Friendship Freewill Fishin’
May 24, 2009
The youth from the Friendship Freewill Baptist Church from the McCall (Ala.) community recently took a fishing trip to Steve’s Catfish Ponds in Walnut Hill.
If your North Escambia area church would like to share news and photos, email news@northescambia.com.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NWE Names Maille Kilcrease Little League Queen
May 24, 2009
Maille Kilcrease was crowned the 2009 Little League Queen at Bradberry recently. The girls sold votes for a penny each, with a portion of the proceeds to sponsor the park.
The first place winner was Kylie Brook. Other contestants included Amber Gilman and Ronnie Belanger.
Pictured above: 2008 NWE Baseball Queen Brianna Parker crowned her successor recently, 2009 NWE Baseball Queen Maille Kilcrease. Pictured inset: Contestant Amber Gilman. Pictured below: Contestant Kylie Brook, 2008 Queen Brianna Parker, 2009 Queen Maille Kilcrease and Ronnie Belanger. Submitted photos by Wendy Aliff for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Welcome To The Real World: NHS Students Juggle Work, School
May 21, 2009
During her senior year, Northview student Ashley Snow maintained her GPA, cheered on the varsity cheerleading squad and was involved in other extracurricular activities. She also worked as an office assistant five days a week. And she worked at the Atmore YMCA. And she worked at the Movie Gallery.
Ashley is one of 27 students enrolled in the Diversified Career Technology/Career Education Clubs of Florida class at Northview High School. It’s a program that is sometimes called OJT, or on the job training. Students like Ashley take three to six periods in school at Northview; then they earn classroom credit for working their jobs under the watchful eye of DCT instructor Tommy Weaver.
“We call it the ‘world of work’,” Weaver said of his class. “It’s a welcome to the real world.”
At one point during the year, Ashley was juggling school and a 40-45 hour work week under the DCT program.
“I didn’t have a social life. I didn’t have time to sleep,” she said. She’s since quit her job at the YMCA, but continues to work at the Movie Gallery. She also will continue her job as a paid student aide in the Northview office until the end of the school year.
For senior Amie Sutton (pictured left), the DCT program has allowed her to advance in her job. She started as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly in Century, and now her duties include working as an office clerk, managing cash, checks, money orders and more. She’s learned that advancing in a career has its perks.
“I can tell people what to do,” Sutton said. “But I hate when a customer is rude.”
“Yeah, sometimes when they have late fees they don’t want to pay, people can be so rude,” Ashley said. It’s that “welcome to the real world” that Weaver mentioned.
“It can get real hectic at times,” Jessica Mothershed said of her job as a paid aide in the Northview office. “Sometimes you can lose track because so many people want you to do so many different things.”
Jessica said she is glad she had the opportunity to get the Northview office job through the DCT program. “It’s been a great chance to get real experience, and the people I work with are just wonderful.”
Summer Sanders said it was necessary for her to work while attending school and that she was thankful for the opportunities presented by the DCT class.
“They are a great group of students who have work extremely hard to maintain jobs as well as attend school,” Summer said, thanking Weaver for helping her find her first job at David’s Catfish and her current job at Century Care Center.
I Enjoy working at the Care Center,” she said. “The staff is really nice and caring, and the residents just have a way of brightening my day when I’m having a bad day. It is a great environment to work in.”
Tiffany Chance found her job, well, by accident. An accident landed her at the chiropractor. She found chiropractic work interesting, and now she works at Newlin Chiropractic in Pensacola through the Northview DCT program.
“I just fell in love with the people at the chiropractic office after my accident, and they offered me a job,” she said. “I love having a job where I can help people. There’s nothing bad about it; it is all positive.”
But without the ability to take part in the NHS DCT program, Tiffany said it would be unlikely that she would have the job that she believes will prepare her for life after high school.
“It has taught me to accomplish tasks for myself,” Tiffany said. “It has definitely prepared me for the real world.”
Classroom time in the DCT program does work to prepare students for the real world.
Students learn how to write a resume, conduct an interview and even file their taxes.
Students receive both a classroom grade and a grade from their work supervisors. Good performance is important to maintaining or improving a GPA; students can earn up to five A’s per nine weeks in the DCT program. It is possible for a senior to take DCT, English and Government/Economics during the first three periods of the school day, then leave for work. Their employers are required to provide them with one hour of work for each period they are out of school.
But Weaver encourages the students to not be all work and no play; they are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and to return to campus for school events like pep rallies.
“They are a great group of kids,” Weaver said.
Amanda Barrow, manager of the Atmore Movie Gallery where Ashley works, agrees.
“I couldn’t ask for a better employee. She accepts responsibility. Everyone would wish for an employee as work oriented as Ashley,” Barrow said. “I think it (DCT) is a great program. It gives students the hands-on training they need before they are pursuing their careers.”
