Northview Dominates Branford 14-6 To Head To State Championship
May 20, 2025
The Northview Lady Chiefs are headed to the state championship.
Northview dominated Branford 14-6 Tuesday afternoon near Orlando.
The Branford Buccaneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first, but the Lady Chiefs answered with five in the bottom of the second and never looked back.
Northview’s five runs in the bottom of the second inning came on three hits — Addysen Bolen walked to score one run, Aubrey Hadley had a two-run single, and the Chiefs scored two runs on an error.
Northview took the lead in the bottom of the third when Daviona Randolph homered to left field, Riley Brooks singled down the left field line, and Kylee Langham drew a walk. Northview added six runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sophomore Mikayla McAnally earned the win, allowing 11 hits and six runs in six innings, striking out six and walking one. Senior Jamison Gilman stepped into the circle for the final inning, giving up no hits while striking out two and walking none.
Mikayla McAnally and Avery Stuckey each had three hits for the Lady Chiefs. Shortstop Riley Brooks had three RBIs.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Northview will face Trenton at 1:30 EDT (12:30 locally in North Escambia) for the Rural FHSAA Softball State Championship.
We will have a complete preview on Wednesday morning, plus a link (paid, $13.99) to watch the live video from the NFHS Network. We will also be providing live score updates on Wednesday on our Facebook page.
Young Bratt Man Critical After Nashville Hit And Run On His Birthday; Mom Pleads For Justice
May 20, 2025
A young Bratt man is recovering in a Nashville hospital after he was hit by a car that fled the scene.
Zachary Carach survived, but he’s facing a lengthy recovery.
Zach, his mother Sheena, and other relatives were in Nashville celebrating his 21st birthday together as a family.
“Our little family spent a wonderful day in Nashville, celebrating the 21st birthday of our son… as in 21 years ago on May 18th this baby blessed our lives” Sheena said in a message to NorthEscambia.com from Nashville just hours after the hit-and-run. “He has been dealt a hard hand his whole life, living with chronic kidney disease, losing a kidney at 7-year-soldo, having to have major spinal surgery at 16 and spending numerous days in the hospital for autoimmune issues. But this weekend was full of fun and celebration for him, because no one deserves it more. That is until it wasn’t.”
A surveillance video shows Zach, a 2022 Northview High School graduate, look both ways about 6 p.m. Sunday, before crossing Nashville’s Church Street in a clearly marked crosswalk. There’s a flashing signal, and a yellow sign noting that Tennessee law requires drivers to yield for pedestrians in crosswalks. It happened a few blocks from landmarks like the Ryman Auditorium and Bridgestone Arena. He’s hit by a Mitsubishi Mirage, throwing him into the air. The car did not stop.
Sheena ran to her son’s side, and she’s remained by his side as he recovers. She’s on a mission to find the driver responsible.
“While crossing in the crosswalk, my precious son was ran over like a piece of garbage and left for dead in the road. Witnessing this as a mom, was the most horrific day of my life and then to rewatch it on video and see his feet above his head and his head slam the ground was mortifying.”
She expressed difficulties in getting what she, a former police officer, felt was a proper investigation. And that’s not the Carach family’s only connection to law enforcement. You may remember the NorthEscambia.com stories about Zach’s younger brother “Donut Boy” Tyler Carach. While Tyle was a student at Byrneville Elementary School, he set out on a mission to thank and provide doughnuts for law enforcement agencies across the country. And he did just that in all 50 states, and made numerous national TV appearances on the CBS Evening News, Today Show, Steve Harvey and countless local TV stations He was also honored by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
But now, the family is focused on Zach’s recovery and finding the hit-and-run driver.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has confirmed that they now actively investigating the case.
“Please help us find this inhuman person who ran over my baby and kept rolling,” Sheena said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nashville Crime Stoppers at (615) 742-7463.
Photos/images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
‘You Are Champions’: Escambia Westgate Class Of 2025 Celebrates Graduation
May 20, 2025
The Escambia Westgate School Class of 2025 graduated on Monday.
Escambia Westgate School serves students from pre-K through high school with varying exceptionalities.
“We, all of us, are so very proud of you,” Deputy Superintendent Shenna Payne said. “The one one thing I want you to remember from all of us here is that you are loved. You are champions, and we will see you and the great things that you will do the way only you can do it in the future.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
The guest speaker was Grant Nunley, a 15-year-old freshman from Escambia High School. Nunley, who was born with spastic dyskinetic quadriplegia (a form of cerebral palsy), advocates for those with disabilities and offered words of encouragement to the Westgate graduates.
“There will be times when the road seems impossible, but remember that every move that you make forward, no matter how small is always going to be a victory. Keep pushing, keep striving and never lose sight of your dreams,” Nunley said. Continue to support one another, remember to celebrate your achievements, and no matter what, work towards a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive.”
The Escambia Westgate Class of 2025 graduates were:
Samuel Alfonso Battaglia
Joshua Grant Boatwright
Jayla Somone Carter
Jason Antonio Darr
Bethany Catherine Feagin-Davis
Russell Lee Fountain
Tyler Jensen
Kahreemah Nashyda Muhammad
Zachary Reed Pennington
Hannah Brooke Schneider
Davion Lynell Williams
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Charged In Ohio After Allegedly Killing Puppy With Hammer As Two Kids Listened
May 19, 2025
A Walnut Hill man is facing multiple charges in Ohio after allegedly killing a puppy using a hammer as two children listened.
