The Tribal Beat Band Holds First Ever Band Banquet
May 11, 2008
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Marching Band held its first ever NHS Band Banquet Saturday night with an emphasis on fun.
“I want to thank the students,” said Band Director Charles Tucker. “You’ve worked so very hard this year.”
“I’ve had a really good time, and I thank everybody for what you have done,” Drum Major Jeremy Halteman said.
The band’s first annual award, the Right Shoe Award, was presented to Tabitha Steege (pictured top of page). Numerous other awards and gifts were presented to students, parents, volunteers and band boosters during the banquet at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
The biggest highlight of the night for the band members were the “fun” awards. The students voted the following award winners:
- The Most Talented: Mallorie Okahashi; Jake Carlson; Jeremy Halteman
- The Cutest: Colton Sims; Caitlyn Brown
- The Shyest: Sarah Schachle; Haley Coleman; Seth Turner
- The Friendliest: Lanie Eubanks; Melissa Moretz
- Needs To Shave the Most: Marvin Lucas
- The Funniest: Briana Halteman; Lanie Eubanks; D. J. Robinson
- Most Like A Cartoon Character: Wayne Marshall; Devon Dries
- Most Likely To Have Musical Career: Jeremy Halteman, Briana Halteman
- Most Likely Not To Show Up: Brittany Peebles; Desere Bookout
- Doesn’t Know Left From Right When Marching: Devon Dries; Casey Townson; Tabitha Steege; Miranda Burkett
- Mocks Mr. Tucker The Most: Justin Purvis
- Best Baton Twirler: Caitlyn Brown
- Best Flag Twirler: Parish Kelley; Patricia Boughner
- Biggest Flirt: Marvin Lucas; Allison Spence
- Spit Valve Fills Quickest: Jeremy Halteman; Jake Carlson
- Most Likely To Break Their Instrument: Jake Carlson; Dixie Picheo
- Most Improved: Matthew Mencel; Devon Dries
- Best At Marching: Jeremy Halteman, Briana Halteman
- Most Photogenic: Dixie Picheo; Caitlyn Brown
- Looks Best With FSU Hair: Kolbi Cobb; D. J. Robinson
- Most Spirit: Lanie Eubanks; D. J. Robinson; Jeremy Halteman
- Most Fashionable: Wayne Marshall; Kolbi Cobb
- Most Unique Style: Parish Kelley; Mallorie Okahashi
- Ate The Most Animal Crackers: Alyssa MacKendree
- Mr. Wright’s Favorite: Dixie Picheo; Elizabeth Wright
- Most Dependable: Lanie Eubanks; Jeremy Halteman
- Best Attitude: Briana Halteman; Lanie Eubanks; Olivia Nolen
- Forgot Black Socks Most: Casey Townson; Devon Dries
- Mr. Tucker’s Favorite: Colton Sims; Jeremy Halteman
- Best All Around: Briana Halteman; Lanie Eubanks
- Senior That Will Be Missed The Most: Jeremy Halteman; Marvin Lucas
- 8th Grader Most Likely to Succeed in High School: Elizabeth Wright
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured below: The “Looks Best With FSU Hair” student awards went to Kolbi Cobb and D.J. Robinson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Residents Help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ In Food Drive
May 11, 2008
Dozens of mail carriers collected hundreds of pounds of food Saturday at mailboxes across North Escambia for the 16th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.
Residents were asked to participate in the annual event by leaving a bag of nonperishable food by their mailboxes for their mail carrier to collect.
The food collected in North Escambia Saturday will go to the Manna Food Bank, ACTS Ministries; Warrington Emergency Aid; and St. Vincent de Paul in Pensacola for local distribution. The bulk of the food will go to the Manna Food Bank.
The local chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers hoped to collect quarter million pounds of food Saturday across Northwest Florida. Last year, local letter carriers collected 246,000 pounds of food. That accounted for about one third of all the food Manna collected last year.
