Ernest Ward Honors Veterans (With Gallery)
November 9, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School paused to honor veterans from the across the area Tuesday morning.
About 100 veterans watched students present a changing patriotic mural, along with patriotic songs and an armed forces salute.
“Our veterans need someone that will listen to their stories of bravery, courage and sacrifice,” said special speaker Donna K. Stacey, U.S. Army, retired. “Some of them may not want to talk about some of their experiences. Just be patient. When the time is right, they’ll talk. ”
Stacey currently serves as vice commander and will be commander next year of the Alabama American Legion. She is also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“I also remind you not to forget our women veterans, she continued. “They now make up about 20 percent of our military forces.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Academic Tigers Move on to Nationals
November 8, 2016
Students from Ransom Middle School have once again qualified to compete at the national level at the Middle School National Championship Academic Tournament.
The members of the Ransom Academic Team participated in the Second Annual Lewis Falcons Middle School Academic Tournament in Valparaiso on November 5. They competed against 28 middle school teams from across the Florida Panhandle.
The matches in the tournament challenged team members to work together to answer complex academic questions more accurately than an opposing team. To gain an advantage each team tried to answer more quickly than the other team.
Clarissa Brown and Lucinda Bateman coached the teams for Ransom Middle and explained that the tournament questions are so much more than quick “trivia” questions.
“They have a pyramidal structure, where the questions begin with more difficult clues, slowly progressing to more familiar information. It rewards the more knowledgeable students for their ability to answer quickly while only using less, and more difficult, high-level information,” Brown explained.
Members of Ransom Middle’s teams were: Ransom Team A – Captain Maggie Brown, Carter Pitts, Abby Gryskiewicz, and Maggie Shaffer. Ransom Team B – Captain Lili Rollins, Ian DeLay, Owen Painter, and Saahil Soni.
Ransom’s Team A finished fifth overall, qualifying them for the 2017 Middle School National Championship Tournament. Brown ranked #8 overall out of 124 players.
“We are so proud of their outstanding and enthusiastic effort, and how well they continue to represent Ransom Middle School and Escambia County Schools,” Bateman said.
The 2017 Middle School National Championship Academic Tournament will be held May 12-14 in Dallas.
Pictured top: Ransom Academic Team members (front, L-R) Carter Pitts, Owen Painter, Saahil Soni, Ian DeLay, (back, L-R) Maggie Shaffer, Abby Gryskiewicz, Lili Rollins, Maggie Brown. Pictured below: Team A ready to complete (L-R) Gryskiewicz, Shaffer, Brown and Pitts. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Governor Drops Congratulatory Note To Northview High
November 7, 2016
Northview High School received a short, handwritten congratulatory message from Gov. Rick Scott last week.
The “Gayle, Thanks for your hard work, Gov. Rick Scott” was written on a school data sheet showing the school’s improving rank in the state. Among Title I schools in Florida, Northview is now ranked number 31of 1,759 Florida schools scoring satisfactory or higher in math, and 75 of 1,780 schools that improved English Language Arts scores.
Of all schools in the state, Northview was 99 of 3,196 schools that improved in English Language Arts, and number 5 of 453 high schools.
Northview High School received a short, handwritten congratulatory message from Gov. Rick Scott last week.
The “Great Job! Gov. Rick Scott” was written on a school data sheet showing the school’s improving rank in the state. Among Title I schools in Florida, Northview is now ranked number 22 of 1,648 schools school satisfactory or higher in math, 40 of 1,649 schools scoring satisfactory or higher in science, and 74 of 1,628 schools improving math performance during the last couple of school years.
Escambia County 4-H Recognizes Members At Annual Awards Banquet
November 7, 2016
Escambia County 4-H held its annual award and recognition banquet breakfast Saturday at the 4-H Langley Bell Center in Cantonment. The award and recognition program is an important component of the 4-H experience, used to enhance the personal growth and prepare the 4-H member for success in life.
Award winners on the county level are eligible for state and national trips and college scholarships.
Several categories of awards were presented including record books, where the selection process requires a portfolio of the member’s achievements throughout his or her 4-H years.
Members and clubs were also able to apply or be nominated for awards recognizing achievement in and commitment to 4-H. The annual award program encourages 4-H youth to examine their efforts put into 4-H each year and to be recognized for all they accomplish in their support of 4-H programming.
For additional photos, click here.
