Langford Celebrates 90th Birthday
September 18, 2011
Helen Langford of the Poplar Dell Community recently celebrated her 90th birthday. Helen and her family were joined in the celebration at the Poplar Dell Baptist Church by husband George T. Langford, her only living sibling Winston Gilmore, and other friends and family. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Elderly Woman Airlifted After Dirt Road Crash
September 17, 2011
An elderly female was seriously injured in a dirt road crash Saturday morning.
The woman lost control of her car just before 11 a.m. on South Pine Barren Road about a mile and a half from South Century Boulevard in McDavid and struck several small trees. The Chrysler 300 came to rest upside just along the edge of the roadway.
The driver was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Escambia County EMS and the McDavid and Molino Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the crash.
Pictured above and inset: An elderly female was injured in this single vehicle wreck Saturday morning on South Pine Barren Road. Pictured below: The driver was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Unemployment Numbers Down Slightly
September 17, 2011
The latest job numbers released Friday showed a little good news for the three counties in the North Escambia area.
Escambia County’s unemployment rate decreased slightly from July to August, 10.5 to 10.4 percent. There were just 363 jobs gained during the period, for a total Escambia County unemployment of 14,650 people. One year ago, unemployment in Escambia County was 12.4 percent.
Santa Rosa County unemployment also decreased— from 10.2 percent in July to 10.0 percent in August. Santa Rosa County gained 244 jobs during the period, with a total of 7,269 persons still unemployed. The year-ago unemployment rate in Santa Rosa County was 10.4 percent.
Escambia County, Alabama, had a half percentage point drop in unemployment — from 11.9 percent in July to 11.4 percent in August. Escambia, Alabama gained 63 jobs during the month-long period, with 1,709 people out of work. The year-go unemployment rate was 11.0 percent.
Florida
Reinforcing the predictions of Florida economists who said the state’s road to recovery would be long and arduous, Florida’s jobless rate remained at 10.7 percent in August, unchanged from July but lower than a year ago.
The jobless rate last month in Florida also remained higher than the national average of 9.1 percent as the state continued to deal with a near dormant construction sector and a drop in government employment, the Agency for Workforce Innovation reported Friday.
“While the unemployment rate remains unchanged at 10.7 percent, Florida continues to grow private sector jobs,” said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “Florida added nearly 10,000 new jobs last month and is on pace to add over 100,000 by the end of the year.”
Alabama
Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, at 9.9 percent in August, was down from July’s rate of 10.0 percent and was above the year-ago rate of 9.1 percent.
Escambia Parents, Students Can Now Check Grades Online
September 17, 2011
There’s no more waiting for a progress report or report card — grades are just a click away for parents and students in Escambia County now that the “Focus Gradebook Parent Portal” is up and running.
“Parents and students will now have a tool in which to monitor success and will also be able to see where there needs to be improvement,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Friday.
According to the Escambia County School District:
Parents will see two links on the district web site under Parent Portal on the school district website (www.escambia.k12.fl.us). One link allows parents to register for the portal (note that all parents must register to the new gradebook; it is a different site than last was used last year.).
Parents will click on the link that reads “Focus Parent Portal Registration”, then select “I do not have an account ….”. Parents will be asked to provide the parent’s name and email address. Once this information is submitted, the parent will be asked to provide the following student information: the last four digits of the student’s social security number, the six digit student identification number as assigned by the school district, and the student’s birth date.
After registration is complete, a password will be assigned and can be changed after the initial login. The username will be the parent’s email address. Also, parents will be able to link multiple children in the household to their account.
The Focus Gradebook Parent Portal may then be accessed by providing the username (email address) and the password/passcode (as determined by the parent during the registration sign-in). Parents will then be able to view their child’s class schedule, grades, and assignments for each class.
For more information, parents and students are asked to contact their school.
Sneads Beats Jay 33-7
September 17, 2011
The Jay Royals fell to 1-2 on the season after a 33-7 loss on the road to the Sneads Pirates Friday night.
By halftime, the the lone score for the Royals came on a 45-yard by Tate Upton in the fourth quarter.
The Jay Royals will travel to Flomaton next Friday at 7 p.m. to take on the Hurricanes. The Royals will celebrate Homecoming the following week as they host South Walton.
Chipley Upsets The No. 1 Northview Chiefs
September 17, 2011
The No. 1 ranked Northview Chiefs lost a non-district thriller on the road to the Chipley Tigers 34-27 Friday night.
“I thought Chipley played really well. They executed their game plan and they move the football all night,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said following the tough road loss for the Chiefs.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The sixth-ranked Tigers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with a touchdown and good kick with 8:22 on the clock in the first. At the 5:40 mark, the Chiefs came back to tie it up with a touchdown from senior Montaio Mitchell and a good kick from senior Kevin Vaughan.
Chipley struck back in the second to take a 14-7 lead. Then, with 6:14 in the half, Brandon Sheets was in on quarterback keeper for the Chiefs. A missed point after, and Chipley held a 14-13 lead.
