Pharmacist Continues $2 Bill Stimulus Program Handing Cash To Seniors
February 25, 2010
Area pharmacist Danny Cottrell is at it again, working to teach a valuable lesson and stimulate the local economy with $2 bills.
Tuesday, Cottrell handed out envelopes containing $30 in $2 bills to the seniors at T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal High Schools in Brewton. The money came with strings attached — spend the money locally, spend or give a portion — $6 of the bounty — to charity, and for each student to explain to their parents where the money came from and why.
It’s not the first time that Cottrell has handed out the $2 bills in his own stimulus program. He was in good company for his good deeds after being nominated for one of Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring People of the Year.
Cottrell, owner of pharmacies in Atmore and Brewton, was on a list that includes actor Michael J. Fox and Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot that successfully landed his plan in the Hudson River after an engine failure. Cottrell did not win the Beliefnet contest.
Last year, Cottrell gave each pharmacy employee a bonus — $700 for full-time and $350 for part-timers — with a catch. Each employee was required to give 15 percent to a charity or someone in need. The rest of the money, about $16,000, had to be spent one $2 bill at a time at local businesses.
Cottrell’s economic stimulus plan made the news across the country, including the NBC Nightly News (see video below). Since the $2 bills begin to circulate in March, other businesses across the country have followed with similar plans of their own. In fact, www.peoplesstimulus.org, a web site inspired by Cottrell’s $2 bill plan, has tracked over $202,000 in people’s stimulus dollars inspired by a man with plans to help his local communities.
To read Cottrell’s story and his Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring People of the Year nomination, click here.
Pictured above: Pharmacist Danny Cottrell was nominated as one of Beliefnet’s Most Inspiring People of the Year. Courtesy Beliefnet.com for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge. Below, Cottrell’s story on the NBC Nightly News.
Really Cool Job
February 25, 2010
A couple of workers had a really cool job Wednesday as they worked to paint a new 118-foot tall water tower as temperatures hovered in the upper 30’s with a strong wind. The new 200,000 gallon tank was constructed next to the Ernest Ward Middle School to provide additional capacity for the 699-connection Walnut Hill Water Works system. It is part of $2.4 million in upgrades. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Little Miss Relay Pageant Set
February 25, 2010
The Jay Hospital Relay for Life team is sponsoring the Little Miss Relay pageant March 6 at Jay High School.
The pageant will have six age divisions from age 0 to 12. The entry deadline for contestants in March 1. For more details and contact information, click here.
Little Miss Relay pageant will be at 2 p.m. on March 6 at Jay High School. Admission is $4 for everyone except contestants and children under 5. All proceeds benefit the Jay Hospital Relay for Life team.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week
February 24, 2010
FFA members at Northview High School are celebrating National FFA Week with a variety of events.
Tuesday, the FFA officers and members prepared a homestyle breakfast for teachers, staff and invited guests that support the FFA program. On Monday, students prepared refreshments for bus drivers.
For a photo gallery from both events, click here.
Here is a look at the complete week of activities for National FFA Week at Northview High School:
Monday: Bus Driver Refreshment/ FFA T-Shirts
FFA members prepared refreshments for all bus drivers to give to them in the morning as they arrived at school. FFA t-shirts were provided to members.
Chairmen: Devin Bell and Shelby Lewis
Tuesday: Teacher Breakfast / Ag Jeopardy
All teachers, staff and invited guests were invited to eat a home cooked breakfast before school started that was prepared by FFA officers and members. All agricultural classes participated in the Ag jeopardy program, which questioned members about FFA facts and useful agriculture information. State FFA Secretary, Austin Courson was present during the day.
Chairmen: Lydia Weaver and Heather Kite
Wednesday: Coke Float Day / Officer Workshop
Members are invited to have a coke float in the Agriculture department during the student’s lunch. The FFA officers during Agriscience classes will present a workshop on leadership, getting involved, communication, and teamwork.
Chairmen: Wes Chancery
Thursday: Dirty Truck Contest / “National Teach Ag Day”
All students of Northview High School, FFA members or not, will be allowed to participate in the Dirty Truck Contest. An entry fee will be taken from all students who participate and will be donated to Relay for Life. Mr. Byars will present a lesson entitled “National Teach Ag Day”.
