Driver Flees After Late Night Highway 97 Crash
December 2, 2012
Authorities are working to determine who fled the scene of a traffic crash late Saturday night in Davisville.
The driver of a GMC Jimmy told authorities that he rear-ended another vehicle on Highway 97 just south of Meadows Road about 11:15 p.m.. The vehicle, the driver said, was stopped in the roadway on Highway 97 with no lights. After the collision, the vehicle was struck from the rear fled the scene, reportedly northbound toward Atmore. The vehicle was believed to possibly be a pickup truck.
The driver that remained on the scene of the crash was not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Atmore Ambulance also responded to the crash.
Pictured: The driver of this GMC Jimmy rear-ended another vehicle stopped in Highway 97 late Saturday night. The driver of the other vehicle then fled the scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Flomaton Christmas Parade
December 2, 2012
Hundreds of people from Flomaton, Century and surrounding areas attended the annual Flomaton Christmas Parade Saturday morning.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
International Paper Announces New Mill Manager
December 2, 2012
International Paper has been named Brett DeJong as mill manager for the Pensacola Containerboard Mill. DeJong will be responsible for the mill’s operations, employee engagement and financial success.
Most recently, he was the operations manager at the Augusta, Ga., Coated Paperboard Mill. Brett joined IP in 1997 in Global Technology, and has since held a variety of leadership positions at the Mansfield, La., Prattville and Augusta mills. He and his family will relocate to the Pensacola area.
“My family and I are looking forward to relocating to the area and learning more about the people and the community,” said DeJong. “Mobile is home for my wife, so we are very tied to the Gulf Coast.”
In a related move, former Pensacola Mill Manager Carl Gunter has been named mill manager for IP’s Prattville, Ala., Containerboard Mill.
Area Cheerleaders Compete In West Florida Regionals
December 2, 2012
Over 20 cheerleading squads took part in the UCA West Florida Regional Cheerleading Competition hosted Saturday by Tate High School.
Participating schools included Tate Hight, Northview High, Jay High, West Florida High, Pine Forest High and Ransom Middle School.
The Northview Chiefs varsity squad took first place in the Medium Varsity Non Tumbling Division. For a video of the Northview performance, click here.
Other results were not immediately available.
Pictured: Varsity cheerleading squads competed in the West Florida regionals Saturday at Tate High School, including Tate (top), Northview (below) and Jay (bottom). Submitted photos by Tammy Calloway for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Wins Women’s Soccer National Title
December 2, 2012
The University of West Florida women’s soccer team won its first national championship in program history with a 1-0 victory over UC San Diego on Saturday.
Chelsea Palmer scored the game-winner with an assist from Sashana Campbell. Tori Fish, Rachel Cutts and Campbell named to All-Tournament team along with the Defensive MVP Sarah Story and Offensive MVP, Palmer.
Pictured top: The national chamption UWF Argonauts. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: NHS Band Brings Cheer To Mall
December 2, 2012
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band, color guard, dance team and majorettes performed Saturday afternoon at Cordova Mall in Pensacola. The band used the performance as a fundraising opportunity to their trip next week to Orlando for the Class 1A football championship game.
For more photos, click here.Photos by Laura Gilmore, Leslie Gonzalez and Connie Brook for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Heavily Damages Cantonment Home
December 1, 2012
Area fire departments responded to a house fire in Cantonment this afternoon.
Flames were coming out of the attic of the home at the corner of Pace Parkway and Mintz Lane when the first firefighters arrived on scene about 12:40 Saturday afternoon.
The home was currently uninhabited; there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pictured: Fire damaged this empty home in Cantonment Saturday afternoon. Reader submitted photos by Douglas Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Third Time’s The Charm: Northview Heads To First State Championship
December 1, 2012
The Northview Chiefs beat the Liberty County Bulldogs Friday night 48-14 to earn a trip to the Class 1A state championship game next week in Orlando.
For the Chiefs, Friday night marked the third consecutive trip to a state semifinal games; the last two years ending with a loss.
The boys from Bratt will face undefeated and No. 1 ranked Trenton next Friday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando — the first time in school history that Northview has ever made the Class 1A championship game.
“It’s kind of surreal right now,” Northview Coach Sid Wheatley said after the win on the road in Bristol. “We’ve (came) so close last year, and for these guys to persevere and be so close and fight through it to get back to that same point … You know, I really sensed before the game that they were ready, and they really delivered tonight. There was no denying them.”
For an action photo gallery, click here. (For cheerleader, band and fan photos, click here.)
