Sandra McMurray Jackson Named To BRACE Board
April 5, 2012
Sandra McMurray Jackson of Century has been appointed to the board of directors of BRACE , the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies.
Jackson, a member of the Century Town Council, recently became a member of the Century CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), which is coordinated by BRACE.
Jackson is a 1977 graduate of Century High School and attended Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton. She is an active member of First Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She retired after 20 years as a corrections officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. She currently owns Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services in Century.
A Century native, Jackson is the daughter of the late James and Marie McMurray. She was married to the late Rev. Dr. G. Jackson and has two children, Ketric Washington and Demetric Washington.
Pictured top Sandra McMurray Jackson (left) and another CERT volunteer held a disaster “victim” during a disaster drill last October in Century. Pictured inset: Sandra McMurray Jackson at a recent Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Middle Schoolers Compete In Math Tourney
April 1, 2012
About 200 middle school students from four counties took part in the Pensacola Invitational Middle School Math Competition Saturday at Pensacola High School.
From North Escambia, both Ernest Ward and Ransom Middle schools took part in the four-hour competition sponsored by the Math Honor Society of Pensacola High School’s International Baccalaureate program.
Pictured top: The Ernest Ward Middle School Algebra Team (L-R) Haley Brown, Deedee Mitchell, Bethany Reynolds and Abbie Johnson. Pictured below: Algebra I honorable mention award winners in the Pensacola Invitational Middle School Math Competition Saturday at Pensacola High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Music Play: Northview Holds 10 Hour Music Marathon
April 1, 2012
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The Northview High School Band and Fine Arts music programs held a 10-hour music marathon on Saturday.
For 10 straight hours there was some type of music taking place during the event. Students were sponsored by the hour, as a Fine Arts Department’s fund raiser for a spring trip to Atlanta.
“We used part of the time for rehearsal and part of the time for fun music activities and games,” program director Elaine Holk said.
Pictured: A small portion of the 10-hour music marathon at Northview High School on Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tommy Weaver Family Offers Thanks
April 1, 2012
The family of the late Tommy Weaver, Northview High School teacher and coach, submitted the following letter of thanks to the community.
To all of the hundreds who have extended their sympathy for the unexpected loss of Tommy Weaver, your kindness, generosity, and love have been beyond comprehension. We have tried to thank everyone who sent floral memorials, food and sundry items, and other tokens of love toward his memory, but there are some who sent expressions of sympathy as a group, not identifying individuals.
To the “Northview Chiefs,” the “Former and Current Students of NHS from Faith Bible Baptist Church,” and the Classes of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, thank you for your memorial floral plant/arrangements for Papa Weave.
To the hundreds who came to the visitation and the funeral service, your presence was such a comfort and affirmation of his goodness.
To the staff of Northview for the outpouring of love and support and to the staff of Ernest Ward Middle School, thank you for the many, many things done for the comfort of our family.
To the many who have organized and/or contributed to the scholarship fund, including purchases of the special bracelets, in Tommy’s memory for FFA and CECF, your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
To those who helped with the memorial baseball shirts and the “Big Weave” wrist bands, you know he would have loved those gestures!
To those who approached the Superintendent requesting something special in his name and to those planning and organizing events to support the installation of a memorial in his honor, your fond remembrance and wish to keep his memory and spirit alive is truly heart-warming.
My family, Tommy’s brother and his family in North Carolina, and I are truly humbled by all of the expressions of love for Tommy. I am so glad that I had his services here where his “family of friends, students, and colleagues” could pay their respect.
A quote from a recently received sympathy card puts it more eloquently than I could ever say, “What a beautiful difference one single life made.
Gayle Weaver
Food For America Introduces Hundreds Of Students To Agriculture
March 31, 2012
From Pensacola Beach, Atmore, Jay, Bratt and surrounding areas, about 600 elementary school students attended the 17th annual Food for America program Friday morning at Northview High School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
The program, sponsored the National FFA Organization and conducted by the Northview FFA, gave the students a chance to learn about agriculture firsthand as they got up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more. The students even had the opportunity to make their own butter and enjoy it on crackers.
Northview’s FFA has been recognized throughout the state for the innovative agricultural education program.
The day was dedicated in memory of teacher and Northview FFA Advisor Tommy Weaver, who passed away recently.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Northview High School FFA’s Food for America program Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
MIRA Awards Honor Creative High School Students
March 30, 2012
The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation hosted the 2012 Mira Creative Arts Awards program Thursday night. Sixty-nine of Escambia County’s most creative high school seniors were selected as recipients of the 2012 Mira Creative Arts Awards. They were honored at a dinner at New World Landing.