Jimmy Robert Wiggins, Jr. was charged with felony endangering children, probations involving animals, felony tampering with evidence, and misdemeanor obstruction of official business. He remained jail Monday morning, and Erie County, Ohio, jail records show he also has an outstanding hold from Escambia County, Florida.
Ohio Allegations
Editor’s Note: The following description from Ohio law enforcement may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.
The Erie County Sheriff Office said the incident happened at home in “deplorable” condition with drugs in plain sight. They said Wiggins, 46, was living with a woman, identified as Gretchen Howard, in Milan Township, Ohio, a small community near Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo.
According to Ohio media reports, the local sheriff’s office received a report from a distraught child that Wiggins had killed a puppy with a hammer before fleeing. Two children told arriving deputies that Wiggins had threatened to choke the puppy named “Hank” just before the puppy was allegedly bludgeoned to death. The children reported hearing the puppy scream.
The children told deputies they saw Hank’s body in the a bathroom. Deputies were unable to locate the puppy, but they reportedly found a bloody hammer.
Howard was at home during the incident, and spoke with deputies, but they said her speech was mostly unintelligible.
Deputies found footprints leading from the home to a nearby river, and that’s where they say Wiggins was found, partially submerged and holding onto a tree branch. He was arrested, along with Howard..
Howard remained jailed Monday morning on two counts of endangering children.
The children were taken into custody by local child services, and another puppy in the home was relocated.
Wiggins History In Escambia County
Escambia County court records show Wiggins in due to appear May 27 on a grand theft arrest last February. In the case, direct filed by the State Attorney’s Office, Wiggins is accused of stealing over property valued over $750 from Florida Power & Light. He pleaded not guilty on March 24.
Florida court records show Wiggins was a resident of Perdue Road in Walnut Hill at the time of his last Escambia County arrest on February 28 and had been a resident there for several years.
Images: Erie County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office
Northview Lady Chiefs Depart For State Softball Final Four
May 19, 2025
The Northview Lady Chiefs department the school in Bratt early on a foggy Sunday morning, headed to the Rural FHSAA Softball final four beginning at noon EDT Tuesday at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, just outside Orlando.
With a police escort from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Lady Chiefs headed to Whataburger for breakfast, where the restaurant’s windows were covered with player’s name and jersey numbers. Numerous fans lined the route, with signs of support and cheers for the first-ever Northview softball team to got to state.
Northview will play Branford at noon EDT on Tuesday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Verizon Purchase Of Frontier Communications For $20 Billion Is Approved
May 19, 2025
The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau approved Verizon’s $20 billion acquisition of Frontier.
Locally, Frontier is the traditional copper landline and DSL provider in Walnut Hill, Molino, Bratt, and Atmore.
Last September, Verizon agreed to buy Frontier for about $9.6 billion and absorb $10 billion in Frontier debt.
“By approving this deal, the FCC ensures that Americans will benefit from a series of good and common-sense wins,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said. “The transaction will unleash billions of dollars in new infrastructure builds in communities across the country—including rural America. This investment will accelerate the transition away from old, copper line networks to modern, high-speed ones.”
The FCC said Verizon will be able to upgrade and expand Frontier’s existing network in 25 states, bringing more fiber to more communities. Verizon’s new fiber deployments will enable the retirement of old copper networks, ensuring that more communities benefit from advanced technologies. Following the transaction, Verizon expects to deploy fiber to 1 million or more American homes annually.
Pictured: The Frontier Communications switching central office near Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Approves Firefighter Raises, $34 Million For New or Expanded Fire Stations
May 18, 2025
The Escambia County Commission has approved $34 million in unallocated Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds to build or expand five fire stations, enhancing fire protection in the county. Additionally, the commission has approved raises for firefighters.
The board approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Escambia County Professional Firefighters, raising the hourly wage for beginning firefighters to $16, an increase of $3 per hour. The increase will cost the county about $1.7 million annually.
The board also approved a plan presented by Commissioner Ashley Hofberger. Her proposal included the addition of a second fire station in Cantonment and living quarters to an existing station in Dogwood Park.
The plan aims to make the following improvements:
- 7209 Lillian Hwy – Replacement, $8.5 million
- New Fire Station 24, Highway 97 and Kingsfield Road in Cantonment, $6.5 million
- New Fire Station in Paradise Beach, $6.5 million on a site to be determined
- Replacement station at 9350 Gulf Beach Highway, $8.5 million
- Molino Station 21/Dogwood Park, 4307 White Ash Road, add living quarters, $4 million.
Hofberger identified the locations with the assistance of Escambia County Fire Chief Adam Harrison. Her proposed timeline includes issuing a request for proposals by June 1, proposal evaluation by August 1, and groundbreakings by March 1, 2026.
Hofberger’s motion to approve the plan was seconded by Commissioner Steven Barry, who noted that the plan may be too aggressive.
The commission is also considering a new firefighter training center in Brownsville, and a new fire station in District 3 (estimated at about $4 million, if a need is determined).
Pictured: Escambia County Fire Station 21 on Whish Ash Road in Dogwood Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.