It was, simply, near-perfect execution and style for the Chiefs. The Chiefs played an entire game with no errors. No fumbles, no interceptions, nothing. Liberty County was almost unable to gain ground; the Chiefs held them to just under 100 yards for the entire game.
Liberty County was effectively shut down by Northview as the Chiefs took a commanding 41-0 lead. Liberty County was only able to gain ground and get on the board as Wheatley began to put in backup and reserves.
The Bulldogs were stopped in the tracks on the opening kickoff, with Northview’s Jeffery Taylor recovering a Liberty County fumble. That set up a 38-yard drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown dash from Brannon Freeman, 7-0 NHS.
“It was huge,” Wheatley said Taylor’s opening play fumble recovery. “It was huge to grab momentum right now and go down and score.”
And Liberty County was just getting taste of how Northview football is played.
La’Mikal Kyles scored with 5:20 to go in the first on a 1-yard run. A good kick from Kevin Vaughan, and the Chiefs were up 14-0. In the second, Northview scored on a 12-yard run from Freeman and a 32-yard run from Kyles for a 28-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Northview added a 13-yard touchdown run from La’Darius Thomas and a 51-yard run across midfield from Freeman, 41-0.
By now, fans on the Liberty County side were beginning to sneak quietly out of the stands and head for home. And the PA announcer was beginning to congratulate Liberty County for a “great” season, winning nine in a row and not losing a game at home this year. Or at least until they were whipped by the Chiefs.
As Wheatley began to substitute backup players, the Bulldogs added a couple of touchdowns.
The Chiefs racked up 367 rushing yards on 44 attempts. Freeman added 138 yards, while Kyles had 11. At QB, Vaughan was 5-8 for 73 yards, plus 23 rushing. Thomas contributed 33 yards for the Chiefs, and Neiko Robinson, who scored the final Chiefs TD of the night, had 45 yards.
“Man, we are so excited; these kids deserve it,” Wheatley said after the win. They put in the effort; they put in the time. And they’re deserving of this moment.”
For an action photo gallery, click here. (For cheerleader, band and fan photos, click here.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Rosa Man Sentenced To Death In Double Murder Case
December 1, 2012
A Milton man that shot a couple to death in 2010 and left the bodies along a dirt road has been sentenced to death.
Robert Hobart, 43, shot and killed Tracie Tolbert and Robert Hamm in September 2010 in order to steal prescription drugs from them. Following the jury’s recommendation, Judge David Rimmer sentenced Hobart to death for killing Tolbert and imposed a life sentence for the death of Hamm.
Hobart was a suspect early in the investigation and arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office after he was implicated by conclusive forensic evidence. Investigators said ballistics tests matched the weapon to both the shell casings and the bullets recovered from the crime scene.
The murders were discovered after a resident of Jesse Allen Road called authorities to report what looked like a large amount of blood in Jesse Allen Road. When deputies arrived, they found the two bodies on opposite sides of the roadway. Tolbert and Hamm had been shot in their heads.
Jesse Allen Road runs west off Highway 87, about 18 miles south of Jay and not far from Central High School.
Fire Safety: Keep The Wreath Green Campaign Begins Today
December 1, 2012
Today, Escambia County Fire Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department begin the “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday safety program and Santa Rosa County begins the “Keep Your Holidays Bright” campaign designed to promote fire safety during the month of December. With both programs, officials hope to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life saving tips.
Escambia County
Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire in Escambia County, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations. Last year, there were four residential fires in December, including one in North Escambia. A home on Washington Street in Cantonment was destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of December 30. [Read more...]
By comparison, the 2010 Keep the Wreath Green campaign ended with 18 red bulbs representing residential fires, with 15 of those fire occurring by Christmas Eve. In 2009, there were a dozen fires during the period.
This year, the eighth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 26 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, the Central Office Complex on West Park Place, 17 primary county fire stations, seven stations within the City of Pensacola, Cordova Mall and one mobile display.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” program has gone green with all new LED low wattage lights that use less energy, have a longer lifetime and are more durable than the standard lights.
Officials hope to reduce the number of fires during a time of serious fire danger with simple, life saving tips for each day of the month. Click here to read the fire safety tips.
Santa Rosa County
In the Santa Rosa “Keep Your Holidays Bright” campaign, a Christmas tree decorated with candles has been placed in the Santa Rosa County Administration Complex on Caroline Street.
Each time firefighters respond to a working residential fire or large wildfire causing fire damage, a candle will be “extinguished” and replaced with a card noting the basic details of the fire.
Pictured top: This home on Washington Street in Cantonment was destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of December 30, 2011. Pictured inset: A Keep the Wreath Green display at the Mcdavid Volunteer Fire Department. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.