Ashley worked as a night nursery attendant during her time at the Atmore YMCA and found out that the DCT program can even provide life lessons.
“I don’t want kids anymore,” she said.
Members of the Northview 2008-2009 DCT program are listed below with their employer:
- Michelle Bellamy, Century Care Center, Century
- Joshua Black, Ernest Ward Middle School, Walnut Hill
- Gretchen Boughner, Whataburger, Century
- Andrew Bowlan, Whataburger, Cantonment
- Richard Braun, Northview High School, Bratt
- Brittany Brown, Country Charms, Atmore
- Tiffany Chance, Newlin Chiropractic, Pensacola
- Matthew Coffee, Winn-Dixie, Cantonment
- Stephanie Doucette, Grocery Advantage, Cantonment
- Whitney Flurnoy, Buster’s Restaurant, Atmore
- Melissa Garrett, Grocery Advantage, Cantonment
- Jasey Gibson, Whataburger, Cantonment
- Jesse Grimes, Piggly Wiggly, Davisville
- Denise Hart, Northview High School, Bratt
- Blaine Jeter, Pee Wee Construction, Atmore
- Dalton Justice, Right Lead Ranch, Walnut Hill
- Ryan Lamber, Smith Tractor, Atmore
- Adam Martin, Pee Wee Construction, Atmore
- Steven Meadows, Chuck E. Cheese, Pensacola
- Jessica Mothershed, Northview High School, Bratt
- Dustin Odom, Subway, Atmore
- Caitlin Roley, Northview High School, Bratt
- Summer Sanders, Century Care Century, Century
- Haley Smith, Northview High School, Bratt
- Ashley Snow, Movie Gallery, Atmore
- Amie Sutton, Piggly Wiggly, Century
- Kayla Wheeler, Winn Dixie, Cantonment
For more on the DCT program at Northview, click here.
Pictured top: Jessica Mothershed (left) and Tiffany Chance are two of 27 students in the DCT program at Northview High School. Pictured inset: Amie Sutton works at Century’s Piggly Wiggly in the DCT program. Pictured below: Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas visits with DCT student Ashley Snow, who works as an office aide at NHS. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friends And Neighbors Show Support For FNB&T After Armed Bank Robbery
May 21, 2009
Friends and neighbors have reached out to the First National Bank & Trust following the Tuesday afternoon armed robbery of the Atmore bank.
Rene Godwin, FNB&T vice president, said that all day Wednesday, customers and friends took the time to offer words of encouragement following the frighting events of Tuesday afternoon when a man armed with a rifle robbed the bank.
United Bank, whose main office is located just across the street from the FNB&T, even sent a gift basket filled with “goodies” to the FNB&T.
“The FNB&Trust team would like to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our customers and the citizens of the Atmore area for the concern shown us during the recent robbery,” Godwin said. “A special thank you to the United Bank employees for their generosity and well wishes.”
Shep Marsh, president of FNB&T, offered his praises to local law enforcement and his staff following the holdup.
“The quick and professional actions of our well trained staff, excellent security technology, and very competent local law enforcement officers resulted in an identification of the individual within two hours,” Marsh said.
Pictured above: A gift basket from United Bank to the FNB&T following their Tuesday robbery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview DCT Students Work Hard, Visit Six Flags
May 21, 2009
The following was written and submitted by the DCT class at Northview High School.
The Diversified Career Technology/ Career Education Clubs of Florida class at Northview High School recently had a busy week. DCT is a class for students, who have jobs and who want to keep the job while attending school. The students in DCT work very hard to maintain good grades, while holding down a job. These students take core classes and then are released from school to gain valuable experience by doing on-the-job-training at work.
They receive a grade for both classroom and OJT work. Northview has a rather large class this year with 27 members. The class is led by President Jessica Mothershed, Vice President Summer Sanders, Secretary Melissa Garrett, Treasurer Amie Sutton, Parliamentarian Gretchen Boughner, and Hospitality Chairperson Kaydee Wheeler
All have done an exceptional job of keeping things running smoothly. The other members include Michelle Bellamy, Josh Black, Andrew Bowlan, Richard Braun, Brittany Brown, Tiffany Chance, Matthew Coffey, Stephanie Doucette, Whitney Flurnoy, Jasey Gibson, Jesse Grimes, Denise Hart, Blaine Jeter, Dalton Justice, Ryan Lambert, Adam Martin, Steven Meadows, Dustin Odom, Caitlin Roley, Haley Smith and Ashley Snow.
In appreciation for being a great class, our DCT Coordinator, Tommy Weaver, and our Principal, Mrs. Gayle Weaver, accompanied the class to Six Flags Over Georgia on April 25th. The trip was a blast and a great success.
