Molino Church Ends VBS With 284 And A 50-Foot Banana Split
July 4, 2009
A Molino church wrapped up their Vacation Bible School Friday night in a really big way — a 50-foot long, double row banana split for over 200 kids.
Highland Baptist Church had set a lofty goal of 200 enrolled in their VBS this week. One of the ways they decided to promote their “Boomerang Express” VBS was with signs along several Molino roads. A day after they signs were placed around Molino — included in private yards and on church property — every sign had been stolen. The signs were remade and put out Monday afternoon, only to be stolen again Monday night.
Between word of mouth, news stories and advertisements on NorthEscambia.com about the stolen signs and mentions of the story on WXBM radio, the Highland Baptist finished the week with 284 enrolled in VBS.
“The Lord is so good,” Pastor Brian Calhoun said. “He took the bad and turned it into a really good week for the children.”
The 50-foot banana split was assembled Friday night with military precision. Volunteers sliced 120 bananas, added 20 gallons of ice cream, eight large cans of whipped cream, seven pounds of M&Ms and over a gallon of chocolate syrup.
The total time from 200 plus spoons hitting the banana split to the first mop on the floor to cleanup was just over 10 minutes.
Click here for a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery.
Pictured above and below: Highland Baptist Church in Molino wrapped up their Vacation Bible School Friday night with a 50-foot long banana split. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fresh From Steve’s Farm: Sweet Corn, Beans, Peas, Catfish And More
June 30, 2009
In 2002, Steve Hiebert and his family planted six acres of sweet corn on their Walnut Hill farm. It was the start of a booming business that now offers a variety of fruits and vegetables, and even a little fishing down on the farm.
Steve said he always wanted to farm. But the traditional crops like cotton and catfish were not appealing on his relatively small farm because it is hard to compete with cheap catfish from China or cotton from India.
“We were looking for a niche,” he said. “I was not looking at leasing more land than I already owned. I was a farmer at heart and wanted to remain a farmer. The sweet corn was what I could do.”
The idea to grow sweet corn and retail on the farm came from a friend in Arkansas. After that first year, Steve realized that specializing in produce farming was what he wanted to continue to do. Along the way, his wife suggested peas and customers requested butter beans.
This year, Steve has 30 acres of sweet corn, 20 acres of peas and 20 acres of butter beans.
Today, Steve’s farm is a far cry from that first six acres of corn that was hand picked, hand sorted and hand bagged. The corn is graded on a mechanical conveyor line; the butter beans are machine picked — it’s hard to find someone willing to pick butter beans, Steve said, and the beans and peas are available mechanically shelled. No more sore fingers from shelling — the peas and beans are perfectly shelled in minutes with almost no debris remaining in them.
This time of year, they are picking 70-80 bushels of peas per day, but Steve’s claim to fame is still his Steve’s Homegrown Sweet Corn.
“There is no fresher or better tasting sweet corn than corn that is picked the morning you buy it,” Steve said. “It does not spend days on a truck from California, plus there’s not all of the fuel spent to haul it. It just makes sense to get it from the local guy.”
Some of the produce is sold wholesale, but most is sold at retail farm fresh from the Hiebert barn in Walnut Hill. In addition to the corn, butter beans and peas, Steve’s Farm also sells cantaloupe, watermelons and other seasonal produce.
And then there’s the fishing.
Steve’s pond is open and stocked with farm raised catfish.
“It’s not just fishing; it is the experience,” Steve said. “Dad’s don’t need a new boat and a trip to the river to fish with the kids. They get tired, and they might not catch anything. But here, they love it. The kids almost always catch fish, and they always have a good time.”
Anglers can bring their own bait and tackle, or Steve “will rent you the poles, sell you the bait, clean your fish, sell you a cheap ice chest and you can head home with your fillets and your happy campers”.
Steve’s Farm and his catfish pond are located at 1201 South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill, about a mile and half off Highway 97. The farm and the catfish pond are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday until the end of September. For more information, call (850) 327-4020 or visit www.StevesFarm.net online. Steve says to call ahead if you are driving very far if you want a specific item; the corn, peas and beans can sell out quickly some days. He does take orders.
Pictured above: Some of the fresh produce available at Steve’s Farm in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: An automated butter bean picker at work Monday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Digging For The Past In Molino; 2,000 Year Old Artifacts Found
June 29, 2009
Archaeologists from the University of West Florida are hard at work this summer uncovering the past in Molino, looking hard for a mission settlement dating back to the 1750’s. So far, they have not found definitive evidence of the village, but they have uncovered evidence of prehistoric life in Molino.
The Pensacola Colonial Frontiers Survey Field School, led by archaeologist John Worth, centers on the search for outlying communities associated with Pensacola’s three Spanish presidios including Native American villages and farmsteads. The students are searching an area along and near the Escambia River in Molino for a missions settlement that is believed to have included a Spanish missionary church and a small Apalachee Indian village.
