Students Of The Year Named
April 20, 2009
Several North Escambia students were recently recognized as Students of the Year by the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs.
The students were presented their award by members of the Escambia County School Board and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at a recent program in Pensacola.
From North Escambia, the Students of the Year were:
- O’Neshia Spencer, Bratt Elementary
- Trevor Levins, Byrneville Elementary
- Andrea “Shea” Nall, Carver/Century K-8
- Jordan Helmken, Molino Park Elementary
- Angel Mitchell, Ernest Ward Middle
Pictured above: Angel Mitchell was the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs Student of the Year from Ernest Ward Middle School. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Rain Tonight; Good Week On The Way
April 19, 2009
There is still a 60 percent chance of rain tonight, mostly before midnight. The overnight low will be about 58.
Monday and Tuesday will be sunny at 75, with a cool overnight low of 45.
Wednesday through Sunday are forecast to be sunny and warm, with highs of 83 and lows of 55.
A Century Plus Eight: Century Celebrates Birthday
April 19, 2009
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society celebrated the 108th birthday of Century Saturday with a day of activities.
The day featured Civil War reenactors, displays from museums, free museum tours, yard sale items, food, entertainment and more.
The events took place in the area of the Alger-Sullivan Historical District on Jefferson Avenue.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from Century’s 108th Birthday Bash Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Founder Of We Care Program Passes Away
April 19, 2009
Martin Weber, the founder of the We Care Program, died Saturday in Atmore.
Weber began a prison ministry nearly 40 years ago at Fountain Correctional Facility and later served almost 20 years as a chaplain for the Alabama Department of Corrections. Nearly 40 years ago, Weber established New Life Foundation. The name was changed to the We Care Program in 1983.
The We Care Program ministers in several Alabama prisons. The group also operates We Care Economy shops in Flomaton, Atmore and Monroeville.
Weber is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anna; daughters Mary Jane Schrock, Velma Schrock, Joyce Suter and Ruth Ann Yoder; and sons James Weber and Phil Weber.
Visitation will be held Monday from 5:00 until 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. at the Atmore Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Atmore Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Freemanville Community Cemetery.
The family is asking that any gifts in honor of Martin Weber, be sent to We Care Program at 3493 Hwy. 21, Atmore, AL 36502 and be marked “Martin Weber Endowment Fund”
Walnut Hill Fire Holds Spaghetti Supper For Relay For Life
April 19, 2009
A spaghetti supper to benefit the Century Relay for Life was held Saturday night in Walnut Hill. All proceeds from the event at the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue went to the American Cancer Society. Pictured above: Walnut Hill Assistant Chief Kevin Mininger hands off a plate of spaghetti to Tracy Benner. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Person Injured In ATV Accident
April 19, 2009
One person was severely injured in an ATV accident Saturday night in Molino.
The accident happened in the 6000 block of Chestnut Road near Molino Road about 9:35 Saturday night. LifeFlight was called to scene for a female victim.
Further details were not available.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
Ride For The Son
April 19, 2009
It took a few months but the Escambia county chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association is well on its way to becoming a fully recognized chapter. The group includes members from around South Alabama as well as North Escambia.
The group recently held their officer elections and are in the process of selecting a chapter name. “We don’t just select a name that sounds cool,” said President Doug Chandler. “We have been praying about this because our name will reflect what our ministry is all about. Once we select a name we have to submit it with a explanation of its meaning to national for approval”.
In the mean time the local chapter is working with chapters all over the U.S. on C.M.A.’s only fundraiser of the year called Run For The Son. “Run For The Son is a nationwide effort to raise money that reaches out to the world…not just the motorcycle community,” explained Chandler. Sixty percent of the money raised goes toward worldwide missions and 40 percent goes toward motorcycle ministry.
“C.M.A. buys dirt bikes for missionaries who work in remote, mountainous areas. Without this form of transportation it would be almost impossible for them to reach some of the villages. It is amazing to hear about the number of churches that have been planted because of motorcycles donated by C.M.A. to missionaries.”
