Ernest Ward Eagles Beat The Blacksher Bulldogs (With Photo Gallery)
September 21, 2011
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles defeated the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs 30-16 in middle school football action Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery, including the band and cheerleaders, click here.
The Eagles (1-2) jumped out to an 8-0 lead late in the first quarter with a 25-yard touchdown run from eight grader Jacob Dunsford. With a toss from quarterback Gavin Grant to Dunsford to Warren Suggs, the Eagles picked up two on the extra point attempt with 1:47 to go in the first.
Ernest Ward expanded their advantage with 3:09 to go in in the half with a 6o-yard touchdown run from seventh grader Desmone Knight. A missed point after, and the Eagles were up 14-0.
Suggs was in the end zone again with 1.22 to go in the half, but the touchdown was called back on a holding penalty against the Eagles. Suggs got redemption with 23.5 seconds to go in the half with a 21-yard TD run. A good two-point conversion run from Zach Holland gave the Eagles a 22-0 lead headed into the half.
The Bulldogs managed a couple of touchdowns in the second half, as Ernest Ward added one for a 30-16 win for the Eagles
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles will host the Cougars of Escambia Academy next Tuesday, September 27, at 6 p.m. in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery, including the band and cheerleaders, click here.
Pictured top: Jacob Dunsford gains yardage for the Ernest Ward Middle School Tuesday evening in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Isaiah Dunn doesn’t go down without a fight. Pictured below: Desmone Knight (#1) on the move for the Eagles. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Perdido Gators Win Mobile Fall Classic
September 21, 2011
The Perdido Gators softball team won first place in the recent Mobile Fall Classic 14U division.
In the final game, the Gators faced off with tournament host Mobile Slapshot ‘98. After a six inning of championship play, the score was tied 0-0. After two innings of extra play, the Gators captured the the title with a 0-1 victory.
The Perdido Gators includes local softball players from Northview, Tate, West Florida High, Escambia, Milton, and Gulf Breeze.
Team members for the 14U Perdido Gators are Mallory Ryan, Sydney Ezelle, Sara Spears, Ali Cutaio, Tori Perkins, Lauren Brennan, Angel Lathan, Morgan Peppers, Kota Berry, Kristin Gunter and Rachel Wright Coaches for the Gators are Tracy Ezelle, Jeff Cutaio, Eddie Ryan and Greg Spears.
Register Now For Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk
September 21, 2011
The Second Annual Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is coming to Northview High School.
The event will be held Saturday, October 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the school campus in Bratt. “The course is not your typical 5K race. It includes a variety of terrains and challenging hills around the campus,” according to event organizers.
This year the overall Male and Female winners will win their own Adirondack chairs painted by Northview student, Kiani Okahashi. In addition, awards will be broken down to each grade level for males and females, as well as awards for adult, master and grand master.
For a registration form and more details, click here. The registration fee and a t-shirt are only $10 though September 25.
“The event is to promote wellness through running and walking in the area. Now with Bratt Park more and more people are taking advantage of the walking track and getting into shape,” said Natalie Nall, cross country coach at Northview.
Over 140 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge.
The Chief Challenge 5K Run/Walk is sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: Over 140 runners and walkers took part in last year’s Chief Challenge at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Northview Splits With Central
September 21, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell to Central High in varsity volleyball action Tuesday, while the junior varsity defeated central in two games.
Varsity
Central defeated Northview in three straight games — 21-25, 14-25, 22-25.
Junior Misty Doran led the Lady Chiefs with two aces, two kills and four digs. Junior Taylor Roberson had one ace, a kill and three digs for NHS, while Josie Doucette added one ace, an assist and a dig. Shelley Mothershed, a junior, finished the game with three assists and four digs, and Morgan Payne had four kills and two digs.
Northview (0-9, 0-3) will host the Jay Lady Royals Thursday at 6 p.m.
Junior Varsity
In junior varsity action, the Lady Chiefs defeated Century in two games — 25-27, 25-22.
Junior Hannah Fiellin posted three aces, a kill and six assists for the JV Lady Chiefs. Sophomore Danielle Steadham had four aces and three kills. Makayla Flowers added four aces, while freshman Kyndall Hall had five kills for Northview’s junior varsity.
The JV Lady Chiefs (6-5, 2-1) will host Jay at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Central High Tops At Cross Country Meet
September 21, 2011
Central High School in Santa Rosa county recently placed in a district cross country meet against Laurel Hill, Baker, Paxton, Freeport, and Rocky Bayou.
The Central boys finished first overall and the Central girls finished third.
Top runners for Central were as follows:
BOYS
1. Kyle Fuller – 19:30- 3rd place
2. Keifer Boyett – 20:48 – 4th place
3. Nick Pooley – 20:57 – 7th place
4. Brad Moye – 21:40 – 13th place
5. Nolan Frady – 22:08 – 14th place
GIRLS
1. Beth Smith – 24:34 – 5th Place
2. Brandi Bradley – 25:43 – 6th Place
3. Erica Waters – 27:00 – 14th Place
4. Kennedy Fuller – 28:09 – 20th Place
5. Courtney Rutherford – 34:51 – 37th Place
6. Allaina Morrow – 34:52 – 39th Place
Tropical Storm Ophelia Update
September 21, 2011
The latest information on Tropical Storm Ophelia is in the graphic above, click to enlarge.
