Ernest Ward Students Explore Past With National History Day Projects
February 10, 2014
History came alive through the eyes of students at Ernest Ward Middle School recently as they displayed weeks of work on projects for National History Day.
The History Fair in the school’s gym capped off a project in which EWMS students were required to do research into a topic. The research was presented in exhibit form, much like the typical science fair, or as a drama or web presentation. Students complete projects either individually or in teams.
This was the fifth year Ernest Ward has participated in the national program, with the top projects from Ernest Ward headed next to a district competition. Winners included:
Individual Exhibits
- Cameron Long
- Bailey Seibert
- Dalton Hamilton
- Bailee Hinote
Group Exhibits
- Ashlan Harigel, Anna King, Bailey Van Pelt
- Lexi Broadhead, Karlee Criswell, Jessie McCall
- Celeste North, Kayla Galvan
- Colby Morris, Logan Wise
Web Design
- Triston Long
- Ashtyn Carnley, Delaney Reynolds
Performance
- Nikoal Creamer, Seth Parker, Chris Johnson
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names Valentine’s Court (With Photo Gallery)
February 8, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes. Pictured (L-R) are seventh grade knight and maiden Alex McMinn and Nikoal Creamer; eighth grade queen and king, Celeste North and Levi Wagner; and sixth grade maiden and knight McKinzi Kent and Keaton Brown.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Showcases Technology
February 7, 2014
Bratt Elementary School held a Technology Night Thursday to showcase some of the latest tech items used in the school. From computers, to software to iPads, students and teachers showed parents just how fun — and tech filled — elementary school can be. Many of the technology items were purchased with a Poarch Creek Indian Education Endowment Grant.
Pictured top and inset: Students show off iPads used at Bratt Elementary. Pictured below: Parents learn about software and website options during presentations in a school computer lab and the media center Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Nominated For ACM Station Of The Year
February 7, 2014
Country 98.7 has been nominated as small market radio station of the year from the Academy of Country Music.
The winner will be named during the the annual award show on CBS on Sunday, April 6 from Las Vegas. This was Cat Country 98.7’s six nomination in the past 10 years for the prestigious award, which the station won in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
“Our entire team strives to super serve our community every single day,” said station owner Dave Huxeng.
Cat Country 98.7 received their third Academy of Country Music Radio Station of the Year award in 2011. Accepting the trophies from Sony recording star Sara Evans in Las Vegas were Mary and Dave Hoxeng, owners of Cat Country 98.7. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview NJROTC Annual Inspection
February 6, 2014
Northview High School’s NJROTC Area Manager’s Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing face to face scrutiny.
The inspecting officer was CDR Vince Bindi, Executive Officer, Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola where he is responsible for the delivery of exceptional aviation specific training to more than 16,000 sailors and marines annually.
The day’s events began with a personnel inspection, drill demonstration and a pass-in-review in the school gym. Other events Wednesday included a financial record review, briefings, administrative inspections, supply inspections and more.
Cadets Dakota Craft, Zacarra Davis, Jessica Brown, Willie Owens, David Donald, Douglas Dunkle, Emily Walston, Alyssa Borelli and Donald Baity were recognized for Exemplary Personal Appearance and awarded a medal for their efforts.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School’s NJROTC Area Manager’s Inspection Wednesday morning at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Oh What-A-Night: Burgers Mean Bucks For Band
February 5, 2014
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band held a successful fund raiser Tuesday night at Whataburger in Century.
During a three hour period, the burger chain donated 20 percent of their proceeds to the band. There were also games and a drawing for a free Whataburger each week for an entire year. Plus, Northview High School band members helped serve food during the night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Davis Named Century Chamber’s Student Of The Year
February 3, 2014
Zacarra Davis has been selected as the Century Chamber of Commerce’s Student of the Year. The selection is based upon a student’s well-rounded involvement in school activities, community service and more. Davis has been extensively involved in numerous activities, sports, clubs and community service projects.
She will be honored at the Century and Flomaton’s chambers of commerce combined banquet in late February.
Pictured: One of Zacarra Davis’ many activities at Northview High School included the Navy JROTC. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
100 Year Olds At Bratt Elementary? Students Celebrate 100
February 3, 2014
Kindergarten and first grade students at Bratt Elementary School celebrated the number 100 Friday– the 100th day of the school year.