Chairman: Gavin Hinote
Friday: Ag Olympics
All FFA members will participate in outside activities during their Ag class. These events include hay bale relay, wheel barrow race, and heifer tie among other activities. These activities will meet the healthy lifestyles and teamwork goal of the FFA members.
Chairmen: Stephanie Solari and Allie Vidak
Saturday: Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction
FFA members will assist with the Walnut Hill Ruritan Farm Equipment Auction in Walnut Hill on Saturday as a community service project.
Chairman: Micah Byars
Pictured: FFA members serve breakfast Tuesday morning at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Church Joins FBC Cantonment In Buckets Of Hope Program
February 24, 2010
A Bratt church has joined the Buckets of Hope Program — an earthquake relief effort that is providing hope to the families of Haiti on 5-gallon bucket of food at a time.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt serving as a collection point for the north end of Escambia County, according to FBC Bratt Student Pastor Tim Hawsey. In the Cantonment and central portions of Escambia County, the buckets are still be collected by the First Baptist Church of Cantonment.
The deadline to drop off the filled buckets at the First Baptist Church of Bratt is Sunday, March 14. More information is available from through the student ministry of the church.
The deadline to drop off the filled buckets at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment is Monday, March 15.
More information on the program is in the February 2 NorthEscambia.com article reprinted below. below.
A Cantonment church is spearheading a countywide project that will provide hope to the families of Haiti, one white 5-gallon bucket of food at a time.
It’s called “Buckets of Hope”, a program of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Florida Disaster Relief program. The concept is simple — fill a clean 5-gallon bucket with beans, rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and other essentials. It’s enough to feed a family of four for about a week, plus they have the bucket to reuse to haul water, store food items or even move rubble in the earthquake stricken land.
For less than $30, the bucket and food items can be purchased, according to Drayton Smith, associate pastor at the First Baptist Church of Cantonment.
“This is something anyone can do and know they are helping a family in Haiti,” Smith said. He hopes that other churches, schools, business and community groups will become involved in the bucket program.
You don’t have to be a Christian to be involved in this,” said Ronnie Gilmore, a First Baptist Church member. “You just have to have a caring heart.”
Florida Baptists are committed to helping Haiti in both the short and long term, Smith said, with help provided in over 800 locations across the country.
As Region 1 chaplain coordinator for Florida Disaster Relief, Smith learned of the program at a training session recently in Orlando. When he learned of the Buckets of Hope program, he knew he was ready to become involved.
“The Bible tells us to do that and help others,” he said. “We have a passion for the world, and we love people. We just want to share the love.”
The filled Buckets of Hope must be returned to the First Baptist Church of Cantonment by March 15. They are also being collected at Gilmore Services at 31 East Fairfield Drive in Pensacola.
Smith said financial donations, or donations of any of the bucket items, can also be given in lieu of a full bucket. He said 100 percent of material and financial donations go straight to Haiti; none of the money is use for administration or other fees. Florida Disaster Relief does ask that persons donating buckets also donate $10, if possible, to offset the cost of shipping the bucket to Haiti.
Every bucket must be exactly alike with a specific list of items inside. Detailed instructions must be followed exactly to ensure that every bucket quickly passes through customs and into the hands of the Haitian people.
For a complete list of food items and instructions on how to pack the bucket, click here (pdf).
Pictured top: First Baptist Church of Cantonment Associate Pastor Drayton Smith explains the Buckets of Hope program. Pictured inset: Church members Barbara Reynolds explains how to pack a Bucket of Hope. Pictured below: The bucket and food items can be purchased for less than $30. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Students Compete In Bandmasters District Event
February 23, 2010
Several Ernest Ward Middle School students participated in the Florida Bandmasters Association District Solo and Ensemble held this past weekend at Gulf Breeze High School.
