Barrineau Park Road To Close For Jacks Branch Bridge Replacement
January 11, 2018
Construction activities are scheduled to begin the week of January 22, 2018 on Barrineau Park Road (Hwy. 196) over Jacks Branch in Escambia County. Crews will remove and replace the bridge over Jacks Branch, add new guardrail, and reconstruct the approach slabs.
Barrineau Park Road will be closed and traffic detoured via Highway 29, Molino Road (Hwy. 182), and Highway 95A. The $1.97 million project is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2018.
FDOT graphics for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rain Moves In, Then Cold Air Returns
January 11, 2018
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 26. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
The Story Of A Miracle At Tate High’s Ag Department
January 11, 2018
Tate High School Ag Teacher Leanne Jenkins tells the story of ‘Miracle” a calf born at the school during our extreme January cold. It’s a story of survival, the story of an emergency van ride for the calf, and the story of a miracle.
Do you believe in miracles? I truly have witnessed a miracle this past week.
I am sure some of you have seen or heard about my coworkers and I driving my minivan to the vet with a calf in the back. I would love to share the entire story with you because I feel like the Lord is up to something with this small life.
Last Thursday, I took my 5th period class out to the land lab to check on the animals. Another ag teacher had mentioned one of the cows was showing signs of labor. We walked to the back pasture and got close enough to see that momma had just delivered a baby. We could tell the baby was breathing, but it was not moving and had not lifted its head. This was not alarming to us, since it had just been delivered.
We checked on the momma and baby again the next class period and baby was still not moving. We came out again an hour later and begin to be concerned when we saw the baby shivering and still not lifting its head. My coworkers and I quickly got a truck and brought the calf to the barnyard. It was unusually cold in Florida – the school even cancelled after school activities because of the freezing temperatures and 16 MPH winds. We got the baby under heat lamps and blankets and began rubbing it hoping to get the blood circulating. We thought it would die any second. Being too weak to stand, there was no way for this baby to nurse. We ran to the store, purchased colostrum and fed the calf. Within about an hour, it was trying to stand and seemed to be perking up. We attempted another bottle a few hours later with no success. I said a prayer for the sweet baby and my coworker said, “we’re going to go ahead and name him Miracle.”
The next day, Miracle continued to get weaker. We got the momma-cow in the shoot and milked her. We tried to feed Miracle and he was too weak to suck. I called my husband, Zach, and told him, “will you please bring the minivan to the school with a tarp so we can take Miracle to the vet.” He hurried over and we rushed to the Animal Hospital. By the time we got there, his eyes were rolled back in his head and he had very little pulse. The vet used a piece of equipment to feed a tube down his throat to fill his stomach with his momma’s colostrum we had collected. Within minutes he seemed to be feeling better. We later brought him back to school and locked him in a pen with his momma.
The next morning, with coaching, we were able to get him hooked up to his momma and he has continued to get healthier ever since. Today, I took my class out to check on him and he was acting especially frisky – we talked about how he was truly living up to his name.
THEN, the craziest thing happened. I took out my phone to take a picture of Miracle to send to my mother (she has been worried about him). She responded with “did you cause the brightness around him, or is that just his miracle self?” I thought, “huh??” I looked back at the picture and saw Miracle GLOWING! Y’all, I cannot explain this picture, but I can tell you the Lord has had his hands on this little life. We did not expect this little guy to live, but we refused to give up hope or stop trying to help. I loved sharing his story with all of my students and showing how every life is meaningful and precious. He has put a smile on the face of so many students and I am thankful we have been privileged to have him born on our farm. We typically sell all males born on our farm, but we decided today, Miracle is here to stay!
You’ll hear people say, “Let nature take its course,” but our new motto is, “do everything you can and believe in Miracles.”
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway And Art Contest Set For Jan. 20 In Barrineau Park
January 11, 2018
The annual Arbor Day tree giveaway is coming up Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Barrineau Park Community Center, and entries are being accepted now in an Arbor Day art contest.
Each attendee will receive two free native one-gallon trees. Species available include tulip poplar, Chickasaw plum, Shumard oak, and fringetree.
To participate in the Arbor Day Mail Art Contest, mail a drawing, painting, or mixed media artwork with the theme, “Strong Trees, Strong Communities” to Arbor Day Art Contest c/o Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Include your name, age, and contact information on the back of your artwork. Contest entries must arrive by mail or be dropped off by January 18, and will be judged at the Tree Giveaway on January 20.
First place winners will receive prizes including a 7-gallon tree, a shovel, and a tree book. Second place winners will receive a tree book and and third place winners win gardening gloves. Categories include children (12-under), teen (13-18), and adult (over 18). All participants in attendance at the tree giveaway will receive a special edition Arbor Day water bottle featuring last year’s winning design.
For more information about the tree giveaway or art contest, call 850-475-5230 or email ctsteven@ufl.edu.
High School Graduation Rates Improve Statewide, Locally
January 11, 2018
Florida’s high school graduation rate has reached a 14-year high according to data released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education. For the 2016-17 school year, Florida’s statewide graduation rate rose to 82.3 percent, an increase of 23.1 percentage points since 2003-04 and 1.6 percentage points over last year.
The Escambia County School District’s gradation rate increased to 79.5 percent, as compared to 76.1 percent one year earlier. For the class of 2013, Escambia County’s graduation rate was 64.2 percent.
