Annie Jones UMC Donates School Supplies To Ernest Ward Middle
September 17, 2018
Annie Jones United Methodist Church in Walnut Hill recently presented a wagon full of school supplies to Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured: Ernest Ward Dean Byran Hicks, Principal Nancy Perry and Annie Jones UMC Pastor Lee Bateman. Photos of NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Olive Baptist To Celebrate Opening Of Ministry Village Early Learning Center
September 16, 2018
Olive Baptist Church will hold a dedication service next weekend for their new $1.6 million Ministry Village Early Learning Center, followed by an open house.
The Ministry Village ELC will provide Christ-centered, high-quality care year-round to infants and children ages 3 months to 5 years, and will participate in the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program.
“Ministry Village at Olive is devoted to meeting the needs of our community members and helping them pursue and achieve their most excellent futures,” said Stan Lollar, executive director of Ministry Village at Olive. “Our work with people who are struggling with addiction or financial difficulties continues to be fundamental to our organization.
“But with the emerging research on early learning in Escambia County, and the struggles that our youngest community members are having in preschool, grade school and beyond, we felt a call to be involved in meeting the educational needs of young children and families. Through the Ministry Village ELC, we have the opportunity to reach local families and help lay a solid early learning foundation that will better serve our children and our entire community far into the future of Northwest Florida.”
The dedication service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23.
Escambia BOCC Declares September As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
September 14, 2018
The Escambia County Commission recently proclaiming the month of September 2018 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The BOCC also commended and thanked the Rally Foundation and other community supporters for all they do to educate the public about childhood cancer. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Students Get Hurricane Lesson From Tate Grad Hurricane Hunter From The Middle Of Storm
September 11, 2018
Students at Ransom Middle School had a lesson in hurricanes Monday — directly from a Tate High Graduate Hurricane Hunter aircraft in the middle of a hurricane.
Maj. Christopher Dyke is n aerial reconnaissance weather officer (ARWO) in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, better known as the “Hurricane Hunters”.
“Major Christopher Dyke, a former student, called and had me put my phone on speaker so he could talk to my current students about what he and his crew were doing. He called a few different times, and absolutely brought hurricane science to life,” Ransom Middle science teacher Louis O’Rear said.
“He called from the plane, on satellite phone, while they were flying in the middle of a hurricane,” O’Rear exclaimed about the call from his former student. The Hurricane Hunters were in the middle of a 10.5 hour mission into Hurricane Olivia over the Pacific Ocean and headed toward the Hawaiian Islands.
Dyke, who’s flown 337 sorties and has more than 1,200 flight hours, said the 53rd WRS is a good match for his love of weather, because it’s rewarding to contribute information that improves forecasts and storm warnings, which helps to ensure public safety.
“As an ARWO, we act as a mission director for the weather reconnaissance missions,” said Dyke, who is one of 22 ARWOs in the Air Force. “We work with the National Hurricane Center to gather the data they need, and we work with the aircrew to match our capabilities to those requirements.”
The squadron conducts primarily two types of tropical cyclone missions: low-level invests and fix missions. A low-level invest mission is flown at 500 to 1,500 feet to determine if there is a closed circulation. Once a close circulation exists, they fly at higher altitudes, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. Aircrews fly through the eye of a storm four to six times per mission to locate the low-pressure center and circulation of the storm. During these missions, the aircrews transmit the weather data by satellite to the NHC.
Dykes and his family moved to Cantonment when he was 13.
Before he became part of the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, Dyke served as a meteorologist in the Air Force from 2005 to 2008. His first assignment was at Keesler. He reported to the Weather Officer Course, with his first month being one many on the Gulf Coast he will never forget — Hurricane Katrina.
“It was a nightmare,” he said. “You could hear howling in Wolfe Hall where we were sheltered, and some of the stairwells started taking on water. We spent a week in the shelter, and I was responsible for a security detail after the storm.”
He eventually left the base, reporting to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he completed his weather training and began his first permanent duty assignment.
When Dyke isn’t flying, he is also the Air Force Reserve Command interim weather career field manager. He manages the weather specialists’ career paths, and is also responsible for organizing, training and equipping weather units.