Another outreach is the Jesus film. C.M.A. has it translated in to various languages then sends it with a projector, sound system and screen to missionaries. “I saw a video of a village watch the Jesus film for the first time. This wasn’t just the first time they had seen the film, this was the first time they had ever heard the Word of God. Now they were able to see it and hear it in their own language. It brought me to tears to see literally hundreds of kids crying and screaming as they watched Jesus being beaten by the Roman soldiers. Then when Jesus came forth from the tomb they cheered and danced. I then watched in amazement as a whole village came forward to give their life to Christ. All because people donated a few dollars here and there and some bikers went on a ride. It just blows me away.”
C.M.A. also supports organizations that smuggle Bibles into areas where Bibles are banned.
“Yes, we minister to the motorcycle community but through Run For The Son we can do so much more. Someone can donate five dollars toward my ride and who knows…they may save the soul of someone in a village far, far away.”
On May 2nd C.M.A. chapters all across the U.S. will mount their bikes and ride for Run For The Son. The Escambia County chapter will be joining several other chapters on a ride to Birmingham.
If you would like to make a donation to the ride contact one of the chapter members or Doug Chandler at (251) 294-0386. All donations are tax deductible. “Who knows your dollar may be the dollar that brings someone to Christ.”
Pictured: Escambia County C.M.A. Newly elected officers: Back (L-R): Jeff Price, road captain; Doug Chandler, president; Sean Callaway, vice president; Frank Marquis; chaplain; Dylan Marquis, photographer. Front( L-R): Tyler Chandler,webmaster; Millisa Callaway, treasurer; Julie Chandler, secretary; Roger Vogel, administrator/newsletter editor. (Not pictured Fabiana Price-Run For The Sun Secretary) Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thank You For Underwear Drive Help
April 19, 2009
Several North Escambia churches and organizations recently conducted an underwear drive for the Gulf Coast Kid’s House
The following “thank you” was submitted by Rikki Vidak of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, the group the organized the drive.
Our Underwear Drive was very successful and we would like to thank the many organizations and people who took their time and money to help these children in need. We
were able to fill an SUV – our version of Cram the Van!
We would like to thank:
- Aldersgate UMC
- Walnut Hill Baptist Church
- Oak Grove Baptist Church
- Highland Baptist Church
- St. Monica’s Episcopal Church
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Northview High School FCCLA
- Farm Bureau Offices Molino and 9 Mile Road
Rikki Vidak
Farm Bureau Women’s Committee
Pictured above: Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members (L-R) Rikki Vidak, Jane Breault and Martha Carpenter. Other Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members who were instrumental in making the drive a success were Dot Cunningham, Katrina Sanford and Christi Oppenhien. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sacred Heart Launches Internal Medicine Residency Program
April 19, 2009
Sacred Heart Health System is partnering with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to start a three-year residency program to train physicians in osteopathic internal medicine. The targeted start date for the program is July 2009, when the first internal medicine residents will begin their training at Sacred Heart’s Pensacola hospital.
“We are pleased to offer the only internal medicine residency program in Northwest Florida,” says Peter Heckathorn, executive vice president of Sacred Heart Health System. “Increasing the number of internal medicine physicians is greatly needed to address the current statewide shortage of primary care physicians. This new program also will result in significant economic benefits for Northwest Florida.”
A recent study conducted by the University of Central Florida estimates that each new internal medicine physician who chooses to remain in Northwest Florida will contribute almost $1 million annually to the local economy as a health care provider, employer and catalyst for new jobs.
“As a state, we are experiencing both a shortage of internists who choose to become primary care physicians, as well as a greater need for internists to treat our aging population,” says Dr. Paul Baroco, chief medical officer for Sacred Heart Health System. “Having more primary care physicians available will, in effect, lower the overall cost of healthcare. With more patients receiving treatment and regular checkups at their primary doctor’s office, we will see fewer patients seeking costly treatment at crowded emergency rooms throughout our region and state.”
Sacred Heart is joining LECOM’s Lake Erie Consortium for Osteopathic Medical Training, a group of 32 teaching hospitals with more than 700 post-graduate medical education positions in six states.
