Photos: Northview Band, Dance Team, NJROTC And Dance Team

August 24, 2014

The Northview High School Chiefs played a Garnet and Gold scrimmage game Friday night.

The Tribal Beat Band, cheerleaders, dance team and NROTC were also out under the Friday night lights.

For a photo gallery, click here.

For football action photos, click here.

Pictured top: Members of the Northview High School Tribal Beat band. Pictured inset: Fans join in a cheer. Pictured below: Dance team members perform. Pictured bottom: JV & Varsity cheerleaders pose and members of the Northview NJROTC. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Plans Continue To ‘Reimagine Century’ This September

August 20, 2014

Volunteers met Tuesday night to continue making plans for Reimagine Century — a September 13, 2014, event that will be held at Showalter Park in Century.

Organizer Linda English said the group is on a mission to serve those less fortunate — both  their physical and spiritual needs.

Churches and ministry groups will come together “as one as the Body of Christ”, English said, to serve during Reimagine Century.

The event will include a wide variety of activities, including a multi-ton food giveaway, a clothing giveaway, free toys, free diapers, health screenings, AIDS testing, live music, fishing lessons from Mission Fishin’,  laundry detergent giveaway, youth and teen activities, haircuts, entertainment, lunch and much more — all free for the community.

Donations of clothing and gently-used toys are currently being accepted during regular business hours at the Century Town Hall.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Students Head Back To Class (With Two Photo Galleries)

August 19, 2014

Monday was  the first day of school across the area, with tens of thousands of students heading back to class.

We asked NorthEscambia.com readers to submit their back to school photos.

For a photo gallery, click here.

For a second photo gallery, click here.

We apologize, but due to a tremendous response, we were unable to publish all photos, and we are unable to add additional photos to the galleries.

Pictured top: In this “fun” photo, Molino Park Elementary School second grader puts up a first day of school “fight” at her front door Monday morning. Pictured inset: Mia heads off to second grade at Byrneville Elementary School. Pictured below: Benji and Jamie, kindergarten; London, first grade; and Sydney and Jada, Pre-K — all attend Bratt Elementary. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.


Atmore Native Donates Gospel CD To Florida Prison Inmates

August 19, 2014

An Alabama pastor, gospel singer and teacher donated boxes of her  new CD to the Florida Department of Corrections Monday morning in Century.

Annette Haston’s “Love Through Time” was donated so that those doing time would remember God’s love for them. Enough copies of the contemporary gospel CD were donated at Century Correctional Institution Monday for every chapel at state prisons, faith-based facilities, re-entry facilities and privately run lockups in the state.

Haston was born and raised in Atmore, the daughter of the late Ernest and Alma Thomas and the youngest child of five.  She is a graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore and a graduate of Alabama State University, Montgomery, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.

She is co-founder of the Walls of Salvation International Church located in Prichard,and co-pastors alongside her husband, Dr. Julius V. Haston.  She is a mother, grandmother and public school teacher.

Tax Offices Collect Hundreds Of Pounds Of Food For Manna

August 19, 2014

Escambia County Tax Collector offices recently concluded a food drive for Manna Food Panties.  Tax collector offices in Molino, Marcus Pointe and downtown collected 738 pounds of food for Manna. Pictured top: Jenny and Nicole from the downtown office. Pictured inset: Kathy and Clara from the Molino office. Pictured below: Tonya, Melissa, Kimson, and Janet from the Marcus Pointe office. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Need To Apply For Free Or Reduced Lunches?

August 18, 2014

Parents can expedite the processing of  free or reduced lunch applications in Escambia County by submitted the form online.

For the 2014 – 2015 online free and reduced meal application, click here for a secure form.

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as administered by Escambia County School District provides free and reduced priced meals for children unable to pay the full price.

Students from households who receive food stamps and/or Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) and who have a social security number on file at the school may be eligible for direct certification. Students approved by direct certification are not required to have an application on file.

Application forms are sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free or reduced priced meals, parents of students not approved by direct certification must fill out the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available in the front office.

Children from households with incomes of less than or equal to the income criteria may be eligible for either free or reduced priced meals.

Each school and the school system’s Food Services office have copies which are available to the public.