Pictured above: Food awaits collection in the Stamp Out Hunger food drive Saturday on Wiggins Lake Road in Walnut Hill.
Cold Front Brings Cooler Temps
May 11, 2008
A cold front that passed through the North Escambia area over the weekend will bring cooler temperatures and lower humidity for the next few days.
A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for the area from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday and from noon until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. Afternoon relative humidities will drop below critical levels before rising around sunset each day. A Red Flag Warning, or a Fire Weather Warning, means that that critical fire weather conditions are expected to occur. A combination of low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create rapid fire growth potential.
After a start in the 50’s today’s high is expected to reach 82 under sunny skies. Tonight will be clear and chilly, with an overnight low around 47. Tuesday will once again be sunny, with a high of 85.
Pictured above: Deer grazing under sunny skies in a field near Oak Grove Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo.
NWE Hammer Heads Shut Out Molino
May 10, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Hammer Heads shut out the Molino Chicken Rockets by a score of 12-3 Friday evening. Much to everyone’s disappointment the game was called early due to time. This makes three wins in a row for the Hammer Heads.
For more photos from the game, click here.
Ramona Preston photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High Holds 13th Annual FFA Banquet
May 10, 2008
It was an emotional night Friday at the 13th Annual Northview High School FFA Banquet.
For the FFA teacher sponsor and the FFA president, the night was a perhaps a little more emotional and special.
“She’s been going to these (FFA) banquets for 18 years,” Northview FFA sponsor Perry Byars said of this year’s FFA President Andrea Byars (pictured left), his daughter. Andrea, a graduating senior, spent four years in Northview’s FFA under her father’s leadership.
The annual banquet includes a somber ceremony for graduating seniors…they slowly remove their signature blue FFA jackets and hang them up for the last time on a coat rack.
One at a time, the three graduating FFA seniors participated in the ceremony. Secretary Travis Vickery, Vice President Jacob Shiver and finally President Andrea Byers removed their jackets one by one, placing them on the coat rack. After hanging up her FFA jacket the last time, Andrea walked over and hugged her father.
Perry Byars then stood aside as Andrea took the podium.
“Mr. Byars, or as I call him ‘daddy’,” she said fighting back tears, “I want to thank you for the best four years of my life.” Sniffles and quiet sobs could be heard throughout the Northview theater.
She then presented Perry Byars and the “FFA Mom” Kay Byars with tokens of the FFA Club’s appreciation. Kay Byars is Andrea’s mom.
The night also included many awards for Northview and Ernest Ward Middle school FFA members and supporters.
Among those honored during the night were community members Libbie Johnson, Jamie Hall and James Riggs for their support of the FFA program. The three were named honorary members of the NHS FFA. Abbie Rolph and Jack Livingston were also honored as adult supporters of the FFA.
The coveted NHS FFA High Points Award went to Andrea Byars. The Blue and Gold Awards went to Sandie Sanders and Jennifer Lowe.
The new NHS FFA officers named for the 2008-2009 school year were: Micah Byars, president; Allie Vidak, vice president; Desere Bookout, second vice president; Aimee Clark, secretary; Jennifer Lowe, treasurer; Wes Chancery, parliamentarian; Lydia Weaver, reporter; Brittany Thompson, historian; Stephanie Solari, sentinel and Candice Greenwell, chaplain.
Dozens of the over 120 students in Northview’s FFA received various awards during the night.
The night also included honors and awards for Ernest Ward Middle School’s 87 FFA members presented by chapter sponsor Cynthia Wilson. Lydia Weaver and Bessie Hollingsworth were presented with EWMS FFA Leadership Awards.
For a photo gallery from the Northview FFA Banquet, click here.
Pictured above: FFA President Andrea Byars and her father, FFA sponsor Perry Byars, share a tearful hug. Picture below: Just one of the many awards presented during the 13th Annual Northview High School FFA Banquet Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Carver/Century Holds Field Day
May 10, 2008
Students at Carver/Century K-8 School held its annual Field Day Friday.
