Walnut Hill Graduating Senior Honored By Local Church
May 4, 2008
Kate Sherrill of Walnut Hill is a graduating senior of the Christian Institute of Arts and Sciences. She was honored at the monthly First Sunday Lunch at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Kate will graduate at 6:00 Friday evening, May 16, 2008 at the Charity Chapel in Pensacola. She is the daugther of Kent and Anne Sherrill of Walnut Hill.
Fishing Rodeo For The Disabled Held In Walnut Hill
May 4, 2008
As the storm clouds approached Saturday morning, dozens of disabled people fished around Chester Jantz’s Walnut Hill catfish pond.
“That thing floating there in the water…it will move when the fish gets it, right?”, questioned one elderly lady as she sat by the pond in her wheelchair. “I’ve never fished before, so I am not sure what will happen. But I remember seeing that thing floating in the water move when the fish got it on this TV program I watched.”
“I’m just so excited,” she said. “I’ve never fished before.”
That’s what the Pen Wheels Fiesta of Five Flags 34th Annual Fishing Rodeo held Saturday was all about.
“It was organized to give disabled people a chance to get out,” Pen Wheels Vice President Pearline McLendon told NorthEscambia.com. “Many of these people have never fished before. This is just one way to get them out of their houses and the nursing homes into the community.”
As the rain got closer, Pearline had only caught one small fish “but it broke the hook and got away”. She had, however, hooked at least one volunteer that was helping out.
Over the 34 year history of the fishing rodeo, it has been held at locations ranging from Ft. Pickens to the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola. Since 2001, it has been held at Jantz’s catfish pond on South Highway 99, just off Highway 97.
“Jantz just does us right,” Pauline said. “I can’t say enough nice things about him. We never want to leave!”
Dozens of volunteers stood ready to help the disabled fish. They baited hooks, tossed a line and offered words of friendly encouragement. Many of the volunteers were from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church.
“There are some real Christian people here helping,” Pen Wheels President Warren Jernigan said. “They really show us Christian love.”
“I like seeing the joy of the people who catch something. I even enjoy the excitement of the people who don’t catch anything but get excited from those that do catch something.”
About 50 disabled people were registered in Saturday’s fishing rodeo. They were from around the area, including Pensacola and Century. Several residents from the Century Care Center participated.
Everything, including lunch, in Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above and below: The Pen Wheel Fishing Rodeo for the disabled Saturday in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Leaning Post Ranch in Molino Dedicated Saturday
May 4, 2008
A dedication ceremony was held Saturday afternoon for the Leaning Post Ranch in Molino, a state-licensed facility and prevention program for developmentally disabled and at-risk young people.
The facility was established in1992 by Fran and Newman Gersin. They started with one horse, and a dream to use that horse to encourage kids and keep them off drugs.
Now the Leaning Post Ranch has 40 acres, a barn, a new open-air arena, a mulipurpose facility, a house, 16 horses and a pony…thanks to generosity of several local organizations and God.
“Above all to God by the glory,” Fran Gersin (pictured left) told the crowd at the ranch Saturday. “This place has always been by faith.”
“There is no way two people could do all of this. Only God could do this,” she said.
The grooming and multipurpose building was dedicated as the “Connie J. Greenhut Horses and Hope Center” for Connie Greenhut. She is the wife of Greenhut Construction owner Bill Greenhut. Greenhut constructed the building with the help of, and donations from, over two dozen other construction related businesses.
Also dedicated Saturday was the “Impact 100 Arena”, named in honor of Pensacola’s Impact 100 group that made a $113,000 donation to the ranch in 2006 to construct the arena.
The day’s events included a meal made possible by donations from Grocery Advantage in Cantonment, tours and entertainment.
There were horse drill demonstrations by two teams, including on comprised of four autistic youth (pictured top of page). Nona Freeman (pictured left), a popular 91 year old Pentecostal writer and speaker from Texas, addressed those in attendance.