Meal prices are as follows:

Elementary

  • Full price breakfast – $1.00
  • Reduced price breakfast – 30¢
  • Full price lunch – $2.00
  • Reduced price lunch – 40¢

Secondary

  • Full price breakfast-  $1.50
  • Reduce price breakfast – 30¢
  • Full price lunch – $2.50
  • Reduced price lunch – 40¢

Three Years: Remembering LCpl Travis Nelson

August 18, 2014

Today marks the three year anniversary of the death of local Cpl. Travis M. Nelson. LCpl. Nelson gave all on the battlefields of Afghanistan on August 18, 2011.

A world was shattered at the Nelson home in Bratt as three men in military uniforms stood at the door. “I just screamed and said no,” Beckie Nelson of Bratt said shortly after she learned that her son, LCpl Travis Nelson, was shot and killed while conducting combat operations in in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  “I just went to my knees and said don’t let them come  in. I knew right away that he was gone.”

It was a tragedy that began a wave an emotions and events that touched the entire North Escambia area and a nation. The community grieved as hundreds if not thousands changed their Facebook profile pictures to a single image in honor of Nelson.  Tears flowed as powerful photos were published that showed an honor guard removing Nelson’s flag-draped coffin from a plane at Dover AFB in Delaware.

The rain poured down at Pensacola Naval Air Station a few days later as the final leg of Nelson’s journey home began. The rain did not send them running; they stood silently — many holding American flags — as the hearse carrying an American hero departed on a 55-mile journey to Atmore. Along the way, some of Pensacola’s busiest roadways came to a complete standstill as the motorcade passed. Many motorists stood outside their vehicles and paid their respects. In Walnut Hill, just a few miles from Nelson’s boyhood home in Bratt, the motorcade slowed as it approached Ernest Ward Middle School. Nelson was Golden Eagle, attending Ernest Ward in the sixth and seventh grades.

Hundreds of Ernest Ward Middle School students and teachers dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97, American flags in hand, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.

As the procession passed, the students stood with their hands over their hearts, waving Old Glory. The thunder of 127 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders vibrated the ground and echoed across the country fields near the school.

Six Florida Highway Patrol trooper vehicles led the hearse past the school. Many students broke down in tears at the sight of a flag draped coffin. Others cried as they made eye contact with Nelson’s parents and their daughter  — a sixth grader at Ernest Ward.

The motorcade continued into Atmore, where crowds stood along the route, waving Old Glory. At a local bank on Highway 31, people stood with large flags as the Northview High School NJTROC stood steadfast at attention. Across the way at the iconic Atmore train station, a group of  local veterans stood proudly and saluted as Nelson’s remains passed.

Nelson’s funeral was held in Atmore where, again, hundreds paid their final respects.

Nelson was not forgotten. His name was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor and other area memorials.  A scholarship was announced. The Bratt Community Park was renamed the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park. Nelson’s family was honored at the annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward Middle School.

LCpl Travis Nelson left behind a short, simple note just in case he did return from the battlefield in Afghanistan.

“Dear friends and family, if you are reading this, I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you. I have no regrets, I died for a meaningful cause.”

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Young Marines Honor The Memory Of LCpl Travis M. Nelson

August 17, 2014

A young Travis Nelson of Bratt grew up in a military family and had two things on his mind — fishing and growing up to join the military.

He lived that dream, spending many days at his favorite fishing spots. At 14, he joined the Young Marines of Pensacola. By age 19, he had made it from Bratt to the front lines in Afghanistan as a United States Marine. It was there in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, that LCpl Travis M. Nelson lost his life in August 2011 defending the freedom of his family, friends and the America he loved so much.

Saturday, the Young Marines of Pensacola gathered at the LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park on Highway 4 in Bratt, near Nelson’s childhood home, to honor one of their own that paid the ultimate price.

The Young Marines, boys and girls ages 8 to 18, stood silently at attention as a wreath was placed at the park’s memorial to Nelson. Then they posed for a photo, the Young Marines and the memorial to a fallen Marine.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Cantonment Improvement Association Provides Free School Supplies

August 17, 2014

The Cantonment Improvement Committee’s annual Back to School Bash was held Saturday. The event included free school supplies and a hot lunch at Carver Park.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Photos: Northview Tribal Beat Band Car Wash

August 17, 2014

Members of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band held a car wash Saturday morning in Century.  The band members will held another car wash next Saturday, August 23, at Marvin’s Home Improvement on Lindberg Avenue in Atmore. Proceeds from the events go toward the band’s expenses, such as travel.

For more photos, click here.

Pictured: A Northview High School Tribal Beat Band car was Saturday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.

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