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.
North Pensacola Relay For Life Beats Goal
May 3, 2008
The North Pensacola Relay for Life was held this weekend at Tate High School. The goal for the annual relay event was $97,000, but it actually brought in $111,000.
There are about three dozen teams in the event, including several from the NorthEscambia.com coverage area.
Molino Park Elementary School and Aldersgate Methodist Church from Molino participated in the American Cancer Society fund raiser.
The North Pensacola Relay goal for this year was $97,000. About $85,000 of that had been raised before the relay kicked off. This year’s three dozen teams was about a dozen more than last year.
The theme for this year’s relay was “Cure Cancer…Live Happily Every After”.
Late Friday night, there was a Mz. Relay Contest — a woman-less beauty and talent competition.
At 9:00 Friday night, the Tate High stadium lights were cut and the stadium was lit with the glow of Luminaria bags, representing cancer survivors and victims alike.
For a complete photo gallery from Friday night at the North Pensacola Relay for Life at Tate High School, click here.
Pictured above and below: Members of the Molino Park Elementary School Relay for Life team, with their “Kick Cancer” theme. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Mayfest Cancelled
May 3, 2008
The annual Mayfest in Atmore was washed out Saturday morning.
At 10:30 a.m., Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce officers decided to cancel Mayfest today.
Atmore Chamber president Allen Walston said that even when the rain subsides, the park is too wet from this morning’s line of storms to go on with the festival. Also, the rain and standing water were affecting the venues that required electricity.
The entire Mayfest will not be rescheduled, however, the Beautiful Baby Contest will be. Allen said that since next weekend is Mother’s Day, it probably will be rescheduled for a couple of weeks from this weekend.
Learn To Read Tutor Workshop Saturday In Century
May 3, 2008
Learn to Read of Northwest Florida will conduct a volunteer tutor training workshop on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the old hospital.
Volunteers will lean how to teach others to read and write. For more information, contact Edna Earle Barnes at 256-0880 or Lie Rust at 432-4357.