SEC Soccer Tournament Brings Top 10 Women’s Teams To Ashton Brosnaham
October 29, 2022
The top 10 Southeastern Conference women’s soccer teams will be competing for the SEC Championship title from Sunday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 6 at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Escambia County.
On Sunday, No. 7 LSA will face No 10. Ole Miss at 1 p.m., followed by No. 8 Mississippi State and No. 9 Texas A&M at 3:30. Winners advance to face undefeated No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Arkansas, No. 5 Vanderbilt and No. 6 Georgia in games that begin at noon on Tuesday. The bracket is below (click here for a printable pdf).
Tickets are on sale at secticketoffice.com. All-tournament passes are $25. Individual game tickets for first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are $7 for adults and $5 for students/military. Tickets for the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 6 are $10 for adults and $7 for students/military. Kids 12 and under wearing a soccer jersey get in free with a paying adult. A service fee is applied to all ticket purchases. A clear bag policy is in effect for this event.
A free Fan Fest will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. before the championship game on Sunday, November 6. There will be music, food and interactive activities for all ages to enjoy. Pensacola will host the SEC Soccer through 2024, with an option to extend the agreement through 2026.
“We are thankful to Escambia County and Pensacola Sports for providing a tremendous venue to conduct our SEC Soccer Championship,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “Their commitment to this event promises to provide
lasting memories for our student-athletes and an outstanding experience for SEC soccer fans from across the region.”
Sunday, October 30
- 1 p.m. Match 1: No. 7 LSU vs. No. 10 Ole Miss
- 3:30 p.m. Match 2: No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Texas A&M
Tuesday, November 1
- 12 p.m. Match 3: No. 2 South Carolina vs. Winner of Match 1
- 2:30 p.m. Match 4: No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Georgia
- 5 p.m. Match 5: No. 1 Alabama vs. Winner of Match 2
- 7:30 p.m. Match 6: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt
Thursday, November 3
- 5 p.m. Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6
- 7:30 p.m. Match 8: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4
Sunday, November 6
- 1 p.m. Championship Match
Atmore Woman Dies In Pickup Truck Crash
October 29, 2022
A single vehicle crash has claimed the life of an Atmore woman.
Patricia Allen Helton, 57, was fatally injured when the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado she was driving left the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
She was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash on Bell Fork Road north of Robinsonville Road, or about eight miles outside Atmore. Troopers said she was not wearing a seat belt.
State troopers are continuing to investigate.
Adoption Fees Waived Monday At Escambia Animal Shelter
October 29, 2022
Adoptions are free Monday at the Escambia County animal shelter.
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center will be open Monday from 12-5 p.m.
Adoptions were free and license fees were waived for the entire month of October.
Pictured: Charlie, one of our kitties at NorthEscambia.com, was adopted earlier this year from the Escambia County animal shelter. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Gets Past Tate 38-31 (With Photo Gallery)
October 29, 2022
The Tate Aggies fell to the Escambia Gators 38-31 Friday night on the newly dedicated Carl Madison Field.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Aggies were first on the board when Taite Davis found Diego Dukes for a 29-yard touchdown to give the Aggies a 7-0 advantage with 6:50 to go in the first quarter. Escambia was back with a score of their own to tie it up 7-7 with 4:13 on the clock in the first.
Andre Colston was in for the Aggies, 14-7 with 10:17 remaining in the second. In about a minute, the Gators answered for a 14-14 ballgame. With another touchdown, the Gators were on top 38-31 at the half on their way to the win.
The Tate Aggies (1-8) will round out their season next week as they host Washington (4-5).
Related: The Legend: Tate Football Field Dedicated As ‘Carl Madison Field’
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Score Recap
October 29, 2022
Here are Friday night football scores from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 57, Escambia County (Atmore) 14 [Story, photos...]
- Escambia 38, Tate 31 [Story, photos...]
- West Florida 38, Pensacola Catholic 14
- Pine Forest 50, Booker T. Washington 0
- Walton 45, Pensacola High 35
- J.U. Blacksher (Uriah, Ala.) 41, Jay 20
- Pace 42, Milton Milton 35
- Navarre 28, Gulf Breeze 24
ALABAMA
- Fort Dale Academy 35, Escambia Academy 19
- Flomaton 56. Marengo County 0
- T.R. Miller 29, W.S. Neal 0
Pictured: Northview beat Escambia County (Atmore) 57-14 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Wanted For Bank Robbery
October 28, 2022
Police are searching for a bank robbery suspect.
Tanner Richard Morgan, 36, is wanted for the October 21 robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank on Bayou Boulevard. He is a 5-foot-10-inches that weighs about 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Pensacola Police (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Detectives were able to develop Morgan as a suspect from citizen tips after local media coverage.
Century May Strip Power From The Mayor, Hire Town Manager With Charter Change
October 28, 2022
The Town of Century may strip power from an elected mayor and put a town manager in charge, reversing the course set by three years of work by a citizen charter review committee.
That was the key takeaway from a nearly two hour meeting Thursday evening between the town council and town attorney to discuss a proposed charter change.
The town charter — the document that establishes the town — outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The current charter has not been updated in almost 40 years.
The Century Charter Review Committee worked about three years, including pandemic delays, to create a new charter that was submitted to the town council to review and possibly place on an upcoming ballot.
The Charter Review Committee spent a great deal of their time deciding on a form of government for Century, ultimately settling on a strong mayor – town council.
