EREC Youth Tour Participants Visit Tallahassee
February 24, 2009
Escambia River Electric Cooperative took 16 juniors from its service area to Tallahassee recently to learn more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives as part of its Youth Tour.
While in Tallahassee, the students met with Representatives Clay Ford and Dave Murzin and had the opportunity to tour the governor’s mansion. The students participated in a mock session in the house chambers and in the Florida Supreme Court as well. In addition, the students enjoyed visiting the Mary Brogan Museum and seeing the “Our Body – The Universe Within” exhibit.
Participants included Jessica Bloodsworth, Erica Bogden, Emma Bone, Sandra Boyett, Jordan Bray, Clint Davis, Kathryn Floyd, Drew Garcia, Travis Hatfield, Bridget Jacobs, Heather Lee, Austin Lowery, Miranda Scott, Felicia Settle, Allison Spence and Allison White.
The Youth Tour program provides students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact with other students from co-ops throughout the state. It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group.
Pictured above: EREC Youth Tour students outside the Governor’s Mansion. Front (L-R): Sandra Boyett, Heather Lee, Allison White, Kathryn Floyd, Erica Bogden, Jordan Bray, Jessica Bloodsworth, Miranda Scott, Felicia Settle and Allison Spence. Back (L-R): Emma Bone, Bridget Jacobs, Drew Garcia, Austin Lowery, Travis Hatfield and Clint Davis. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Relay Teaspoon Pageant Canceled
February 24, 2009
The Byrneville Elementary School Relay for Life team has canceled their beauty pageant originally scheduled for Saturday night.
The Jr. Ms. and Miss Teaspoon Pageant has been canceled due a scheduling conflict. The
“We apologize and hope to reschedule this event at a future date,” said Susan Diamond from the Byrneville Elementary Relay for Life team.
Century’s Country Bumpkin To Close; New Store Coming To Location
February 23, 2009
Longtime Century business Country Bumpkin is closing to make way for a new retail business in the same location.
Country Bumpkin owner Terri Sanders has announced that she is closing her doors with an inventory reduction beginning today. The Country Bumpkin’s last day will be March 31, making way for a new thrift store by May 1.
St. Vincent de Paul will open a thrift store in the County Bumpkin building on North Century Boulevard. The Catholic organization operates four other thrift stores in the Pensacola area. Sanders will be the store manager for the CenturySt. Vincent de Paul store.
“It was really an answered prayer,” Sanders said. After years of self employment and long hours at the Country Bumpkin, she said she is looking forward to working a regular schedule.
“Here I am, going to get to do something different,” she said. “But this will be great. I’ll still be in retail, and still in Century. I like the small town thing, asking how people are and about their grand babies.”
She said with the economy and changing times, business had slowed at here crafts store.
“Times have changed. This was the first year that I could remember that someone did not stop in to by their child’s teacher a present for Christmas,” she said. “Things are just different. Money is tight. That’s why a thrift store will do so well.”
The Country Bumpkin opened in 1991 as a crafts and collectibles store. Sanders closed it in 2001 and took some time off to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine to raise funds for the Rotary International Polio Plus Program. Her walk raised over $5,000 for the program. She reopened the store in July of 2006. She opened the Tea Room inside the store in February of last year. She is active in the Tri City Rotary Club, the Health and Hope Clinic in Pensacola and the American Red Cross.
Sanders and her Country Bumpkin were named the Century Outstanding Business of the Year last year by the Century Chamber of Commerce.
Sanders will be leasing the Country Bumpkin portion of her building to St. Vincent de Paul for the thrift store. She will keep the commercial kitchen portion of the store, where she will continue to make fudge and bread to sell at craft shows and farmer’s markets.
Her biggest problem, she said, will be adjusting to a regular job with regular hours and a regular paycheck.
“I don’t know what I am going to do when the doors close at five in the afternoon,” Sanders said. “I won’t be working until 10 or 11 at night. I’m going to start a garden, I think. And finish my book.”
Sanders has been working on a book that chronicles her 2003 Appalachian Trail hike.
The Country Bumpkin will begin a liquidation sale today, and lower prices each Monday as the March 31 closing date draws closer. The store is located at 7850 North Century Boulevard.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international organization with a mission to help the poor and homeless. Their thrift stores are a way of raising money to accomplish that mission.
