UWF Receives Top Award For Luna Settlement Project
January 21, 2018
The University of West Florida Division of Anthropology and Archaeology recently received the 2018 Daniel G. Roberts Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology for the Tristan de Luna y Arellano project. The award was presented at the Society for Historical Archaeology’s annual meeting, held Jan. 3-6 in New Orleans.
“Our Luna Project team has been working for several decades, first on the shipwrecks and recently on the settlement, to explore archaeological traces of Luna’s ships and colonists after a hurricane destroyed the colony’s food supplies, and left the survivors stranded on the shores of Pensacola Bay from 1559 to 1561,” said Dr. Elizabeth Benchley, director of the Division of Anthropology and Archaeology and the Archaeology Institute. “From the beginning, we have reached out to Pensacolians to share our findings through lectures, websites, tours, and hands on opportunities, as we piece together this important story. We are indebted to the support and interest from the community, and especially the Luna neighbors who have allowed us to excavate in their yards. We are very honored to receive this prestigious award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology from the Society for Historical Archaeology.”
The award recognizes the efforts of a large team of faculty, staff, and students from the UWF Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, which includes the Department of Anthropology, the Archaeology Institute, the Florida Public Archaeology Network and Marine Services Center at UWF. The team has been studying the shipwrecks and land settlement linked to the 16th-century Spanish expedition led by Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano from Veracruz, Mexico to modern-day Pensacola, marking the earliest multi-year European settlement in the U.S.
The first ship, named Emanuel Point I by archaeologists, was discovered in Pensacola Bay by the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research in 1992. In 2006, UWF archaeologists identified a second shipwreck, Emanuel Point II. In December 2015, the UWF archaeology program identified the location of the Luna land settlement, serving as evidence of Pensacola being home to the first multi-year European settlement in the U.S. The team then discovered a third shipwreck, Emanuel Point III, in June 2016.
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Saturday In Barrineau Park
January 19, 2018
The annual Arbor Day tree giveaway is coming up Saturday at in Barrineau Park.
Florida Arbor Day is observed the third Friday in January to recognize the benefits of trees, and to encourage planting and care. The Florida Forest Service and Escambia County UF-IFAS Extension will hold the Barrineau Park event with additional support from Escambia County Department of Natural Resource Management, Resource Management Services and the Northview High School FFA club.
The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Barrineau Park Community Center, located at 6055 Barrineau Park School Road.
Trees in one-gallon containers will be given away. Species include tulip poplar, Chickasaw plum, Shumard oak and fringetree. Special edition Arbor Day water bottles featuring the winning design from last year’s art contest also will be given away. A tree will be planted for the community center and as a demonstration of proper planting.
Pictured: Last year’s Arbor Day Tree Giveaway was held in Davisville. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Elementary Kids Write Letters To Sailors In At Boot Camp
January 16, 2018
Beulah Elementary teacher Allison Rhodes’ fourth grade students recently wrote letters to sailors at Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes, IL.
The letters were passed to Capt. Kertreck Brooks, Commanding Officer of the Naval Education and Training and Professional Development Center (NETPDC) to ensure they get into the right hands.
Capt Brooks recently visited the class to thank them and took some time to explain just how special those letters are. He served as the Executive Officer of Great Lakes so he was able to share that when the new sailors arrive they get to make one phone call home and then their belongings, including their cell phones, are boxed up and mailed home. They then communicate with families the old fashioned way – with letters.
That makes mail call a special event.
He told the young writers that their letters will be shared with all 80 members of a boot camp unit. The students shared with him that they thought the sailors might need words of encouragement – and a laugh.
Each student included their favorite joke in their letter while they also learned how to format a letter and how to empathize with young adults away from home. The captain also answered questions about his time in the Navy.
Local Schools, Students Place In FFA-Sub-District Career Developments
January 12, 2018
Local schools and students placed during the FFA-Sub-District Career Developments last month. They were:
Middle School Extemporaneous Speaking
1st Beulah Academy of Science
Opening and Closing Ceremony
1st Jay Middle School
2nd Central Middle School
3rd Lead Academy
Safe Tractor Operations and Maintenance
1st Zach Rutherford, Central High School
2nd Donnie Dixon, Northview High School
3rd Logan Cooley, Jay High School
High School Prepared Public Speaking
1st Avery Young, Take High School
2nd Raleigh Woodfin, Northview High School
3rd Tamara Barnes, West Florida High School
High School Extemporaneous Speaking
1st Gab Ferguson, Tate High School
2nd Kylie Schwarz, Tate High School
3rd Cody Kite, Northview High School
FFA Creed Speaking
1st Amber Gilman, Northview High School
2nd Jackson Arnold, Central High School
3rd Nathan Neal, Tate High School
Parliamentary Procedure
1st Tate High School
2nd West Florida High School
3rd Northview High School
The Story Of A Miracle At Tate High’s Ag Department
January 11, 2018
Tate High School Ag Teacher Leanne Jenkins tells the story of ‘Miracle” a calf born at the school during our extreme January cold. It’s a story of survival, the story of an emergency van ride for the calf, and the story of a miracle.
Do you believe in miracles? I truly have witnessed a miracle this past week.
