Half Million Dollar Cantonment Athletic Park Expansion Is 70% Complete
August 24, 2011
A half million dollar expansion at the Cantonment Athletic Park is about 70 percent complete.
The Escambia County Commission awarded the $492,197.50 construction contract earlier this year to low-bidder Roads, Inc., of NWF. The project consists of the addition of two multi-use practice fields at the park, including a grass parking lot, landscaping and drainage improvements.
The new site was wooded and almost completely surrounded by wetlands. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit allowed access to the site from the current park with a paved entrance road with a culvert structure.
The park expansion is being funded with local option sales tax monies.
There were a total of nine companies that bid on the project. The second lowest bidder was Gulf Equipment Corp. at $509,312.50 while the highest bid was $653,243.57 from J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc.
The Cantonment Athletic Park is an 80 acre regional park at 681 Well Line Road. The park has 12 baseball and softball fields, one football field, restrooms, concessions, playground and security lights. A partnership with Cantonment Baseball Club and Cantonment Football Club provides for various youth athletic programs at the park.
Pictured top: Work is about 70 percent complete on a half million expansion at the Cantonment Athletic Park. Pictured inset: A paved entrance road from the back of the existing park leads across a culvert to the new addition. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Battle Of The Badges To Benefit ARC Gateway
August 22, 2011
In honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, area first responders are teaming up to help others.
First responders from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department and the Pensacola Fire Department will don their baseball caps and cleats for the first annual benefit softball game, the Battle of the Badges, on Saturday, September 10th at Exchange Park in Pensacola, Florida.
The event is an opportunity for members of the community to come out and cheer on the people who protect and serve our community every day and help raise money to benefit ARC Gateway.
Since 1954, ARC Gateway has been providing direct services and support to children and adults who have developmental disabilities. With the help of members, supporters and volunteers, the agency currently serves approximately 900 individuals through a variety of services that begin at birth and continue through the senior years.
The tournament will feature teams from the ECSO, PPD, Escambia Road Prison and Pensacola Fire Department. Games will begin at 10 a.m. on at Exchange Park, 3100 East Lakeview Avenue. There will be activities for kids and Georgio’s first responder pizza eating contest. Attendees are encouraged to bring their stadium seats and chairs and enjoy an afternoon of fun.
Molino Fall Ball Registration Is Saturday
August 19, 2011
Signups begin Saturday for Fall Ball at Molino Ballpark.
Fall Ball will include tee ball, baseball and softball, with registration at $35 per child. Signups will be Saturday, August 20 and Saturday, August 27 at the Molino Ballpark from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Preseason Poll: Northview Chiefs Number One In Florida 1A
August 17, 2011
The Northview High School Chiefs are the top-ranked Class 1A football team in Florida, according to rankings released by the national website maxpreps.com.
Maxpreps ranked Northview No. 1 in Class 1A, followed by Jefferson County (Monticello) at No. 2 and Holmes County at number No. 3.
Freeport — the Chiefs’ October 21 opponent — is ranked at No. 5. Other ranked 1A teams that Northview will faced this year are Vernon at No. 7, Chipley at No. 12, Baker at No. 17, South Walton at No. 20.
The Chiefs will begin play with a Fall Classic against Bay High School on August 26. Northview begins regular season play September 9 on the road at Marianna.
Pictured: Two Northview defenders take down a Trinity Christian Conqueror in the Class 1A Semifinals last December. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Learn About Northview, Ernest Ward Cross Country Teams At Meeting
August 16, 2011
A meeting for students and parents interested in cross country at Ernest Ward Middle or Northview High schools will be held this week.
“It develops patience, determination, and self reliance,” Coach Natalie Nall said about cross country. “The mission of the program is to develop a lifelong wellness through distance running and nutrition.”
The meeting will take place Thursday, August 18 at 6 p.m. in room 201 at Northview High School.
Sports Briefs: Flomaton Football, Jay Royals
August 16, 2011
There are several sports related items of interest this week:
Flomaton Football League Signups
Flomaton Football League signups for football and cheerleading, August 18 from 5-7 p.m at Hurricane Park. $50 signup cost. (251) 727-1391.
Jay High Royal Night
Jay High School Royal night will be Friday, August 19 beginning at 6 p.m. Admission $3, concessions available. Scrimmages with future Royals, JV and varsity teams.
Atmore’s Linam Standout During Saturday UCF Scrimmage
August 14, 2011
A former Atmore resident was the shining star for the University of Central Florida Knights Saturday morning during the teams’ first full contact scrimmage of training camp.
Surrounded by mostly youth and inexperience in the linebacker corps, Josh Linam takes seriously his role as a playmaker and leader for the Knights’ defense.
Linam’s growth as a player and focus as a leader was evident as he made play after play in the middle of the defense.
