Northview Teacher Recognized By Freedoms Foundation
May 4, 2015
Northview High School social studies teacher James Moretz has been recognized by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. He has received a scholarship to attend the Medal of Honor Legacy graduate program this summer. His scholarship will include transportation, accommodations, graduate credit, meals, and a guided tour of the historic area of Philadelphia including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, and many more highlights.
Founded in 1949, the Freedoms Foundation is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian educational organization. The Freedoms Foundation provides a wide range of educational and awards programs for students, teachers and citizens to gain a greater awareness and appreciation of the principles and responsibilities of a free and democratic society.
Pictured: Northview High School social studies teacher James Mortez. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
NewsRadio 1620 Wins Edward R. Murrow Award
May 4, 2015
NewsRadio1620 has won a 2015 regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the national Radio, Television, Digital News Association (RTNDA).
The station won in the Outstanding Continuing Coverage category for its reporting on the extensive flood that occurred in April, 2014. From the time that the rains began moving into the greater Pensacola area on April 29, the station provided continuous live coverage of local weather and flood conditions for the next two days, preempting all other regular programming.
NewsRadio1620 is now eligible for consideration for a national award in the same category. Edward R. Murrow Awards are considered to be among the most prestigious of the broadcast journalism awards. This year, RTNDA received more than 4,000 entries from radio and television stations across the United States. This is the 5th Edward R. Murrow Award that NewsRadio1620 has won for local news coverage.
NewsRadio1620 and sister station CatCountry 98.7 are locally owned and managed by Dave and Mary Hoxeng.
Roxie Willis Stallworth
May 4, 2015
Born in Century on June 4, 1925, Mrs. Stallworth was a postal employee, then became a full-time mom. Roxie was loyal to her Lord, her family and the many friends she knew and loved. Many lives were touched by her warm and caring heart. Roxie was a member of Pine Forest Baptist Church where she served the Lord and others for 39 years, as were the number of lashes on our Savior Jesus Christ’s back.
Roxie is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Lee Stallworth, Sr., her parents, Roy and Sallie Willis, sister, Vivian Mize, brothers, Ralph Willis, Charles Willis and Daryl Willis, and son-in-law, John Giuntini.
Survivors include her children, Lee Stallworth, Jr. (Jennie), Mark Stallworth, Sr. (Linda) and Viv Giuntini; four grandsons, two granddaughters and two great grandchildren.
Visitation will be at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Monday, May 4, 2015, from 1 p.m. till the service begins at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the Haji Transportation Fund, 800 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32534.
Angela C. Meitzler
May 4, 2015
Angela C. Meitzler, 49 of Canoe, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2015, at her residence. She was born in Atmore on June 15, 1965, to Willie and Peggy Jo Buck Booth. She was a beautician for many years but had worked for the past 18 years as a District Manager for Family Dollar Stores.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Peggy Jo Booth.
Survivors include her husband, Bubba Meitzler of Canoe; father, Willie Booth; one son, Jason Purcell of Spanish Fort; one daughter, Kaley Powers of Atmore; and many friends.
Services will be Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at 2 p.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jimmy Kyles officiating.
Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Sandra Johnson
May 4, 2015
Sandra Johnson, age 68,of Atmore, passed away May 3, 2015. She was born in Birmingham to Guy Mitchell Sr.and Frances Hall Mitchell. She graduated from Auburn University where she was a charter member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. After teaching math for several years she was privileged to stay home with her two children. She devoted her life to serving the Lord with her family, community, and church. She was a member of Atmore First Presbyterian Church, the Atmore Historical Society, National Day of Prayer Organization, and she served on the board of Sav-A-Life. She loved traveling, gardening, and photography. Her family will remember her as a person who brought joy into the lives of all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Robert A. Johnson Jr.; two children, Audrey (Andy) Alsobrook and Paul (Ashley) Johnson; her twin grandchildren, Anna and Andrew Alsobrook; brother, Guy (Karen) Mitchell,Jr.; and nieces, Melissa Mitchell North and Lauren Mitchell.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 7, 2015, at 11 a.m. from the First Presbyterian Church in Atmore with Rev. Jim Thorpe officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the church.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 6, 2015, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Atmore.
There will be a private graveside service for family only following the funeral service.
Monetary donations can be made to the Atmore First Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Molino Thrift Store Ministry Suffering After Theft
May 3, 2015
The Molino community is reaching out to help a local non-profit that suffered a theft sometime Saturday afternoon.
The Molino Outreach Thrift Store, located in a former grocery store on Highway 29, is operated by Pastor Jason Lee, along with his family and numerous volunteers. It’s a different sort of thrift store, one where the bottom line is not nearly as important as helping others.