Pictured top: The Country Bumpkin in Century will be closing at the end of March. Pictured middle: Terri Sanders receives the Outstanding Business of the Year award from the Century Chamber of Commerce last year. Pictured below: Sanders (in yellow) opened the Tea Room inside the Country Bumpkin in February of 2008. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
One Person Dies In Accident Near Molino
February 23, 2009
(Updated 11:45 a.m.) One person was killed an accident near Barinneau Park Sunday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Leona Ruth Lewis, 45, of Cantonment was southbound on Jacks Branch Road about 6:45 Sunday night when she lost control of her 2007 Lexus near Applewood Lane.
Her passenger, Ruffer Lee Lewis, 51, of Cantonment was ejected from the vehicle when it hit a four-foot high steel fence and overturned off the roadway. Ruffer Lewis was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was pronounced dead at 7:46 p.m. He was not wearing his seat belt, according to the FHP.
Loeona Lewis was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Troopers say she was wearing her seatbelt.
The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call.The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured above: One person was killed in this single vehicle accident on Jacks Branch Road Sunday night. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Step Up, Stand Out: Northview High Celebrates National FFA Week
February 23, 2009
Northview High School’s FFA along with FFA chapters across the nation will be celebrating National FFA Week through February 28 with a variety of activities.
“Step Up, Stand Out” is the theme this year and more than half a million members around the nation will participate in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. Stepping up and standing out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it’s also a call to action for others. FFA members set a positive example with their leadership, work ethic and community service activities.
The focus of National FFA Week is to tell America about the great opportunities available for youth in agriculture. From its beginnings in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization today reaches out to all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. From urban to rural schools, FFA is committed to developing character and leadership skills and preparing members for a lifetime of success in one of the 300 careers in agriculture.
FFA members are success-oriented students who are driven to achieve their goals and be the leaders of tomorrow. They stand out by recognizing the importance of being active in their schools and communities and are urged to step up when volunteers are sought, friendship is needed and leadership is required.
Through classroom instruction and hands-on learning, agricultural education and FFA are making a positive difference for members every day. FFA members have opportunities to attend national leadership conferences, develop a supervised agricultural experience project, learn life skills and serve their communities with civic engagement. They are our future engineers, scientists, teachers and producers. One of every five Americans is employed in the food, fiber and natural resources industries of agriculture, and FFA members are the future of these important industries.
Pictured above: Nearly 1,000 elementary students attend the annual Northview High FFA Food For America Program each year. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tungoil Road Reopens Early
February 23, 2009
Tungoil Road has reopened. The road closed on February 11 and had been scheduled to be closed until Wednesday. DKE Marine Services made repairs to the bridge on the roadway that runs between South Highway 99 and Highway 97. NorthEscambia.com photo.
No Outdoor Burning Today, Tuesday
February 23, 2009
No outdoor burning today — a red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today as humidity levels across North Escambia are expected to fall to extremely low levels.
The low humidity will drastically increase fire growth potential, meaning that a small trash fire can quickly grow into an out of control fire. Humidity levels this afternoon are forecast to fall to 20 to 25 percent across the North Escambia area.
A fire weather watch is in effect for Tuesday.
Bogia Brush Fire
February 22, 2009
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire in Bogia Sunday afternoon.
The fire department was dispatched to the fire about 5:05 Sunday afternoon near 300 East Bogia Road.
The first fire unit on the scene reported a very small brush fire involving a tree. The fire was quickly extinguished. No structures were threatened.
Vehicle Fire In Century
February 22, 2009
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to a vehicle fire Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported just before 4:30 in the 7000 block of Backwoods Road near St. Luke Church Road. The caller reported that the fire was out prior to the arrival of the first fire engine.
There were no injuries reported.
Early AM Century Wreck Injures Two
February 22, 2009
A single vehicle accident left two people injured early Sunday morning near Century.
The accident happened about 1:05 Sunday morning on Fannie Road north of Campbell Road. Two people were reportedly injured when the driver of the Nissan car ran off Fannie Road into a ditch.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details were not available.
The Century station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.