Linam’s stellar, stingy play helped UCF’s defense carry the day in a steamy session where yards were hard to come by and the defense swarmed on tackles. The offense did play well late in the day, getting three-straight touchdown runs from quarterback Jeff Godfrey and tailback Latavius Murray. But for the most part, the defense proved itself to be slightly ahead of the offense – in large part because of the sure tackling by Linam.
“It’s a team defensive effort and everybody has to be doing their job for us to be successful as a whole. We made some strides forward in doing that today,” Linam said Saturday. “As a senior, a lot rests on my shoulders. I expect myself to get everyone lined up, make sure they are doing the right things and playing with effort and enthusiasm. I think everybody was doing that today.”
As for Linam, he is UCF’s lone senior at linebacker and he could very well be lining up alongside true freshmen Terrance Plummer and Willingham at times this season. And another of the standout linebackers in camp, Ray Shipman, is a converted basketball player from the University of Florida. So Linam, UCF’s third-leading tackler last season, knows that much of the responsibility for UCF remaining atop Conference USA in defense rests on his shoulders.
“Again today (Willingham and Plummer) took another stride forward. They’re doing their jobs, they’re really athletic and they’re running to the ball and making plays,” said Linam, who had 78 stops and nine tackles for loss last season in his first year as a starter. “I think the chemistry on defense right now is great. Everybody is really into it with one heartbeat and trying to get better. Everyone is focused on playing team defense and getting better. If we keep this up we have a chance to be a really good defense.”
Last season, Linam was the defensive MVP for the UCF Knights as they defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 10-6 in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.
Linam was named to the All Conference USA All Academic 1st Team, ESPN-nominated for Academic All American, ESPN All District 3 Academic 1st Team and Conference USA player of the week versus Houston with 17 tackles. He finished last season with 78 tackles, 9.0 tackles for losses and one interception.
Linam is the son of Dr. Kevin R. Linam of Atmore.
Pictured top: Josh Linam (#50) assists with a tackle in the Autozone Liberty Bowl as UCF beat the Georgia Bulldogs 10-6. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay High To Hold Royal Night
August 11, 2011
Jay High School will hold “Royal Night” next week to give fans the chance to come out and meet this year’s Royal football team and some future Royals.
Events begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 19 at Merle V. North Stadium at Jay High School. Admission is $3 with concessions available from the band.
There will be scrimmages between future Royals — Mini Mites at 6 p.m., Mites at 6:20, and Midgets at 6:40. The band will perform at 7 p.m., followed by a junior varsity scrimmage at 7:15. The varsity Royals will hold a scrimmage at 7:35.
Season passes are also on sale now in the front office for the Jay Royals. Family passes at $175 and individual passes are $100.
Ticket prices for football games this year will be $6 pre-sale and $7 at the gate. Junior varsity game tickets are $5 for home games.
Calf Ropers Show Their Stuff
August 8, 2011
d
The second tie-down and breakaway calf roping event was held at Howell Farm outside Flomaton recently.
About 200 people enjoyed the family-oriented roping event that drew about 30 ropers from a 300 mile radius, including many from the North Escambia area.
Colter Prescott of Jay posted the fastest time at 8.50 seconds. Other winners in the three rounds were Cody Kent, Kenny Harris, Bill Stewart, Darren Gardner, Mitchell Roland, Brandon Chambliss, Waylon Stucky, Jason Kimbrell and Blake Bryant. Winners of the average in the four brackets were Kenny Harris in 1B, Waylon Stucky in 2B, Blake Bryant and Carl Bowman tied in 3B, and Justin Seale in 4B.
Parker Robinson and Kay Stewart were winners in the breakaway roping event.
Pictured: (top) Waylen Stuckey of Flomaton, (inset) Luke Brown of Century, and (below) Daniel Chavers of Brewton. Pictured bottom: Jason Kimbrell and his sons, all from Chumuckla. Submitted photos by Wendy Neal for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Charges Filed After Jay High Player Attacked At Football Camp
August 3, 2011
No charges were filed after a Jay High School football player was attacked last week at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes football camp near Marianna.
The 16-year was taken to the Jackson County Emergency Room in Marianna to be evaluated for a possible concussion, according to Major Donnie Branch, chief deputy of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The football player did not suffer a concussion, and was treated and released, the Sheriff’s office report states.
According to Branch, deputies were notified of the incident about 5 a.m. on July 28 by the Jackson Hospital Emergency Room in Marianna. The 16-year old Jay player had been transported to the ER to be evaluated for a possible concussion. He was treated and released to his parents, Branch said.
The incident occurred earlier that morning at a football camp for boys age 13-18 being held at the Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center just outside Marianna. The Jay player was allegedly attacked in his room by players attending the camp from Taylor County High School.
Branch said Tuesday that the juvenile’s parents had declined to press charges in the incident.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.