The Leaning Post Ranch is located at 4150 Cedar Springs Road in Molino. For more information, visit http://www.theleaningpostranch.com.
For a complete photo gallery from the Leaning Post Ranch in Molino, click here.
Pictured below: The silhouette of a horse a disabled child in a wheelchair decorates the entrance to the Leaning Post Ranch.
Mayor Gives Key To The Town Of Century To God At Prayer Service For Town
May 4, 2008
Over 100 Century residents came gathered Saturday morning to pray as the mayor turned the key to the town over to God.
“It is time to take the key away from man and give it to the King of Righteousness,” event organizer Laura Nelson told the crowd gathered at Carver/Century K-8 School.
Mayor Freddie McCall stood before the crown with a key to the town, which he presented to the Lord.
“This may be symbolic, but we are doing it from the heart,” McCall said. “Continue to pray for me; that He will give me His wisdom to do what is right for Century. I beg each and every one of you to open up your heart and back this man. The power is in prayer.”
Much of the prayer Saturday morning centered around saving Carver/Century School, and on saving the town. Pastor Jeff Dwenger from Abundant Life Assembly of God stood and prayed over the mayor and Carver/Century K-8 School Principal Jeff Garthwaite.
“This could be a crown jewel in our county school system,” the mayor said. “Pray for the parents and grandparents, that they would bring the kids back that have gone to greener grass (to another school).”
“We are getting ready in one accord to lock up some things in this town, and unlock some things in the town,” Nelson said. “We decree the righteousness of God over Century. We plead the blood of Jesus over Century.”
“The people walking in darkness have seen the light, a new dawning in Century,” she continued as a chorus of amens echoed through the Carver/Century cafeteria. “We decree that our businesses and schools are the head and not the tail.”
For many years, Century enjoyed the economic prosperity brought by a thriving sawmill and timber businesses. But in the last few years, Century has declined, the Rev. Willie Carter of the 130 year old Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church said. But he said now is the time for change with God in control.
“I am calling on Century; it is time for us to come together,” Carter said. “It is time for us to realize that we have one God.”
“If we’d just do like the football player, we could do a whole lot better,” he said. “It does not matter who is going to be blocking, tackling or carrying the ball. They just want to get the job done.”
“We are on the fourth down,” Carter continued. “It is time for to come together. I plead with you…let’s do the best we can to keep our community together.”
Don Sales from the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society outlined a plan underway to improve Century’s economic plight. He said that plan were underway to potentially build a park at the site of the old Alger-Sullivan mill where the group’s Old 100 steam engine would once again run on a circular track for tourists.
That would lead to jobs, and increased property values, he said. “But for that to happen, we need this school to stay right here,” he added.
“It is because of the kids; that is what we are all about,” Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite said.
“I am here because I believe that this is where God wants me,” Garthwaite said of Carver/Century, a school rated as an “F” school by the state.
“I have every reason to believe that we will come out of being an “F” school,” he said, “with the help of the parents and grandparents.”
“We can praise God, and we can invite God into our classrooms. The future of the school, our future, is good. But it needs to be better.”
Pastor Irvin Stallworth from New Life Baptist Church led the group of young and old to hold hands and sing “Reach and touch someboy’s hand. Make this world a better place, if you can.”
“Out best is not behind us; our best is yet to come,” Stallworth said before leading the group in fervent prayer for Century.
Nelson organized the event after hearing of a similar event in Montgomery, Alabama.
“I went to the mayor’s office and told him of my idea to give the key to the city to the King of Righteousness,” she said. “He began to weep as he said ‘yes’.”
“There is no one like God,” Nelson said. “That is why we are here.”
For more photos from the prayer service Saturday in Century, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senior Play ‘Our Town’ Presented At NHS
May 4, 2008
The Northview High School senior class took to the stage Friday and Saturday nights to present “Our Town”.
There were 22 cast members in Northview’s production of Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town”. Set in the small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners, Our Town is one of the most widely produced American stage plays.
Click here for a photo gallery from the NHS production of “Our Town”.
