Election Day In Alabama
June 2, 2009
Today is election day in Escambia and seven other Alabama counties, but very few registered voters are expected at the polls.
Republican Greg Albritton, a former state representative from Range, will face Democratic candidate Marc Keahey of Grove Hill for the District 22 Alabama Senate seat left vacant early this year by the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey.
Keahey, an attorney, currently serves in the Alabama House of Representatives. Albritton is a retired Navy commander.
Elections officials said that voter turnout was dismal in the Republican primary back in April, with just under 7 percent of registered voters heading to the polls.
The Alabama Senate seat pays $52,646 per year plus expenses.
We will post the results on NorthEscambia.com for our Alabama readers.
Bill Cantrell Receives Molino Servant’s Heart Award
June 1, 2009
William (Bill) Cantrell was awarded the second annual Servant’s Heart Award Sunday morning at CrossFaith Church in Molino.
The community service award was presented to Cantrell for his unselfish dedication to the Molino and Cantonment communities.
Cantrell, 59, has been active in the Cantonment Sports Association, having coached little league baseball for several years. At Christmas, he provides toys for the needy. He helps when someone’s electricity is being turned off. He provided food for the needy.
“Whatever is needed in any area, he is the first to step forward and either write a check or help organize a fund raiser, CrossFaith Pastor Rob Hines said. “But he always does it in all humility letting no one know, if possible, that he is the one helping.”
He has a passion for playing musical instruments and singing, gospel and blue grass being his favorite music. He has been known to play music at Fran’s Diner with a group of friends on Saturday mornings as well as using his talent at church.
He attended 1-10th grade in Escambia County, including Tate High School, and graduated high school in Arkansas. But his family quickly returned from Arkansas, and Cantrell has been busy ever since serving his community in Molino, Cantonment and Pensacola.
While at Tate he played football and baseball, being named most outstanding football player several years and making the all county teams for both baseball and football. While attending Parkin High School in Arkansas, he was captain of the football team and was also selected for the Northeast Arkansas all-star team, class Vice-President and was named Mr. Parkin High School.
“It doesn’t matter what you own, how much money you have in the bank, how talented or educated you are, or how many people you know. If God calls you to have a servant’s heart, He will make a way for you to accomplish what He has put on your heart to do,” Hines said.
“A servant’s heart has more to do with your relationship with God than it has to do with your desire to be recognized for your good deeds. Having a servant’s heart is one of the most beautiful expressions of love I know. It’s showing your love to another human being by simply being who God intended you to be. It’s about seeing a need and fulfilling it without any strings attached…it’s about showing Christ’s love through your actions and words.”
Cantrell and his wife Judy have been married for almost 40 years. They have two children, Jason Cantrell and Charlene Etheridge; and five grandchildren Austin, Wade, Brian, Melody and Ben.
Last year’s recipient of the first CrossFaith Church Servant’s Heart Award was Frances Hampton from Fran’s Diner in Molino.
Pictured above: William (Bill) Cantrell receives the CrossFaith Servant’s Heart Award for community service Sunday morning at CrossFaith Church in Molino from Pastor Rob Hines. Pictured inset: Cantrell and his wife Judy. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Season Begins: Does Century Still Have A Shelter?
June 1, 2009
Today marks the first day of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, but the future of a public shelter in Century is unclear following the closure of Carver/Century K-8 School.
Carver/Century K-8 School served as Century’s only public shelter, with a capacity to house up to 547 people in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. The Escambia County School Board voted to close the school at the end of this school year, and school staff is working this week to pack up the contents of the school in order to move school furnishings to Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he has asked Superintendent Malcolm Thomas if the town and the American Red Cross would still be allowed to use the building for a public shelter, but McCall said that so far he has not received an answer.
The mayor said there are no other buildings in Century with a sufficient size and wind rating that could be used for a public hurricane shelter.
