Van Crashes Through International Paper Fence
December 4, 2011
A Saturday night wreck in Cantonment is under investigation as authorities work to determine why a driver crashed through a paper mill fence.
The accident happened about 11 p.m. on Muscogee Road just off Highway 29. The driver of a van lost control and crashed into a fence at International Paper. There were no serious injuries reported.
The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Century Road Construction Causes Delays
December 4, 2011
Road construction at Century’s only intersection with a traffic signal created delays on Saturday. Crews were working to resurface a potion of State Road 4 at North Century Boulevard (Highway 29). NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Student Selected As Take Stock In Children Finalist
December 4, 2011
A North Escambia student is one of just 12 finalists in Florida to be selected as a finalist for the Take Stock in Children Leaders 4 Life Fellowship.
Daniel Pierce, a senior at Tate High School, is among several thousand students across the state benefiting from the Take Stock in Children mentoring program.
As a finalist, he was awarded a Mac laptop. If selected as one of the five to be awarded the fellowship, he will receive leadership training and development, and up to $10,000 annually to cover the costs of housing, food, textbooks, supplies, transportation and other college-related expenses.
“We are so proud to be able to present these life-changing fellowships, generously provided by the Asofsky Family Foundation, as an extension of our commitment to improve college enrollment and retention,” said Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, president/CEO of Take Stock in Children. “This is a great opportunity for our incredible students who work so hard towards fulfilling their dream of earning a college degree.”
Photos: Northview Band, Dance Team, Majorettes
December 4, 2011
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band, majorettes and dance team wrapped up their performance under the Friday night lights as the Chiefs lost of Chipley.
For a photo gallery of their performance, click here.
Pictured top: The Northview High School Tribal Beat performs last Friday night in Bratt. Pictured inset: Majorette Julie Hester. Pictured below: The Northview Dance Team performs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Farm Service Agency Ballots Due Monday
December 4, 2011
Ballots for this year’s Escambia County Farm Services Agency Committee election have been mailed to eligible voters and are due Monday, according to Suzette Cooper, Escambia County FSA executive director.
Voters must complete their ballots and return them to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency county office, located in the Farm Bureau Building in Molino, by the close of business on December 5, 2011. If mailed, ballots must be postmarked by midnight December 5.
The candidate in this year’s election in LAA 1 is Carolyn Morgan. Local Administrative Area (LAA) 1 is located in the northeastern part of Escambia County, Florida. The LAA boundaries are Pine Barren Creek to the west, the state line to the north, and the Escambia River to the east. This includes Century, Byrneville, Bratt, and McDavid.
Man Killed, Family Critically Injured In Wreck Near Jay
December 3, 2011
A Milton man was killed and several members of his family critically injured in a two-vehicle wreck about 9:00 Saturday morning in Berrydale, east of Jay.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 47-year old William J. Bray of Jay had stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 87 and Highway 4. He failed to see a northbound 1998 Ford SUV driven by 40-year old Michael L. Cale of Milton. Bray pulled into Cale’s path. He collided with the Cale family vehicle, causing it to overturned two times. Cale and two of his children were ejected.
Michael L. Cale was pronounced deceased on the scene by Lifeguard EMS. Dominique Cale, 14, and 10-year old Ethan Cale were ejected. Both were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Passengers Courtney Cale, age 16; Brandon Nicholson, 10; and Marsha Cale, 46, were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol said charges are pending against Bray, who was no injured in the accident.
Northview Falls In State Semifinal Playoff Game
December 3, 2011
The Northview Chief’s road to a state championship came to an abrupt end Friday night with just over a minute to go in their state semifinal game against Chipley.
The Chiefs held lead throughout the entire game on their home turf in Bratt — until a 53-yard Chipley touchdown pass put the Tigers (11-2) on top 25-21 with just 1:11 to go in the ballgame. Northview fought back hard, driving to the Chipley 21-yard line with 50 seconds in the game. But the Chiefs lost possession on a fumbled handoff between LaMikal Kyles and Roderick Woods.
- For a game action photo gallery, click here.
- For a photo gallery “The Agony of Defeat”, click here.
- For a photo gallery of the Tribal Beat band, click here.
“Nights like this can be decided by a play here and there, and we had a mistake or two,” Northview Coach Sid Wheatley said, “and that last one was the difference in the ballgame.”
“As far as their will to win and they way they fought tonight, I was proud of them,” Wheatley said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. They’ve had a whole lot of wins and a whole lot of success. When they look back on it, they have a lot to be proud of.”
Chipley’s night got off to a rough start miles away from Bratt as their bus burned to the ground alongside I-10 near Defuniak Springs. There were no injuries and little lost, other than personal possessions.
On the field in Bratt, the first couple of Northview possessions put the Tigers at a two-TD deficit. Kyles scored on a 26-yard run with 6:45 on the click in the first, and Woods was in for a 6-yard touchdown. Coupled with a couple of Kevin Vaughan kicks, the Chiefs were up 14-0 with 3:35 in the first quarter.
