Photo: Hot Coffee, Frozen Pool
January 9, 2010
The picture above shows a cup of hot coffee sitting on a sheet of ice in a Byrneville pool.
“I sat my hot coffee cup onto the frozen water of the pool and was able to take a photo without the cup even falling through,” Angi Baker said. (The dark objects at the bottom of the pool are leaves, she said.)
Do you have a cold weather photo to share? Email your picture to news@northescambia.com
Submitted photo by Angie Baker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Eddie Cooper Honored For 25 Years With County NRCS
January 8, 2010
Eddie Cooper of Molino was honored Thursday night for 25 years of dedicated service to Escambia County.
Cooper currently serves as the division manager of the National Resource Conservation Division, Neighborhoods and Community Services Bureau. The Escambia County Natural Resources Conservation Division (NRCS) was formerly known as the Soil and Water Division.
The NRCS office administers federal funds that are headed to farmers, ranchers and landowners participating in a variety of federal programs. In the just the past 10 years, the NRCS has administered over $27 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture dollars made available to Escambia County and agriculture producers. Agriculture is a $32 million a year industry in Escambia County, according to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture survey.
Keith Wilkins, deputy bureau chief of Neighborhoods and Community Services, said Cooper has always been one of the department’s most ethical, sincere and diligent employees.
“I just want to thank Escambia County for giving me the privilege to serve,” Cooper said, adding that he is looking forward to several more years with Escambia County before his retirement.
Pictured above: County Administrator Bob McLaughlin (left) presents a framed proclamation to Eddie Cooper at Thursday night’s Escambia County Commission meeting.
Photos: A Really Cool Swing Set
January 6, 2010
A North Escambia family had one of the coolest swing sets around thanks to our winter weather. An overnight temperature in the upper teens and a sprinkler left on all night created this wintry scene with huge icicles Tuesday morning. Pictured below: Hunter Kinnard climbs a very frozen rope ladder. Submitted photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
For more photos of the swing set and all of its icicles, click here.
Do you have interesting photos that you would like to share with our readers? Email the photos with a description to news@northescambia.com for possible inclusion on our site.
Frozen Fountain Photos
January 6, 2010
Our daily look at the Century Care Center’s frozen fountain continued on Wednesday with a solid block of ice.
Thousands of people have been watching our daily photos of the ice build up in the Nona Hightower Fountain at Century Care Center. Our first photos on Monday showed a few icicles; by Wednesday morning the fountain was finally completely frozen.
“No water is flowing at this time from the pineapple (at the top of the fountain),” Linda Jackson, activities assistant at the Century Care Center, said Wednesday morning. “It’s just that cold!”
Pictured above the Nona Hightower Fountain at Century Care Center Wednesday morning. Pictured below: The fountain Monday morning. Submitted photos by Linda Jackson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2009 Persons Of The Year: Charles Williams
January 4, 2010
Charles Williams has been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
Charles Williams is one of those behind the scenes people that makes the world go round — at least the world of youth sports in Walnut Hill.
From the Ernest Ward Middle School Sports Boosters to Northwest Escambia Football, Williams is always hard at work to make sure the area’s children have the opportunity to take part in sports.
He is sometimes the man on the public address system at NWE and Ernest Ward Middle School football games, but he is always the man behind the scenes. From mowing the grass to working in the concession stand, he’s the model volunteer.
As president of the EWMS Sports Boosters, Williams is quick to point out that the group works to support every boy’s and girl’s sport at the school, not just the county’s only middle school football team. Williams and his army of volunteers make sure that every player of every sport is appreciated, and that every player is fed an appropriate meal or snack before every game.
“I just don’t know what we would do without Charles,” EWMS Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said at a school sports banquet before presenting Williams with a small token of the school’s appreciation.
Williams accepted the gift quietly and humbly — that’s just the kind of man he is. And hundreds, if not thousands, of youth would tend to agree — he’s just one of those people that influences society quietly, one child a time.
“He’s a true hero,” Perry said.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Year In Review North Escambia’s Biggest Stories Of 2009: October
January 4, 2010
NorthEscambia.com is looking back at 2009 with our “Year in Review” series. Each day, we will review the biggest stories of 2009. Today, we take a look at the biggest stories of October 2009.
The Northview High School Chiefs picked up a big win against Sneeds on Senior Night. The Silver Wings parachute team was due to parachute the game ball into the stadium prior the game, but weather forced a cancellation.
