Chiefs Lose To BHS On Long Road Trip
October 18, 2008
A long road trip to Blountstown did not work out well for the Northview Chiefs Friday night. Blountstown picked up their first win of the season over the Chiefs, 31-13.
Senior Jay Jackson had 25 carries Friday night for 136 yards. He was nine for 18 passing for 116 yards, and he had one touchdown and a couple of interceptions against the Tigers on the wet, slip-and-slide of a field.
Chris Sheets, a junior, had five carries for 63 yards, and Dustin Yuhasz had a 42 yard touchdown. It was Yuhasz’s first game of the season; he had been on the injury list.
Shakel Holmes also racked up yardage for the Chiefs, picking up 40 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
On the defensive side, Austin Reed had 13 tackles for the Chiefs. Holmes had nine tackles, and Anthony Pierce had eight on the night.
The Northview Chiefs are 2-4 on the season, 1-1 in the district after their 350 mile round trip to Blountstown.
The Chiefs are home Friday night for Homecoming against district team Vernon High School.
Click here for more photos from the game.
Heather Leonard story.
Pictured above and below: Action from Northview at Blountstown. Heather Leonard photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Canes Lose; Other Area Scores
October 18, 2008
The Flomaton Hurricanes lost a key district matchup on their home turf Friday night. Millry beat the Canes 27-20.
Tony Ellis had 114 yards on 24 carries for the Canes. He scored on a one-yard run and and 30-yard hook-and-lateral.
The Canes are now 6-2, 4-2. They will be on the road Friday night at Washington County.
In other action around the area, Atmore’s Escambia County High School Blue Devils lost to Citronelle, 20-7. Escambia County is now 2-6, 1-5 on the year.
The only score for ECHS came in the fourth quarter when Michael Thomas made a 12-yard run. He had eight carries for 75 yards overall. Rico Stallworth had 160 yards during the night. The Blue Devils went backwards a full football field length during the game, with 13 penalties for 105 yards.
Meadowview Christian crushed the Escambia Academy Cougars, 46-0. The Cougars are 0-6 this year.
Washington High School beat Tate Friday night, 26-15. Jamarian Bonner put the Aggies on the board early with a 70 yard fumble recovery. Luchez Purifoy added another TD to give Tate a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Washington and Tate both scored in the second. The second half was all Washington with three touchdowns.
Also Friday night, Jay beat Freeport, 22-16.
For more photos from the Flomaton game, click here.
For even more photos from Flomaton, visit www.mikenewtonphotography.zenfolio.com.
Pictured above and below: The Flomaton Hurricanes lost a big district matchup Friday night to Millry. Submitted photos by Mike Newton Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Exclusive: A Look At Project Green Leaf’s Electric Car That Might Be Produced In Century
October 17, 2008
As an electric car company looks to possibly bring 1,100 jobs to Century over the next five years, NorthEscambia.com has learned more about what the vehicle may possibly be like.
Here’s what NorthEscambia.com has learned so far about the car:
- It looks similar to a Willys Jeep (think MASH tv show or any World War II movie jeep)
- A single charge is good for about 60 miles
- Top speed is around 50 mph
- It’s four wheel drive; each wheel has its own independent electric motor
- Air conditioning is an available option
- Its batteries would charge by plugging into a charging unit
- Parts would be made in France and assembled in Century
- Similar vehicles in France sell for $13,500 to $20,000 (U.S. dollars)
- The French version is built with a stainless steel frame and aluminum body
- The lead acid batteries can be charged in three to six hours, depending on configuration
Here’s what we know about the company behind “Project Green Leaf” that plans to produce the vehicle:
- Principal owners are Nash and Jay Patel.
- The Patels own LHS Companies in Pensacola. The company operates several hotels in Pensacola and Gulf Shores, including a Howard Johnson, Days Inn, Ramada, Travel Lodge and Comfort Inn.
- “LHS Companies also owns LHS EZ-Concept, which is trading goods and services within the Hospitality Industry. Their additional companies known as LHS EV (Europe and USA) are involved in the infrastructure of EV Plugs across the US and are the manufacturers for the Electric cars,” according to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
- LHS EZ-Concept is also involved in the trade of LCD televisions for unsold hotel rooms across the country, according to the company’s web site.
Click here to read “County Supports Electric Car Plant In Century; Up To 1,100 Jobs Possible”.
Pictured above and left: While we can’t be exactly sure what the electric car that might be produced in Century will look like, this is a similar model currently being produced in France that our sources tell us is very much like the car planned by Project Green Leaf. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos.
Rough Night For JV Chiefs With Several Injuries; One Player Transported By LifeFlight
October 17, 2008
The final game of the season was a rough one for the Northview High School JV Chiefs, with a loss and three people transported to the hospital — including one by Lifeflight.
Freshman Colby White sustained a head injury late in the game and was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to a Pensacola hospital. His injuries were not life threatening. Early in the game, freshman Jody Day sustained an injured leg and was transported to the hospital by private vehicle. A JV cheerleader suffered a shoulder injury during the game and was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by private vehicle. Her injuries were not believed to be severe.
