Senate Looks At Limiting Landowner Liability For Hunting, Fishing
October 20, 2011
A Senate committee Wednesday began moving forward with a bill that would limit the legal liability of landowners who allow people to use their property for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing.
Supporters said the bill, which is part of a package of legislative proposals by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, could help encourage more people to enjoy the outdoors.
“One of the things that keeps people from opening up their lands is they’re afraid of being sued,” said Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville.
But the proposal also faced questions from some lawmakers and the Florida Justice Association, which represents trial lawyers.
Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, questioned whether guests on the land would also have liability protections for damage they might unintentionally cause. “You just can’t have one side give up their rights and not the other side,” she said.
The Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee introduced the bill and will have to bring it up again before voting.
By The News Service of Florida
Minor League Baseball Owners Headed To Pensacola
October 20, 2011
The newest member of Minor League Baseball’s Southern League, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, will host owners and representatives from other Southern League teams at a league meeting this weekend on Pensacola Beach.
The meeting, an off-season gathering of team owners and front office staff, is a yearly conference focusing on the business aspects of the league and the various legal, technical, and financial aspects of the baseball industry. As the Southern League’s newest member, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos volunteered to host the meeting.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos president Bruce Baldwin said the conference would be an opportunity to introduce Pensacola to the rest of the league.
“All of these teams have heard of Pensacola, and know about the Blue Wahoos. As the newest member of the Southern League, we thought it would be a great way to connect with the other teams, and at the same time to show them what a great city Pensacola is, if we hosted the owners’ meeting here. Almost all of these teams are within a day trip to Pensacola,” said Baldwin. “And this meeting gives us a chance to not only show off this great location for baseball, but also build a positive perception of Pensacola around the Southeast,” Baldwin said.
Representatives from Minor League baseball teams across the Southeast will attend the conference, to be held at the Springhill Suites Marriott on Pensacola Beach. Attendees will participate in the conference meetings, dine at local restaurants, and tour the stadium at the Community Maritime Park. Baldwin said he was hopeful that the meetings would give the other team owners and executives a chance to see Pensacola up close.
“My colleagues in baseball are already talking about Pensacola – they know about the Blue Wahoos, they know about the waterfront stadium, and they’re learning about our City. Now they’ll get to see first-hand what a great place this is,” Baldwin continued. “I’m excited for the Blue Wahoos to host this meeting, to show off our new home at the Maritime Park, and to support our local community.”
The Southern League is comprised of ten teams in two divisions, and Pensacola is the latest member of a select group of 90 cities across the country that host major-league baseball affiliates.
Volleyball: Northview, Escambia Split Games
October 19, 2011
The Escambia Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs Monday in varsity high school volleyball action, while the junior varsity Lady Chiefs beat Escambia in the final games of the regular season.
Varsity
Escambia defeated Northview 19-25, 13-25, 17-25.
Senior Jose Docuette had one ace, two kills, one block and two digs for the Lady Chiefs, while Morgan Payne added one ace, two kills, one block and dig. Shelley Motherside contributed three assists, one block and two digs, as Misty Doran Posted one ace, four kills, one block and a dig.
Northview finished the regular season at 4-18, 3-5 in the district.
Junior Varsity
The JV Lady Chiefs defeated the Escambia Gators 25-12, 25-19.
Danielle Steadham had five aces and two kills for the JV Lady Chiefs, as Hannah Fiellin posted four aces, three kills and two assists. Tiffani Pritchett added two aces and seven assists, and Rebecca Grim had five kills for Northview.
The JV Lady Chiefs finished their season at 11-8, 4-2 in the district.’
Pictured top: The Northview varsity volleyball team. Pictured below: The junior varsity Lady Chiefs. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fish Story: Santa Rosa Man Catches Florida’s Largest Catfish
October 19, 2011
A Santa Rosa County man now holds the distinction of having landed the largest flathead catfish ever caught with a rod and reel in Florida waters.
Eric Auston Jr., 33, was fishing with his good friend October 9 at 2:30 a.m. in the Yellow River when he caught a flathead catfish weighing 55.05 pounds. He used a rod and reel with 25-pound-test line and a small bluegill as bait, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
His fish was substantially larger than the existing Florida record flathead – a fish that weighed 49.39 pounds, caught in the Apalachicola River in 2004. Auston said he fishes for flatheads only a few times each year. His biggest flathead prior to last weekend weighed 42 pounds, but that fish was caught on a bush hook.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) maintains records for most species of freshwater fish. The FWC will present Auston with a certificate of his record catch for display.
