Tate High FFA Receives Honors During State FFA Convention
July 7, 2023
The Tate High School FFA chapter and its members received several honors during the recent Florida FFA State Convention and Expo.
State FFA Degrees
- Kamdon Jones
- Jonathon Levin
Tate FFA Chapter Awards
- 100% Membership
- Premier Chapter
- National Chapter Award – Tate’s application is being sent to the National FFA Organization for judging. The National Chapter Award program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards and a Program of Activities that emphasizes growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.
Career Development Events
- 4th Place – Farm & Agribusiness Management
- Team Members
- Brody Faison
- Ellason Barton
- Anthony Longe
- Tristan Dykes
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High FFA Receives Honors During State FFA Convention
July 6, 2023
The Northview High School FFA chapter and its members received several honors during the recent Florida FFA State Convention and Expo.
The Northview FFA received second place in the state for the Chapter Advocacy Award. The Northview FFA Alumni was awarded third place Outstanding Alumni Affiliate.
James Gruenwald received his State FFA Degree.
Wyatt Ramsey competed in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking Leadership Development Event representing District 1.
Northview FFA President Cody Pugh was elected District 1 president.
Editor’s note: Other area schools attended the convention, and we will cover their accomplishments in future stories.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Is The Boss Of It All At This Week’s Air Show. And He’s Been Doing It 30 Years.
July 6, 2023
A Walnut Hill man is the boss of it all at the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
The air boss.
The air boss controls the schedule for all the aerial acts, mass formations, high-speed jet demonstrations and pyrotechnics at every show.
Air Boss Paul Entrekin has the primary responsibility for coordinating all air show operations within the demonstration area and plays a critical role in ensuring a safe, efficient and entertaining air show every year. All of this while also meeting the latest standard air show regulations.
And he’s been doing it for 30 years.
“This occasionally requires herding cats,” said Roy Kinsey, a Pensacola pilot and attorney who is the founder of the Veterans Flight team that flies World War II Stearman biplanes in the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
“Air Boss is a difficult job. In many ways, the beach show is more challenging than other air shows, as coordination is easier when an entire airport is devoted to the show,” Kinsey continued. “In Paul’s case, the Pensacola Beach Air Show takes place over the Gulf of Mexico, with pilots and aircraft coming from multiple airports.”
A 1976 graduate of Auburn University, Entrekin was commissioned as a U.S. Marine Corps officer in 1977, and designated a Naval Aviator in 1980. During his military career he became carrier qualified, flying both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. He was an instructor pilot until leaving active duty in 1986 and then retained reserve status with the Defense Intelligence Agency as a clandestine operative until retiring after Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
No stranger to the air show world nor pushing boundaries, Entrekin soon was nicknamed “The Bandit,” after becoming the first civilian pilot to own and fly a Russian MiG aircraft. He founded Entrekin Aviation as a full-time air show pilot in 1986. He holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records and is recognized on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
Entrekin also flew for Delta Air Lines for 30 years before his retirement, and over the years has authored a number of books including, “Mighty Hands,” his bestseller “Mr. MiG,” and his most recent children’s book entitled, “Jasper and the Christmas Faeries” set at his Walnut Hill ranch.
Pictured top: Pensacola Beach Air Show Air Boss Paul Entrekin. Pictured below: Paul Entrekin and his wife Lisa discuss their book “Jasper and the Christmas Faeries” with NorthEscambia.com just before Christmas last year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Rotary Club Awards $22,000 In Scholarships
July 6, 2023
Sixteen Pensacola State College stellar students recently received a total of $22,000 in Cantonment Rotary Club scholarships.
The Ike and Carolyn Hicks Terry Music Endowed $1,500 Scholarships recipients were Ezra Baker, Sienna Hudak, Deelia Warfield, Elijah Spann, Gracie Collins and Francisco Segovia.
Receiving $1,000 Vocational I Endowed Scholarships were Dereck Alred and Myiesha Hartley.
Cathy Simpkins, Samantha Goodloe and Quashanekia Sims were awarded $1,000 Vocational II Endowed Scholarships.
William Goss, Robert Clarke and Travis Rentschler each were awarded $2,000 Ted Ciano Vocational Endowed Scholarships.
