans on hand for Friday night’s game — over 1,500 of them making the road tip from North Escambia.
For a highlight photo gallery, click here. NorthEscambia.com will publish hundreds of additional photos over the next several days.
After a scoreless first quarter, La’Mikal Kyles scored for the Chiefs on a 58 yard run with 11:07 on the click. And the Chiefs were just getting warmed up. Chad Smith was in with 8:25 in the half on a 20 yard blocked punt return.And LaDarius Thomas scored on a two-yard run with just 34 seconds in the half. With good kicks from Kevin Vaughan on all three touchdowns, the Chiefs held a 21-0 dominating lead at the half.
Trenton scored on a three yard run in the third, while Northview scored twice in the quarter. Neino Robinson had a 79 yard kickoff return, and Brannon Freeman add a touchdown with a 28 yard run.
Northview had one touchdown, a six-yard run from Kevin Vaughan, in the fourth, while Trenton scored twice. As the clock wound down, the Chiefs won the 1A championship 42-21.
Kyles finished the night with 113 yards and one touchdown on 12 attempts. Freeman had a touchdown and 61 yards on 11 attempts, and Thomas also added a TD and 39 yards on 10 attempts.
Trenton covered more artificial turf that Northview in the Citrus Bowl — 270 yards to Northview’s 226.
For a highlight photo gallery, click here. NorthEscambia.com will publish hundreds of additional photos over the next several days.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Renews Contract With Atmore Ambulance For 327 Exchange
December 8, 2012
The Escambia County Commission has renewed a contract with Atmore Ambulance to provide emergency medical services for the portion of North Escambia in the 327 phone exchange.
Atmore Ambulance has been providing ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Davisville and surrounding communities in the 327 telephone exchange since 1978. The county’s current contract with Atmore Ambulance was due to expire on January 21, 2013.
In January 2010, the Escambia County Commission awarded a contract to Atmore Ambulance for $85,000 per year for an initial period of 36 months, that was renewable for two additional 12 month periods for a total of 60 months.
Under the terms of the contract, Atmore Ambulance directly bills patients for services rendered at an amount not greater than that billed by Escambia County EMS, which provides ambulance service for the rest of the county.
Renewal of the agreement was recommended by Mike Weaver, Escambia County’s public safety director.
ECUA Program Helps Needy With Water, Sewer, Sanitation Bills
December 8, 2012
Project EUAP (Escambia Utility Assistance Program), created in 1988, provides emergency assistance to families who are experiencing financial difficulty, and are unable to pay the cost of water, wastewater or sanitation service.
The program is made possible through voluntary contributions from ECUA customers who understand that challenging times can hit any of us. At last count, 1,497 ECUA customers are helping their neighbors by contributing to the program.
Project EUAP offers assistance to the elderly, the disabled, and to crisis victims, individuals who have a financial circumstance due to a medical emergency, death in the family, or any other serious situation. All contributions in Project EUAP are used for emergency relief and never to pay administrative expenses. The program is administered by the Community Action Program, Escambia County Council on Aging, and the Salvation Army.
With so many residents applying for assistance, funds for Project EUAP are quickly depleting. ECUA customers can participate in the program by having one dollar (or a larger amount) included on their monthly utility bill, or making a one-time contribution.
For more information, to contribute, or to sign up as a regular participant in Project EUAP, visit the Project EUAP page under the “Doing Business with ECUA” dropdown menu on the web site www.ecua.fl.gov, or call ECUA customer service at (850) 476-0480.
Workshop To Highlight Water Use Permitting Changes
December 8, 2012
Farmers and ranchers in Northwest Florida are invited to attend a workshop to discuss proposed changes to permitting rules on irrigation wells.
Staff from the Northwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will provide information on statewide consumptive use permitting consistency (CUPcon) efforts and what the proposed changes will mean for the agricultural community.
The workshop will be held Tuesday, December 11 at 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center. This workshop is an opportunity for Northwest Florida’s agricultural community to provide input as rule changes are being considered.
For more information, click here.
Pictured: A modern irrigation system in operation in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Creative Gardening Gift Ideas
December 8, 2012
Still don’t have a Christmas present for your favorite gardener? Take heart, there is still plenty of time to find, or make, that perfect “green” gift.
Many gardeners don’t think of their landscapes as just plants in the ground. To the knowledgeable landscape designer, the landscape is a series of rooms; rooms that may require decoration.