The next nearest Escambia County public hurricane shelters to Century are located at Northview High School and Molino Park Elementary. Northview has a hurricane shelter capacity of 1,260. Molino Park has space for 2,225 evacuees.
Molino Park is 20 miles from Century, and Northview is about nine miles away. Those distances would present a great problem for persons needing to evacuate from Century, McCall said, because many do not have adequate, dependable transportation.
In addition, the mayor said Century has a greater need for a public hurricane shelter than some communities simply because of the number of substandard housing units in his town.
Pictured above: The future of a hurricane shelter in Century is uncertain. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Fifth Grade Math FCAT Scores The County’s Best
June 1, 2009
Fifth grade students at Byrneville Elementary School had the highest FCAT math proficiency score in Escambia County.
With 83 percent of fifth grade student taking the math FCAT scoring a grade level 3 or above, Byrneville’s score was tops in the county.
The district average was 58 percent scoring a grade level 3 or above.
Take A Survey: What Do You Think Of Your Child’s School?
June 1, 2009
The Escambia County School District is giving you the chance to take a survey and rank how well your child’s school and its staff performed.
The survey, offered on the district’s web page, allows participants to rank many school performance areas based upon how they feel about statements such as:
- I feel welcome at this school.
- Learning is interesting at this school.
- The principal at this school communicates effectively.
- Students are challenged to their ability at this school.
- Students receive recognition for good performance in academics.
There is also an open-ended question designed to recognize outstanding persons in the school district: “Can you identify one individual in the Escambia School District who has had an impact on you or your family during this school year?”
The survey is completely anonymous with no attempt to identify the participants, the district says, and the survey asks for “frank and honest” responses.
To take the survey, click here and then click on the red “Take the School Climate survey” link near the upper right corner of the page.
Attention Teachers, Schools, Parents: Send Us Awards Info
June 1, 2009
Teachers and schools from across North Escambia are encouraged to submit the names of students that received awards during your recent awards programs. We will begin publishing award lists on Tuesday and continue for several days.
Moms and dads: You are invited to submit your award ceremony photos to us as well.
Email the information to news@northescambia.com with the subject line “Awards”.
Please include a valid email address or phone number that we can use to contact you if we have questions.
Parking Improvements Made At Barrineau Park Community Center
June 1, 2009
The Barrineau Park Community center recently received 37 new parking spaces installed by the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department. A new walkway was added to provide a clear and level means of getting to and from the building from the parking area. A driveway was added to allow for parking on both sides of the sidewalk. Split rail fences were used to protect the play area, identify the driveway and to generally beautify the park. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Is Your Church Having VBS?
May 31, 2009
Now is the time to submit your Vacation Bible School announcements to NorthEscambia.com so that we can include them on our events page and let everyone know.
Email your VBS event details to: news@northescambia.com
Please try to submit your information as far in advance as possible.
Northview High School Class Of 2009 Graduates; With Photo Gallery
May 31, 2009
Over 100 members of the Class of 2009 graduated Saturday afternoon from Northview High School.
“God cannot be ignored,” Valedictorian Luke Fletcher Killam said in his address, referring to the ACLU lawsuit against Santa Rosa County concerning religion in schools. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
“It seems in this day that we’ve ignored that,” he added, saying that our nation was founded on God. “Separation of church and state will never mean separation from God.”
“Let the hand of God guide all that you do,” Killam told his fellow graduates.
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas’ address to the graduating seniors centered around their class motto.
“God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; the courage to change the things we can; and the wisdom to know the difference,” the Northview Class of 2009 Motto says.
“The way they got here is that attitude, that motto, they set at the first of the year,” Thomas said. “I challenge you to dream the dream; then go and have the courage to go and make it true.”
“By conquering our fears, I believe we can accomplish,” Salutatorian Lanie Jeannine Eubanks said.
Comments are welcome below, including comments with well wishes for your favorite graduate.