In District 5, from the graduating class of 2012 to 2016, Tate High School’s graduation rate increased from 73.4 to 81.4 percent, while Northiew High School increased from 67.4 to 84.2 percent.
“I am proud to announce that Florida’s high school graduation rate has reached a 14-year high. We want every Florida student to have access to a world-class education so they can succeed in the classroom and their future careers, and that is why my recommended Securing Florida’s Future budget includes historic funding for education for the sixth consecutive year, including significant investments for teachers and students in our K-12 system. I look forward to working with the Legislature during the upcoming session to make sure our students have the resources they need to continue to build on this accomplishment for years to come,” Gov. Rick Scott said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Little Free Library Now Available In Cantonment
January 11, 2018
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church is now hosting a Little Free Library in Cantonment. The library is contained in an old newspaper stand that is painted bright red directly in front of the church at 699 S. Highway 95A, next to and facing the highway.
Anyone from the community may borrow a book or keep a book or add a book to the library. Anyone taking a book or two from library does not need to return that exact book. The library is currently supplied with mostly children’s books, but donations of more books for adults would be greatly appreciated. The library is never locked, so people can access it at any time.
“The purpose of the Little Free Library is to inspire a love of reading, build community, and spark creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges. Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year around the world, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds,” said Viven Welch of Saint Monica’s.
The Little Free Library has its own Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/stmonicaslittlefreelibrary/ — with planned updates on the latest available books.
Football Playoff Series Changes Considered For 1A-4A Teams
January 11, 2018
The Florida Athletics Directors Advisory Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended a playoff change for 1A-4A high school football, including Northview and Jay high schools.
If approved at a future date by the Florida High School Athletic Association, six teams would qualify for state series play from each region in class 1A-4A beginning with the 2018 season.
The first and second seed would receive a bye to the second round. In the first round, the third seed team would host the sixth seed and the fourth seed would host the fifth seed.
Currently four team from each region qualify for the playoffs. There is no district play, forcing teams to often play much tougher schedules. This change would allow the top 50 percent of each region to have a real playoff.
According to the Athletics Directors Committee, there is a built-in extra round for Class 1A-4A and allowing more teams to earn a playoff spot would not affect the current playoff structure. This would also allow the third and fourth seed teams to host a playoff game, earning more revenue for those schools.
“I think there are positives and negatives,” Northview High School Coach Derek Marshman said. “Obviously, more teams will be allowed to participate in the post season. The reason the FHSAA eliminated districts was to eliminate blowouts in the first round. I could see fifth and sixth place teams struggling. That is obviously a case-by-case situation. I do think overall that it is a good thing to allow more teams in the post season.”
“The most beneficial thing is eliminating the bye week the week before the championship games. It could definitely throw a kink into the rhythm of a team if they have the bye week immediately before the state championship game,” Marshman continued.
The proposal was previously unanimously approved by the 1A-4A coaches council and must next be approved by the FHSAA board of directors.
Pictured: Action from last year’s Northview at Jay game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Votes To Sell Lot To Church For $1,000 For Expansion
January 11, 2018
The Town of Century has voted to sell a portion of lot located nearly four miles outside town to the Poplar Dell Baptist Church so that they can construct a new fellowship hall.
For years, the church has cut the grass and maintained a lot about one acre in size behind their sanctuary and cemetery on Highway 168 in the Gandyville community. And they had eyed the lot to build their new fellowship hall. But they learned the property actually belongs to the Town of Century. Century’s gas department maintains a “natural gas gate station” — a connection between the town’s gas system and supplier — on one end of the property next to Poplar Dell Road. The remainder of the property is a large grassy lot.
The church determined that they needed 0.23 acres of the lot for the expansion. The town council voted to sell the lot to the church for $1,000. A required buffer around the natural gas station will be maintained.
A $4,000 appraisal had been received for the full acre.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Elementary Announces Spelling Bee Winners
January 11, 2018
Flomaton Elementary School has announced winners of their Spelling Bee. They are:
3rd-5th grade division:
Michael Bowen – Winner
Secily Carter – Runner-up
6th grade division:
Christopher Crawley – Winner
Sam Johnson – Runner-up
The students now advance to the county tournament.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com,click to enlarge.
Carolyn Ann Handler
January 11, 2018
Carolyn Ann Handler, 70, of Cantonment, FL passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Carolyn retired from PJC with 30 years of service. She was married to Ralph Handler, Jr. for 51 years. She was a dedicated mother to Rob and Scott and grandmother to Blade and R.J. Carolyn spent many wonderful weeks at the Perdido Bay Fish Camp with her numerous nephews, nieces, sisters, cousins, brothers-in- law and sisters-in-law over the years.
She is preceded in death by her father, Phillip Woodbury Jennings, Sr.; mother, Ruth Marjorie Jennings; sister, Faye Ellen Mitchell and her brother, James Myrick Jennings.
She is survived by her loving husband, Ralph Robert Handler, Jr.; sons, Ralph Robert Handler, III, and Scott Timothy Handler; sisters, Marjorie Phyllis Gate (Buddy), Virginia Weinman and Ruthie Jennings and her brothers, Phillip W. Jennings, Jr., Michael Jennings and Henry F. Jennings.
Pallbearers will be James Bailey, Brandon Weinman and Tyler Lehman, Jason Gates, Pat Wilson and Jeremy Qualls.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 12, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Riley Richardson officiating.
Interment will follow at Gonzalez United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.