Garden art can be anything from the whimsical garden gnomes, functional obelisks or metal sculptures.
Garden obelisks can serve many functions. In addition to providing interest during all four seasons, they can act as beautiful focal points in the garden. They can make your garden look as if it was designed by a professional.
In a flower garden, they provide support for plants such as climbing roses, flowering vines and many other climbers and twiners. In the edible garden, many types of fruits and vegetables, such as various types of beans, can be grown on obelisks.
Obelisks come in many different sizes and shapes. Common shapes include tall, rounded or oblong forms, rectangular forms, and pyramids. Most vining plants will take to any shape. Choose the shape that is pleasing to you and blends in with your garden design. Obelisks can be made from a variety of materials including cedar, copper and wrought iron.
Furthermore, if you are an avid recycler, there are plenty of materials just laying around that can be made into a functional obelisk with a minimum amount of skill and time. Take a look on the internet and you will find plenty of help in fashioning a home-made creation.
A “growing” trend is metal garden art. Metal garden art can be fun, playful or even classical. It can be used to create a focal point in the garden or to brighten up a dull spot. From small garden stakes, to colorful wall art, to sculptures small and large, the possibilities are endless. With so many materials to choose from and so many artists working in the field you will be sure to find at least one piece to add color and character to your yard.
Again, if you are an avid recycler, you will be able to find many pieces made from recycled metal. Recycled steel drums or tanks, discarded bicycle or tricycles, old car parts, these all provide the raw materials for the creative eco-artist.
Copper is widely used in metal garden art because it is beautiful, durable and adds elegance to any garden. If allowed to oxidize it will age gracefully to a natural weather worn green patina. It can also be preserved with a clear coating to maintain its bright, shiny look. Copper sculptures, wall art and garden stakes add a touch of class to any decor.
For a classic look add a bronze garden sculpture. Bronze sculptures have been around for thousands of years. They remain popular today because they are classic, timeless and will last for generations.
Whatever your taste, classic, contemporary or just playful, garden art will warm your heart even on the coldest winter day.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Attorney Eddins: Prosecutors Leaving Due To Low Pay
December 7, 2012
Representatives of state attorneys and public defenders began making a renewed case Thursday for increasing salaries, saying low pay causes many attorneys to leave for private law firms after only a few years.
Bill Eddins, state attorney for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida (which includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties) and president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, told a Senate panel that high turnover is reducing the number of experienced prosecutors.
“There are cases in Florida we are losing because of inexperience,” Eddins told the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee.
Eddins and Hillsborough County Public Defender Julianne Holt said new attorneys make about $40,000, while also often having hefty law-school debts. Holt said attorneys typically are making about $50,000 when they start handling felony cases, compared to the $75,000 to $90,000 they can receive in the private sector if they have three years of experience and trials on their resumes.
The comments came as the subcommittee heard initial budget requests from agencies involved in the criminal-justice system.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Championship History Tonight; Chiefs Practice In UF’s Swamp
December 7, 2012
Tonight is the biggest night in high school football history at Northview, as the Chiefs take on top ranked Trenton in the Class 1A state football championship game.
It’s no big surprise that the Chiefs reached the title game in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. The Chiefs were favorites from the beginning of the season, going on to destroy 1A opponents at home and on the road.
Trenton is undefeated, while the Chiefs did suffer three losses during the regular season as they played above their size class against 4A Marianna, 5A Gulf Breeze and 5A West Florida, all of which made the state playoff series.
“We’ve made it to the game we wanted to get to, and now we might as well go win the thing,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said of the championship game in Orlando.
Win or lose — the 2012 Chiefs will be the team that everyone talks about in the future, the team by which future players are measured. It’s the first ever trip to the state finals for any Northview team. Digging deeper back into history, the two schools that were combined to create Northview both had one shot at the state title. The Century Blackcats fell short of a title by just one point back in 1986, and the Ernest Ward High School Eagles won the state championship back in 1979.
The Chiefs hit the road for Orlando Wednesday, spending the night in Gainesville. They thought they were going to spend their afternoon practicing at Gainesville High School, but Wheatley had arranged a really big surprise.
The Chiefs spent their afternoon practice in The Swamp — Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — at the University of Florida. It was part motivation and part shock and awe — getting accustomed to playing in a massive stadium to reduce the potential intimidation factor of the 70,229 seat Citrus Bowl.
