Alger-Sullivan Society Presents History Book To Northview Library
February 18, 2010
Wednesday, members of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society presented a copy of their new book “A Pictorial History Volume II” and accompanying CD to the Northview High School Library.
The book and CD contain historical pictures and information concerning Century and northeastern Escambia County, Florida; Flomaton, Alabama; Jay and northern Santa Rose County, Florida; and surrounding areas. The book was compiled by Jerry Fischer and Jerry Simmons.
Edsel Smith, former principal of Century High School, and Don Sales visited Northview High School on behalf of the historical society to present the book and CD.
“Northview High School is very appreciative of this ‘treasure-trove’ history book and CD donation to our library,” said Principal Gayle Weaver.
The book is available from Alger-Sullivan Historical Society members and at the Leach House Museum at 610 4th Street in the Century Historical District from 9 until 1 Monday-Friday. The book can also be ordered by mail. Send a check for $30.00 plus $5.00 postage and packaging (padded envelope) to the ASHS, P.O. Box 1002, Century 32535.
For more information, contact Jerry Simmons at (251) 765-2629 or Jerry Fischer at (850) 256-3980.
Pictured above: Current Northview High faculty and Century High School graduates (L-R) Joyce Gunn (1973), Bobby Simpson (1970) and Mary Jo Smith (1966) look through A Pictorial History Volume II in the Northview Library. Pictured below: Century’s drugstore and the Tuberville Hospital in the late 1930’s — just one of about two thousand photographs in the book. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
103-Year Old North Escambia Woman Honored
February 18, 2010
North Escambia’s 103-year old Elmira Gandy Crapps was honored by the Escambia County Commission Thursday night.
Born in Butler County, Alabama, in 1907 to John Oxford and Victoria Black Gandy and married to William Haynes Crapps, she has been a member of Poplar Dell Baptist Church for over 75 years.
For 45 years, she and her husband operated a successful trucking business, Gulf & Southern Transport, in Century, providing hauling services for timber, lumber and equipment.
“Bonds, savings accounts and CD’s are the best and safest places to invest money, and a person should invest at least 20 percent of their annual income with an additional 10 percent going to charity and tithing,” was the advice the Gandyville resident gave as a county proclamation was being prepared.
“She is the third descendant in her family to live past the age of 100 and creates a link to our history,” the county commission’s proclamation states. “She lauds the spirit, inspiration, and endurance represented by one of our oldest residents and is a valued member of our community.”
Crapps was recently recognized by the Town of Century with a day in honor. Florida Governor Charlie Crist offered his congratulations, as did Congressman Jeff Miller.
NorthEscambia.com featured Crapps in a January 30 article. Click here for the story, and to learn more about Crapps’ secret for a long life.
Ernest Ward Students Take Part In World’s Largest Middle School Drama Competition
February 17, 2010
Seven Ernest Ward Middle School drama students took part in the world’s largest middle school drama competition this past weekend.
Samantha Barrow, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Kamryn Brock, Morgan Packer, Rachel Presley, Chelsea Turner, and Lauryn Walker competed in the Florida State Junior Thespian Festival in Fort Lauderdale, an event that draws over 2,000 middle school students.
“Our drama girls competed against some really strong performers and in front of judges, many of whom were professionals in the fine arts field. The judges were tough, but the Ernest Ward students held their own,” said Katie Ward, EWMS drama team sponsor.
Presley, Barrow and Bhadkamkar all received “Excellent” ratings. Presley placed for her monologue “Cinderelly from the Valley”, while Barrow and and Bhadkamkar placed in their duet scene, “Common Scents”.
“We are very proud of all the hard work each student put in to even make it to state. Considering this was our school’s first time ever attending this competition, they represented our school well,” Ward said.
Pictured above: (L-R) Chelsea Turner, Lauryn Walker, Samantha Barrow, Rachel Presley, Shalmali Bhadkamkar, Kamryn Brock and Morgan Packer
Escambia Looks To Expand Career Academies To Middle Schools
February 16, 2010
The Escambia County School District is looking at expanding its high school career academy model to the middle school level throughout the county.
Middle school career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a school in which select students and teachers participate during a two or three-year span. Students enter the academy with parental knowledge and support. A career academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as an interdisciplinary team.
Staff teams work together to implement the key features of the model and to provide students with exposure to the career field. Students are grouped together for several periods every day with a core group of teachers. This model promotes a family-like atmosphere and results in close student-teacher ties, according to the district.
Dozens of career academies already exist in Escambia County’s high schools, such as the Building Trades and Construction Design Academy at Northview, the Early Childhood Education Academy at Tate, Web Design Services Academy at Washington and the Legal Services Academy at West Florida High. An Agriscience Technology Academy is under development for Northview.
Workman and Wooham are the only middle schools in the county with career academies, health occupations, agriscience and pre-engineering academies.
The curriculum and instruction within an academy will meet or exceed state and district standards, while differing from a regular secondary school by focusing learning around a theme. Career academies often partner with colleges or employers, bringing resources from outside of the school to improve student motivation and achievement.
At today’s school board meeting, the board is expected to approved a set of standards and guidelines that will allow for the development of career academies at other middle school in the county, including Ernest Ward.
Photos: How To Build A Snowman
February 15, 2010
Lots of people across the area tried their hand at building a snowman Friday.