Chipley scored on a 73-yard run with 1:35 in the first. With a missed kick wide right, Northview held a 14-6 lead going into the second.
Kyles had a 70-yard touchdown run in the second, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty. The Chiefs were forced to punt it away, resulting in a 6-play Tigers drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown run. Chipley missed the two point attempt, leaving Northview with a 14-12 advantage.
The Chief came really close to scoring with just half second to go in the half when a Vaughan pass to Kyles was picked off by a Chipley defender.
“We had the opportunity once or twice go up by maybe a couple of touchdowns, but they made the plays defensively,” Wheatley said.
Just 20 seconds into the third quarter, a pass from Kyles to Albritton resulted in a 74 yard touchdown and a 21-12 lead for the Chiefs.
Northview missed another opportunity as Brian Ross picked up a blocked punt and made it down to the 10-yard line. That series ended with a missed 28-yard field goal attempt from Vaughan.
“I’m heartbroken. But it was a heck of a run, and I wish it could keep going,” Albritton, a senior, said. “They had the last knock out play. I wish we could have, but they did.”
Northview’s starting quarterback Brandon Sheets sat out the game in the press box after being suspended following last Friday’s Freeport game for unsportsmanlike conduct. An appeal to the Florida High School Athletic Association was denied.
The loss was particularly tough for Sheets as the senior stood crying on the field following the game, surrounded by his teammates and friends.
“I don’t know what to say; it’s horrible,” Sheets said through his tears. “I just wanted this so bad for all of us.”
- For a game action photo gallery, click here.
- For a photo gallery “The Agony of Defeat”, click here.
- For a photo gallery of the Tribal Beat band, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: The Agony Of Defeat
December 3, 2011
After the final buzzer, the final notes from the bands, and the fireworks ended both on the field and in the skies, it was strangely quiet on western end of the football field at Northview High School Friday night. The scoreboard in the distance told the heartbreaking story for the hometown Chiefs, a 25-21 loss in the state semifinal game.
Moms held their sons; dads reacted with a pat on the back and a strong hug as they tried to find those perfect words to encourage their boys and make them feel rightfully proud about an impressive season cut short of their state championship dream.
Cheerleaders were oddly quiet, far from cheerful as tears flowed down their faces. Young men kneeled to the ground in disbelief that it was all over. Fans stood silently, many sobbing, each consoling the other.
It had been a football season from which dreams were made. Blood, sweat and tears to a semifinal spot only reached once before by anyone in a Northview Chief jersey.
A senior quarterback, denied the right to play in his last ever high school football game, stood crying uncontrollably, his cheerleader girlfriend speechless by his side. One by one, his fellow teammates spoke to him. This was not a time for handshakes, this was a time for sharing a tear and that bond that Chiefs have.
A family of Chiefs stood together, even in defeat. It’s the kind of thing that make one proud to live in North Escambia, and the kind of thing that makes one love the Northview Chiefs.
It’s a story, a love for God and country and community and one another and the Northview Chiefs that is just hard to put into words. It’s easiest understand this story by looking into the souls and the passion of the Northview Chiefs in a photo gallery we’ve entitled The Agony of Defeat.
Click here to view the gallery.
Pictured top: A tearful senior Sam Spence is comforted by cheerleader Autumn Rose following Northview’s loss to Chipley Friday night. Pictured top inset: Senior quarterback Brandon Sheets (center), sheds tears with teammates. Pictured bottom inset: Senior Austin Albritton is overcome with emotion following the loss. Pictured below: Senior Nathan Therrell, who was unable to play until undergoing brain surgery, was once the team’s waterboy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Frontier, Cox Communications Both Experience Outages
December 3, 2011
Two communications providers in the area experienced major outages Friday.
Frontier Communications, which serves customers in Walnut Hill, Bratt, Molino and Atmore, experienced a major internet outage from about 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Friday. Frontier phone services was not effected.
Cox Communications, which serves customers in the Pensacola area, experienced an internet, phone and 911 outage for a few hours Friday evening.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience,” Cox Public Affairs Manager David Deliman said.
Ernest Ward Middle Ships Care Packages To Overseas Soldiers
December 3, 2011
Students at Ernest Ward Middle School raised over $600 for Christmas care package items for American soldiers serving overseas. Clubs and athletic groups at the school donated a portion of their own fundraising proceeds toward the project.
In addition to snacks and other items, the students also included hundreds of handmade Christmas cards for the packages that were mailed Friday.
Pictured: Representatives from several Ernest Ward Middle clubs and athletic groups packed Christmas care packages Friday for overseas American soldiers. Pictured are Bethany Reynolds, cross country; Peighton Dortch, FFA; Mallory Gibson, cheerleading; Brianna Parker, basketball; Amber Freeman, band; Gavin Grant, basketball; and Austin Whitehead, football. Several other clubs that are not pictured also contributed to the effort. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.