Century Holds Relay For Life
April 26, 2009
Communities from across the area joined together Saturday and early Sunday morning for Century’s Relay for Life.
The event, which benefits the America Cancer Society, was held from noon Saturday 6:00 Sunday morning at Kayo Stanton Stadium at the Old Century High School on Hecker Road.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the Survivor’s Brunch, Relay Survivor’s Lap, the Relay for Life event, the Luminaria Ceremony, and more (including Elvis–don’t miss the Elvis photos with the ladies!).
Participants, sponsors and entertainers from Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Flomaton, Pensacola, Milton and Atmore are taking part in the Century Relay for Life. NorthEscambia.com will have a complete photo gallery Sunday morning with dozens of Relay photos.
“It is a community joining together for a common goal — celebrating life, remembering those lost to cancer and fighting back against the disease” Paula Jernigan, Century’s Relay chairperson, said.
A presentation was made during the opening ceremony at noon to honor Kayo Stanton, the man for which the old Century High School stadium is named. After a NorthEscambia.com about Mr. Stanton (click here for the story), Relay organizers decided to honor his memory.
As of “bank night’ last Tuesday, Century’s Relay had raised about $14,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society. To make a last minute donation to today’s Century Relay for Life make your donation online.
Participating teams will include the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Bryneville Elementary, Carver/Century K-8, Century Branch Library, Century Correctional Institute, Century Pharmacy, Critter Caregivers, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department and NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: The survivor’s walk at today’s Century Relay for Life. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Gets Clean And Green
April 26, 2009
A small army of volunteers headed out from the Barrineau Park Community Center Saturday morning on a Clean and Green Community Cleanup.
The volunteers fanned out across the community, trash bags in hand, to clean up the roadsides around Barrineau Park.
Free t-shirts and “green” reusable shopping bags were provided to participants.
This was the fourth annual Barrineau Park Community Cleanup Event.
Sponsors include the Honeysuckle Garden Club, the Barrineau Park Historical Society and Fran’s Diner.
Pictured top: Some of the trash collected Saturday in the Barrineau Park Community Cleanup. Pictured inset: Nita Berry takes part in the cleanup. Pictured below: Tina Tuttle, volunteer coordinator, maps out cleanup locations. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Spends Day With The Arts
April 25, 2009
Molino Park Elementary School held its annual Arts Day Friday, with the students spending the day immersed in a variety of arts.
The students enjoyed a wide range of arts, from pottery to painting. They had the opportunity to get “hands on” with many activities.
The day ending with the “Molino Park Arts Day Roundup”, a live concert series in the school cafeteria. Artists appearing in the concert all had local ties to Molino Park.
Pictured above: Singer/songwriter Sheila Allen, Harmony Till (daughter of Linda and Brian Till), Linda Till, Suzanne Plenkers, Angela Hasselbrock and Donna Sutton perform at Molino Park Elementary Friday afternooon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Carver/Century Students Visit Ernest Ward, Bratt For A Day
April 24, 2009
Over the past three days, Carver/Century K-8 students have shadowed their Ernest Ward Middle or Bratt Elementary counterparts to learn more about what school life will be like next year.
The Escambia School Board has ordered Carver/Century closed and the students transferred next school year to Ernest Ward or Bratt. The Carver/Century students “shadowed” a Bratt or Ernest Ward student for a day, attending their classes and activities such as lunch. It was a hands on personal orientation to middle school life at EWMS or elementary life at Bratt.
“They had a great time, and many of them became best buddies,” said Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry. “They are all looking forward to school next year.”
The plan to move the middle school students from Carver/Century K-8 School to Ernest Ward and Bratt Elementary has been put into motion. It’s a detailed 84 page document that details each aspect of the move, down to the last box.
The next part of the transition plan will take place on April 28 when the PTSA and School Advisory Council at Ernest Ward hosts a parents night for parents and guardians of incoming students from Carver/Century.
Then, on April 29, staff from Ernest Ward will travel to Carver/Century to personally hand-register each student one on one.
A full orientation night for the parents and guardians of all incoming Ernest Ward students will be held on May 7. Prior to that event, the teachers and staff at Ernest Ward will host a reception for the school’s new staff members that will be transferring from Carver/Century.
