Study: Century, Jay And Cantonment Unhealthy; Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino Much Healthier
February 21, 2010
An environmental health study shows that residing in the Century, Jay or Cantonment zip codes may be unhealthy, while the McDavid/Walnut Hill and Molino zip codes are among the healthiest places to live in a two county area.
The results were released in a recent University of West Florida study focusing on Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The study shows that residents in the Century and Jay zip codes have the among the highest disease risk in the two-county region, attributed almost entirely to formaldehyde and toluene emission from the petroleum and natural gas extraction operations in the north Santa Rosa County area. For the purposes of the study, the Century and Jay zip codes were combined into one geographic region due to their relatively small populations. The location attributed most to the risk factor attributed almost entirely to formaldehyde emissions from a natural gas compressor station in northern Santa Rosa County.
The risks associated with living in the Cantonment zip code were related to the pulp and paper manufacturing operation, mostly attributed to higher levels of methanol, acetaldehyde, benzene and xylene, which are used as chemical solvents in the pulping operation. The area encompassed by the Cantonment zip had the worst mortality rate due to birth defects.
The McDavid/Walnut Hill and the Molino zip code areas had the lowest rates of hospital admission in the two county area due to respiratory problems. The zip codes also had among the lowest overall health and cancer risks.
Primarily, the study evaluated relationships between the health outcomes and the proximity of the zip codes to air emission sites.
During the past several days, NorthEscambia.com has taken an in-depth look at the health of North Escambia and our immediate neighbors in the series “Our Local Health: North Escambia Area”. For previous articles, click the links below:
- Escambia Alabama And Florida Unhealthy Places To Live; Santa Rosa Much Better
- Our Local Health: Escambia, FL
- Our Local Health: Santa Rosa, FL
- Our Local Health: Escambia, AL
The darker reds and orange colors show the zip codes with the greatest burden of disease in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Let The Good Times Roll: Seniors Celebrate Mardi Gras
February 21, 2010
The residents at Century Care Center held their own Mardi Gras parade and party this week.
Katie Clark was named Mardi Gras queen, and George Locket was named king.
For photos from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Last year’s Century Care Center Mardi Gras Queen Katie Clark (standing) made it clear that she was passing on her reign, but not her crown. Sitting in 2010’s queen, Judy Macks. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Holds Valentine’s Dance, Names Court
February 20, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
Eighth grader Lily Townson was named queen, and Brannon Freeman was named king. From the seventh grade, Kamryn Brock was named maiden, and Tristan Portwood was named knight. Sixth grade queen was Jalyn Bodiford and sixth grade knight was Gavin Grant.
The dance was held after Valentine’s Day due to the school’s cheerleaders and drama club attending out of town competitions last weekend.
Pictured above: (L-R) Sixth Grade Knight Gavin Grant, Sixth Grade Maiden Jalyn Bodiford, King Brannon Freeman, Queen Lily Townson, Seventh Grade Knight Tristan Portwood and Seventh Grade Maiden Kamryn Brock. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Alger-Sullivan Society Presents History Book To Northview Library
February 18, 2010
Wednesday, members of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society presented a copy of their new book “A Pictorial History Volume II” and accompanying CD to the Northview High School Library.
The book and CD contain historical pictures and information concerning Century and northeastern Escambia County, Florida; Flomaton, Alabama; Jay and northern Santa Rose County, Florida; and surrounding areas. The book was compiled by Jerry Fischer and Jerry Simmons.
Edsel Smith, former principal of Century High School, and Don Sales visited Northview High School on behalf of the historical society to present the book and CD.
“Northview High School is very appreciative of this ‘treasure-trove’ history book and CD donation to our library,” said Principal Gayle Weaver.
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 from 9 until 1 Monday-Friday. The book can also be ordered by mail. Send a check for $30.00 plus $5.00 postage and packaging (padded envelope) to the ASHS, P.O. Box 1002, Century 32535.
For more information, contact Jerry Simmons at (251) 765-2629 or Jerry Fischer at (850) 256-3980.
Pictured above: Current Northview High faculty and Century High School graduates (L-R) Joyce Gunn (1973), Bobby Simpson (1970) and Mary Jo Smith (1966) look through A Pictorial History Volume II in the Northview Library. Pictured below: Century’s drugstore and the Tuberville Hospital in the late 1930’s — just one of about two thousand photographs in the book. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
103-Year Old North Escambia Woman Honored
February 18, 2010
North Escambia’s 103-year old Elmira Gandy Crapps was honored by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night.
Born in Butler County, Alabama, in 1907 to John Oxford and Victoria Black Gandy and married to William Haynes Crapps, she has been a member of Poplar Dell Baptist Church for over 75 years.
For 45 years, she and her husband operated a successful trucking business, Gulf & Southern Transport, in Century, providing hauling services for timber, lumber and equipment.