The Chiefs lost the game to Catholic High 41-20 to end the season 0-6.
The Crusaders jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter Thursday night in Bratt. Sean Knight went in for a Chief’s touchdown with 1:43 to go in the first. The point after attempt by Knight was not good, and Catholic led at the end of the first, 7-6.
CHS added another seven at 6:34 in the second. Then with 3:41 in the half, Hunter Black gained five yards to make it second and five. Sean Knight was unstoppable with a 14 yard touchdown run, shaking off Crusader after Crusader along the way. The point after was no good, and the Chiefs were down by just two, 14-12, with 3:26 in the half.
The Crusaders picked up 27 more in the second half of play, leading 41-12 in the fourth. Northview added another eight late in the game for the final score 41-20.
Click here for a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Thursday night’s game.
Pictured above: Freshman Sean Knight (#25) picks up yardage for the JV Chiefs Thursday night.. Pictured below: Northview JV cheerleaders (left to right) Charleigh McPherson, Taylor Byrd and Lauren McCall cheer for the Chiefs. Pictured bottom: Freshman Colby White was transported from the stadium by LifeFlight after a late game injury. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Lady Chiefs Sweep Series Against South Walton
October 17, 2008
The Northview Chief’s volleyball team sent South Walton packing Thursday evening, sweeping three games on their home court.
The Chiefs beat South Walton 25-14, 25-17, 25-15.
The Lady Chiefs are now 12-9 overall, 3-3 in the district.
Stats from Thursday’s game:
Shawna Montgomery: Digs – 10, Kills-8, Aces-1, Blocks-1
Brittney Thompson: Aces-6, Kills-13, Digs-5
Amber McMillan: Digs-12
Caitlin Hall: Assists-7, Aces-1, Digs-7, Blocks-1
Angela Rodriguez: Kills-6, Aces-3, Digs-1
The JV volleyball team will be in action Saturday in a tournament at Tate High School. Both the varsity and JV teams will play their last home game Tuesday against Pensacola Christian. The JV game begins at 4:30, and the varsity plays at 6:00 in the Northview gym.
County Supports Electric Car Plant In Century; Up To 1,100 Jobs Are Possible
October 17, 2008
A proposed electric car plant could bring 1,100 jobs to Century, and the Escambia County Commission has given its support to the project.
Project Green Leaf, headed by hotel owners Nash and Jay Patel , is looking to locate the electric car manufacturing facility in the Century Industrial Park, investing up to $23 million in the project over the next three years.
The Escambia County Commission passed a resolution in support of the facility Thursday night, saying the project could bring up to 585 full-time jobs to Century within three years. Those jobs would have an average starting salary of $38, 400 including benefits. The company is also looking at an administrative office location in Escambia County. Up to 65 administrative jobs with the company would have an average starting salary of $50,000 including benefits.
The resolution approved Thursday night by the county includes support for the manufacturing and administrative facilities and support for state tax refunds for being a green “target industry”. It also includes a total of $39,000 in rebates for local fees and taxes ranging from $2,250 to $9,750 per year through 2014.
“He’s dead set to locate as much of this in this county as he can,” Larry Newsom, the county’s economic director, told NorthEscambia.com, “and in the town of Century.”
Newsom said project plans call for the initial production of 150 cars per month.
Click here to read “Exclusive: A Look A Project Green Leaf’s Car”.
NorthEscambia.com was the first to break the story about the electric car plant a week ago, and we will have continuing coverage.
Pictured above: A NorthEscambia.com exclusive look at the electric vehicle that might be produced in Century.
Library Crammed With Costumed Kids For Annual Event
October 17, 2008
Witches, superheroes, princesses, cowboys and more crammed into the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon for the library’s annual Halloween story time.
About 75 children in all sorts of costumes listened to a spooky story, painted pumpkins, entered a costume contest and enjoyed candy goodie bags as part of the event coordinated by Librarian Pat Rigel (pictured left in costume) and her staff.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Car Plant Not A Done Deal; Plant And Jobs Could Go To North Alabama Or Even Flomaton
October 17, 2008
An electric car manufacturing company locating in Century is not a done deal. A former tenant in the Century Industrial Park could be problem that could cost the town up to 1,100 jobs, if the car company does not choose locations being considered in Alabama. If Century does not land the plant, it could end up as close by as Flomaton.
The electric car compay, currently called Project Green Leaf, is considering Century and locations in Alabama for their main plant. A resolution approved Thursday night by the Escambia County Commission says that manufacturing location being considered in Century is 6081 Industrial Boulevard…the building that was occupied until a few months ago by Helicopter Technologies.
The Town of Century filed foreclosure against Helicopter Technologies and its owner, Georges Van Nevel, in late August to regain the building that they financed. In the meantime, Van Nevel left the country, according to Century Mayor Freddie McCall. McCall and the town’s attorney thought that they had reached an agreement for Van Nevel to sign the building back over to the town with going to court, but that had not happened as of late Thursday. Van Nevel is believed to be in the Philippines.