Whether he is working issues to improve the unit or flying into the world’s most powerful storms to gather life-saving data, Dyke has a passion for his profession.
“I’m not the kind of person who can sit in front of a computer all day, every day; so this provides me the opportunity to get out, be hands-on, and at the same time doing a job dealing with a topic I love,” said Dyke.
Editor’s note: Olivia was downgraded to a tropical storm late Monday.
Equine Field Day Held In Molino
September 9, 2018
The Escambia County Equine Field Day Saturday in Molino was a hands-on learning opportunity for horse owners and enthusiasts from across the area.
Participants learned about a variety of topics, including equine vaccinations, hoof and leg care, nutrition, pasture weed control, exercise physiology, and other relevant topics related to the Florida equine industry.
The events was held at the Escambia County 4-H Livestock Facility on south Highway 99 in Molino.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Marcus Pointe Christian Preschool Opens In Beulah
September 8, 2018
A ribbon cutting was held Friday for the new Marcus Pointe Christian Preschool- Beulah Campus.
In the faith-based preschool’s one and two-year old rooms, children learn baby sign language, art, and music, and begin potty training, sharing, and playground play through our “Wee Learn” curriculum. Three-year old students are prepared to enter K4 through the “Pathways for Preschool” curriculum that covers all the basics – numbers, shapes, colors, alphabet, and much more.
The new location of Marcus Pointe Christian Preschool is at 8300 Beulah Road and acceps one to three year olds. The main campus at 6205 W Street provides care for infants to three-year olds.
For more information call (850) 479-1605.
Pictured: The grand opening ribbon cutting for the new Marcus Pointe Christian Preschool- Beulah Campus Friday morning. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Northview And Flomaton Bands, Cheerleaders And Fans
September 5, 2018
For a NorthEscambia.com bonus photo gallery featuring the bands, cheerleaders and fans from Northview and Flomaton high school, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Huelsbeck Retires After 70 Years Service To Cantonment, Molino Catholic Communities
September 2, 2018
Longtime Cantonment resident Jody Huelsbeck has retired from St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment after over 70 years of service to the Catholic church community in Cantonment and Molino.
Whether he was keeping the church campus mowed, changing light bulbs, eradicating wasp nests, or whatever needed to be done, he was there.
He served as an altar boy at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church many years ago, was involved with Santa Maria Church, and was involved with St. Judge’s since its inception – even helping with construction of the church.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council, donating his times and talents to help and serve wherever needed.
Huelsbeck, according to those that know him best, always had a smile on his face and a witty greeting for anyone he encountered.
He also known for the creating beautiful rosaries, sometimes combining them with a religious artwork print for bishops, priests and other dignitaries. He has also sent his special artwork with greetings from St Jude’s to Pope Francis and President Donald Trump, receiving replies of gratitude in return.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
4-H And FFA Youth Show Out At Cow Show In Molino
September 2, 2018
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club hosted the Escambia County 4-H Labor Day Classic Classic Steer and Heifer Show Saturday at the 4-H property in Molino.
Nineteen 4-H and FFA youth from Alabama and Florida participated in a showmanship clinic before showing their animals in showmanship, heifer and and steer classes.
Fallon Ray won the junior division of showmanship, with Dow Boyd winning the intermediate division, and Jacey Adkins winning the senior division. Dow Boyd also took home both the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champion heifers. Whitnie Yoder won the Prospect steer class with Dalton Coleman placing second. For the market steers, Allen Thomas Bridgers took home the Supreme Champion with Jessica Conti taking home the Reserve Supreme Champion.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Simply Delicious Cooking Class Coming To Cantonment
August 31, 2018
A Simply Delicious Cooking class will be held September 18-19 at the Escambia Count Extension Office on Stefani Road in Cantonment.
Attendees can learn the keys to quick, easy, economical cooking. The class will include hands-on activities, tasting and recipes. Participants will learn grilling techniques, instant pot one dish meals, easy entertaining techniques and creative appetizers.
The cost is $15 per day, and there will be prizes for those attending both days.
To register, click here.