Featured Recipe: Those Potatoes
November 28, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a “Those Potatoes”, a recipe with a mild-mannered name that has plenty of mealtime punch with creamy richness and pepper jack punch.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Northview Chiefs Win Regional Championship
November 27, 2010
The Northview Chiefs made school history Friday night as the only team to ever bring home a Regional title. And for the Chiefs, the victory was also sweet revenge over Freeport, the only team to beat the Chiefs this season.
In the Regional 1-A finals, Northview (11-1) defeated Freeport (9-3) 21-12 to advance to the state semi-finals next week in Jacksonville.
“I can’t put into words how proud I am of this group,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said. “They went on the road to a tough place to play and a tough place to win. It was a huge win, a huge win for this football program.”
Less than a minute into the game at Freeport Stadium, Northview’s Taylor Martin picked off a Bulldog pass, returning it 35 yards. With a good kick from Lance Bushaw, the Chiefs held 7-0 lead with 11:12 to go in the first quarter.
“Taylor Martin’s interception was really, really big for us,” Wheatley said. “It was a really big boost for us and a good way to start a game.”
Freeport answered with a four-play, 70 yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs missed the extra point kick, and the Chiefs held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, the Chiefs drove hard on 16 plays for 62 yards, all the way down to fourth and goal from the Freeport four. Roderick Woods, who ended the night with 80 yards on 17 carries, plowed in for the touchdown. Bushaw put the pigskin through the uprights again, and the Chiefs held a 14-6 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, La’Mikal Kyles was in the end zone in the fourth on a 43-yard dash through the Bulldog defense. Bushaw’s kick was once again good, and Northview was up 21-6 with 10:40 in the ballgame.
Freeport managed a two-yard touchdown run with 9:03 to go in the fourth.
Neither team could find the end zone on the following downs, and Northview sealed win with a big interception by Kyles with 1:49 remaining in the game. Kyles finished the game with 86 yards on a dozen carries.
“I thought we played extremely well on both sides of the ball. The defense made stops when we needed to, and the offense was able to produce enough points,” Wheatley said.
Northview will be on the road next week in the state semi-finals in Jacksonville to take on top-ranked Trinity Christian at 6:30 p.m. Central time. The winner of that game will be in the Class 1A state championship game in Orlando on December 10.
“It’s going to get tougher,” Wheatley said. “But we are in a routine, and we will continue to work to stand up to the challenge.”
Trinity Christian earned their trip to the semis with a 42-41 triple overtime win over Providence of Jacksonsville Friday night.
Pictured top: Northview defender Tyler Brooks closes in on the Bulldog’s quarterback Friday night in Freeport. Pictured top inset: La’Mikal Kyles scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter. Pictured bottom inset: Taylor Martin returns an interception 35 years to put Northveiw on the board. Pictured below: The Chiefs score. Submitted photos and courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Young Boy Dies After Molino Horse Riding Accident
November 27, 2010
An 11-year old boy died after a horse riding accident Friday morning in Molino.
The victim was identified by authorities as Ransom Middle School student Hunter Fromm.
Authorities have released few details about the 11:15 a.m. incident in the 1200 block of Warhop Lane, not far from the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 95A. Fromm reportedly suffered a head injury after jumping from a horse at a private residence.
LifeFlight was requested to the scene but was unavailable due to weather. Fromm was transported to a Pensacola hospital by ambulance where he later died.
The incident is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but foul play is not suspected.
Man Killed When Tractor Overturns
November 27, 2010
A man was found dead under a tractor Friday afternoon in the Nine Mile Road area.
Authorities have not released the name of the man that was found dead under a tractor off a cul-de-sac at the end of Brunson Road about 1:30 p.m. He was reportedly last seen about an hour before he was discovered trapped under the tractor. Officials have not released any information about how the accident happened, other than to say the tractor rolled on top of the man.
The incident is still under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Area Regional Final Scores, Pairings For 1-A Semis
November 27, 2010
Here are regional final scores from around the Pensacola area Friday night:
- Region 1-A — Northview 21 Freeport 12 [Read more...]
- Region 1-4A — Navaree 20 Pine Forest 18
- Region 1-3A — Pensacola High 25 Choctawhatchee 7
- Region 1-2b — Catholic 14 Taylor County 7
Here are the final scores and pairings for next week in the Florida High School Association’s 1-A:
1-A Regionals
- Northview 21 Freeport 12 [Read more...]
- Trinity Christian 42 Providence 41 (3-OT)
- Fort Meade Middle-Senior 35 Berkley Preparatory 14
- American Heritage School of Boca/Delray 33 King’s Academy 14
Next Friday 1-A
- Northview at Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonsville)
- Fort Meade Middle-Senior at American Heritage School of Boca/Delray
Fans Welcome Their Region 1A Champion Chiefs
November 27, 2010
A crowd of Northview Chiefs fans gathered early Saturday morning to welcome the Region 1-A Champions back to Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EA Cougars Win Thanksgiving Tournament
November 27, 2010
Escambia Academy opened their season by winning the Lowndes Academy Thanksgiving Tournament in Lowndesboro, Ala.