The elementary school students spent their morning doing a variety of activities outdoors, as the did the middle school students in the afternoon.
The day’s events included such events as the kangaroo relay, sack race, tug-of-war, hula hoop relay, wheelchair race, obstacle course , egg on spoon, egg toss, volleyball and more.
For a photo gallery from the elementary school portion of the Carver/Century Field Day, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NWE Panhandle Wins Again
May 9, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Little League Panhandle team beat Chumuckla Thursday night.
NWE Panhandle 13, Chumuckla 3.
FCAT Writing Scores Are Out: Bratt, Ernest Ward & Northview Among Best; Carver/Century At Bottom
May 9, 2008
Three North Escambia schools were near the top in the county in FCAT Writing+ scores released Thursday, while one area school had the lowest scores in the county.
Bratt Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle and Northview High had some of the county’s top FCAT Writing+ scores in results released Thursday. Carver/Century K-8 School students scored the lowest scores in the county at both the elementary and middle school levels.
On the Writing+ FCAT exam, a score of 3.5 is considered to be at grade level.
The percent of students scoring a 3.5 or greater on the fourth grade FCAT at Bratt Elementary was 85 percent. That was higher than the score at 35 of the county’s other elementary schools. Only three other schools scored higher, with two of those coming in at 86 percent.
Bratt Elementary Principal Sheryl Pomeroy told NorthEscambia.com that the students and teachers were both to be commended for their hard work to prepare for the FCAT.
The fourth graders at Carver/Center were at the opposite end of the scale, with only 20 percent of them scoring 3.5 or higher on the FCAT Writing+ exam. That was the lowest score in the county, with 39 other schools scoring better.
“Statistically, it is not a valid report, ” Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite told NorthEscambia.com. As an example, he indicated that about one third of 15 students in the school’s fourth graders taking the test are special education students who are likely to make low scores, bringing down the school’s average. “One or two will sway the average a lot,” he added.
“But on the surface, I am very disappointed,” he said. “But there are some students I know came up, and I am proud of them.”
At Molino Park Elementary, 75 percent of fourth graders made a 3.5 or greater on the Writing+ test. At the charter Byrneville Elementary School, 71 percent of fourth graders scored 3.5 or more.
Of 89 students taking the eighth grade Writing+ FCAT at Ernest Ward, 91 percent scored 3.5 or higher, the third best in Escambia County.
Northview High had 86 percent of their tenth graders taking the Writing+ FCAT to score a 3.5 or more. Only students at West Florida and Tate did better, with Tate coming in with 87 percent at grade level.
Parents of fourth, eighth and tenth graders will receive a letter with information on how to access their student’s FCAT score online. Scores are due to be available online for individual students by Monday.
Click a school name below for more information on how that school scored on the FCAT Writing test.
- Bratt Elementary
- Byrneville Elementary
- Carver/Century K-8 School
- Ernest Ward Middle School
- Northview High School
- Molino Park Elementary School
Pictured above: A sign outside Bratt Elementary proclaims that Bratt Elementary is “Making a Positive Difference”. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Three Dozen Northview Students Named Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars
May 9, 2008
The Atmore Rotary Club recognized an outstanding group of area high school students as Academic All-Stars Thursday night, including about three dozen Northview High School students.
The Academic All-Star program is open to students who attend Northview High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia County High School or Escambia Academy.
To be named an Academic All-Star, a student must have maintained at least a B average in every subject for each grading period of the school year, with at least one A for each grading period.
For those who have maintained this status from the 9th through the 12th grades, they are honored as Four-Year Academic All-Stars. Two Northview High School seniors, Eva Lee Currie and Kristan Diana McCants earned that title. (They are profiled at the end of this article.)
For a photo gallery from Thursday night’s Atmore Rotary Club Academic All-Stars program, click here.