“Bonds, savings accounts and CD’s are the best and safest places to invest money, and a person should invest at least 20 percent of their annual income with an additional 10 percent going to charity and tithing,” was the advice the Gandyville resident gave as a county proclamation was being prepared.
“She is the third descendant in her family to live past the age of 100 and creates a link to our history,” the county commission’s proclamation states. “She lauds the spirit, inspiration, and endurance represented by one of our oldest residents and is a valued member of our community.”
Crapps was recently recognized by the Town of Century with a day in honor. Florida Governor Charlie Crist offered his congratulations, as did Congressman Jeff Miller.
NorthEscambia.com featured Crapps in a January 30 article. Click here for the story, and to learn more about Crapps’ secret for a long life.
Ernest Ward Students Take Part In World’s Largest Middle School Drama Competition
February 17, 2010
Seven Ernest Ward Middle School drama students took part in the world’s largest middle school drama competition this past weekend.
Samantha Barrow, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Kamryn Brock, Morgan Packer, Rachel Presley, Chelsea Turner, and Lauryn Walker competed in the Florida State Junior Thespian Festival in Fort Lauderdale, an event that draws over 2,000 middle school students.
“Our drama girls competed against some really strong performers and in front of judges, many of whom were professionals in the fine arts field. The judges were tough, but the Ernest Ward students held their own,” said Katie Ward, EWMS drama team sponsor.
Presley, Barrow and Bhadkamkar all received “Excellent” ratings. Presley placed for her monologue “Cinderelly from the Valley”, while Barrow and and Bhadkamkar placed in their duet scene, “Common Scents”.
“We are very proud of all the hard work each student put in to even make it to state. Considering this was our school’s first time ever attending this competition, they represented our school well,” Ward said.
Pictured above: (L-R) Chelsea Turner, Lauryn Walker, Samantha Barrow, Rachel Presley, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Kamryn Brock and Morgan Packer
Escambia Looks To Expand Career Academies To Middle Schools
February 16, 2010
The Escambia County School District is looking at expanding its high school career academy model to the middle school level throughout the county.
Middle school career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a school in which select students and teachers participate during a two or three-year span. Students enter the academy with parental knowledge and support. A career academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as an interdisciplinary team.
Staff teams work together to implement the key features of the model and to provide students with exposure to the career field. Students are grouped together for several periods every day with a core group of teachers. This model promotes a family-like atmosphere and results in close student-teacher ties, according to the district.
Dozens of career academies already exist in Escambia County’s high schools, such as the Building Trades and Construction Design Academy at Northview, the Early Childhood Education Academy at Tate, Web Design Services Academy at Washington and the Legal Services Academy at West Florida High. An Agriscience Technology Academy is under development for Northview.
Workman and Wooham are the only middle schools in the county with career academies, health occupations, agriscience and pre-engineering academies.
The curriculum and instruction within an academy will meet or exceed state and district standards, while differing from a regular secondary school by focusing learning around a theme. Career academies often partner with colleges or employers, bringing resources from outside of the school to improve student motivation and achievement.
At today’s school board meeting, the board is expected to approved a set of standards and guidelines that will allow for the development of career academies at other middle school in the county, including Ernest Ward.
Photos: How To Build A Snowman
February 15, 2010
Lots of people across the area tried their hand at building a snowman Friday.
Some resembled the character Frosty, some looked like little space aliens and some were even cats and dogs. We had pictures of little ones, eight and a half foot tall ones, and even a little snowman family.
In a special photo gallery, we are looking back at snowmen as built by NorthEscambia.com readers.
Click here for the photo gallery of snowmen built by our readers.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center: Be My Valentine
February 15, 2010
Century Care Center celebrated Valentine’s Day on Sunday with a special afternoon.
With sparkling apple cider, good food, good music and lots of great fellowship, residents gathered for an afternoon of fun. Dewey Spicer and Voncille Mize were named Century Care Center’s Valentine’s king and queen.
And Mr. and Mrs. Burch proved that Cupid’s arrows can be on the mark as they celebrated a very special anniversary.
For more photos of Valentine’s Day at Century Care Center, click here.
Pictured above: Mr. and Mrs. Burch celebrated their anniversary on Valentine’s Day at Century Care Center. Pictured left: Valentine’s King Dewey Spicer and Queen Voncille Mize.
Even More NorthEscambia.com Reader Submitted Snow Photos
February 14, 2010
We have published literally hundreds of reader submitted snow photos over the past couple of days, and we have even more today.
From all across Northwest Florida and well into South Alabama, our reader photos provide a complete look at the first snowfall in 14 years.
For part four of our reader photo gallery, click here.
Don’t forget to email your snow pictures to news@northescambia.com so that we can add your photos to our galleries.
Pictured: NorthEscambia.com reader submitted snow photos, click to enlarge.