A modular building with five classrooms, two closets, and one 24 by 36 foot restroom facility will be installed sometime in May at Ernest Ward for a total cost of $543,391. Plans also call for five classrooms with included restrooms, five sinks and two closets to be installed at Bratt Elementary at a total cost of $440,006.
Once school is out, the physical move of property and supplies between the schools will begin.
Pictured above: Carver/Century student Grady Floyd and Ernest Ward student John Helmken talk after lunch Thursday in the Ernest Ward cafeteria. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Performs ‘Willy Wonka The Musical’
April 24, 2009
The Northview High School Theater Department presented “Willy Wonka the Musical” Friday night at the school.
The group will present the play again on Monday for elementary school students from Bratt, Carver/Century, Byrneville and Jim Allen elementary schools.
Pictured above: The cast of “Willy Wonka the Musical” at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
The cast and crew of “Willy Wonka the Musical” included:
PARENTS
Mrs. Teavee– Kayla Dempsey
Mrs. Beauregarde– Danielle Martin
Mrs. Gloop– Sophie Anderson
Mr. Salt– Ty Randolph
KIDS
Mike Teavee– Jared Adams
Violet Beaurgard– Allie Bryan
Augustus Gloop– Cory Hester
Vuruca Salt– Olivia Bryan
BUCKET FAMILY
Grandpa George– Cody Cousin
Grandma Georgina– Caitlin Hall
Grandpa Joe– Jamichael Carson
Grandma Joesephina– Lanie Eubanks
Mr. Bucket– Jackson Smith
Mrs. Bucket— Gretchen Boughner
Charlie Bucket– Jace Stone
CANDYMAN KIDS
Miranda Scott, Jennifer Martin, Amanda Nahkala
Kiani Okahashi, Mallorie Okahashi
Pamala Dockens, Haliegh Perkins, Tori Rigby
Phineous Trout– Elizabeth Wright
Wonka/Candyman– Brandon Coburn
OOMPA-LOOMPAS
Nathan Taylor, Jessica Taylor, Taylor Rigby,
Ashley White, Carley Hetrick
SOUND
Sound Operator– Justin Purvis
Sound Crew– Aaron Hammond and Jeremy Flota
STAGE CREW
Candyman Kids
Stage Manager– Miranda Scott
Director– Scott Slay
Assistant Director– Bryan Coburn
Choreographers- Mallorie Okahashi, Carley Hetrick, and Miranda Scott
LIGHTS
Light Operator– Ricky Craig
Light Crew– Lindsay Hedgepeth, Brian Flowers, and Devon Dries
SPECIAL THANKS
Thomas Meehan, Industrial Arts Department
Jennifer Castor, Art Department
Heather Jernigan
Tracy Slay
Dawn Taylor
Jessica Mothershed
Ernest Ward Middle Students Shine On College Prep Tests
April 23, 2009
Several Ernest Ward Middle School students participated in the Duke University Talent Identification Program.
In order to take part in the program, the students must have earned excellent FCAT scores. After meeting the qualification criteria, the students had the opportunity to take either the SAT or ACT college entrance exam. College-bound students do not usually take the SAT or ACT until they are high school juniors.
Dale Brown, Anna Donald and Jeremy Stacey earned state recognition for achieving a score of 20 or higher on the ACT. Other Ernest Ward students participating the Duke University Talent Identification Program were Kent Smith, Jennifer Spears and Courtney Weaver.
“The faculty, staff, and administration at EWMS are very proud of these students for the outstanding achievement,” said Gayle Hanks, Ernest Ward guidance counselor.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward students (L-R) Dale Brown, Jeremy Stacey and Anna Donald were recognized by the state for high scores in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Plant Tree In Memory Of Late Teacher
April 23, 2009
Fifth grade students at Molino Park Elementary planted a tree Wednesday in honor of Earth Day and a beloved teacher that passed away on the last day of school last year.
On the final day of school last year, fourth grade teacher Sharon Smith waved goodbye to her students, turned around and lost her breath. She died a short time later. She spent 36 years of her life educating students at the former Molino Elementary School and at Molino Park.