Northview High freshmen honored as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars were:
- Mallory Ann Bell
- Allyson Michelle Bullard
- Ashley Elizabeth Digmon
- Laneicia Dynette Gomez
- Jocelyn Marlese Gould
- Sarah Malinda Killam
- Megan Juliette Ryan
- Hayley Renee Simpson
- Colton Darryl Sims
- Allison Ayers Vidak
Northview High sophomores honored as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars were:
- Jessica Nichole Bloodsworth
- Kaitlyn Nichole Caraway
- Clinton Eugene Davis
- Felicia Michelle Settle
- Mark Allen Shipps Jr.
- Dakota Wayne Stuckey
Northview High juniors honored as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars were:
- Gretchen Denea Boughner
- Olivia Kaylen Bryan
- Lanie Jeannine Eubanks
- Melissa Nicole Garrett
- Briana Renea Halteman
- Gabrielle Renae Hicks
- Luke Fletcher Killam
- Samantha Parry Merritt
- Jessica Maria Mothershed
- Chelsea Ellen Sims
- Garbell Sharda Wesley
Northview High seniors honored as Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars were:
- Andrea Leigh Byars
- Eva Lee Currie
- Jeremy Lyndon Halteman
- Emily Rena Hollingsworth
- Colton Alexander Kawamura
- Phillip Lee Mayhair
- Kristan Diana McCants
- Nicholas Lee Prather
- Kirsten Renee Robinson
- Adam Garrett Wieborg
Four-Year Academic All-Stars: Eva Lee Currie and Kristain Diana McCants
Eva (pictured above left) attends Northview High School. She has been in Beta Club for three years and served as president. She was also president of the Diverse Career Training program. She is one of 10 students selected to Northview High School’s Hall Fame. Eva plans to attend the University of South Alabama where she will study to be a neonatal intensive care unit nurse. She is the daughter of Fritz and Susan Currie.
Kristan (picture above right) attends Northview High School. She has been a member of the Minority Culture Club throughout high school and currently serves as president; FBLA, three years; Beta Club, two years; and Rho Kappa, two years, and currently serves as president; Spanish Club; the National Scholars’ Society. She is a dual enrollment student at Pensacola Junior College. She was on the volleyball team during her junior year. Kristan volunteers her time tutoring and in her church’s food ministry.She plans to attend Howard University and major in business/advertising. Kristan is the daughter of Rex and Jessie McCants.
The Rotary Club presented two $2,000 scholarships. The Randolph B. Lutrell, Sr. Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship was presented to Raven La’Quita McWilliams of Escambia County High School. The Atmore Rotary Club Merit Scholarship was presented to Jessica Pipkin of Escambia County High School.
Pictured above: Northview sophomore Clinton Davis receives his Atmore Rotary Club Academic All-Star award Thursday night at the First Assembly of God Church in Atmore.
The Atmore News contributed to this article. AtmoreNews.com photos.
Bratt Elementary School Students Spend Thursday With The Arts
May 9, 2008
Bratt Elementary students spent a day with the arts on Thursday, with students spending most of the day enjoying various art forms.
The students enjoyed Indian drums and dancing, clogging, fiber art, handbells, sculpture, opera from the Pensacola Opera, piano, painting, taekwondo and more.
Scott Slay, music teacher at Northview High School, was joined on stage in the Bratt cafeteria by his father Tracy Slay and several Northview students for an American Roots Music presentation. They performed bluegrass, folk, blues and jazz for the Bratt students and faculty.
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department was also on hand with summer safety tips.
For a complete photo gallery from the Bratt Cultural Arts Day, click here.
Pictured above: Bratt Elementary School fourth grader Jordan Taylor checks out a piece of granite at Bratt’s Cultural Arts Day. Pictured below: Northview High School music teacher Scott Slay (left) is joined on the Bratt stage by his students for a traditional American music presentation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