Over the past few weeks, every piece of clothing in the store has been priced at just 99¢ — not to make a profit but to be a blessing to those that shop there, according to Lee’s postings on the store’s Facebook page. Recently, the store has added new furniture and appliances to their offerings, at substantial savings off regular prices, once again as a blessing to those in the community that support the store. It allows many people the chance to purchase items that they might not otherwise be able to afford, while providing a minimal income to keep the ministry moving forward.
Much of the Molino Outreach Thrift Store’s marketing is limited to word of mouth, promotion by local churches and Facebook.
Saturday afternoon, shortly after the store posted that it is need of paper towels and toilet paper, someone walked out with Lee’s notebook computer. The laptop was not only used to post about the store’s specials and the ministry to Facebook, but it also contained off of their photos used to sell special order furniture on a daily basis.
“Please pray for the person who took it and pray that they will bring it back,” was posted on the store’s Facebook page using another person’s laptop.
Local resident Josh Tucker has created a “gofundme” site to raise funds to purchase another laptop to the ministry and store. Anything donated in excess of the goal amount will be used toward continuing the ministry of the Molino Outreach Thrift Store. To donate, click here.
Dedication Ceremony Held At New Langley Bell 4-H Center
May 3, 2015
A dedication ceremony and open house were held Saturday at the new Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment.
Back in 1943 Minnie and Langley Bell donated 400 acres on Nine Mile Road for the county’s original 4-H Center. The property was given to Escambia County 4-H in a trust, with the Escambia County Commission serving as trustees. When the property was sold to Navy Federal Credit Union in 2012 for expansion, a new 4-H Center was planned on the Escambia County Extension Service property on Stefani Road.
Funds from the sale were also used to purchase 108 acres in Molino where a new 4-H Animal Science and Outdoor Center is being developed.
“Escambia County 4-H traditions have a strong foundation with the many successes of the past and will no doubt be carried forward with our new Langley Bell 4-H Center and the new 4-H property in Molino. A new generation of 4-Hers will now be served in a way that is unparalleled in facilities, financial support and community involvement,” said Brian Bell, president of the Escambia County 4-H Foundation and also the grandson of the original donors of the property, Minnie and Langley Bell. “My grandparents, Uncle Bill (Langley Bell, Jr.), and my father would be ecstatic to see how 4-H has used that initial donation of land to further its mission and serve so many more youth in this community.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Not About The Catch: Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo Held In Walnut Hill (With Gallery)
May 3, 2015
The 41st annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo was held Saturday in Walnut Hill.
Over the history of the fishing rodeo, it has been held at locations ranging from Ft. Pickens to the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola. Since 2001, it has been held at Jantz’s Catfish Pond on South Highway 99, just off Highway 97.
Dozens of volunteers stood ready Saturday to help the disabled. They baited hooks, tossed a line and offered words of friendly encouragement, while dozens of disabled people were registered in Saturday’s fishing rodeo. They were from around the area.
“You going to put my picture on the New York Times,” one participant asked our photographer as she posed with her catch.
Saturday’s event wasn’t so much about the catch as it was the experience for those they often would otherwise never have the opportunity to fish.
“We both caught one, but mine weighed more than his,” one woman said, pointing a the man next to her. “It’s not about who catches the most, but having fun. But my fish was bigger than his.”
The Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization.
Pictured: The Pen Wheel Fishing Rodeo for the disabled Saturday in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Century Sawmill Day
May 3, 2015
Hundreds of people attended the annual Sawmill Day in Saturday at Century’s historical park. The event featured entertainment, plenty of great food, arts and crafts and free museum tours.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For car show photos, click here.
Pictured top: A spinning and yarn making demonstration. Pictured inset: Replacing cane on a circa 1939 dining room chair. Pictured below: Enjoying entertainment Saturday morning at Century’s Sawmill Festival. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
National Day Of Prayer Events Planned
May 3, 2015
This Thursday is the National Day of Prayer, and events are planned across the North Escambia area:
Wednesday night – Molino
A National Day of Prayer event will be hosted by several churches Wednesday night at Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino. Churches from Cantonment to Century will take part in the event from 6-8 p.m.
Thursday – Century
A National Day of Prayer event will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Ag Building, West Highway 4 in Century
Thursday – Atmore
Several National Day of prayer events will be held in Atmore. A Prayer Walk will be held at 9 a.m. at Atmore City Hall, followed by prayer at the Veterans Memorial at 10:30 a.m. A Community Prayer Service will be held at 5:30 p.. in the Cornell Torrence Gym at Escambia County High School, and a Childrens Prayer Service will also begin at 5:30 p.m. in the “RPM Trailer” for grades K-6. A Bible Reading will follow the adult prayer service.
Thursday – Pensacola
A National Day of Prayer service will be held at noon in the breezeway at Pensacola City Hall. Services will be moved inside if weather threatens.
Pictured top: Rev. Ted Bridges of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church, on his knees, reading from his Bible during a previous National Day of Prayer event in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.