SEC Soccer Tournament Sets Attendance Records, Provides Local Economic Boost
November 8, 2022
The SEC Soccer Tournament held at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Park had far exceeded expectations by the time South Carolina upset the No. 1 seed Alabama Crimson Tide Sunday afternoon.
The bleachers were full of fans, aisles in the bleachers were full of fans and the areas around fences were standing room only. It was absolutely packed inside the stadium off 10 Mile Road, as were the parking lots.
According to the SEC, there were 3,025 in attendance — the largest crowd for a game in the 37 years of SEC women’s soccer. The overall tournament also set a SEC record with 10,450 total fans.
By Monday, Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes was meeting with his staff to determine how to handle larger crowds next year; Escambia County will host the SEC Soccer Tournament through 2024,
And officials were taking stocking of what are expected to be long-range economic benefits for Escambia County and Pensacola for the tournament that aired live on the SEC Network.
“The heads and beads is absolutely invaluable; we’ll be able to put a price tag on what kind of economic impact that brings,” Rhodes said. “But sometimes what you can’t put a price tag on is the nine games of live coverage on the SEC Network…showcasing Pensacola and Escambia County.”
“I think the opportunity for Pensacola and Northwest Florida to be showcased on the SEC Network as a partner with ESPN is huge for our community,” Pensacola Sports CEO Ray Palmer said. “We hope this gives us the opportunity to show people Pensacola and give them a reason to come back for something else, like world class beaches, history and downtown.”
And there’s another benefit from the tournament, the parks director said. Now that the tournament is packed up and gone for a year, upgrades to the facilities at Ashton Brosnaham remain to benefit local residents. There’s new turf on the stadium field, enhancements on the practice field, new fencing around the perimeter of the field along with other improvements.
“We made a lot of enhancements to brighten the facility. The SEC is here one week out of the year, but for 365 days a year our job is to serve the residents and the soccer community, Rhodes said. “We know they (local players) are going to be proud, and they’ll always be able to say that they’re playing at the venue that the SEC Soccer Tournament was held at.”
RELATED:
- South Carolina Upsets No. 1 Seed Alabama For SEC Tournament Title (With Photo Gallery)
- Ole Miss Shuts Out LSU; Mississippi State Tops Texas A&M. And Escambia County Wins In SEC Tourney Day One
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Paradigm Parachute & Defense To Double Local Operations With New Jobs
November 8, 2022
Paradigm Parachute & Defense, a disabled-veteran-owned small business, is expanding their manufacturing operations in Escambia County, according to the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance.
The military parachute manufacturer received a grant through the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund (IRDF) under a partnership between FloridaWest and the University of West Florida. The fund was established by the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and UWF to help Northwest Florida businesses grow, innovate and thrive.
Aaron Nazaruk, CEO of Paradigm, says the project is expected to create and sustain at least 28 new manufacturing and technical jobs over the next five years.
“The leadership from the FloridaWest team and UWF was invaluable to the success of being awarded this grant, which means we’ll be able to serve even more important endeavors around the world,” said Nazaruk. “Their hard work will allow us to effectively double our operations here in Pensacola.”
The FloridaWest team has been working with Paradigm on this grant since 2020.
“Paradigm’s mission critical products are deployed around the globe in the service of commercial, military, humanitarian, government and space operations,” said Scott Luth, FloridaWest CEO. “It will be rewarding to see this partnership lead to the growth of this amazing company.”
Paradigm is located on Ashland Avenue just north of West Nine Mile Road.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘Walnut Hill General Store’ In The Works On Highway 97 By Ernest Ward Middle
November 8, 2022
Plans are in the works for a new general store in Walnut Hill.
Aptly named, the Walnut Hill General Store would be located in an existing building on approximately 0.85 acres at the corner of Highway 97 and Highway 99A, next to Ernest Ward Middle School.
The building was constructed in 1940 as the former Bryan’s Grocery and Hardware and has been closed for several years.
A pre-application plan has been filed with the Escambia County Development Review Committee by Sandy Creverling.
In early 2021, a development company filed plans to construct a Dollar General store on the corner, razing the current block building and including the neighboring parcels. After minor public backlash against the Dollar General there due to the location in a curve on Highway 97 and its proximity to the middle school, the store did not move forward as Dollar General eventually constructed a new store that just opened about a mile away.
The Walnut Hill General Store is in pre-application status before the Escambia Development Review Committee, which meets next on November 9. Multiple additional steps in the review and permitting process will be required, and the applicant could choose to never complete the project.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Click the site plan drawing below to enlarge.
Bonus Photos: Northview Cheerleaders, Mini Cheerleaders, Band And More
November 8, 2022
Here’s a bonus photo gallery from Northview’s win over Bay last Friday night with the cheerleaders, mini cheerleaders, NJROTC, band and fans.
For the bonus photo gallery, click here.
For game action photos and details, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary PTA Food Drive Continues Through Thursday
November 8, 2022
The annual Molino Park Elementary School PTA food drive is continuing through Thursday.
