Northview, ECHS, EA Score Cash With FNB&Trust Points Club
December 19, 2009
The First National Bank and Trust in Atmore distributed Points Club funds to area schools this week, paying out cash for points that three area schools earned at each home football game.
Each football program received $50 for each touchdown and $25 for each field goal scored during a home football game. Northview High School’s Chiefs earned $725 for 14 home touchdowns and one field goal. The Cougars of Escambia Academy were awarded $1,000 for 20 touchdowns on their home turf, and Escambia County High School’s Blue Devils received $750 for 15 touchdowns in Atmore.
The bank also awarded $4,000 total to four Monroe County, Alabama, schools that take part in the FNB&Trust Points Club.
Pictured top: Chris Walker, Jennifer Prestridge, Northview Coach Sid Wheatley, and Christina Godwin. Pictured below: Eula Price, Shep Marsh, Escambia Academy Coach Heath Gibson and Chris Walker. Pictured bottom: Chris Walker, Escambia County High School Coach Kyle Davis, Kathy Holland and Mark Clayton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
15-Year Old Shot In Hunting Accident
December 18, 2009
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating an apparent accidental shooting of a 15 year old male in Perdido, Alabama.
Tanner Boatwright was hunting late with two friends Thursday afternoon in Perdido. The three hunters were on a deer drive in a wooded area. Boatwright was hit with 2 “00” buckshot pellets when one or both of his friends shot at a deer that stepped out near Boatwright, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.He was hit in the lower back, and his injuries did not appear to be life threatening, according to deputies.
Boatwright was taken to Atmore Community Hospital and was then transferred to USA Hospital in Mobile.
An early investigation shows that the hunters had permission to hunt on the property. and Boatwright stated that he was wearing hunter orange, deputies said.
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department will continue to investigate the incident and turn their results over to a Grand Jury.
Sheriff: Molino Home Invasion Investigation Is Continuing
December 18, 2009
Escambia County’s top cop says his department is still looking into the case of two reported Molino home invasion attacks on cheerleaders.
“It an ongoing investigation,” Sheriff David Morgan told NorthEscambia.com. “We are still pursuing any and all leads.” He said his investigative team is keeping him updated on the progress of the case, but Morgan said he was unable to indicate a time frame for a possible resolution to the case.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Department investigators have returned to Molino several times since the incidents, questioning some of those involved with the two cases, Sgt. Ted Roy said recently.
A 13-year old Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleader reported that she was attacked by a knife-wielding intruder while she was home alone the night of October 31 at her home in the 7000 block of Highway 95A. The girl told deputies that a man entered the home through a window (pictured left), and one tried to attack her with a knife. The middle school student was cut multiple times on her hands in an apparent attempt to fight off her attacker as she was pinned on a bed, but she was not otherwise injured. Her injuries were not considered serious.
A 16-year old told investigators that a tall, slender white male had entered her home on Nancy Lane through a utility room window the morning of November 3. She told authorities that she fought back — throwing drinking glasses at her attacker and dousing him with pepper spray. She then fled the home, running to nearby Highland Baptist Church for help. She described her attacker as wearing a black ski mask, a long black shirt and black pants.
To read previous stories, click a link below:
- Cheerleader Home Invasion Victim: “I Was Scared”
- Sheriff’s Report Details Friday Night’s Home Invasion
- Another Cheerleader Attacked In Second Molino Home Invasion
- Are The Two Cheerleader Home Invasion Attacks Related
- Molino Remains On High Alert After Attacks
- Home Invasion In Molino: Young Teen Cut Multiple Times With Knife
Pictured top: The attacker in the November 3 home invasion in Molino entered this Nancy Lane home through this utility room window. Pictured top inset: The October 31 suspect reportedly entered a home on Highway 95A through this window. Pictured below: The victim in the Nancy Lane attack ran to nearby Highland Baptist Church for help. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Ernest Ward Christmas Gala Celebrates The Season
December 18, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School presented a Christmas Gala at the school Thursday night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from the Ernest Ward Middle School Christmas Gala Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Car Recovered From Brushy Creek Days After Four People Rescued
December 18, 2009
The car swept away by flood waters Monday night on Deere Creek Road near Atmore was recovered late Thursday morning.
David’s Paint and Body pulled the car from the muck near Brushy Creek.
Click here for more photos of the inside and outside of the vehicle.
It was about 9:00 Monday night as flood waters began to rise all around Atmore that emergency dispatchers received 911 calls reporting a vehicle or vehicles in waters of Brushy Creek. Initial reports to authorities indicated that as many as eight people in two or three vehicles were trapped in the rushing water.