Some resembled the character Frosty, some looked like little space aliens and some were even cats and dogs. We had pictures of little ones, eight and a half foot tall ones, and even a little snowman family.
In a special photo gallery, we are looking back at snowmen as built by NorthEscambia.com readers.
Click here for the photo gallery of snowmen built by our readers.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center: Be My Valentine
February 15, 2010
Century Care Center celebrated Valentine’s Day on Sunday with a special afternoon.
With sparkling apple cider, good food, good music and lots of great fellowship, residents gathered for an afternoon of fun. Dewey Spicer and Voncille Mize were named Century Care Center’s Valentine’s king and queen.
And Mr. and Mrs. Burch proved that Cupid’s arrows can be on the mark as they celebrated a very special anniversary.
For more photos of Valentine’s Day at Century Care Center, click here.
Pictured above: Mr. and Mrs. Burch celebrated their anniversary on Valentine’s Day at Century Care Center. Pictured left: Valentine’s King Dewey Spicer and Queen Voncille Mize.
Even More NorthEscambia.com Reader Submitted Snow Photos
February 14, 2010
We have published literally hundreds of reader submitted snow photos over the past couple of days, and we have even more today.
From all across Northwest Florida and well into South Alabama, our reader photos provide a complete look at the first snowfall in 14 years.
For part four of our reader photo gallery, click here.
Don’t forget to email your snow pictures to news@northescambia.com so that we can add your photos to our galleries.
Pictured: NorthEscambia.com reader submitted snow photos, click to enlarge.
Thousands Enjoy 2010’s Winter Wonderland
February 13, 2010
It was a winter wonderland to remember for thousands in South Alabama and extreme northern Northwest Florida Friday with the first snowfall in 14 years. For many, it was their first glimpse of the white stuff, which varied from a wet sticky mess in North Escambia to a fluffy white powder in Monroe County, Alabama.
Unofficial snowfall totals across the area ranged from a light dusting to about 1 inch in Florida, to about 2.5 inches in Atmore, to 3 inches just north of Atmore to over 5 inches in Monroe County.
The low snowfall totals in North Escambia led many Florida folks to hit the highways and travel north into South Alabama. At the Atmore campus of Jefferson Davis Community College just north of I-65, there were more Florida tags than Alabama late Friday afternoon. Dozens of snowmen stood around the campus as several snowball fights took place — including one between a handful of Ernest Ward Middle School students.
North Escambia’s snowfall made national news as Florida became the 49th state in the U.S. to have snow on the ground. Only Hawaii had no snow on the ground Friday, as two-thirds of the land mass in the United States was white.
Dozens of people stopped alongside Highway 21 just south of the Escambia-Monroe County line to take advantage of a big hill and the chance to do a little snow sledding. The impromptu — far from the Winter Olympics event — was fast-paced 40 foot slide, and often head-over-heels-tumble into a fluffy snow pile below. The snow-sledders took advantage of whatever they could find in their vehicles to slide, from car mats, to cardboard to trash bags.
Over three dozen traffic accidents were reported Friday in Escambia County, Alabama — many sightseers that slid into ditches.
In Escambia County, Florida, sleet and snow was reported as far south as downtown Pensacola.
Pictured top: Residents build a snowman in Atmore. Pictured top inset: Snow falls in Florida. Pictured bottom inset: Snow sledding near the Escambia-Monroe County line. Pictured below: A snow covered bridge at Little River State Park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com: Our Snow Photos Part II
February 13, 2010
NorthEscambia.com was on the road Friday, taking lots of photos from North Escambia to Uriah, Alabama.
Most of the photos you will see in our second photo gallery were taken on Highway 21 north of Atmore up to Monroe County, where there was much more snow than North Escambia.
For the photo gallery, click here.
For part one of our photo gallery, click here.
Don’t forget to email your snow pictures to news@northescambia.com so we can add them to our photo galleries.
Pictured above: Little River State Park was postcard picture perfect. Pictured below: The snowfall was heavy in Uriah, Alabama. Pictured inset: This snowman was ready for Mardi Gras. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Olivia Heading Home To North Escambia After Brain Surgery
February 13, 2010
Olivia Bush, 6, — the young North Escambia girl that had part of her brain removed Monday at Miami Children’s Hospital — is now on her way home.
She underwent the surgery to alleviate seizures that have plagued her since she was born as the second youngest premature baby to survive at Pensacola’s Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. During the surgery, doctors removed a 7 centimeter portion of her brain — basically taking out the bad, non-functioning portion and leaving behind the good, healthy tissue.
Olivia was released Friday from the hospital in Miami. After spending Friday night in Orlando, the family is expected back home by Saturday afternoon.
“Olivia is doing well and is getting better everyday,” said her father, Tad Bush. The doctor said everything looked good.” Olivia will need to travel back to Miami in about three months for a follow-up visit. Then she will be followed by her regular neurosurgeon in Pensacola.
To read an earlier story about Olivia, click here.
Pictured top: Olivia Bush resting Monday evening at Miami Children’s Hospital after a six hour brain surgery to alleviate seizures. Pictured left inset: Olivia prior to surgery. Pictured bottom: Olivia ready to leave Miami. Submitted photos by Tad Bush for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