Pre-Kindergarten Kids Will Face Tougher Test Standards
September 21, 2011
Standards for determining how well voluntary pre-kindergarten students are prepared for school were toughened Tuesday in Florida.
The State Board of Education voted to increase the benchmark used to rate how well a pre-school program prepares students for school from 85 percent of students passing readiness tests to 70 percent.
Kindergarteners who have been in voluntary pre-k, which can be offered through private schools, child care centers and public schools, are given kindergarten readiness tests. If fewer than 70 percent of a pre-school’s students are not deemed ready on two kindergarten tests than the pre-school program is labeled low performing and it has two years to try to improve, or it might lose state funding.
The change may result in a large increase in the number of pre-kindergarten providers considered low-performing. Out of 6200 pre-kindergarten programs, 2600 would be low-performing, according to the Department of Education.
Michael Grego, the interim public schools chancellor, told House members Tuesday that the tests are very basic and that most pre-school programs should be able to teach students the information.
“When you look at this assessment of the identification of 10 letters of which you have to identify five, it’s fairly basic information,” Grego said.
By The News Service of Florida
Deputies Name Person Of Interest In Morning Shooting
September 20, 2011
A shooting Tuesday morning in Escambia County is under investigation, and deputies say they have a person of interest in the case.
Deputies responded to the 1400 block of West Moreno Street about 10:20 this morning where they discovered that 21-year-old Courtney Terrell Autrey had been shot. Autrey was taken to nearby Baptist Hospital. His condition was not immediately available.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators are looking for 22-year old Kenneth Condarious Ptomy (pictured) as a person of interest in the shooting. Anyone that knows his whereabouts is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Century No Longer Doubling Business Tax Rates
September 20, 2011
The Town of Century has made an about-face on plans to effectively double the town’s business taxes, instead opting to charge the same rate as Escambia County.
Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, forcing the town to backtrack and fix the error. Under state law, Century could adopt the fee schedule of another Florida government. The town had settled on the Fellsmere, Fla., fee schedule, which would have increased average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — from the current $25 to $55 or more. Under the Fellsmere plan, some businesses such pharmacies, entertainment establishments and factories would have paid $100 or more per year.
Monday night, the Century Town Council voted to adopt the business tax receipt rate of $26.25 per year charged by Escambia County. Business tax receipts are normally due October 1, but Century won’t be able approve a final resolution on the new tax rate until their next council meeting on October 3, so city officials said the tax bills will be a little late arriving the mail.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license schedule in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a “tax”, such as the “business tax receipt” in Escambia County.
At last report, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.
Pictured: Food Giant (top) and Whataburger (inset) are just two of 56 companies and individuals in Century that will now pay $26.25 per year for their business tax receipt. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Panhandle Republican Designated Next Senate President
September 20, 2011
Sen. Don Gaetz, a former school superintendent and hospice executive from the Panhandle, was formally recognized as the Senate president-in-waiting on Monday.
Gaetz, a Republican from Niceville, was honored in a Senate floor ceremony in front of family and friends, including his son, state Rep. Matt Gaetz. R-Fort Walton Beach.
Gaetz will succeed Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, for the 2013 session and preside for two terms, assuming Republicans maintain a majority in the chamber. They currently hold a 28-12 majority in the Senate. The vote by Senate Republicans was unanimous as expected.
Gaetz said the economy will be the focus of his time in charge.
“Unemployment is the ill wind that parches the souls of our families,” said Gaetz, adding that for too long officials have looked to Washington to solve problems. He said he would reject that, looking to Florida lawmakers to solve Florida problems.
Gaetz harkened to a sign above a door at his high school that said “No place worse than second place,” in saying that he wants the state to be first in the country in attracting jobs.
Gaetz also pledged to take up the Republican mantra that “sprawling expensive government has failed,” and that the state shouldn’t leave policy to “bureaucrats” whose “absurd rules stifle innovation.”
“Florida must become the cradle of common sense solutions,” Gaetz said. “…Florida must be the state that’s known for fair play and rational regulations.”
Gaetz also pledged to make education a top priority, and particularly higher education. He listed a long line of problems in the state’s efforts to attract jobs that he said were rooted in a lack of well trained college graduates in the sciences. Florida can’t afford for colleges to focus on things that don’t make it stronger in the sciences, he said.
Republican Sen. Greg Evers, who represents the northern portion of the western Panhandle, said he welcomes Gaetz as Senate president.
“It is wonderful to see a fellow legislator from the Northwest Florida delegation be given such an honor, and I trust that his instincts, prior experience and strong leadership will guide us in the right direction to achieve the sound and conservative legislation our State needs,” Evers said Monday afternoon. “I look forward to seeing his leadership be the voice for the issues ailing our communities and I am ready to be a voice in support.”
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.