The Stage Manager, who serves as the play’s narrator and often delivers long monologues, introduces the audience to Grover’s Corners in 1901. In the early morning, only a few folks are about. The paperboy delivers papers. The milkman passes by. Dr. Gibbs has just delivered twins.
Then it’s just an ordinary day in Grover’s Corners. Throughout the morning and the rest of the day, the townspeople of Grover’s Corner eat breakfast, work in town, do household chores, garden, gossip, go to school, attend choir practice, and admire the moonlight. An attraction develops between young residents Emily Webb and George Gibbs, as they share algebra homework help from their respective windows.
Over the next two acts, the characters further interact to show small town life in Grover’s Corners. A lot happens in act two, but we don’t want to spoil it for you.
The final act takes place in a cemetery in 1913. It is set upon a hill overlooking Grover’s Corner. About a dozen people sit in several rows of chairs. They have patient and somber faces. The Stage Manager tells us that these are the dead citizens of the town.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senior Adult Weekend At Bratt Church
May 4, 2008
This weekend is Senior Adult Weekend at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
Senior adults gathered at Wiggins Lake in Walnut Hill Saturday afternoon for food, fellowship and singing.
Sunday morning Sunday School will begin at 9:15 A.M. and worship service will begin at 10:30 A.M. The Senior Adult choir will provide special music.
Sunday evening at 6:00, the Master’s Men Quartet will sing during the worship time. Everyone is invited to enjoy this special weekend at First Baptist church of Bratt.
Submitted info.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Holds Mother-Daughter Banquet
May 4, 2008
Rays Chapel Baptist Church held a mother-daughter banquet over the weekend.
Ladies from the church brought their favorite dinner ware to decorate the tables. Themes consisted of frogs, teapots, butterflies, patriotic themes and more.
Ladies who attended the banquet were asked to vote on their favorite table, and the winner was awarded a prize.
There were also prizes awarded to the mothers who had the oldest and the youngest daughters with them.
The speaker, Jeanna Lankford, talked about how precious a thing to make good memories with our families. A video of favorite family pictures set to music was presented by Lisa Weaver of Memories-N-Motion. Mary Enfinger entertained everyone with song. The overall theme of this years event was Making Memories. Some of the men from church were on hand to help serve fried chicken and the fixins. A wonderful time was had by all.
The event was planned and organized by Teresa and Adrea Watford.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the Ray’s Chapel Mother-Daughter Lunch.
Story and photos submitted by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Pat Still, Local Ambulance Company Owner, Laid To Rest Sunday
May 4, 2008
Patricia Still of Atmore passed away Friday morning following a brief illness. Still owned Atmore Appliances, formerly Western Auto, and Atmore Ambulance. Atmore Ambulance provides ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Oak Grove, Davisville and nearby areas in the 327 phone exchange in North Escambia.
Still’s husband Merrill passed away in early January of this year.
A black wreath hung on the door of the businesses in Atmore Friday afternoon.
Visitation was held Saturday night at the McCullough Christian Center north of Atmore. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the McCullough Christian Center, the Rev. Cornelius Phillips officiating.
Pictured above: Pat and Merrill Still. Photos courtesy AtmoreNews.com.
Molino Park Holds Field Day
May 3, 2008
Thursday was a big day at Molino Park Elementary School as the students played hard at the school’s annual Field Day.
NorthEscambia.com was there, and we have a complete photo gallery that you can view by clicking here.
The students ended the day with a Relay for Life Wagon Parade. NorthEscambia.com will have that story and those photos posted on Friday morning.
Hammer Heads Win 19-5 Over Fidelis
May 3, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Hammer Heads celebrated a big win over Fidelis 19-5. Scroll down for more pictures.
A little advice from friends.
Hammer Heads pose.
Zach Payne slides into home, and he’s safe.
Cameron Armentor happy to be in the lead.
Devin shows how to hold the bat for this base hit.
Brandon Peebles ready for his turn at bat.
Ramona Preston photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.