Jay, Flomaton Beat Two Monroe County JV Teams
October 19, 2011
The junior varsity football teams from Jay and Flomaton high schools both celebrated wins Tuesday against teams from Monroe County, Alabama.
The JV ‘Canes defeated Excel 48-8 in Flomaton. And the junior varsity Jay Royals ended their season with a win over Uriah 28-0.
Go Little Chiefs: Northview Plans Mini Cheerleading Clinic
October 18, 2011
The annual Northview Mini-Cheerleading Clinic will be held Thursday evening, giving area girls the chance to cheer at an upcoming Northview Chiefs game.
The clinic will be from from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m Thursday in the school gym. The clinic is open to children three-years old through the eighth grade. Cost is $10 per person, and t-shirts will be available for purchase the at the clinic.
The girls will perform during the October 21st Northview Chiefs football game at home against Freeport High School. They girls will receive free admission to the game,ribbon and a megaphone filled with goodies.
For questions, call Anna at Northview at (850) 327-6681.
Pictured: Mini-cheerleaders perform last year at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Tate Split Volleyball Games
October 18, 2011
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs Monday in varsity high school volleyball action, while the junior varsity Lady Chiefs beat Tate.
Varsity
Tate defeated Northview in three straight, 25-9, 25-17, 25-14.
Josie Docuette had three aces, three kills, a block and a dig for the Lady Chiefs. Payton Hadley contributed one ace, four assists, one block and a dig, while Morgan Payne had two kills and six digs.
For Tate, Maia Nguyen had three aces, 14 assists, four digs; Madeline Sellers had a block and a kill. Bianca Brown contributed two aces, nine kills and five digs, as Perhawna Williams added tow blocks. Kyla Muhammad had one ace, seven kills, one block and four digs for the Aggies.
The varsity Lady Chiefs are 4-17 overall, 3-5 in district play.
Junior Varsity
Northview defeated Tate 25-23, 24-26, 16-14.
Danielle Steaham had four kills, two assists, two blocks and two digs for the JV Lady Chiefs, as Hannah Fiellin posted three aces, two kills, three assists and two digs. Tiffani Pritchett added three aces and six assists, and Rebecca Grim had one ace, two kills, one assist and two digs.
The JV Lady Chiefs are 10-8 overall, 4-2 in the district.
Northview will end their regular season on the road Tuesday at Escambia. The junior varsity takes to the court at 4:30 p.m., while the varsity plays at 5:30 p.m.
District Battles Heating Up
October 17, 2011
There are two big district battles brewing for Friday night as we head into week 8 of the Florida high school football season.
The top of District 1-6A will come down to Friday night’s matchup between Pensacola High (5-1, 3-0) and Pace (5-2, 3-1). Meanwhile, the only North Escambia area team in the district is out of the title hunt for sure, with Tate winless at 0-7, 0-4.
Northview (3-2, 1-0) and Freeport (5-1, 1-0) both had last Friday night off as they prepare to face off against each other this Friday night in Bratt for the top spot in District1-1A.
Meanwhile, West Florida High School remains at the top of District 1-5A with a (6-0,2-0) record. Short of a a major upset, the WFHS best-ever season will continue Friday night as the Jaguars travel Rutherford (1-4, 0-1), the worst team in the district standings.
PHS Spoils Tate Homecoming
October 15, 2011
Homecoming was for the Tate Aggies was spoiled Friday night by Pensacola High School 63-13.
Tate’s only scores of the night came early in the third quarter and late in the fourth. David Moorehead passed to Tay Samuel for a 39-yard touchdown with 10:15 on the clock in the third. With Hagen Mancuso’s good kick, the Aggies were down 54-7.
Hagen Mancuso scored on a one-yard run with 2:35 remaining in the game.
Tate (0-7, 0-4)) will host Pace (5-2, 3-1) next Friday night in a district game.
For more photos — including Homecoming Court pictures, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Jay Beats Cottondale
October 15, 2011
The Jay Royals stung Cottondale 32-12 Friday night to spoil the Hornets’ homecoming.
The Royals took the lead with 4:30 to go in the first quarter on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Tate Upton to Sammy James. A good extra point, and the Royals were up 7-0. Then, with just over 30 seconds to go in the first, Dakota Smith punched it in from 6-yards out.
The Royals scored again in the second on a 13-yard scramble from Upton to increase their lead to 20-0 over Cottondale.
Upton and Smith led the Royals with a combined total offense of 335 yards.
The Jay Royals (3-4, 0-1) will travel to Baker (5-2, 0-1) in a district game next Friday night.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.