Hundreds of Northview fans will be in the huge Citrus Bowl by kickoff time. Hundreds and hundreds more will be back home in little places like Molino, Walnut Hill and Century watching a video stream and following live updates from NorthEscambia.com as the Boys from Bratt show Orlando what it means to be a Chief.
It all comes down to tonight at 7:00 Eastern/6:00 Central with the opening kickoff of the FHSAA Class 1A state championship game. Somebody goes home as the second best in state, and somebody is crowned champion. It’s a moment the Chiefs are prepared to face.
“It’s an exciting time; I think our kids are excited and ready for this,” Wheatley said. “They are prepared for this; they know that this is their moment.”
Before kickoff tonight, NorthEscambia.com will provide access to a live video stream of the game in story posted on our front page and our Facebook page. NorthEscambia.com will also be providing live updates from the sidelines of the Citrus Bowl with photos and scores on our Facebook page. Click here to “Like” our Facebook page and follow the updates.
Pictured: The Northview High School Chiefs practice in “The Swamp” on Florida Field in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida Thursday afternoon. Exclusive photos by Wesley Rodriguez/UF Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
In The Family: Chiefs QB’s Dad Was On ‘79 State Champ Team
December 7, 2012
“When I walk up to the field on Friday nights and smell the grass, I remember,” Byron Vaughan said. “Then I feel proud that’s my son out there. I never was the athlete he is.”
Byron remembers that long trip 33 years ago to Booster Stadium in Ocala, where Coach Steve McCord’s EWHS Eagles beat Benjamin High 13-6. Ernest Ward and Century High were later combined to create Northview.
During the ‘79 season, Byron played linebacker, nose guard and split end. “Nose guard? I was just a small 130 pound guy. I remember thinking this is crazy,” he said.
Due to his job, Byron was unable to speak the 2012 Chiefs in person during practice Wednesday. But he said he wanted to offer them some insight. “Listen guys, I’ve been here just before the state game. If you stay focused, you can bring it back. I wanted to talk to them about how emotional it can be every day knowing that you could be the next state champions. I’ve thought a lot about it.”
By Friday night, Byron and Kevin Vaughan could become the only, or least one of the very few, fathers and sons to have played on state championship teams for the same or combined schools.
“He’s very humble about it,” Byron said about his son. “He’s all about the team. He’s not big headed. Looks out for everybody on the team and takes care of business. It’s not about him, it’s a team effort. He’s everything I wanted to be.”
Byron will there in the Citrus Bowl cheering on the Chiefs Friday night. “I know I’ll be proud of the whole bunch. Win or lose, it’s going to be emotional.”
There are two other state final records on the books in the histories of Ernest Ward and Century high schools:
The 1979 Ernest Ward-Benjamin game still holds the state record for the fewest two-team turnovers during a state final. Both teams were turnover free. And in 1986, then Coach Joe Cardwell led his Century Blackcats into the state Class A finals against Glades Day at home in Century before a crowd of 1,723 fans. The Blackcats fell short 8-7.
Pictured top: Bryon Vaughan, a member of the Ernest Ward 1979 state championship team, and his son, Northview quarterback Kevin Vaughan. Pictured inset: The younger Vaughan in action for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunshine Hill Road Bridge Reopens
December 7, 2012
Repairs to Sunshine Hill Road Bridge have been completed and the bridge reopened to traffic at 8 a.m. Friday.
There will be a posted 19 ton weight restriction on the bridge. The Sunshine Hill Road bridge is currently scheduled to be replaced with a new structure with construction beginning in February 2013.
The bridge was closed for repairs back on November 20.
$6.7 Million, 8.4 Mile Project Begins On Nine Mile Road
December 7, 2012
Construction work is now underway on Nine Mile Road.
Crews from Panhandle Grading and Paving began working on drainage improvements this week. The 8.4-mile project extends from west of Pine Cone Drive to the Escambia River Bridge and includes resurfacing the roadway, minor drainage and sidewalk improvements, signal improvements, bridge joint repair, guardrail safety upgrades and placement of new signs and pavement markings.
Motorists can expect lane restrictions. To reduce congestion and minimize traffic delays, there will be no lane closures allowed between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The $6.7 million transportation improvement project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2013. Drivers should pay attention and use caution, especially at night, when driving through the work zone, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.