Maria Heal and Jessica Gonzales each received a $1,000 Legal Assistant Endowed Scholarship.
Since 1991, the Rotary Club has provided Pensacola State students with over $80,000 in scholarships.
In its 75th year serving the community, the Cantonment Rotary Club has six endowed scholarships with the PSC Foundation ─ Cantonment Rotary Club Culinary Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Ike and Carolyn Hicks Terry Music Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Ted Ciano Vocational Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Vocational I Endowed Scholarship, Cantonment Rotary Club Vocational II Endowed Scholarship and the Cantonment Rotary Club Legal Assistant Endowed Scholarship. The six endowments total more than $164,200 and will support Pensacola State students into perpetuity.
Since 1999, the Cantonment Rotary Club has donated $62,253.25 to the College for student scholarships.
Ike and Carolyn Hicks Terry Music Endowed Scholarship recipients ─ saxophone player Ezra Baker and guitarist Sienna Hudak ─ also performed at the luncheon.
Tate High Student Named Escambia County’s Sunshine State Scholar
June 28, 2023
Synoma Perea, an incoming senior at Tate High School, was named the Sunshine State Scholar for Escambia County. This honor is in recognition of outstanding achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Perea plans to major in mechanical engineering in college. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Hams Take To The Airwaves For Amateur Radio Field Day, Practicing Emergency Communications
June 27, 2023
Local ham radio operators at two locations in Escambia County took part in the 2023 American Radio Relay League Field Day this past weekend.
ARRL Field Day was an opportunity for about 40,000 amateur radio enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada to set up temporary communications stations and make contact with like-minded people. Licensed radio operators, often called “hams,” spent the weekend practicing community outreach, emergency preparedness and technical skills.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association operated continuously from 1 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday at Ashton Brosnaham Park off East 10 Mile Road.
“After Hurricane Ivan in Escambia County, we were the only thing talking for the 36 hours,” said amateur radio operator Gene Bannon, call sign KB4HAH. “Sheriff’s deputies couldn’t talk to each other; the fire departments couldn’t talk to each other. We were the communications source for the first 36 hours, and by then they brought in the satellite trucks and all the other stuff. That’s one of the reasons why we like to think amateur radio exists.”
Club member set up their amateur radio equipment — ranging from old 1980s radios to modern digital gear and satellite communications. With a generator, solar panels and portable antennas, including a wire antenna spanning half a soccer field, they were soon communicating with ham operators across the United States and Canada.
The goal was to reach other ham operators in as many Canadian provinces and U.S. states as possible, including Alaska and Hawaii. The Hawaii contact was checked off by about 4 p.m. Saturday.
“Amateurs are out here doing what we’re doing out in the parks, out in the fields, out in the woods,” he said. “Trying to make as many contacts as we can,” Bannon said.
During our visit to Ashton Brosnaham Park Saturday afternoon, a digital scan of the 10-meter amateur radio band showed just one other weak signal, but they were able to make contact with the operator in Venezuela.
The Southern Amateur Radio Union (SARU) participated from Travis Nelson Park on West Highway 4 in Bratt, near Northview High School. Club members from both Escambia counties (Alabama and Florida) participated from noon Saturday until noon Sunday. The equipment in Bratt was a bit simpler including handheld radios to reach a nearby repeater. Operators would carefully tune radios, repeat their call sign and see who would answer from where.
“Sidney, Australia, mate,” the radio boomed at Travis Nelson Park Saturday evening. Contact had been made from some 9,000 miles away from a picnic table in Bratt.
Local hams participate in providing emergency communications during hurricanes and other disasters when normal communications can be knocked out of service.
The amateur radio operators have their own equipment inside the Escambia County Operations Center, ready to provide needed communications during local emergencies. That room is being named for Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, a ham operator that passed away in May 2021.
For a photo gallery from both field day sites,, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dustin Vaughn Is New Cantonment Rotary Club President
June 25, 2023
The Rotary Club of Cantonment recently installed Dustin Vaughn as its new president for the next year.
A product of Ransom Middle and Tate High schools, Vaughn will lead a club that has seen nine new members in the previous leadership of Tony Lee. He is currently employed at Harvesters Federal credit Union and is married with three children.