On the last Friday night of October, a 13-year old girl reported that she was the victim of a home invasion in Molino. The middle school student was cut multiple times on her hands in an apparent attempt to fight off her attacker as she was pinned on a bed but she was not otherwise injured.
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost to the Baker Gators in the District 1-1A volleyball tournament finals in Bratt, but the Lady Chiefs will have one more shot at advancing in the state tournament.
Six more people — including at least one animal control worker — were exposed to rabies following an incident with a rabid cat in the McDavid area.
Christina Rae Rivkin was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison for the June death of a Pensacola man riding his bicycle to work so that his wife could use the family’s only car.
When just over 100 World War II veterans headed to Washington Wednesday on the Fifth Annual Emerald Coast Honor Flight so that the veterans could see the World War II Memorial — their memorial — NorthEscambia.com gave veteran Billy Ward of Walnut Hill a camera. We asked him to take pictures during his day and share them with you, our readers.
In a battle of rivals, the Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals 28-27, and it was a nail-biter down to the last seconds.
The Town of Century started the application process for a $140,000 grant to improve drainage in an area south of the old Century High School.
The Town of Century’s accountant predicts that the new fiscal year will be a good one financially for the town. “It looks better this year than this time last year,” Robert Hudson, Century’s accountant, said. He predicted that by the middle the of the budget year, which started October 1, “I think our incomes will wind up being a little more than we budgeted.”
Students at Molino Park Elementary School took a grand field trip to the faraway world of Egypt, thanks to Pensacola non-profit organization called The Global Corner International Learning Center.
You don’t need a driver’s license to drive an Army tank, and drill sergeants don’t really yell at recruits. Those were just a couple of the interesting answers to equally interesting questions as students at Ernest Ward Middle School met with an Army recruiter.
An Escambia County, Alabama, man died from the H1N1 virus.
Two Century residents that own a horse related business were arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges after starving horses were found on their property.
NorthEscambia.com was named the “Best Local Blog” in the ninth annual Pensacola Independent newspaper’s Best of the Coast issue.
Barrineau Park Road closed near Jacks Branch Road for bridge repair.
Camping fees at Lake Stone were increased by the Escambia County Commission.
An Escambia County woman was charged with leaving her three young children home alone for two days with nothing to eat except six cups of Jello. One child, an 18-month old girl, was found dead in a trashcan at the woman’s home.
The final bills were submitted for the addition of modular classrooms at Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle schools — $1,026,214. That bottom line was almost $43,000 over the school district’s original budget.
An $858,713.05 project by Roads Inc. of NWF, completely resurfaced Molino Road from Highway 29 to Highway 99, a distance of just over five miles.
Wanted murder suspect Bruce Edward Day was taken into custody in the Atmore area. A massive manhunt in Pensacola failed to locate Day, wanted for a 2001 Nokomis murder in which authorities have never found a body.
The Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission held a meeting in Century, but only a handful of residents attended.
Thousands from the across the area packed the annual Jay Peanut Festival.
Northview High School beat Baker 34-14 for Homecoming win.
Kassandra Lett was named as Northview High School’s 2009 Homecoming Queen. First runner up was Erica Rendell; second runner up was Amber McMillan.
2009 In Pictures: September
January 4, 2010
Escambia County (Ala.) Chief Deputy Mike Lambeth as deputies searched murder suspects after NorthEscambia.com located their van.
A Hazmat crew works to clean acid out of an Atmore gas station parking lot.
A 10 -year old boy on a dirt bike was injured after being hit by a pickup truck in Bratt.
A 19-year old male and a 15-year old middle school student were charged in connection with the September 14th robbery of the Molino Tom Thumb. Deputies found the 19-year old trying to steal tires after he had a flat on the getaway car. The clothing used in the robbery was found in the back of the car by deputies. A tip from a NorthEscambia.com reader was crediting as breaking the case for investigators. (above).
Eighth grade student Rebekah Miles leads students in prayer at Ernest Ward Middle School’s See You At The Pole rally.
We had a little fun with the urban legend that says you can stand an egg on its end on the spring and fall equinox. We are not sure if we are able to stand eggs on end at other times of the year. No one here has ever tried.
Herman Pleasant, left, waits his turn to address the Century Town Council about code enforcement problems while Eddie Stallworth, right, listens.
Northwest Escambia football action.
Fire destroyed a tractor in Bratt.