EWMS students that placed and their solo and or ensemble are:
- Flute Solo – Annie Bobo, rated Excellent
- Trumpet Solo – Taylor Brook, rated Superior
- Clarinet Solo – Julie Hester, rated Excellent
- Trombone Solo – Kent Smith, rated Good
- Flute Duet – Annie Bobo and Jerah Parker, rated Good
- Trumpet Trio – Taylor Brook, Will Owen and Josh Vihnanek, rated Excellent
Pictured top: (L-R): Julie Hester, Jerah Parker, Annie Bobo and Kent Smith. Pictured below: (L-R) Josh Vihnanek, Taylor Brook and Will Owen. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Ransom Students Winners In Black History Essay Contest
February 22, 2010
Three North Escambia students were among the winners in Black History Month essay contest sponsored by Cox Communications.
Jordyn Dunsford and Brandi Boggan from Northview High School and Breanna Fowler from Ransom Middle School were named winners.
The students will be featured during the month of February on Cox Channel 2 in public service announcements about the African American they chose to write about in their essay.
As part of the celebration of Black History Month, Cox offered students the opportunity to enter two contests, an art contest that celebrates African American heritage, and “Making A Difference: A Tribute to An African American in History” essay contest.
Elementary, middle and high school students throughout Escambia County submitted original art entries which were judged by area artists and educators.
The Making A Difference essay contest was offered to kindergarten through 12th grade students in Escambia County whose works were critiqued in their respective schools with the top four being submitted for final judging.
Study: Century, Jay And Cantonment Unhealthy; Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino Much Healthier
February 21, 2010
An environmental health study shows that residing in the Century, Jay or Cantonment zip codes may be unhealthy, while the McDavid/Walnut Hill and Molino zip codes are among the healthiest places to live in a two county area.
The results were released in a recent University of West Florida study focusing on Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The study shows that residents in the Century and Jay zip codes have the among the highest disease risk in the two-county region, attributed almost entirely to formaldehyde and toluene emission from the petroleum and natural gas extraction operations in the north Santa Rosa County area. For the purposes of the study, the Century and Jay zip codes were combined into one geographic region due to their relatively small populations. The location attributed most to the risk factor attributed almost entirely to formaldehyde emissions from a natural gas compressor station in northern Santa Rosa County.
The risks associated with living in the Cantonment zip code were related to the pulp and paper manufacturing operation, mostly attributed to higher levels of methanol, acetaldehyde, benzene and xylene, which are used as chemical solvents in the pulping operation. The area encompassed by the Cantonment zip had the worst mortality rate due to birth defects.
The McDavid/Walnut Hill and the Molino zip code areas had the lowest rates of hospital admission in the two county area due to respiratory problems. The zip codes also had among the lowest overall health and cancer risks.
Primarily, the study evaluated relationships between the health outcomes and the proximity of the zip codes to air emission sites.
During the past several days, NorthEscambia.com has taken an in-depth look at the health of North Escambia and our immediate neighbors in the series “Our Local Health: North Escambia Area”. For previous articles, click the links below:
- Escambia Alabama And Florida Unhealthy Places To Live; Santa Rosa Much Better
- Our Local Health: Escambia, FL
- Our Local Health: Santa Rosa, FL
- Our Local Health: Escambia, AL
The darker reds and orange colors show the zip codes with the greatest burden of disease in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Let The Good Times Roll: Seniors Celebrate Mardi Gras
February 21, 2010
The residents at Century Care Center held their own Mardi Gras parade and party this week.
Katie Clark was named Mardi Gras queen, and George Locket was named king.
For photos from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Last year’s Century Care Center Mardi Gras Queen Katie Clark (standing) made it clear that she was passing on her reign, but not her crown. Sitting in 2010’s queen, Judy Macks. Submitted photo for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Holds Valentine’s Dance, Names Court
February 20, 2010
Ernest Ward Middle School held its annual Valentine’s Dance Friday night, naming a queen and her court based upon student votes.
Eighth grader Lily Townson was named queen, and Brannon Freeman was named king. From the seventh grade, Kamryn Brock was named maiden, and Tristan Portwood was named knight. Sixth grade queen was Jalyn Bodiford and sixth grade knight was Gavin Grant.
The dance was held after Valentine’s Day due to the school’s cheerleaders and drama club attending out of town competitions last weekend.
Pictured above: (L-R) Sixth Grade Knight Gavin Grant, Sixth Grade Maiden Jalyn Bodiford, King Brannon Freeman, Queen Lily Townson, Seventh Grade Knight Tristan Portwood and Seventh Grade Maiden Kamryn Brock. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.