But Thursday night, attorney Matt Dannheisser and consultant Buz Eddy suggested that the council instead look at a charter that has a town manager – town council form of government. A mayor might still be elected, but it would mostly be a ceremonial position with no real power. Dannheisser said the mayor would hold the title, but actually be one of the five members of the town council.
“It really makes the title of mayor obsolete,” council member Dynette Lewis said of the potential change.
“The mayor is no longer a separate office; it’s part of the council. So the five members of the council, one of them is the mayor,” Dannheisser said.
“You can’t think of the mayor as a separate entity. He is a member of council, has no more voice in the decision that any other member of the council,” he added.
Unable to take a vote because the meeting was just a workshop, the council reached the consensus that they would give official direction to Dannheisser at a future meeting. He said several more meetings would need to be held focusing on specific topics, such as the form of government, finance and other subsections of the charter.
During those discussions, he said that flexibility is the key to developing a charter that can serve Century for decades to come.
“Flexibility…don’t handcuff yourself and all future councils to one specific thing that might be solving a current problem that may not be a problem 20, 30, 40 years from now,” Dannheisser told the council.. “Rather, require that the subject be addressed, but then have it addressed in a manner that can be fluid and changed as circumstances change.”
Here’s a look at some of the major highlights of the draft created by the Charter Review Committee :
- Establishes a consecutive two-term, or eight-year limit for the mayor. A mayor that has reached the term limit may then seek election as a council member. There are no term limits in the current charter.
- A consecutive two-term, or eight-year limit is established for council members. A council that has reached the term limit may then seek election as mayor. There are no term limits in the current charter.
- The mayor and council members will not be paid if they miss a meeting, unless it’s due to an emergency. With two or more unexcused absences per quarter from consecutive meetings, the council can determine with a fourth-fifths vote that the council member or mayor has abandoned their seat.
- The town council shall conduct all meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order.
- The town will create the position of town clerk/finance director, along with a public works director position that reports directly to the mayor. Both will be hired by the mayor with approval by the council. With the approval of the mayor — not the council — the town clerk/finance director and public works director will hire, fire and supervise the employees in their respective departments. (Currently, the council must approve all hires, from the highest to lowest positions in the town.)
- The charter establishes the right of the town clerk/finance director to take part in town council discussion. The clerk has no guaranteed right to take part in discussions under the current charter.
- The mayor will establish an agenda for all council meetings.
- The mayor will provide quarterly reports on finances, administrative activities, and actions of various departments. The mayor will also present an annual budget to the town council.
- The mayor will be able to authorize expenditures up to $5,000, or up to $10,000 in a declared emergency, without town council approval.
- The council will request and receive bids and award contracts for expenditures of $5,001 or more.
- To be eligible to seek election as a council member, one year residency in the town will be required. (There is currently no length of residency requirement for council members, and a 6-month requirement for the mayor.)
- Before being sworn in as mayor or town council member, the individual must agree to complete any state-mandated training or orientation, and complete Sunshine Law and public records law conducted by the town attorney.
Any portion of the draft charter could be altered or removed from a final charter. The town council also has the option to reject the charter or never place it on the ballot.
Pictured top: Town attorney Matt Dannheisser (right) and consultant Buz Eddy addressed the Century Town Council during a Thursday night workshop. Pictured inset: Council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson listen s to Dannheisser speak. Pictured below: Council members Luis Gomez, Jr., and Dynette Lewis listen. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Challenge Is Continuing. Have You Made Your Donation?
October 28, 2022
The Peanut Butter Challenge in Escambia County is continuing, and there’s still time to make your donation.
The Peanut Butter Challenge, UF/IFAS Extension’s annual jar collection for local food pantries, first launched in the Florida Panhandle in 2012. It has since launched statewide, giving counties the chance to compete for most jars of peanut butter donated. The challenge serves a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays and also promotes peanuts grown in Florida.
Unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter can be donated at the following locations through October 31:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
- Holy Spirit Catholic, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia School Choice Open Enrollment Period Is Continuing
October 28, 2022
The school choice open enrollment period for middle and high schools in Escambia County will continue through December.
For elementary schools, the open enrollment period will be January 30 until March 10, 2023.
For more information, click or tap here.
Pictured: A School Choice Expo was held last week at Washington High School, but the open enrollment period is continuing. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Seeks Comments On Proposed Rule Changes
October 28, 2022
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is soliciting feedback on proposed rule changes for 2023-24 hunting seasons and FWC-managed lands.
To provide input, click or tap here.
Proposed statewide rule changes include shooting hours for dove and changes to the approval process for setting the annual number of limited entry and special-opportunity quota permits and antlerless deer permits.
In the Escambia River Wildlife Management area, the rule changes will establish an additional 3-day wild hog-dog hunt each month from May – September; establish a trapping season opening Dec. 1 and closing March 1; and close the general gun season during the 2-day family hunt to allow hunting with dogs throughout the area during the 2-day family hunt.
In the Blackwater WMA, the rule changes will expand the field trial area (FTA) using a portion of newly acquired acres; extend the archery season in the FTA by allowing archery hunting during the general gun season dates (except during existing FTA quota hunts); prohibit take of antlerless deer and wild turkey during the proposed extended archery season dates; and increase the antler point restriction in the FTA from 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side to 4 points or 14-inch main beam on a side.