A year later, Mrs. Smith’s fourth grade students have moved on to fifth grade, but they have not forgotten Mrs. Smith, planting the blooming Japanese cherry tree in her honor Wednesday.
Fifth grade teacher Florence Cutler directed the tree planting after a moment of silence for Mrs. Smith. Several students from Mrs. Smith’s previous fourth grade class shoveled dirt around the tree. Also, bench was donated by the teachers and staff of Molino Park Elementary and placed beside the tree.
For more photos from the tree planting, click here.
To read more about Mrs. Smith, click here for the NorthEscambia.com article about her death from last year.
Mrs. Smith was also honored as one of the NorthEscambia.com Persons of the Year for 2008. To read that story, click here.
Pictured above: Fifth grade students planted a tree in memory of Mrs. Sharon Smith on Wednesday. Pictured below: Mrs. Sharon Smith and her fourth grade class wave goodbye about five minutes before their final walk to the buses on the final day of school last year at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Bus Drivers Meet To Discuss Student Safety
April 23, 2009
The 26 bus operators in Escambia County’s North Sector held an Excellence Forum Wednesday to discuss issues related to student transportation.
The bus operators met at Northview High School with Eric Fritz, the Escambia School District’s director of transportation.
“The meeting was held so that the drivers could make a presentation to Mr. Fritz with ideas and goals for our district transportation department,” said Tina Vickery, route supervisor for North Escambia. “Many ideas and goals were presented with enthusiasm and team spirit as we work together for the safe transportation of our most precious cargo, the school students of the North Sector of Escambia County.”
Bank Night For Relay; Skunk A Friend, Help ACS
April 22, 2009
From “skunking” your favorite person to simply using your credit card, there are several ways left to contribute to Century’s Relay for Life.
Tuesday was “bank night” for Century’s Relay for Life — the night for teams to get together, turn in funds raised to date and make final plans for Saturday’s big event. But it’s not too late to donate to Relay and the American Cancer Society.
The Century Library Relay team will “skunk” someone for Relay. They will place the skunked sign and skunks at the location of your choice for $5. Once you’ve been skunked, the sign stays until you donate $5 to relay for life. If you never want to be skunked again, that takes a $10 donation to Relay for Life. To have someone skunked, call the library at at 256-6217.
If you would like to donate to Relay online, that’s easy too. You can click here to make a secure online donation to the NorthEscambia.com Relay team.
Century’s Relay for Life will be held from noon Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday at Kayo Stanton Stadium at the old Century High School. Even if not part of a team, members of the public are invited to stop by during the event to enjoy entertainment, food and lots of fun — including a frozen t-shirt contest, tricycle race, team karaoke and more.
Participating teams will include the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Bryneville Elementary, Carver/Century K-8, Century Branch Library, Century Correctional Institute, Century Pharmacy, Critter Caregivers, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department and NorthEscambia.com.
EREC Announces Youth Tour Winners
April 21, 2009
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has named their 2009 Youth Tour to Washington contest winners.
Heather Lee from West Florida Academy was named the Escambia County representative, and Bridget Jacobs from Jay High School was named the Santa Rosa County representative on the Washington Youth Tour.
Students from our area interviewed with a panel of judges in this competition for a chance to win the opportunity to visit Washington on the Youth Tour to learn more about rural electrification, our nation’s capital and more.
“EREC is very proud to have these two outstanding students represent them on the Washington Youth Tour this year,” said Sabrina Owens, EREC’s director of marketing. “Congratulations to each of them on achieving this honor.”
Judges from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in Andalusia, Ala., scored contestants on their interviews based on their knowledge of Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Children of EREC employees are not eligible for the EREC Youth Tour competition, but those children can apply to the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA) Youth Tour contest for Florida co-op employee children. Travis Hatfield, son of EREC warehouse manager David Hatfield, won the EREC slot for employee children.
Hatfield competed against other co-op employee children across the state of Florida by writing an essay entitled “America’s Energy Future” and was selected by a panel of judges to represent the Florida Electric Cooperative Association on the Youth Tour.
The 2009 Youth Tour is June 12-18.
Pictured above: EREC Youth Tour winners (L-R) Bridget Jacobs, Heather Lee and Travis Hatfield. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.