Each year, the Molino Park PTA partners with Aldersgate United Methodist Church for the food drive. All of the food received during the event is used to help stock the food pantry at Aldersgate for distribution to needy families in the community.
Last year the students at Molino Park collected over 3,000 food items that were able to help many families in need within our community.
“Our goal this year is to be able to help even more families in our community,” Molino Park PTA President Amie Pace said.
Members of the public can make donations of canned and other non-perishable food items in the Molino Park office.
Pictured top: Last year, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol helped transport over 3,000 Molino Park PTA food drive donations to the food pantry at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Molino. Pictured below: The donations lined the hallways of the school. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UPDATE: Missing, Endangered Man Located
November 7, 2022
UPDATE: Daniel Hicks has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered man.
Daniel Hicks, 37, was last seen Saturday in the 2200 block of Country Place Circle off East Kingsfield Road wearing a light gray Florida Seminoles t-shirt and dark gray shorts. He is 5-feet 9-inches tall, 160 pounds, and has red hair.
He was driving a gray 2015 Jeep Patriot with Florida tag #EVBQ50.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Escambia Murder Suspect Caught With Gun, Ammo, Cash, Meth And Makeup, Police Said
November 7, 2022
The alleged gunman in an October 29 murder in Escambia County was captured with a gun, ammunition, cash, drugs and makeup in the Orlando area, according to new information released Monday.
Jacob Monroe Colville, 29, was wanted for first degree premeditated murder.
An officer with the Eustis Police Department initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, a sergeant observed the front seat passenger, later identified Colville, appear to remove something from his front waistband area and place it on the seat, according to police.
Eustis Police officers reported finding a .40 caliber Ruger semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine on the passenger seat, along with 48.6 grams of methamphetamine, smoking devices, $2,300 in cash, and “several items related to the sale of narcotics” in Colville’s backpack.
“In the same backpack, items to disguise his identity were located such as a wig attached to a ballcap, glasses, and makeup. Colville also had makeup on, in an attempt to conceal some of his tattoos,” Eustis Police said.
In addition to the murder warrant, he was charged in Lake County Florida with armed trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of firearm by convicted felon, carrying concealed firearm, improper exhibition of dangerous firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Colville is expected to be extradited to Escambia County to face the first degree premeditated murder charge. The identify of the person driving the vehicle in which Colville was a passenger has not been released.
Alyssa Marie Blackburn, 22, and Lawrence Bonner, Jr., 44, were both previously charged with principal to first-degree premeditated murder.
The victim was identified by family members as 22-year old Jesse Allen Geoghahan.
On October 29, the ECSO responded to the 1000 block of Medford Avenue where they found Geoghahan. with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Blackburn contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had been shot inside the residence.
Bonner allegedly gave Colville the gun used in the murder. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Colville shot Geoghagan twice inside a closet, before shooting him a “few more times” as he limped out of the bedroom.
They fled in a stolen 1996 Toyota Avalon, which was later found burning under the Mobile Highway Bridge over Eleven Mile Creek.
A security system in the residence captured the murder, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Details Released In Tragic Flomaton Crash That Claimed Three Lives
November 7, 2022
Alabama State Troopers have released details of a tragic fiery crash that claimed three lives in Flomaton on Sunday.
Troopers said 48-year old Shannon P. Lucas of Flomaton was driving a 2017 Dodge 1500 pickup truck that collided head-on with a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by 41-year old Christopher Bell, also of Flomaton. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene, as was Lucas’ passenger in the pickup truck, 50-year old Alfreco Lett of Century.
None of the individuals were wearing a seat belt, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The investigation is continuing.
The crash happened about 3:25 p.m. on Highway 31 near Twin Bridges Road.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
There’s A Mistake In The Due Date On This Month’s Century Utility Bills
November 7, 2022
The Town of Century says there is a mistake in the due date printed on their utility bills for water, sewer and gas.
The bills state the next due is November 8, but that is incorrect. Utility bills are always due on or before the 24th of the month, which puts the correct due date on November 24, according to the town.
For more information, contact the town during business hours at (850) 256-3208 or email lhowington@centuryflorida.us.
Northview To Host Playoff Games On Drive To State Championship Game
November 7, 2022
The Northview Chiefs are headed down the Drive to December in their quest for a 1R state championship. And Northview will have the home field advantage. As long as the Chiefs are contenders, they will host all playoff through the state semifinals.
No. 1 Northview and No 2. Chipley will sit out this Friday night with byes.
On Friday night, Nov. 18, Northview will host the winner of the Nov. 11 game between No. 4 Freeport and No. 5 Holmes County. Chipley will host either No. 3 Baker and No. 6 Bozeman.
The regional final is Nov. 25, and the State Semifinals are Dec. 2.
The 1R 1M, 1S & 2S state championships will be December 8-10 at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee. The Florida High School Athletic Association has not announced the exact date for 1R.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