Now in its 75th year, the Rotary Club of Cantonment continues to support many projects for the area, primarily north of Nine Mile Road. The club also funds various scholarships and other philanthropic projects throughout the area.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Sheriff’s Newest Vehicle Is a 1957 Chevy Bel Air
June 24, 2023
The newest vehicle in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office fleet is a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.
The non-profit Escambia County Sheriff Foundation purchased and modified the classic car to gift to the ECSO ato further promote community engagement and pay tribute to the men and women who have served at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office throughout its history.
“This has quickly become a favorite in our fleet,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “This gift allows us to acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice of those who have proudly served at the Sheriff’s Office throughout our 200-year history, while providing us with another opportunity for community engagement.”
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Escambia County Sheriff Foundation exists to promote the community engagement efforts of the Sheriff’s Office while directly supporting its employees. It is the Foundation’s hope that this privately funded gift will help enhance the engagement efforts of the sheriff’s office while evoking a sense of pride from current employees as well as those who have come before.
The Chevy Bel Air was presented during an event at the Summer Vista Assisted Living Community.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Honeysuckle Garden Club Awards Scholarship
June 5, 2023
The Honeysuckle Garden Club recently awarded their first scholarship.
The $500 scholarship was awarded to Cole Poston.
Poston plans to major in horticulture and minor in botany. He will attend Pensacola State College for his first two years and will transfer to University of Florida at the Milton campus.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here’s A Big List Of VBS Events Across The North Escambia Area This Summer
June 4, 2023
Vacation Bible School is a summertime tradition across the North Escambia area. A list of VBS events is below.
To submit your North Escambia area VBS, email news@northescambia.com, or click here for our contact form.
First Baptist Bratt VBS
The First Baptist Church of Bratt will host Twists & Turns VBS through June 8 from 6-8:30 nightly for ages four through sixth grade. The church is located at 4570 Highway 4 in Bratt.
Cottage Hill Baptist Church Summer Jam
Cottage Hill Baptist Church Summer Jam is 9 a.m. until noon June 5-8. Open to all upcoming students grades K-4 with a separate Summer Jam for preteens.
First Baptist Church of Cantonment VBS
“Keepers of the Kingdom” Vacation Bible School will be held June 5-9 from 6:30 until 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment. Classes for all ages, including adults. Dinner will be served nightly. Register online.
Dogwood Park Baptist Church VBS
Dogwood Park Baptist Church “VBS Operation Arctic: Exploring the Coolest Book on the Planet” June 5-9 from 6:30 until 8 p.m. for ages K5-5th grade. Stories, crafts, games and more. The church is located at 3301 Highway 97, Molino.
Walnut Hill Baptist Church VBS
Walnut Hill Baptist Church “Stellar” VBS will be June 11-15 from 6-8:30 p.m. Ages 4 through 5th grade. Snacks served nightly.
Poplar Dell Baptist VBS
Popular Dell Baptist Church will host Vacation Bible School June 12-16 from 5:30 until 8 p.m. Classes for age 2 through adult. The theme will be “Keepers of the Kingdom, Standing Strong in Today’s Battle for Truth”.
Oak Grove Baptist Church VBS
Oak Grove Baptist Church “Twists & Turns” Vacation Bible School will be held June 12-16 from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Dinner provided each night, petting zoo, games, Bible study and more.
Highland Baptist Church VBS
Highland Baptist Church “Stellar” Vacation Bible School will be June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m.
Charity Baptist Church
Charity Baptist Church will hold VBS June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m. for grades K-5 though 5th at 1675 West West Roberts Road in Cantonment.
Shiloh Free Will Baptist VBS
“Stellar” Vacation Bible School will be held June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m. at Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church. For grades pre-K through 5th grade. More info: Call (850) 860-4856.
Walnut Hill Mennonite Church VBS
Walnut Hill Mennonite Church will hold VBS for children 5 years old through ninth grade June 25 – 30 from 6-8:30 p.m. The church is located at 6840 Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church VBS
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church on Bogia Road will hold Keepers of the Kingdom Vacation Bible School July 9-14 from 4-7 p.m. Click here for online registration.