The celebration included 100 day necklaces with Fruit Loops in groups of 10, students writing their name as many times as possible in 100 seconds, singing 100 days songs, reading 100 days books, walking the halls of Bratt 100 steps at a time, writing about 100, making 100 days hats, collections of 100 items from home, and even some students dressed up like 100-year olds.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
An Early Spring? North Escambia Weather Ducks Miss Shadow
February 2, 2014
On Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, the world famous groundhog, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. But our local weather guys, the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks, missed their shadow Sunday morning and predicted an early spring.
Forklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks (pictured above).
And unlike like their more famous Pennsylvania weather buddy, our weather ducks also did not see their shadow Sunday morning here in North Escambia.
For those that might be a little unsure as the weather ducks’ ability, we offer the two photographs below showing the weather ducks predicting six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day 2010 and 10 days later with their snowman in Atmore.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: February Tips
February 2, 2014
Here are gardening tips for the month of February from the Santa Rosa Extension Service:
Flowers
- Re-fertilize cool season flowerbeds, using a liquid or granular form of fertilizer. Be careful not to apply excessive amounts and keep granules away from the base of stems.
- Prepare flowerbeds for spring planting by adding and incorporating soil amendments like mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost. Till or spade the bed to incorporate the amendments with the existing soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Allow the prepared bed to lie undisturbed for 3 to 4 weeks before planting. This provides time for some important biological activity to take place, and new plants are less likely to suffer from stem and root rots as a result. Have a soil test done. Sometimes lime is needed. However, a lime application should be made only if the need is revealed by the test.
- Replenish mulch in flowerbeds.
- Prune rose bushes.
Trees and Shrubs
- February is possible the best month for rejuvenation of old, overgrown shrubs. When pruned now, plants have an entire growing season to recover.
- Prune summer flowering deciduous shrubs such as Althea and Hibiscus. Since they flower on current season’s growth, flowering can actually be enhanced by proper pruning
- Do NOT prune the spring flowering shrubs yet. Azaleas, Spiraeas and Forsythia flower during early spring because buds were formed last summer and fall. Pruning in February would therefore remove most of the flower buds.
- Cold damaged trees and shrubs should NOT be pruned until new growth appears. You want to preserve as much healthy plant material as possible.
- Replenish mulch in shrub beds
- Finish planting ornamental and fruit trees.
Fruits and Nuts
- Fertilize established pecan trees. Use a “special pecan fertilizer” that contains zinc. Use 2 lbs. for every year of age of the tree up to a maximum of 55 lbs. Broadcast the fertilizer evenly beneath the tree.
- Fertilize established peach, plum, pear, persimmon, apple and fig. Apply about 1 ½ lbs of a 10-10-10 (or similar) fertilizer for each year of age of the tree until a maximum of 10 to 15 lbs. per tree is reached.
- Blueberries are very sensitive to nitrogen and can be killed easily, particularly when they are young. Fertilize only if your goal is to increase yield or berry size. An annual application of 2 ounces of a special “azalea/camellia” or “special blueberry” type fertilizer per plant in February is ample fertilizer on 2-year-old plants.
- Prune muscadine grapes between mid-February to mid-March. A standard method is to allow 2 to 4 node spurs spaced every 6 inches of cordon. You may notice that pruning cuts bleed, but there is no evidence that this is injurious to the vine.
- Grapes (bunch and muscadine) should be fertilized at the rate of 1 ½ lbs of 10-10-10 for each year of age with a maximum of 5 lbs per plant applied in late February.
- Last call for planting fruit trees! Most fruit trees such as pecans, plums, persimmons, figs, peaches and nectarines are shipped bare roots and should be planted during the dormant season.
- Apply a spray containing horticultural oils emulsion to dormant fruit trees and ornamental shrubs. Follow label directions carefully.
Vegetable Garden
- Several winter vegetables can still be successfully grown by starting them this month. Plant beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, endive/escarole, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, parsley, English peas, radish and turnips.
- Plant Irish potatoes. Purchase certified seed potatoes rather than using the grocery store kinds. Use 2-ounce seed pieces with eyes and plant them 3 to 4 inches deep.
- Prepare spring vegetable and herb beds for planting by adding and incorporating soil amendments like mushroom compost, manure or homemade compost. Wait 3 to 4 weeks before planting.
Lawns
- Hold off on fertilizing the lawn. It is still too early for an application of nitrogen containing product. Cold temperatures and lack of plant response would likely result in wasted fertilizer. However, your winter weeds would benefit greatly.