Jessica Mothershed, president, said, “I had a wonderful time. I loved spending time with my friends and seeing their faces on some of the rides. It was priceless.” Ashley Snow, said, “Six Flags was really exciting and because Amie Sutton and I had flash passes we rode almost every ride.”
Summer Sanders, said, “I loved spending time with classmates and it made memories that will last forever.” Amie Sutton, said, “The trip to Six Flags was awesome and I had a great time with my fellow classmates. The memories of that day will be remembered for ever.”
The DCT class recently held the Annual Employer-Employee Banquet at David’s Catfish in Atmore. The banquet was an opportunity for the employees to show appreciation to their employers for all the employers have done for them in the past year. There was great participation by both employers and employees. After a great meal by David’s, the group was presented a program by Mrs. Paula Miller, Director of Human Resources PCI-CIE, highlighting opportunities available with PCI-CIE. It was a very informative and interesting program. The CECF Club was honored to have Dr. Michelle Taylor, Workforce Education Specialist Escambia School District, and her husband, Mr. Tommy Taylor, former Director of Workforce Education, as special quests.
The trip and banquet were great, and the DCT class of 2008-2009 is very proud of their accomplishments this year.
For more information about the DCT program at Northview High School, click here.
Local Student One Of 100 To Take Part In Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend
May 20, 2009
An eighth grade Carver/Century K-8 School student is one of just 100 young men selected to take part in the Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend this June in Dallas.
Arkelle Elliott was selected based upon a father-figure essay he wrote to take part in the program with comedian, actor and radio personality Steve Harvey. Elliot will attend the mentoring weekend June 18-21.
“Mrs. Harris encouraged me a lot,” Elliot said of his teacher Detria Harris. “I wrote an essay about what it was like to have a father figure.”
“He told me from the day he turned it in that he was going to pack because he was going to win,” Harris said.
The event includes a weekend of seminars and team building activities. The program is led by Harvey and is designed to build a foundation for young men, according to the program’s web site.
The Steve Harvey (pictured left) program “will expose young males to business professionals, athletes, celebrities and ministers that will assist them in focusing their hopes into dreams and transforming their dreams into reality,” the web site says.
The program is for young men from a family with a single female head of household.
Elliot and the other 99 program participants will take part in sessions to include “Tool Time”, “Style is Success”, “Handling Your Money”, “What It Takes To Get Into and Stay In College” and “New Ideas To Make Money”.
Pictured top: Arkelle Elliott, eighth grade student at Carver/Century K-8, is one of just 100 young men that will take part in a Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend in Dallas this summer. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Video: That Rare Cloud That Had Us All Talking
May 18, 2009
Back on April 29, a rare cloud formation moved across North Escambia and South Alabama capturing the attention of many North Escambia residents. And now a series of photos from an area resident is giving us the opportunity to see the cloud in motion.
Forecasters at the NWS did not know exactly what to call the cloud formation, settling on calling it just an “arc cloud”. They say the cloud would have been formed by a rapid surge of warm moist air.
Matt Brook took a series of photos on Nokomis Road just off Highway 97 and put them together into a video. Click the video below to watch.
Reviewing high resolution visable satellite data, the weather service tells us that the cloud actually stretched from near Gulf Shores to Butler County, Alabama, for a brief period.
Pictured above: Walt Butler took this photo on Greenland Road in Davisville. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Communities Come Together To Honor Veterans, Military
May 17, 2009
Area residents turned out in Atmore Saturday morning to honor those that have and are currently serving in the military during a combined Armed Forces Day/Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Atmore.
Led by the Northview High School NJROTC and the Northview Tribal Beat marching band, the parade began the day’s events that ended with a ceremony at the Atmore City Hall.
“We are gathered here today while our nation is at war,” Atmore VFW Commander Lavon Martin said. “May God bless them for that service.”
Parade participants included the Northview band and NJROTC, the Escambia County High School NJROTC, the Pensacola High School Air Force JROTC, a unit from the Naval Aviation Technical Training Command, area fire departments, the VFW, and the American Legion.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the parade and ceremony.
Several NJROTC members from NHS and ECHS were honored after the parade. Click here for that story.
Pictured top: The Northview High School NJROTC leads the Atmore Armed Forces Day/Memorial Day parade Saturday morning. Pictured inset: Atmore Councilman John Garrard listens to a ceremony that followed the parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NHS Tribal Beat Band Holds ‘Fun’ Awards Banquet
May 17, 2009
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Marching Band held its second annual NHS Band Banquet Saturday with an emphasis on fun.
The band’s second annual award, the Right Shoe Award, was presented to Justin Purvis (left), the person most improved in marching. Numerous other awards and gifts were presented to students, parents, volunteers and band boosters during the banquet at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
More “serious” band awards will be presented during award ceremonies at school during the next two weeks. But Saturday’s awards were all about fun, including such categories as “Most Like a Cartoon Character”, “Needs to Shave the Most” and “Biggest Flirt”.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the banquet.