In 1987, a group of teachers at Tate High School created the Mira Awards to recognize talented and creative students in the arts and sciences. The following year, the committee approached the Foundation to bring the awards under its umbrella and to initiate county-wide student participation each year in the areas of writing, performing and visual arts, and other disciplines. The term “Mira” is Latin for the name of the brightest star in the constellation Cetus.
Winners received engraved medallions, a book scholarship from Pensacola State College, and memberships from the Pensacola Museum of Art and Artel Gallery.
This year’s Mira Creative Arts Awards winners are:
Northview High School: Jacob Baldwin, Instrumental Music; Joseph Baldwin, Instrumental Music; Josie Doucette, Journalism; Alissa Fiellin, Graphic Art; Cory King, Instrumental Music; Melissa Jayne Moretz, Instrumental Music; Kiani Okahashi, Visual Art; Chelsea Parham, Theatre; Justin Purvis, Theatre; Darwin Eugene (D.J.) Robinson, II, Graphic Arts.
Tate High School: Amber Baker, Drama; Tabetha Champitto, Chorus; Katelyn Clairain, Photography; Jacob Dearrington, Instrumental Music; Adam DiMercurio, Debate; Angela Howard, Chorus; Amanda Alzira Medeiros, Visual Art; Matthew Perez-Rex, Pottery; Chris Snyder, Instrumental Music; Victoria Veith, TV Production.
West Florida High School: Kelli Brock, Instrumental Music; Lexi Buker, Journalism; T. J. Grier, Journalism; Katherine Ledbetter, Visual Art; Coral Elizabeth Molchanoff, Theatre;
Michaela Rodriguez, Instrumental Music; Julia L. Spear, Multimedia/Broadcasting; Hunter Sport, Journalism; Jessica Brooke Touchstone, Drama; Jerrad Dusan Vunovich, Visual Art.
Escambia High: Megan Beebe, Web Design, Instrumental Music; Nike Evers, Visual Arts; Stephen French, Instrumental Music; Brittany Horton, Vocal Music; Laura Krauss, Instrumental Music; Abigail Lord, Journalism; Monique Queen-Smith, Theatre; Andria Quinlan, Digital Multimedia; Morgan Sasser, Theatre; Andrea Marie Ulm, Culinary Art.
Pensacola High School: R. J. Burns, Instrumental Music; Tiffany Chiang, Visual Art; Jessica Grandrup, Instrumental Music; Rachel Hovell, Creative Achievement; Alys Mead, Drama’ Jisung Moon, Creative Writing; Sara Omlor, Visual Art; Aaron Rogers, Instrumental Music; Carson Schmidt, Drama; Danielle K. Telhiard, Photography.
Pine Forest High School: Meagan Desirae Jean Evans, Visual Art; Giselle Collie, Orchestra; Kevin Fails, Instrumental Music; Alexander Daniel Gueits, Journalism; Catherine M. Hobbs, Culinary Arts; Anastasia Larkins, Instrumental Music; Jeremy Nelson, Theatre; Ramel Price, Orchestra; Sara Thomas, Visual Art.
Washington High School: Nicholas C. Bridges, Vocal Music; Chelsey Domschke, Photography; Luke Evans, Drama; Gabriel Friedman, Drama; Gerard Gunner, Instrumental Music; Lindsay Riddle, Drama; Brandon Spencer, Instrumental Music; Luke C. Vest, Visual Art; Marie Videau, Drama; Joycelyn Woods, Instrumental and Vocal Music.
Great For The Kids: Free Open House At Turtle Point
March 30, 2012
There will be an open house Saturday at the Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton.
The “Spring Fling” will feature Steve Trash, Reno’s Reptiles, and Raptor Trek from the Coosa River Science School. Six live birds of prey will be at Turtle Point on Saturday, with the opportunity to see hawks, owls, falcons and an American bald eagle up close and personal.
The event is free to the public from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Lunch and drinks will be available from the Flomaton High School Band Boosters.
The 3,000 square foot Turtle Point offers a touch tank for children and other hands-on exhibits. It boasts an extensive collection of wildlife specimens including many Alabama birds, nests, and eggs; a butterfly and living bee exhibit; live alligators, turtles, snakes, amphibians, and fish of the East Gulf Coastal Plain geophysical region. Also, plant lovers will find six teaching gardens and a wetland nature trail.
Bird watchers are encouraged to hike the nature trail boardwalk and enjoy the red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, great egret, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, yellow-shafted flicker, yellow bellied sap sucker, eastern bluebird, wren, killdeer, green heron, barred owl, screech owl, and many other native birds and wildlife.