I am sure some of you have seen or heard about my coworkers and I driving my minivan to the vet with a calf in the back. I would love to share the entire story with you because I feel like the Lord is up to something with this small life.
Last Thursday, I took my 5th period class out to the land lab to check on the animals. Another ag teacher had mentioned one of the cows was showing signs of labor. We walked to the back pasture and got close enough to see that momma had just delivered a baby. We could tell the baby was breathing, but it was not moving and had not lifted its head. This was not alarming to us, since it had just been delivered.
We checked on the momma and baby again the next class period and baby was still not moving. We came out again an hour later and begin to be concerned when we saw the baby shivering and still not lifting its head. My coworkers and I quickly got a truck and brought the calf to the barnyard. It was unusually cold in Florida – the school even cancelled after school activities because of the freezing temperatures and 16 MPH winds. We got the baby under heat lamps and blankets and began rubbing it hoping to get the blood circulating. We thought it would die any second. Being too weak to stand, there was no way for this baby to nurse. We ran to the store, purchased colostrum and fed the calf. Within about an hour, it was trying to stand and seemed to be perking up. We attempted another bottle a few hours later with no success. I said a prayer for the sweet baby and my coworker said, “we’re going to go ahead and name him Miracle.”
The next day, Miracle continued to get weaker. We got the momma-cow in the shoot and milked her. We tried to feed Miracle and he was too weak to suck. I called my husband, Zach, and told him, “will you please bring the minivan to the school with a tarp so we can take Miracle to the vet.” He hurried over and we rushed to the Animal Hospital. By the time we got there, his eyes were rolled back in his head and he had very little pulse. The vet used a piece of equipment to feed a tube down his throat to fill his stomach with his momma’s colostrum we had collected. Within minutes he seemed to be feeling better. We later brought him back to school and locked him in a pen with his momma.
The next morning, with coaching, we were able to get him hooked up to his momma and he has continued to get healthier ever since. Today, I took my class out to check on him and he was acting especially frisky – we talked about how he was truly living up to his name.
THEN, the craziest thing happened. I took out my phone to take a picture of Miracle to send to my mother (she has been worried about him). She responded with “did you cause the brightness around him, or is that just his miracle self?” I thought, “huh??” I looked back at the picture and saw Miracle GLOWING! Y’all, I cannot explain this picture, but I can tell you the Lord has had his hands on this little life. We did not expect this little guy to live, but we refused to give up hope or stop trying to help. I loved sharing his story with all of my students and showing how every life is meaningful and precious. He has put a smile on the face of so many students and I am thankful we have been privileged to have him born on our farm. We typically sell all males born on our farm, but we decided today, Miracle is here to stay!
You’ll hear people say, “Let nature take its course,” but our new motto is, “do everything you can and believe in Miracles.”
Little Free Library Now Available In Cantonment
January 11, 2018
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church is now hosting a Little Free Library in Cantonment. The library is contained in an old newspaper stand that is painted bright red directly in front of the church at 699 S. Highway 95A, next to and facing the highway.
Anyone from the community may borrow a book or keep a book or add a book to the library. Anyone taking a book or two from library does not need to return that exact book. The library is currently supplied with mostly children’s books, but donations of more books for adults would be greatly appreciated. The library is never locked, so people can access it at any time.
“The purpose of the Little Free Library is to inspire a love of reading, build community, and spark creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges. Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year around the world, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds,” said Viven Welch of Saint Monica’s.
The Little Free Library has its own Facebook page — https://www.facebook.com/stmonicaslittlefreelibrary/ — with planned updates on the latest available books.
Flomaton Elementary Announces Spelling Bee Winners
January 11, 2018
Flomaton Elementary School has announced winners of their Spelling Bee. They are:
3rd-5th grade division:
Michael Bowen – Winner
Secily Carter – Runner-up
6th grade division:
Christopher Crawley – Winner
Sam Johnson – Runner-up
The students now advance to the county tournament.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com,click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Announces Science Fair Winners
January 10, 2018
About 100 students took part in the recent Ernest Ward Middle School Science Fair. Winners were:
6th GRADE
1st Place — “Got Gas” Emilie Funck
2nd Place — Got Water Maggie Godwin
3rd Place — “Water Type and Plant Growth ” Meredith Johnston
7th GRADE
1st Place — “Shout It Out” Luke Bridges
2nd Place — “How Color Affects Photosynthesis” Madison Rowinsky
3rd Place (tied)
“Effect of Different Liquids on a Plant’s Health” Blake Yoder
“No Small Cakes Here ” Emma Gilmore
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winter Jacket Drive Underway At Tate High School
January 8, 2018
A “Jacket Drive” is going each through January at Tate High School. The school is collecting jackets and sweatshirts in teen and adult sizes. The first period class that collects the most jackets will get a free breakfast.
The goal is to make sure that every Tate Aggie has a warm jacket this winter.
Tate students should take their jacket and sweatshirt donations to the Military Family Counselor’s office in a bag labeled with their first period teacher’s name and room number.
Ernest Ward Middle Names Student Of The Month
January 8, 2018
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for December. They are (L-R) Ryleigh Barnes, sixth grade; Drake Driskell, seventh grade; and Tymiriana Wesley, eighth grade. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.