The EA Cougars (2-0, 0-0) won their first games against Evergreen’s Sparta Academy Warriors 57-54. The Cougars took the championship game 41-40 over the Longhorns of Marengo Academy from Linden, Ala.
Escambia Academy’s Darron McGhee finished as the Lowndes Academy Thanksgiving Tournament MVP. McGhee, Tanner Kirk and Keaton Maher were named to the All-Tournament team.
Pictured top: The Escambia Academy Cougars (front, L-R) Brandon Goddard, Jaylen Henry, Dillon Anderson, (back row) Tanner Boatwright, Tanner Kirk, Blake Quimby, Chris Macks, Keaton Maher, Jordan Sasser, Darren McGhee, coach Kevin Woods. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Gov’s Cuts To Corrections Budget Raises Concerns
November 26, 2010
For many in the North Escambia area, there are concerns that privatization or budget cuts could mean closures at prisons like Century Correctional Institution.
When Governor-elect Rick Scott unveiled his economic plan on the campaign trail this summer, there was a portion that caught law enforcement professionals by surprise, a proposed $1 billion cut to the state’s corrections’ budget.
Scott’s plan for the corrections system is setting up a potentially heated political fight between his new administration, coming in looking to make drastic cuts in what Scott believes is a bloated budget and on the other side law enforcement officials who say his plan is unrealistic and lawmakers who don’t want to be soft on crime.
Scott has maintained that Florida’s per-prisoner costs can be reduced and that he wants to work with the Department of Corrections in looking for ways to bring costs down. And he’s not ruling out any options.
“For those costs that remain out of line, we will look at all available options, including privatization, but the first option is to work with DOC,” said Scott transition spokesman Trey Stapleton.
The potential for a privatization plan don’t sit well with at least one major player who has a role in the development of the criminal justice budget. State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who was recently appointed chairman of the Senate’s Criminal Justice Appropriations committee, isn’t on board with additional prison privatization.
“I don’t have a problem at government looking at privatization in certain areas, but it should never be in public safety. Never,” Fasano said.
Fasano predicted privatization will be a major discussion point for his committee, though, as legislative committee meetings begin next month and continue into the spring as the 2011 legislative session begins. He said so far, he has not gotten any direction or pressure from Senate President Mike Haridopolos or his other colleagues on the issue.
Haridopolos has not yet assigned other senators to the criminal justice appropriations committee and House Speaker Dean Cannon has not yet named a chair for his subcommittee on criminal justice appropriations. Scott has also not named Corrections secretary.
The governor-elect has, however, appointed an extensive transition team to help him navigate law enforcement issues. The chair of the law enforcement committee for his transition team is Pasco County Sheriff Bob White, who rather than proposing budget cuts, actually asked for more tax dollars, appealing the issue to Gov. Charlie Crist.
Scott has mentioned a few ideas for cutting $1 billion, including using inmate labor to grow prison food and competitively bidding health care contracts, though that is already done to some extent.
The Florida Police Benevolent Association, which backed Scott’s opponent Alex Sink in the election, has noted that even privatizing the system might not result in a $1 billion cut to the budget. The only way to get that big of a savings, said PBA executive director David Murrell, would be to cut personnel or release prisoners early.
“The Department of Corrections has been cut and cut and cut and they’re to a point where it’s a safety issue,” Murrell said. “Mark my words, one of these days there’s going to be a bad incident. It’s gotten to that point where it’s that critical.”
Though the PBA supported Sink, it has fluctuated in its support of Democratic and Republican candidates. But Murrell said he doesn’t believe anyone in the Republican leadership is going to support a budget that will significantly cut criminal justice funding.
“What will really be interesting is if he [Scott] persists into wanting to cut that kind of money and that would fly in the face of the general Republican philosophy of being tough on crime,” Murrell said. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a Republican who wants to look soft on crime.”
Stapleton said that to his knowledge Scott has not had any discussions yet with legislative leadership over the prisons’ budget.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Pictured: A guard tower rises above Century Correctional Institution. Pictured bottom inset: Razor wire lines a fence at Century Correctional Institute. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Girl’s ATV Hit By Drunk Driver
November 26, 2010
A 12-year old Century girl continues to recover after her ATV was hit by an alleged drunk driver’s pickup last weekend.
Beverly Blackmon was transported by LifeFlight to a Pensacola hospital following the weekend accident on Smallwood Lane north of Brewton, Ala.
The driver of the pickup fled the accident scene. He was later identified as Archie Lee Tanner, Jr. 38. He was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and booked into the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center. Tanner was not injured in the crash.
Black Friday Sales
November 26, 2010
The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday — the crazy-hour traditional start to the holiday shopping season. Pictured above: These teens were camped out for a flat screen Friday morning at the Walmart in Brewton. Submitted photo by Eric Hare. Pictured left: The checkout line circles the store twice at Target in Pensacola. Submitted photo by Janalyn Pomeroy. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.