New Photo Book Shows Area History
December 12, 2009
A new book tells the history of North Escambia and surrounding areas with about 2,000 photographs.
The book is called “A Pictorial History Volume II”, and it includes Century and northeastern Escambia County, Florida; Flomaton Alabama; and Jay and northern Santa Rosa County; and surrounding areas.
The photos were compiled by Jerry Fischer and Jerry Simmons and published by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society.
“One lady that looked at the book got tears in her eyes because it brought back so many memories,” said Fischer.
People — from dozens of old school photos — make up a portion of the book.
“There are a lot of people in the book,” Fischer said. “Probably half of them are already passed away. It’s just a lot of memories.”
The book is available from Alger-Sullivan Historical Society members and at the Leach House Museum at 610 4th Street in the Century Historical District.
Pictured above: The Drury Store with Dick Sowell, Sr. and Papa Drury. Pictured below: Century’s drugstore and the Tuberville Hospital in the late 1930’s. The photographs are two of about two thousand in a new book released by the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Historical Indoor Yard Sale Today In Century
December 12, 2009
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society will hold an indoor yard sale Saturday from 7 a.m. until.
The sale will feature lots of household items, furniture, jewelry, baby items, books and more.
A new pictorial history book hot off the presses will be available. It contains hundreds of photos from Century, Flomaton, McDavid, Jay and surrounding areas. T
The yard sale will take place at the Leach House Museum at 610 4th Street in the Century Historical District. For more info, call (850) 256-3980 or (850) 256-2029.
Edith Cruit Mays
December 11, 2009
Edith Cruit Mays, a lifelong resident of Atmore, died Wednesday in Mobile. She was 101.
Mays retired as a teacher with the Escambia County School System. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Atmore.
Survivors include two sons, Robert Mays of Atmore and James Mays of Dallas, Texas; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday, December 11t from 6 to 8 at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore. The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Atmore. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Cold, Rainy Weather
December 11, 2009
It’s going to be a cold night and Saturday in the North Escambia area, with a cold rain moving in by late tonight as lows fall into the 30’s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Rain likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 50. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 50. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
- Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south between 5 and 10 mph.
- Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. North wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
- Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
- Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Northview Honors Winning Team, Cheerleaders
December 11, 2009
The Northview Chiefs honored their football players and cheerleaders and their annual banquet Thursday night.
“It was a tremendous year,” Head Football Coach Sid Wheatley said, crediting in part the leadership of the team’s 20 seniors.
“We returned pretty much the same guys that won two games last year,” Wheatley, a first year head coach, said. “It was tough, but we had a great season.”
The Chiefs finished the regular season at 7-3, one spot away from a playoff berth. Post season, 1A Northview played 4A Tate in the first ever Miracle Bowl. The Aggies came out on top, but Wheatley said he was proud of his team’s performance and the chance to play a larger school.
Northview Head Cheerleading Coach Anna Barry and JV Coach Mega Carroll said they are also proud of their squads.
“This is a very talented group of girls,” said Barry. “I think we have the best cheerleading team around.
Joey McCall, president of the NHS Quarterback club, thanked the coaches and all of those that worked hard during the season to support the Northview program.
The following players and cheerleaders received awards:
Football Awards
- Most Improved Player Award: Austin Arrington and Steven Long
- Chief Award: Jeremy Jackson and Devin Moore
- Iron Man Award: Anthony Pierce
- Oustanding Offensive Lineman Award: John Sellars, Austin Cooper
- Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award: Levi Gideons, Lonnie Gardner
- Head Hunter Award: Austin Reid
- Outstanding Back Award: La’Mikal Kyles, Dustin Yuhasz
- Academic Award: Brad Lowery q (4.27 weighted GPA)
JV Cheerleaders
- Most Improved Award: Taylor Rigby
- Spirit Award: Ashley Cunningham.
Varsity Cheerleaders
- Most Improved Award: Sara Killam
- Squad Strength Award: Laneicia Gomez and Courtney Merritt
- Best All Around Award: Brooke Tullis
- Spirit Award: Kassandra Lett
Click here for more photos from the event.
Pictured top: Northview’s 20 senior football players. Pictured inset: Senior Austin Cooper (left) makes a presentation on behalf of the senior players to Head Coach Sid Wheatley. Pictured bottom: The Northview High School varsity cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century, Escambia And Pensacola Awarded Grant For Disaster Assistance
December 11, 2009
Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, and the Town of Century were recently awarded a total of $50,000 in grant funding from the Florida Division of Emergency Management Citizen Corps Office.
Funding was awarded to cities and counties throughout the state for the start-up or maintenance of Citizen Corps Council and CERT programs. These volunteer programs were created to support and direct statewide training and education in disaster planning and preparedness. The goals of the programs are to increase community awareness and participation in emergency preparedness utilizing a neighbor helping neighbor philosophy.
BRACE serves as the Escambia County Citizen Corps Coordinator, assuming all responsibility for Escambia County’s programs including CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), Fire Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, USA on Watch (Neighborhood Watch), and Volunteers in Police Service.