The students voted the following award winners:
- Most Talented: Jake Carlson
- Cutest: Justin Purvis & Caitlyn Brown
- Shyest: Chelsea Parham
- Friendliest: Melissa Moretz and Lanie Eubanks
- Needs to Shave the Most: Jake Carlson, Seth Turner, Hayley Simpson
- Funniest: Wayne Marshall, Justin Purvis
- Most Like a Cartoon Character: Devon Dries
- Most Likely to have a Musical Career: Jake Carlson, Briana Halteman
- Most Likely Not to Show Up: David Ford, Danny Strobaegh
- Doesn’t Know Left Foot From Right Foot When Marching: Joseph Davis
- Mocks Mr. Tucker The Most: Justin Purvis
- Best Baton Twirler: Hayley Simpson
- Best Flag Twirler: Allison Spence
- Biggest Flirt: Allison Spence
- Spit Valve Fills the Quickest: Devon Dries
- Most Likely to Break Their Instrument: Lanie Eubanks
- Most Improved: Chelsea Parham
- Best at Marching: Briana Halteman
- Most Photogenic: Allie Bryan, Caitlyn Brown
- Best FSU Hair: Kolbi Cobb, Elizabeth Wright
- Most Spirit: Elizabeth Wright
- Most Fasionable: Wayne Marshall, Allie Bryan
- Most Unique Style: Wayne Marshall, David Ford
- Mr. Tucker’s Favorite: Colton Sims, Briana Halteman
- Mr. Wright’s Favorite: Elizabeth Wright
- Most Dependable: Briana Halteman, Lanie Eubanks
- Best Attitude: Melissa Moretz
- Forgot Their Black Socks Most: Devon Dries
- Made Most Pit Stops For: Devon Dries
- Best All Around: Briana Halteman
- Best Color Guard Choreographer: Allison Spence
- Daisy Dukes Award: Kolbi Cobb
- Most Theatrical Majorette: Hayley Simpson
- Prettiest and Cutest Smile: Caitlyn Brown, Lanie Eubanks
- Who Should be 2009-2010 Drum Major: Elizabeth Wright, Melissa Moretz, Colton Sims
- Who Should be 2009-2010 Assistant Drum Major: Elizabeth Wright, Melissa Moretz
- Seniors Who Will Be Missed the Most: Briana Halteman, Jake Carlson
Pictured above: NHS Tribal Beat members pose with some of their prizes. Pictured below: Seniors (L-R) Jake Carlson, Lanie Eubanks and Briana Halteman. Northescambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Job Well Done: Northview Holds ESE Award Program
May 16, 2009
Northview High School held a special ESE awards ceremony Friday afternoon, honoring dozens of students for their hard work and accomplishments during the school year.
Click here for a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event.
Students honored included:
- Liberal Arts:
- Math Highest GPA — Dillon Vanderman
- Math Most Improved — James Shook
- Math Exceptional Student — Joseph Woods
- Environmental Science
- Highest Academic Award — Ariel Morris
- Social Studies
- Most Improved Student — Daniel Paul Williams
- Best Scholar — Chelsea Luckie
- Most Consistent Scholar — Quinton Pittman
- Most Congenial Scholar — Bessy Hollingsworth
- Most Respectful — Marquita Allen
- NJROTC
- Most Improved Student — Daniel Paul Williams
- Algebra 1-B
- Most Improved Students — Gary Shook and Tammie Brown
- English 9-12
- Highest GPA — Marquita Allen and Daniel Paul Williams
- One-Day Free Pass — Josh Watson
- Most Diligent — Keith Cota
- Math 9-12
- Best help — Cody Chance
- Highest GPA — Clarence Brown
- Most Improved — Aremando Elliott
- Reading
- 9th Grade — Shane Bonner and Austin Rolin
- 10th Grade — Tammie Brown
- 1st/2nd Period Most Improved — Andrew Giveans
- 3rd/4th Reading Best Work Ethic — Talisa Jackson
- 5th Period Most Improved — Precious Marshall
- 5th Period Most Improved Behavior — Lonnie Gardner
- OJT
- Most Outstanding OJT Student — Lisa Kuiper
- Most Outstanding OJT Student — Damon Williams
- Most Outstanding OJT — Willie Davis
- Most Outgoing — Andrew Giveans
- Best All Round Male OJT Student — Cody Chance
- Best All Round Female OJT Student — Raven Moore
- Most Successful OJT Student — John Handrop
- Most Successful OJT Student — Fred Smith
- Science
- Outstanding Students — Josh Watson and Quinton Pittman