Pictured top: Graduate Jessica Mothershed shares a tearful moment with teacher Tommy Weaver following Saturday’s graduation exercise at Northview High School. Pictured below: The caps fly following graduation for the Northview High School Class of 2009 Saturday afternoon at the school. Pictured bottom: Hundreds packed the school gym while others watched a video feed in the school theater. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
List Of Graduates: Northview High School Class of 2009
May 31, 2009
The following students graduated Saturday from Northview High School:
- Alexander Martin Abbott
- Kolby Mathew Amerson
- James Oliver Ard
- Michelle Denise Bellamy
- Joshua Cameron Black
- Stephen Cody Black
- Gretchen Danea Boughner
- Andrew James Bowlan
- Ricahrd Kyle Braun
- Kayla Sue Brewer
- Britney Dawn Brown
- Clarence Alfred Brown, III
- Danielle Althea Brown
- Olivia Kylen Bryan
- Patrick Jacob Carlson
- Latiffia Laquise Carter
- Coty James Chance
- Tiffany Lynne Chance
- Daphne Elizabeth Clark
- Brandon James Coburn
- Matthew James Coffey
- Amy Nichole Conner
- William Andrew Conway
- Courtney Brooke Cooper
- Kevin Lateef Cottrell
- Ryan Olen Creamer
- Dalton Kaleb Cummings
- Joshua Mark Dorriety
- Stephanie Leigh Doucette
- Aremando Dupree Elliott
- Lanie Jeannine Eubanks
- Jeremy Edward Flota
- Whitney Michelle Flurnoy
- Bradley Scott Foster
- Shaun Christopher Freeman
- Michael Lee Frye
- Jamison Blayne Garrett
- Melissa Nicole Garrett
- Jesse Marc Grimes
- Briana Renea Halteman
- James Michael Hamilton
- John Louis Handrop
- Brett Andrew Hanks
- Daniel Wayne Hart
- Denise Michelle Hart
- Stormy Brooke Hayes
- Gabrielle Ranae Hicks
- Joshua Lee Holder
- Amber Renae Holland
- Dixie Loretta Jackson
- Kenneth James Jackson, Jr.
- Chason Robin Jay
- Justin Blaine Jeter
- Daniel Edward Jordan
- Hannah Deniece Jordan
- Dalton Tyler Justice
- Luke Fletcher Killam
- Kanisha Michelle Knight
- Lisa Ann Marie Kuiper
- Zachary Farrell Lamb
- Ryan David Lambert
- Alan Daniel Lee
- Jocqus Dumas Lett
- Jody Wade Levins
- Shaquaina Janae Lewis
- Jacqueline Marie Loewen
- Brian Jamaal Long
- Samantha Ann Macks
- Timeka Janay Marshall
- Wayne Morris Marshall, II
- Adam Douglas Martin
- Jennifer Ursula Martin
- Latorria Yvette McGee
- Ashley Nicole McGhee
- Patrick Wayne McPherson
- Steven Kyle Meadows
- Samantha Parry Merritt
- William Thomas Morris
- Sarah Caylan Mosley
- Jessica Maria Mothershed
- Krisrina Renea Nellums
- Dustin Blaine O’Brien
- Dustin Ryan Odom
- Cordell Laedward Paige
- Haley Nicole Peeterse
- Philip Gage Riley
- Summer Denise Sanders
- Amanda-Ann Morgan Sellars
- Aaron Richard Sharpless
- James Anthony Sharpless
- Chelsea Ellen Sims
- Erin Michelle Smith
- Frederick Lamario Smith
- Ashley Arlene Snow
- Jace Evans Stone
- Amie Jolynn Sutton
- Jessica Ann Taylor
- Brittany Sharda’E Thompson
- Michael Patrick Trentman
- Garbell Sharda Wesley
- Kayla Dlaine Wheeler
- Ashley Faye White
- Shakeria Lattice White
- Jacob Harrison Whitehead
- Kashun Monshell Williams
- Ashely Denise Williamson
- Lauren Ashely Wilson
- Joseph Franklin Wood