Free CERT classes are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January for anyone interested in gaining hands-on training to assist in disasters. To register for classes, call BRACE at (850) 444-7135 or email brace@bereadyalliance.org. To learn more about BRACE, CERT and Citizen Corps, visit www.bereadyalliance.org.
Chamber Holds Christmas Open House
December 11, 2009
The Century Chamber of Commerce held its annual Christmas Open House Thursday afternoon. Chamber members, prospective members and area residents had the opportunity to network and learn more about what the Century Chamber offers, all while enjoying light refreshments.
Pictured top: (L-R) Freddie McCall, Century mayor; Will Kennedy, CVS Pharmacy manager; B.J. Maher, United Bank Flomaton branch manager; Jennifer Kline and daughter Gabrielle enjoy refreshments during the Century Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas Open House. Pictured left inset: Margie McCall (left) and Edma Earle Barnes put the finishing touches on the Century Chamber’s Christmas tree. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Four Injured In Flomaton Wreck; One Suffers Amputation (With Photo Gallery)
December 10, 2009
(Updated) Two highway contract workers were critically injured in an accident on Highway 31 east of Flomaton Thursday afternoon.
Both were transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola by two LifeFlight helicopters. One suffered a complete leg amputation and one suffered severe leg injuries
The men were part of a work crew laying sod on the edge of Highway 31 near Oil Well Road. They were working in front of their Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck about 3:45, next to a guardrail, when the rear of the truck was struck by a delivery truck. The amputation occurred as the pickup truck pushed the two men along the guardrail, according to officials on the scene.
A third worker suffered a head injury after jumping over the guardrail. He was transported by ambulance to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton, as was the driver of a delivery truck.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and below: Four people were injured, two critically, in this accident near Flomaton Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Architect To Be Hired To Design Molino School Renovations
December 10, 2009
The renovation of the old Molino School into a community center will take a major step forward tonight as an architectural firm will be hired to design the project.
The Escambia County Commission is expected to vote tonight award a $214,580 contract to DAG Architects to design renovations to turn the empty school into a multi-use facility, possibly including a community center and a branch library.
In May, commissioners approved the $400,000 purchase of the building from the Escambia County School District. Commissioners have since approved a budget of $2,089,156 from Local Option Sales Tax monies for the renovation project.
Plans call for the old Molino school to become a community hub, possibly including a 5,000 square foot library, a museum highlighting Molino history, a small health clinic, a business incubator, renovation of the cafeteria and one additional building for community events and private party rental along with other uses.
The school campus includes 9.66 acres and four buildings — the largest of which is 16,630 square feet.
First opened in 1939, the Molino School closed in 2003 when the new Molino Park Elementary School consolidated Molino Elementary and Barrineau Park Elementary.
Pictured above: The old Molino School now sits empty, closed in 2003. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rave Reviews: Ernest Ward Drama Team Headed To State
December 10, 2009
The members of the Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Team area headed to state competition after receiving all Excellent or Superior ratings at the District 1 Drama Competition this past weekend in Jacksonville.
It was the first district competition for the drama team, which was formed only last year. With their Excellent and Superior ratings, all of the EWMS students were all invited to perform at the state level in Fort Lauderdale February, 2010.
“All of them performed well,” teacher and Drama Team sponsor Katie Ward said. “We are really excited.”
Rachel Presley, Lauren Walker, Kamryn Brock, Chelsea Turner, Morgan Packer, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, and Samantha Barrow all received an Excellent Ranking for their monologues, duet scenes, and ensemble performances. Bhadkamkar also received a superior ranking for her musical solo and Turner received a superior ranking for her monologue performance.
“Ernest Ward Middle School is extremely proud of the talents of our young adults and for representing Escambia County School District well”, said Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Perry.
During the District 1 Drama Competition in Jacksonville:
- Rachel Presley performed the monologue “Cinderelly from the Valley” and received an Excellent ranking.
- Chelsea Turner performed the monologue “Cotton Candy” and received a Superior ranking.
- Rachel Presley and Lauryn Walker performed a duet scene entitled “The Ugliest Hair in the World” and were awarded an Excellent ranking.
- Samantha Barrow and Shalmali Bhadkamkar performed the duet scene “Common Scents” and were given an Excellent ranking.
- The ensemble of Kamryn Brock, Morgan Packer and Chelsea Turner performed “The Dizmee Store” for an Excellent ranking.
- Shalmali Bhadkamkar performed a musical solo from Les Miserables entitled “On My Own” and received a Superior ranking.
Ward and her students raised 100 percent of the funds to make the trip to Jacksonville.
Pictured above: Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Team (front, L-R) Danielle Suggs, Lauryn Walker, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Chelsea Turner, Rachel Presley, (second row) Kamryn Brock, Morgan Packer, Samantha Barrow, Caitlyn Rigby and (back row) sponsor Katie Ward. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.