McCall said he had contact with Van Nevel this week, and he still had not moved forward with turning the property back over to the Town of Century. So it remains in foreclosure, a process that can sometimes take months to complete in the court system. McCall said there was no way to know if the town would regain ownership fast enough for Project Green Leaf.
Escambia County Administrator Bob McLaughlin said that Jay Patel, the Pensacola hotel owner behind Project Green Leaf, is considering a location in Fort Payne, Alabama, to manufacture plug-in stations for electric vehicles, including those that might be produced in Century.
NorthEscambia.com confirmed that Patel and his associates have looked at locations in Fort Payne. Officials in Dekalb County, Alabama, confirmed on the condition of anonymity that Patel and his company have toured several locations in and around Fort Payne for their plug-in station company, or perhaps even the entire electric car manufacturing facility.
Meanwhile, NorthEscambia.com has learned that Patel and his associates met earlier this week in Flomaton with Escambia County (AL) representatives to discuss the possibility of locating some or all of the facility in the Flomaton area.
NorthEscambia.com has made numerous calls to Patel’s office at a Pensacola hotel, but those calls have not been returned by Patel. One call was returned by Art Rocker, who indentified himself as vice-president of the company. He said that company officials were not commenting on the project at this time.
“We sure hope they end up here in Century,” McCall said. “We offer many incentives they just are not going to find anywhere else.”
Locations in the town of Century, in addition to local financial support, offer money saving status as an Enterprise Zone, Brownfield Zone and Florida Enterprise Zone. Each of those “zones” provide a different set of financial incentives and tax credits for industry.
Click here to read “County Supports Electric Car Plant In Century; Up To 1,100 Jobs Possible”.
NorthEscambia.com was the first to break the story about the electric car plant a week ago, and we will have continuing coverage.
Northview Student Selected For 2009 Ambassador Trip To Italy, Greece
October 16, 2008
A Northview High School student has been selected as a student ambassador to Greece and Italy, and she needs your help to get there.
Alexis Roach, a 16-year old sophomore, was selected for the government sponsored People to People ambassador program. Students are selected to participate in the program based upon outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.
The People to People program provides international travel opportunities to students in a State Department program that was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Student Ambassadors experience hands-on learning opportunities and immerse themselves in the arts, sports and family life of cultures around the world.
Alexis will take part in a program called “Modern and Ancient Civilizations” for 19 days beginning June 13. She will visit Italy and Greece, including Rome, Naples, Mount Etna, Athens and Crete.
“This trip isn’t about going on vacation,” she said. “I will be earning credits for high school and college.”
On the trip, she will learn about local cultures, visiting landmarks and museums along the way.
“I’m looking forward to learning about other cultures, what they have and don’t have,” Alexis said.
In order to participate in the program, Alexis must raise about $7,000 to cover her travel expenses. She plans to raise the money in a variety of ways, including fund raisers like fish frys.
“It’s a blessing to me to have an opportunity like this,” Alexis said.
Anyone wishing to support Alexis Roach’s trip to Italy and Greece can make a donation at any branch of Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union, including branches in Pensacola or Atmore.
Authorities Continue To Seek Answers In Death Of Michigan Man
October 16, 2008
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An autopsy has been performed on the body of a Battle Creek, Michigan, man was found hanging near his vehicle along the Conecuh River in Escambia County, Alabama, and authorities are seeking the public’s help to find out what happened.
The results of the autopsy, which was performed Monday, have not yet been released.
NorthEscambia.com was the first area media to report on Sunday that the body of Claude VanDusen, 57, was found late Thursday of last week near his vehicle under a bridge near Highway 29 and Escambia County (AL) County Road 4. They say VanDusen had been dead for about three days.
“A fisherman called in complaints about an abandoned vehicle that was being vandalized and a deputy responded and a short time later, found the body in a wooded area near the bridge,” Escambia County (AL) investigator John Gleaton said.
The results of an autoposy have not been released, but authorities in Escambia County are calling the death suspicious.
VanDusen’s step son, Chris Hooper, told NorthEscambia.com that the entire incident had been especially tough on the family due to the uncertainty about what happened. He said that local media in Michigan had differing reports, with some news outlets reporting that the death was a suicide and others reporting that it was from natural causes.
“What in the world is going on? Can’t anyone get there stories straight before going and releasing this to the public?” Hooper said.
Back in Michigan, VanDusen’s family says he left home Wednesday morning of last week, cashed his $800 biweekly check, and headed to a hardware store to buy some insulation. That was the last time anyone in his hometown knew of his whereabouts until Escambia County (Alabama) authorities notified Battle Creek Police about the discovery of the body.
Authorities in Michigan say VanDusen had no known connections to anyone in Escambia County, Alabama, or North Escambia, Florida. If you have any information about this case, you are asked to call your local law enforcement agency.