The Mission San Joseph De Escambe was established upriver along the Escambia River — which actually took its later name from the mission near Molino. The Apalachee Indian settlement with about 75 residents is well documented, according to archaeologist John Worth. It was established in the 1740’s. A Franciscan missionary was stationed by the Spanish at the village along with 15 members of a Spanish cavalry unit until about 1757.
The village was led by Apalachee Chief Juan Marcos Fant until it was destroyed during a Creek Indian raid on April 9, 1761. The village and the church were at least partially burned during the raid. Following the raid, the residents moved down the Escambia River to what is now downtown Pensacola.
The Apalachee Indians created pottery for trade with the Spanish in Pensacola, and Worth would like nothing more than to find some of that pottery. If he’s lucky, Worth also hopes to find evidence that the Apalachee Indians also traded with the Upper Creek Indians of Alabama and directly, or indirectly with the French, even though the French and Indian War (1756-1763) was underway.
“Historical documents have narrowed our search for Pensacola’s lost Spanish missions, but now our students are conducting the archaeological fieldwork designed to locate them on the ground and learn more about this chapter of our local history,” said Worth.
Worth is fairly certain that he knows where the mission was located along the Escambia River in Molino, and his field school students have spent most of the last month digging meticulously for the evidence. That evidence will likely be period pottery, Worth said, created by the Apalachee Indians. If he finds the pottery, or perhaps the remains of the burned out mission church, it will be an important link in colonial Florida history.
There have been several historic pieces discovered. The first day of the project uncovered a piece of Brown Salt Glazed stoneware pre-dating 1775 and fragments of free-blown olive green glass possibly also from the colonial period.
“All these are tantalizing signs of the missing chapters of early colonial history in this region, but much more work remains,” Worth said.
Worth hopes to find remains of the village fairly intact; he said that evidence indicates that the immediate area he is searching has never been plowed or farmed. His students dig small test holes, noting their exact location via GPS and logging the contents, if any, found in the hole. It’s a slow careful process, with small scoops of dirt shaken through a screen to collect any items that might be hidden.
Last week, as the students moved from residential backyards into a thickly wooded area closer to the river, shovel tests found small pottery fragments believed to have dated between 1,000 and 2,500 years ago — the first ever prehistoric evidence of occupation in North Escambia.
This past Friday, the UWF students uncovered a small concentration of Native American pottery sherds that appear to be from the 18th-century, several lead shot pellets consistent with those found at Spanish presidios in that period, more lead shot pellets and other items including a melted lump of copper or brass.
They also found more prehistoric pottery, evidence dating to the first millennium A.D., of settlements along the modern-day Escambia River in Molino.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to follow the search for Mission San Joseph De Escambe near Molino, and we will keep you updated over the next few weeks. We will have more photos from the site, and we will let you know what the archaeologists find.
Click here for more photos from the dig site.
Editor’s Note: While we have mentioned that the archaeological dig is in the Molino area of North Escambia, we are not revealing the exact location at this point. It is all on private property (public access would be trespassing), and UWF wishes to protect the area until their work is done and to not compromise the integrity of any artifacts that might be in the area. Once the project is complete, we will publish an article with the exact location of the dig.
Pictured above: UWF Archeology students carefully sift through soil while search for artifacts near Molino. Pictured below: A piece of possibly 19th century pottery that was found during our visit. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Every Child A Readers Honors Many, Including Century Group
June 25, 2009
Outstanding child care center teachers and community supporters were honored Wednesday by the Every Child a Reader in Escambia (ECARE) program, including a Century foundation.
The honors were presented at the first Appleseeds Awards and Recognition Ceremony.
The Teaspoon Foundation of Century, represented by Jack Moran, was honored at the program for their support and contributions as a community partner of ECARE. The Teaspoon Foundation was responsible for bringing the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Escambia County with plans to provide a free book every month for every child under five years old.
The goal of Appleseeds is to acknowledge the excellence of the childcare providers who are teaching our children at the most critical points of their lives: ages newborn – five years old. The goal of ECARE is that all children entering Kindergarten in the Escambia County School District in 2011 will be ready for Kindergarten as measured by then current standards. In turn, the students will test proficient on the reading portion of the FCAT in 2014.
It is proven that strong parenting and high-quality preschool programs lay a solid literacy foundation that helps children learn to read when they get to Kindergarten. This critical skill serves children far beyond elementary school. It also predicts high school graduation based upon a student’s early reading ability, according to ECARE Executive Director Clairen Reese.
Appleseeds is similar to the county school system’s K-12 Teacher of the Year Program. Every Child a Reader’s goal is to shine a light on the “best of the best” child care teachers which will, in turn, reinforce to these teachers how extremely important their work is; will help to recruit other potential child care teachers to the profession; and will share their fine work with the community, Reese said.