The following Escambia County 4-H members were recognized:
Seniors (14-18 years old)
Evan Bush
- 3rd Overall Record Book
- Extension Director Leadership Award
- Langley Bell Award
- 4-H’er of the Year
Danielle Tinker
- Emerald Standards of Excellence Award
- 2nd Overall Record Book
- 4-H’er of the Year
- Langley Bell Award
Michelle Tinker
- Silver Standards of Excellence Awards
- 1st Overall Record Book
- Margie Gindl Award
- Helping Hands Award
Taylor Nelson
- Silver Standards of Excellence Award
- Cecil Guidy Award
Dillon Conti
- Silver Standards of Excellence Award
Intermediates (11-13 years old)
Chelsi Lashley
- 1st Overall Record Book
Kaley Lashley
- 2nd Overall Record Book
Rashidi Joseph
- Intermediate Leadership Award
Jessica Conti
- Silver Standards of Excellence Award
- 3rd Overall Record Book
Juniors (8-10 years old)
Shelby Lashley
- 2nd Overall Record Book
- Beasley Award
Brayton Workman
- 1st Overall Record Book
Cloverbuds (5-7 years old)
Nathan Jacobs
- Clover Standards of Excellence Award
Club Awards
- Barrineau Park – Emerald Standards of Excellence Award
- Barrineau Park – Secretary Book Club Record Book Award, Kaley Lashley
- Cool Clovers – Historian Scrapbook Club Record Book Award, Brayton Workman
Tate Aggies Clean Veterans Memorial
November 6, 2016
The Tate High School Aggies gave back Saturday at Pensacola’s memorial to those that gave all. Members of the Aggie Nation hand-cleaned the Wall South and other memorials that honor those that served our nation at Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 6, 2016
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their 47th annual fish fry Saturday.
AJ Beachy was named Firefighter of the Year, an award chosen by his fellow firefighters. Eric Koehn was named Officer of the Year and recognized for his years of service to the department. Jerry Poulson received the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s Community Service Award for outstanding and dedicated service to the community.
Hundreds of people enjoyed fried catfish or grilled chicken plates during the event, with proceeds to be used to provide assistance to displaced fire victims in the area. OneBlood’s Big Red Bus was also on hand for a blood drive.
Pictured below: Walnut Hill District Chief Chris Brown with award winners (L-R) Jerry Poulsen, AJ Beachy and Eric Koehn.
Pearl Harbor Survivor Shares Memories During Molino Library Program
November 6, 2016
Francis L. Emond was lined up with his fellow Navy members for morning colors on December 7, 1941, when he watched the ships in front of him sink in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The 98-year old related his memories as a Pearl Harbor survivor Saturday afternoon at the Molino Branch Library.
He was part of the band lined up on stern of the USS Pennsylvania, which was dry docked with clear view of the harbor. His memories of that morning, December 7, 1941, are very poignant.
“We could look all over Pearl Harbor and see all the ships that were anchored,” he said. “It was a beautiful sight, a very clear and nice morning. The air was very fragrant in Hawaii; you smelled flowers there all the time. A very, very pleasant place to be.
“I looked up and coming in…was a line of planes. The first one made a turn off, and something come up off the airplane. I thought the plane was coming apart, so I watched it, and the object flew down across where we were and hit the air station on the island there.
“It exploded in smoke and flames and made a big noise and startled us all of course. Looked back up at the airplanes and you could see the big red spots on the airplanes. So we knew that the Japanese were attacking. About that time, you could look up and the sky seemed to be full of them.
“It looked like they were floating in the skies, not that the jets we see today and zooming everywhere…”
“We felt the ship shake…and we knew we had been hit a bomb…”
“All had smoke and multiple fires and smoke. It was a terrible site.”
Saturday’s event , commemorated the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and was planned in conjunction with the Molino Mid-County Historical Society. The University of West Florida Historic Trust also provided a display of reproductions of WWII uniforms and other memorabilia for the event.
Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Annual Inspection Held (With Photo Gallery)
November 3, 2016
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny with a retired Navy commander.
Commander Merlin Ladner, USN (Ret) conducted the inspection. The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. The commander also conducted a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
One by one, Cmdr. Ladner went face to face with each cadet, asking them questions about their NJROTC experience and conducting a complete inspection of their uniform.
“Yes, sir,” the cadets answered as they faced the questions about their NJROTC service, their ribbons, the shine on their shoes and some less than expected questions about every day life and football that left some cadets trying not to crack a smile.
“Who pressed your uniform?” Ladner asked one cadet.
“My mother,” the cadet responded.
“You should have pressed your own uniform,” Ladner replied. “But your mom did a good job.”
“This is a great program” said Ladner, who conducts annual inspections at dozens of high schools in the Southeast, told the entire group following his inspection. “I want you to know how proud I am of you. You have set the benchmark for other programs this year.”
Northview’s NJROTC is under the command of Senior Naval Science Instructor Captain Charlie Code and Chief Jeffrey Simpkins. The unit is led by Company Commander Cadet LCDR Sara McCreary and Executive Officer Cadet LT Alyssa Borelli.
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
Several cadets were promoted during Wednesday’s review:
For a photo gallery from the inspection, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Thousands Attend Fall Festivals, Halloween Events (With Gallery)
November 1, 2016
Thousands of people attended fall festivals and Halloween events across the North Escambia area Monday night.
One of the largest was the annual community-wide fall festival at Victory Assembly of God. The festival was a combined effort of three area churches – Victory, Highland Baptist and Cross Faith Church. The interdenominational event was designed to provide a safe activity for attendees from across the community. The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A game of “Angry Birds” during a community fall festival Monday night in Molino. Pictured inset: Choosing that perfect prize. Pictured below: Trunk or Treating with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Kids Enjoy Halloween Carnival In Century (With Photo Gallery)
November 1, 2016
Kids of all ages enjoyed a Halloween Carnival Monday afternoon at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. From carnival style games, to hot popcorn, to a “fun hosue”, there were plenty of activities for all
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