2009 In Pictures: October
January 4, 2010
We are taking a look back at 2009 through some of the thousands of photos we ran here on NorthEscambia.com. Today, we are featuring some of the best and most interesting photos from October.
Storyteller Paula Larke at Atmore’s Williams Station Day.
Jay’s Steven James fails to stop Northview’s Dustin Yuhasz during the first meeting of the two teams in several years.
A leaking natural gas line burns at house fire on Hilltop Road in Century.
Jadlyn Agerton soars at the top of a cheerleader tower at an Ernest Ward Middle School game.
The JV Chiefs’ Reid Bell picks up yardage against West Florida Tech.
Raising money for the American Cancer Society, overall Trotting for a Cure adventure race winners William Hudgens of Pace and Jack Sauve of Milton had an early lead in the 2.9 mile canoe trip down the Perdido River.
The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders held a mini-cheerleader clinic.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Roger Grice, District 5 Commissioner Kevin White and Escambia Sheriff David Morgan walked Juniper Street in Walnut Hill.
The Northview High School’s first ever Homecoming Parade rolls through “downtown” Bratt.
Tommy Weaver, Northview’s DCT class sponsor, looks on as De Facto Bratt Mayor Donnie Bass signs the “Community of Bratt Parade Permit” for the school’s first homecoming parade.
A bald eagle in the top of a tree in Walnut Hill.
2009 Persons Of The Year: Rev. Willie H. Carter
January 3, 2010
Rev. Willie H. Carter of Century has been named one of our North Escambia Persons of the Year.
Turn off the TV — anyone that knows Rev. Carter knows that piece of advice.
Rev. Carter preaches a good sermon as pastor of Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches in North Escambia with a 130 year history. He has a passion for his Lord, and a passion for youth, including the dozens of youth in his church. But he preaches more than just the Gospel to young people in Century area.
“After you watch TV for an hour, close your eyes and see what you got out of that,” Rev. Carter said. He never missed the opportunity to tell young people to turn off the television. “Then read a book, close your eyes and see what you learned.”
“Your life is in you hands,” the reverend said. “You can make it anything you want it to be.”
Rev. Carter spent many years as a counselor at schools in Century, and he’s never stopped preaching the value of self-worth and education to youngsters.
“I can remember when it was not easy for someone to even make it to the eighth grade,” Rev. Carter told the final class of graduating eighth graders at Carver/Century K-8 School holding his Century diploma from May 22, 1936, in his hand. “Tonight, we have to think of it as a beginning.”
“Nobody’s going to ask you if came out of a little town like Century, but if you can do the job,” he said.
His involvement in the Century community extends beyond church and education. No matter what the cause for the good of Century, the Rev. Carter is there. Dozens of pastors and churches were invited to take part in a Learn To Read luncheon several months ago. One pastor was there — the Rev. Willie Carter.
Whether it was the effort to keep Carver/Century K-8 School open, or the effort to unite Century, Rev. Carter was there.
“If we’d just do like the football player, we could do a whole lot better,” he said. “It does not matter who is going to be blocking, tackling or carrying the ball. They just want to get the job done.”
“I am calling on Century; it is time for us to come together,” Rev. Carter said. “It is time for us to realize that we have one God.”
Pictured top: Rev. Willie H. Carter addresses the last-ever graduating class at Carver/Century K-8 School. Pictured inset: Rev. Carter with his 1936 Century diploma. Pictured bottom: Rev. Carter prays with Century Mayor Freddie McCall. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Inspired By A Cartoon, Bratt Student Raises Money For Children’s Hospital
January 3, 2010
Cold weather did not stop a a nine-year old Bratt Elementary School student and his charity walk Saturday for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
Logan Doremus was inspired to organize the walk after watching a PBS cartoon in which the character Arthur and his friends held a bike-a-thon for cancer research, his mother Shannon Doremus said. Logan had surgery at Sacred Heart for a rare bone condition in 2003, prompting him to raise money for the children and families served by the children’s hospital.
Saturday, Logan walked around Tom Byrne Park in Atmore with friends Cameron Long, 8, and Triston Long, 10. They were joined by others that walked to raise funds for the children’s hospital.
It is not too late to make a donation…for more information email shanabelld33@hotmail.com. Donations can also be mailed to 7650 Hodges Road, Century FL 32535.
Pictured above: Cameron Long, 8; Logan Doremus, 9; and Triston Long, 10; walk Saturday to raise money for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.