The Escambia County Child Care Teacher of the Year was Pamela Broughton of Malena’s Mini School I. Other finalists were Donna Hendrix of O.J. Semmes Elementary Head 
Start, Sharon Law of Jamison Street Preschool, Shannon Nolan of Malena’s Mini School II, Shirley McCants of McCants’ Family Home of Learning, Karen Radford of Blue Angel Early Learning Center, Michelle Smith of WEE Children’s Center – West Pensacola Baptist Church, Terri Odom of Cokesbury Children’s Center and Tammy Warren of Escambia County Head Start.
Other community partners honored at the program were The Studer Group, Barnes and Noble, Leadership Pensacola Class of 2007, Wal-Mart of Navy Boulevard, Wal-Mart of Creighton Road, Wal-Mart of Mobile Highway, Downtown Rotary, The Escambia – Santa Rosa Bar Association, Medline Industries, Bonefish Grill, Margaret Stopp, Diane Hutcherson and Bruce Caton.
Teaspoon Foundation
The Teaspoon Foundation invests in young people. The Teaspoon Foundation is involved in the investigation, locating, authenticating and preserving the artifacts, history, and heritage of Teaspoon as a Pre-Revolutionary period; facilitating and promoting cultural and heritage education in North Escambia County; and improving the quality of life in North Escambia County, especially the Century area.
The Teaspoon Foundation is involved with the Early Learning Coalition of Florida to put free books into the hands of children between the ages of zero and five through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. They found a way to completely sponsor every single child in Century to have these free books delivered right to their doorstep until they start kindergarten.
The group is involved in the Teaspoon Heritage Society where Children’s Heritage Parties are held where the experiences of the elderly are told to children in a “pizza party setting” and video taped during the process. They also host The Imagination Library Reading Party – a monthly reading party where the children bring their favorite Imagination Library books to a party and volunteers read to them, while their parents watch and learn how to read to and engage children in the learning to read process.
Pictured top: Jack Moran (in the mult-colored shirt) stands in the background as guests sign in for ECARE’s official community kickoff in June 2008 at Heritage Hall in Pensacola. Photo courtesy ECARE. Picturd middle inset: The Teaspoon Foundation brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Escambia County. Pictured bottom inset: Some of the books that were offered by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Make A Little Magic: Summer Fun At The Library
June 24, 2009
It was a magical Summer Reading Program Tuesday at the Century Branch Library with magician Beau Broomall.
Broomall delighted and amazed with magic tricks galore, and he even shared a few magical secrets.
For a photo gallery from the program, click here.
On Tuesday, July 7 at noon, kids of all ages can meet Tuffy the American Quarter Horse at the Century Branch Library as he teaches teamwork and respect for others.
The free program for children of all ages will be at the Century Branch Library, 7991 North Century Boulevard. For more information, call the library at 256-6217.
Pictured above and below: Magician Beau Broomall performs at the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Making Rainbows: Dry Weather Irrigation Creates Colorful Masterpieces
June 23, 2009
Dry weather has forced area farmers to turn to center pivot irrigation systems to save their crops. The overhead sprinkler systems can create rainbows that can sometimes been seen for hours . The wheeled towers with the sprinklers are advanced slowly in a circular pattern around a center pivot. A nearby well provides the water supply for each irrigation system.
For more photos of the irrigation rainbows, click here.
Pictured above : A rainbow formed beneath an irrigation system in a Walnut Hill field. Pictured below: The water paints a rainbow. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Elton Gilmore Retires After 32 Years With Forestry
June 21, 2009
After 32 years of service in the Florida Division of Forestry, Elton Gilmore of McDavid is retiring.
Gilmore was honored at a dinner in Pensacola Saturday night. Ben Wolcott, operations administrator for the Blackwater District for the Florida Division of Forestry, provided a little insight into “Gray Bear’s” service.
In June of 1977, Gilmore was hired as a forest ranger at the Molino Tower at the same rate of pay he had made as the assistant manager of an IGA grocery store — $5.50 an hour. He was promoted to Senior Forest Ranger in January 1986 and was promoted to Forest Area Supervisor in February 1997. He spent a total of 32 years in Forestry fire control.
Wolcott said Gilmore’s personnel file is about two and a half inches thick, “full of letters of thanks, appreciation and commendations for things he’s done, from assigning the resources to helping clear an elderly lady’s driveway after Hurricane Ivan, to leading fire crews from Virginia to Texas to Oregon, to helping organize the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department and serving as captain, assistant chief, and chief.”
“It’s a file that reveals the career of a man who’s been dedicated to his family, to the profession he chose, to the community where he raised his family and very much to his fellow workers,” Wolcott said.