As a teaching institution, Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola already provides training for more than 250 health professionals during the course of a year. The hospital currently offers residency programs that train physicians who want to specialize in pediatrics, as well as obstetrics and gynecology. Both of those residency programs are in partnership with Florida State University College of Medicine.
“We have seen many graduates from our two existing residency programs choose to stay in Pensacola or surrounding areas, and we anticipate retaining a majority of our internal medicine graduates, as well,” says Dr. Baroco.
To encourage physicians to remain here, the program will offer incentives to internal medicine resident physicians who make early commitments to practice medicine in this region for a specific period of time. An internist is the person most adults think of first and foremost as their personal physician. They are trained in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of severe and chronic illnesses. They also provide preventive care, screening, patient education, care in the hospital and follow-up care after hospitalization.
Sacred Heart has named Dr. John Retzloff as medical director for the residency program. He is an internal medicine physician who has practiced with Sacred Heart Medical Group for the past 10 years.
In addition to the grant awarded by Florida’s Great Northwest, Sacred Heart has also received a $1 million in state funding which will be supplemented by $312,000 of the hospital’s own funds to underwrite the cost of starting the residency program. “We are grateful to our legislative delegation in Northwest Florida for their support,” Heckathorn said. “They recognized that the residency program will provide both healthcare benefits and economic benefits to our region.”
A residency in internal medicine means three years of education and training for medical school graduates. The resident physician practices medicine under the supervision of fully licensed physicians, usually in a hospital or clinic. Successful completion of residency training is a requirement to practice medicine in many states.
For more information about the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Sacred Heart Hospital, contact Michael Trainor, director of residency programs, at (850) 416-2497.
Pictured above: Florida’s Great Northwest recently awarded a $200,000 economic development grant to Sacred Heart Health System for its Internal Medicine Residency Program. From Left to right: Dr. Paul Baroco, chief medical officer, Sacred Heart Health System; Al Wenstrand, president, Florida’s Great Northwest; Patrick Madden, president of Sacred Heart Health System; Peter Heckathorn, executive vice president, Sacred Heart Health System; Laura Kaiser, COO and interim CEO, Sacred Heart Health System; Susan Nelms, Executive Director, Workforce Escarosa; Pam Tedesco, vice president, workforce initiatives, Florida’s Great Northwest.
NHS Quarterback Club To Meet This Afternoon
April 19, 2009
The annual meeting of the Northview High School Quarterback Club will be held Sunday afternoon.
The group will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday in the gymnasium’s weight room. Officers for the 2009-2010 year will be elected.
The following was submitted by NHS Quarterback Club member Joey McCall.
When I think about some of the great organizations, clubs, and teams that I have been privileged to be a part of I can’t help but think about the elements that made them successful: Leadership, Purpose, Direction, Participation, and Dependability. There may be more but without any one of these, the team will never reach its full potential.
For the past several years the quarterback club has struggled to attract and maintain membership. If I was to solicited feedback as to the reasoning for this lack of participation I suspect I would get a multitude of answers. However, one reason I doubt I would ever get is that parents do not want to do what they can to help provide the best experience possible for the athletes of Northview High School that participate in football and other sports that the quarterback club supports. I venture to say that most of my responses would be more of a personal nature in which feelings about faculty, coaching staff, play calling, player placement, or player playing time would be at the forefront of people’s thoughts. However, the quarterback club’s primary purpose is to support the needs and issues of the team.
We have good people in this community that have always worked hard to support athletic programs in our schools and in our community. Golden Eagle and Blackcat pride burn in our hearts and minds as memories of what true school spirit looks like and how it can unite a community. But now, Chief pride is what should stimulate us to get involved. We have an opportunity right now, to put together our own “Stimulus Package”. A package that will bring pride back to Northview football, a package that will provide needed equipment, training, and travel for our team, a package that could influence decisions and change, and most importantly a package that can ultimately etch into the minds of our kids memories that will last a lifetime much like the ones you and I enjoy and relive every opportunity we have.
Please join us in supporting our kids, our school and our community. Join the quarterback club on Sunday, April 19th, and become involved.
Regards,
Joey McCall
NHS Quarterback Club Member