Turtle Point’s goal is to provide hands-on environmental education to students and adults in the South Alabama and Northwest Florida. Turtle Point is located at 20959 Highway 31 in Flomaton, near Hurricane Park and Flomaton High School. For more information, call (251) 296-3401.
Saturday’s schedule of events is as follows:
- 9:15 — Raptor Trek, live birds of prey
- 10:15 — Steve Trash, environmental magician
- 11:15 — Reno’s Reptiles, exotic reptile show
- 12:15 — Raptor Trek, live birds of prey
- 1:15 — Reno’s Reptiles, exotic reptile show
- 2:15 — Steve Trash, environmental mag
Pictured: The Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: 21st Annual Century Sawmill Pageant Winners
March 30, 2012
The 21st Annual Century Sawmill Pageant was held recently in Century.
The event included pageants for numerous age groups for beauty, casual wear, and most photogenic. A record number of participants and crowds made it the Century Lions Club’s most successful fund raiser yet.
“The funds are used to assist children with the purchase of eye glasses and vision appointments,” said Don Sales, club secretary. “We organize and host this pageant with those kids in mind.”
Winners for each age category are detailed under each photograph below:
Miss (age 13+) Winners: (L-R) 3rd Runner Up: Paige Smith; 2nd Runner Up: Sidnie McMorris; Queen/Casual Wear Winner: Alayna Nicole Gordon; 1st Runner Up/Photogenic: Mallory Merchant; Miss Congeniality Runner Up: Brooklyn Shae Dortch.
Pre-Teen Winners (age 10-12): (L-R) 1st Runner Up: Joy Elizabeth Flanders; Queen: Kassidy Lynne Adams; 2nd Runner Up/Photogenic: Tori Knapp; 3rd Runner Up/Casual Wear Winner: Brittanie Grace Johnson.
Junior Miss (age 8-9): (L-R) 3rd Runner Up/Casual Wear Winner: Sierra Madison Hutto; 1st Runner Up: Savannah Mercedes Blackburn; Queen: Maegan Mallett; 2nd Runner Up: Caroline Elizabeth Harp; and Photogenic: Sunny Alexis Maher.
Young Miss Winners (age 6-7): (L-R) 1st Runner Up-Laiken Marie King; Queen/Casual Wear Winner: Nevaeh Skye Brown; 2nd Runner Up/Photogenic: Emma Breanna Barrow; and 3rd Runner Up: Aleigh Thornton.
Little Miss (age 4-5): (L-R) Photogenic: Ji Ji Morrow; 2nd Runner Up: Morgan Hicks; Queen: Zakyla Tamia Smith; 1st Runner Up: Jordon Elizabeth Sanders;
3rd Runner Up: Cadee M’lynn Carroll.
Toddler Miss (age 2-3): (L-R) 2nd Runner Up: Lanie Kate Stephens; 3rd Runner Up/Miss Congeniality: Emilee Grace Braswell; Queen/Casual Wear Winner: Kailee Herndon; 1st Runner Up: Jamie Michelle Roberts and Photogenic: Katie Gatewood.
Baby Miss (age 12-23 months): (L-R, bottom row) 2nd Runner Up: Madelyn Grace Calloway; Queen/Casual Wear Winner: Braylynn Presley Turner; 1st Runner Up: Kiley Webb; (back row) Photogenic: Kaydence Makenzie Hadley; and 3rd Runner Up: Brailee Erin Hobbs.
Tiny Baby Miss (age 0-11 months): (L-R, bottom row) 3rd place-Adahline Grayce Burks; Queen/Photogenic/Casual Wear Winner: Mckenzie Brooke Griffis; 1st Runner Up: Brooklynnn Grace Higdon; (back row) 2nd Runner Up: Mackenzie Tagudor.
Other winners: (L-R) Overall Queen 6 & Up: Brittanie Grace Johnson; Little Miss Casual Wear Winner: Aliyah Lynn Neal; Overall Queen 0-5 Years: Kailee Herndon; Little Mr. King: Brody Turk.
Photos by Fischer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Playground Installed At Hurricane Park
March 28, 2012
A new playground has been installed at Hurricane Park in Flomaton. The park is located on Highway 31 across from Flomaton High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Angels Begin Free Practice Shows
March 28, 2012
The Blue Angels performed before a crowd of thousands Tuesday morning at Pensacola Naval Air Station during their first public practice of the year.
The Blue Angels conduct regular practice demonstrations at 8:30 a.m. on most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Following most Wednesday shows, the team signs autographs and meets fans inside the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Museum entrance and the Blue Angels practice shows are free. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early due to heavy traffic.
For a complete practice Blue Angels show schedule, click here.
Pictured top: The Blue Angels perform. Pictured inset: Blue Angels pilots make eye contact during a maneuver. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.