Chipley scored again on an 80-yard run for an eight point lead, 21-13 with 5:55 in the half. Mitchell was in for another Chief TD and with a missed two point conversion with 2:42 in the half, 21-19 Chipley.
The Tigers hit again early in the third with a 39-yard touchdown run. With a missed point after, Chipley held a 27-19 lead. With 6:26 in the third, junor LaMikal Kyles hit the end zone for the Chiefs. A good Vaughan kick, and it was tied up 27-27.
“I thought maybe the momentum had turned , but we were just not able to get over the hump and get the lead. That would have been big for us,” Wheatley said.
With the cheerleaders in the stands and a loud crowd on their feet, the Chiefs fought to the end. But Chipley scored the game winning touchdown with 8:27 to go in the game, 34-27.
“I was disappointed with our defense. We were in good position at times and just didn’t wrap up and play fundamental football. They broke too many tackles,” Wheatley said. “We’ve got to be a better tackling team than we were tonight. Offensively, we moved the ball and had a lot of opportunities, but we just gave up way too much. Defensively, we’ve just got to get better.”
Chipley (3-0) and Northview (1-1) are in separate regions in the new Florida High School Athletic Association Rural Division. If they should meet again in the state playoffs, it would not be until the state semifinal game.
The Chiefs won’t play their first home game in Bratt until week five of the season on September 30. But first, Northview will travel to South Walton on September 23.
“It’s going to be a key game. We lost a heart breaker tonight, and now we’ve got to go on the road again, so we’ve got to have a really good week of preparation at practice,” Wheatley said. “It’s got to be upbeat, and we’ve got to work on the things we messed up on tonight and learn from our mistakes.”
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured: The No. 1 Northview Chiefs took on the No. 9 Chipley Tigers Friday night in Chipley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
West Florida Beats Tate
September 17, 2011
The West Florida Jaguars improved to 3-0 with a 42-7 win over the Tate Aggies Friday night in Pensacola.
Tate’s only score of the night came on a pass from David Moorhead to Bryce Andrade — the first score of the season for the Aggies. After taking the 7-0 lead in the first quarter, it was all downhill for the Aggies.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Tate Aggies (0-3) will be at the Escambia Gators next Friday night, while West Florida will be on the road at Bay High School.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies fell to the West Florida Jaguars Friday night in Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Prep Football Roundup
September 17, 2011
Here’s a look at high school football scores from Friday night from across the North Escambia area:
Florida
- Chipley 34, Northview 27 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- West Florida 42 Tate 7 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Sneads 33, Jay 7 [Read more...]
- Pine Forest 22, Niceville 21
- Pensacola High 34, Catholic 13
- Choctawhatchee 33, Washington 0
- Pace 27, Navarre 23
- Escambia 24, Rutherford 21 (OT)
- Fort Walton Beach 12, Milton 6
Alabama
- Flomaton 54 Mobile Christian 12 [Read more...]
- Escambia County 28, WS Neal 15
- TR Miller 62, Montgomery Academy 14
- Escambia Academy 52, Prattville Christian 12
Flomaton Blows Away Mobile Christian
September 17, 2011
With six touchdowns from Ryheem Dixon, the Flomaton Hurricanes blew away Mobile Christian Friday night 54-14.
Dixon picked up 191 yards on a dozen carries for the Cane’s. He had touchdown runs of 37, 19, 5, 52 , 50 and 1 yard to led the No. 9 Flomaton Hurricanes on their home field. Flomaton also scored with a 29-yard Hunter Bond touchdown pass to Jaleel Flavors.
The Flomaton Hurricanes (4-0) will play host to the Jay Royals (0-3) next Friday night at 7:00.
Convicted Atmore Baby Killer Gets October Execution Date
September 17, 2011
An October 20 execution date has been set for an Atmore man who asked for the death penalty after admitting to the beating death of his 6-month old son.
The execution date was announced Friday by the Alabama Supreme Court for Christopher Thomas Johnson.
Johnson testified that he purposefully beat his son Elias Ocean Johnson to death on February 20, 2005. He said he killed his son because he hated his wife.
“You go see Jesus,” were the last words Johnson said to his son, he testified at his trial.
Johnson fired his public defenders and served as his own attorney during his 2006 Escambia County trial, telling the judge and jury that he wanted the death penalty for his actions. It took the jury less than a half hour to return a guilty verdict, and the death penalty was imposed.
Under Alabama law, the Court of Criminal Appeals was required by Alabama law to review the case. Last Friday, the court upheld the capital murder conviction and death sentence in late 2009.
“This court is convinced that Johnson’s decision to represent himself on appeal and his decision not to file an appellate brief on his own behalf was knowing and voluntary,” the court said in the decision.
Johnson has declined further appeals since 2009.
Pictured top: Christopher Johnson of Atmore is set to be executed October 20 for murdering his 6-month old son in this home in the 100 block of Horner Street in Atmore in February 2005. File photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.