Two hours after the rescue attempt got underway, four people had been delivered to safety to local resident Mike Allen. At that point rescue workers were still unclear how many vehicles were in the water. The creek was swollen so wide that the powerful spotlights of several emergency vehicle were unable to provide enough light for firefighters to determine exactly what situation they were facing.
During the days that followed, a clearer pictures of what happened began to emerge, and authorities learned that there was just one vehicle in the water.
Reports indicate that Kari Rolin had driven her Chevrolet Lumina into the water rushing across the road, and the vehicle had been swept several feet off the highway. She called her nextdoor neighbors Jeremy and Matthew McGhee, to ask for help. She told them that she thought she was going to drown. The McGhee brothers and Ashleigh Geck rushed to the creek to see what was happening.
They made the decision to jump into the flooded creek in an attempt to save Rolin. Their attempt failed, leaving four people trapped.
Rescue workers attempted to use a human chain to reach the four as they clung to trees for their lives. That failed. They rescuers attempted to use a boat to reach the four. The boat capsized.
Another nearby resident, Mike Allen, heard about the rescue attempt and discovered that his neice, Ashleigh Geck, was one of those trapped. He had not used his jet ski for some time. In fact, he even had to wire a car battery into the jet ski to get it to crank.
Allen’s jet ski rescue attempt worked quickly, saving the four lives.
Click here for more photos of the inside and outside of the vehicle.
Pictured top: The inside of the car that was swept into the flood waters of Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road near Atmore Monday night. Pictured above: What appears to be a t-shirt remains in the trees near where the car was recovered. Pictured below: The Chevrolet Luminia that was engulfed by Brushy Creek Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Boys Beat Central; Jay Girls Fall To Pace
December 18, 2009
The Northview Chiefs beat Central in boy’s basketball action Thursday, and the Jay Royal girls lost to the Pace Patriots.
Northview 55, Central 45
Northview– Buchsaw 13, Bellamy 9, Sims 4, Arrington 6, White 15, Chestnutt 2, Laghorn 6.
Northview 10 14 12 19-55 Central 16 4 11 14-45
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pace 64, Jay 62
Jay — Ginger Jennings 11, Tessa Hendricks 10, Danielle Skaggs 13, Candace Mulford 7, Amber Steadham 9, Becca Calloway 7.
Jay 6 18 18 20-62 Pace 18 18 13 15-64
West Florida High Named One Of The Nation’s Best
December 18, 2009
West Florida High School has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in America. The school received the designation of a “Bronze” school.
The best high schools were determined through a three-step process. Ensuring that schools serve all their students well and used the state proficiency standards as the benchmarks were part of the first two steps. Schools that made it through the first two steps were then assessed by the degree to which students were being prepared for college-level work.
Many North Escambia students attend West Florida High School of Advanced Technology — it is magnet school open to students from across Escambia County.
Photos: Library Celebrates Christmas With Visit From Santa Claus
December 18, 2009
The Century Branch Library held their annual Christmas event Thursday afternoon. Dozens of children had a chance to enjoy a story, presents for everyone and a visit with Santa Claus.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Attends Military Ball (With Photo Gallery)
December 18, 2009
The Northview High School NJROTC held their annual Military Ball recently at the Naval Aviation Museum aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Over 130 cadets attended the event, a joint fuction with the NJROTC unit from Washington High School. The evening began with a dinner for the Northview cadets at Mesquite Charlie’s Steakhouse. At the museum, cadet leadership from both schools greeted all of the cadets. The evening continued with a POW ceremony, the presentation of seniors from each school as well as the king and queen, and the junior, sophomore and freshman prince and princess from both units as selected by their peers.
Two hours of dancing followed the formal events.
“It was an outstanding gather from both schools,” Captain Charlie Code said.
Click here for more photos from the event.
Pictured: Northview NJROTC Military Ball King and Queen Zach Byers and Miranda Scott. Photo courtesy Stone’s Studio for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Commissioners Shoot Down Valentino’s Plan To Name Interim Administrator
December 17, 2009
Moments after voting to not renew the contract of County Administrator Bob McLaughlin, Commissioner Gene Valentino asked his fellow Escambia County Commissioners to name his recommendation as an interim administrator.
Valentino made the motion this morning that Larry Newsom serve as the new interim county administrator as an at-will employee until a permanent administrator is named. Valentino wanted Newsom to serve as the interim administrator and in his current position of director of transportation concurrently, saving the county $83,000.
“This is a slap in the face as far as I am concerned,” Commissioner Marie Young said, scolding Valentino. “It looks like is preplanned.”
“It is not a slap in the face to anybody…There is no likelihood of getting a good administrator prior to November of 2010,” Valentino said, because of the possitilbity of voters approving a government consolidation plan in November 2010.
Valentino’s motion failed due to a lack of second from any other commissioner. Commissioner will discuss a possible replacement for McLaughlin at their January 7 meeting.