Working as the District Training Officer, Gilmore helped many other firefighters in a three-county area grow in their careers, Wolcott said. Gilmore worked with Beulah Fire Chief Bobby Nigh to start the first Division of Forestry district-level Wildland Fire Training Conference, a concept that has been repeated and will continue to grow, he said.
“Elton, just like an old Colorado grizzly bear, you’ve made your mark on the tree, and it won’t be easy for anyone to reach higher than you have,” Wolcott said. “I’m proud and mean it when I say that you deserve to have great days ahead, and I’m thankful to have played with you on the Blackwater team.”
Gilmore’s official last day with the Division of Forestry is June 30.
Pictured top: Ben Wolcott (right), operations administrator for the Blackwater District for the Florida Division of Forestry, presents a plaque to Elton Gilmore Saturday night honoring him for his 32 years of service. Pictured below: Gilmore and his retirement gift — a new gas grill. Submitted photos by Bill Eubanks for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Atmore Businessman Helps Little Girl That Needs Kidney
June 20, 2009
An Atmore businessman is stepping forward to help 11-month Hadyn Allyssa Brake of Flomaton get the kidney she needs.
Harold Allen, owner an Atmore mobile home business, has written a $1,000 check to help with the $20,000 the family needs for Hadyn’s kidney transplant.
Hadyn was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, a chronic kidney disease. In February, doctors were forced to remove both of her kidneys, and now she needs a kidney transplant by her first birthday on July 28.
Allen knows the pain of waiting for a kidney transplant; he underwent the procedure nine years ago, receiving a kidney from his son.
It’s estimated that the family needs $20,000 for Hadyn’s kidney transplant. For now, she is on dialysis 12 hours a day every day.
Last weekend, Atmore Dialysis Center held “Hadyn Brake Day” to help the little girl and her family.
Donations can be made to the “Hadyn Kidney Fund” at the Bank Trust in Brewton, Ala, or call Sonya Higdon at the Atmore Dialysis Center at (251) 368-5593 for information.
Pictured above: Hayden Allyssa Brake of Flomaton at a benefit last Saturday in Atmore to help her family afford her kidney transplant. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Yummy Library Lesson: Tasty And Healthy Snack Choices
June 17, 2009
Snacking can be tasty and healthy — that was the message during a summer reading program “Kids Can Cook!” at the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon.
Angela Hinkle from the Escambia County Extension Office presented tips for making smart food choices at a school and home. Children of all ages had fun creating and decorating a lunch box and filling it with healthy snacks.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Next week, the library’s summer fun continues next Tuesday at noon with a free magic show with West Florida’s favorite local magician Beau Broomall.
For more information, contact the Century Branch Library, 7991 North Century Boulevard, at 256-6217.
Pictured above and below: Decisions, decisions — participants in the summer reading program Tuesday afternoon at the Century Branch Library were given the opportunity to choose four free healthy snacks. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Diverse Family: Bratt Mockingbird Is Raising Baby Blue Jay
June 15, 2009
A Bratt family has an interesting family of birds in their yard — a mockingbird is raising an orphaned blue jay along with her own young.
Here is the story, as related by Kim Godwin of Bratt:
My three daughters (Hannah, Shelby and Maegan) and I were driving down our driveway when I noticed a small ball of something just sitting on the ground. All four of us got out to check this little ball out. It just happened to be a tiny baby blue jay that had been orphaned.
We looked for the nest that it had apparently fallen out of but we couldn’t find it. Of course, we all wanted to pick it up immediately because it was so cute and tiny. I’ve always heard not to touch a baby bird with your bare hands because the mother would smell the human scent on it and leave it abandoned.
So, I grabbed a t-shirt and swaddled the tiny bird up in it. The next question for us was, “What do we do with this cute little bird?”. It just so happened that we have been watching a nest of mockingbird eggs hatch. The little mockingbirds could have only been a week or so old. I decided that we would see what happened if we stuck the blue jay in with the mockingbirds.
I didn’t really think that the mockingbird parents would just adopt the blue jay but I thought that is was worth a try. Well, then we had another obstacle — the nest was too small for the three tiny mockingbirds and the blue jay that is three times as big as the mockingbirds.
My nine-year old daughter Hanna looked up on the internet on how to create a make-shift nest. So, we found an old basket and filled it with pine straw. My husband tied it up in the tree where the old nest used to be. It wasn’t but just a few minutes and the mama mockingbird was checking out her new home which held her three babies plus one.
The mockingbird parents have fully adopted the bluejay and the whole family is doing well.
Pictured above: A hungry blue jay (the larger bird to the left) and two mockingbirds wait for mom to feed them. Pictured below: (L-R) Hannah Godwin, Maegan Godwin, friend Jadlyn Agerton, Shelby Godwin . Pictured bottom: More photos of the orphaned baby blue jay that is being raised by a mockingbird with her own young. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
