Teen Hit By Bus Thankful That She Is Alive
September 16, 2009
A Bratt teenager says she is lucky to be alive after being bumped by her school bus when it was slammed from behind Tuesday morning on Highway 4.
Courtney Gibson, 17, was crossing the road in front of her bus to board it when the bus was struck from the rear by a van driven by her neighbor. The impact sent the front of the van under the bus, pushing the bus forward about 21 feet and into Courtney’s arm. The impact was so severe it lifted the bus into the air; the back tires of the bus were left a few inches off the ground, supported by the van. Her only injury is a small bruise on her arm.
“I could have been killed, but I was so blessed,” she said. “I do thank God. He’s obviously got a plan for my life.”
It started as an ordinary day for Courtney and her mom, Janis Weaver. Like clockwork, Janis headed out of the driveway at 5:45 a.m., driving “BE 1″, Bryneville Elementary School’s new bus. At 6:15, Courtney was at the end of the driveway waiting for her bus to take her to West Florida High School where she is a senior. She is the first student to get on the bus each day.
“I looked both ways before crossing the road. I almost got hit one time before, so I try to be careful,” Courtney said.
“I saw him, but I thought he stopped,” she said of the van driven by Jesse Warner, 36. Jesse lives just four houses away. She continued across the street, around the guard at the front of the bus — an arm that extends to keep students from walking too close to the front of the bus where they can’t be seen by the driver.
“All of the sudden, Jesse’s van slammed into the bus. It moved forward and hit me in the arm. All is remember is screaming,” she said. “I got up and got on the bus.
“I was shaken and scared. I started crying when I talked to my mom (on the phone).”
Courtney also credits her survival to the quick thinking of her bus driver, Brenda Strickland of Pensacola. Strickland pulled the emergency brake, helping to stop the forward motion of the bus. Brenda was not injured in the crash, but she’s taking some time off before returning to work later this week.
“Mrs. Brenda is my hero; without her quick thinking, that bus could have rolled right over me.”
Once on the bus, Courtney did not realize the severity of the crash, and she did not know that it was her neighbor that had slammed into the bus. Once she was back off the bus, she knew the crash was bad, but it was some period of time before she realized who had hit the bus.
“I feel so bad for him, and I feel to bad for his kids,” she said. “I can imagine how they feel at this time.”
At West Florida High School, Courtney is working on becoming a certified nursing assistant. She has plans to study ultrasound at Pensacola Junior College and become a sonographer.
But she realizes that dream was almost cut short Tuesday morning.
“I almost didn’t get that chance,” Courtney said. “I just thank God that I did.”
For more information about the accident, click here for another story.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EWMS Cheerleaders Raise Money With Old Gold
September 16, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Cynthia Wilson turned scrap gold into money in her pocket Tuesday afternoon, helping the school’s cheerleaders raise money at the same time.
Wilson and dozens of people like her sold their old and sometimes damaged jewelry during a “Gold Party” at the school. The concept was simple — show up with unwanted, broken or used gold pieces and leave with a check.
“Wow, I’m really quite surprised,” Wilson said when she received her check for almost $200. About $30 was going to her daughter for items that belonged to her, “and the reset is mine,” she said.
“It was just junk,” she said about the small pile of jewelry she sold, which even included earrings that had long since lost their match.
For every dollar paid out to those selling their gold, the EWMS cheerleaders received 10 percent. After two gold parties last week and about a half hour start on Tuesday’s party, the cheerleaders had already made about $1,000, according to Andrea Tompkins of Golden Girls, LLC., the company buying the gold.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward teacher Cynthia Wilson sells her unwanted gold to Andrea Tompkins at a Gold Party sponsored by the EWMS cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt, Molino Park Hold Open House
September 11, 2009
Bratt and Molino Park elementary schools held their annual open house events Thursday evening. Parents of fifth grade students at Molino Park are encouraged to attend a fifth grade orientation and parent meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 in the school cafeteria. Pictured above: Students and parents in Gina Bashore’s second grade class at Bratt Elementary Thursday night. Picture below: Bratt PTA members sell memberships and t-shirts. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Take Part In Event To Benefit Molino Cancer Patient
September 8, 2009
Dozens of motorcyclists took part in a 75-mile Labor Day ride from Atmore Monday.
The ride was to benefit cancer patient Sonja Luker of Molino. Organizers said 48 bikers took part in the event, which also featured live music and several family-fun activities.
For a complete photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Chris and Sonja Luker at a benefit motorcycle ride Monday morning at the Alabama Wing House in Atmore. Pictured inset and below: Dozen of bikers took part in the benefit ride for Sonja Luker. NorthEscambia.com photoss, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Turn Out For Bull Bash, Including Century Care Center Residents
September 6, 2009
Hundreds of people attended the second annual Bull Bash Blowout Saturday night in Flomaton, including several residents from Century Care Center. The bull bash was presented by the Tri Cities Rotary Club, MK Farm and Rafter L Farm. Some of the top bull riders from the Southeast were on hand to ride some of the meanest bulls the South has to offer, according to event organizers. The Tri-City Rotary Club’s membership area includes Flomaton, Century and Jay. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Chief Rides Again: Mascot Returns To Northview High
September 4, 2009
The crowd roared as sophomore Raylin Spence and her horse Sammy thundered into the Northview High School football stadium Thursday night during the annual Meet the Chiefs night.
A giant Northview flag was blowing in the wind as they raced around the football field as Chiefs fans marked the return of a mascot to high school football at Northview.
“I’ve very excited,” Raylin said. “This will get some more school spirit going on at Northview for sure.”
Friday night’s Northview season opener will be the first time the NHS Chiefs have had a mascot at a football game in several years.
Pictured above: Northview’s new mascot races across the Northview football field Thursday night. Pictured below: Raylin Spence and her horse Sammy. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Labor Of Love: Friends Helping Molino Woman Fight Cancer
September 3, 2009
Recently, doctors told Sonja Luker of Molino to prepare for the end because, once again, chemotherapy and radiation were unable to destroy all of the cancer cells attacking her body. As Sonja tried to come to terms with the devastating news, she began to wonder how she will tell her children that she will not live long enough to see them marry, how she would tell her parents that she would probably die before them.
But then there was a glimmer of hope that has turned into a real promise. A doctor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas is convinced that he can trick her body genetically, preventing tumors from forming.
Now Sonja’s friends are working together to help her and her husband Chris afford the treatment she needs. The couple has insurance, but it will not cover all of the expenses for the Texas treatments. They couple has also exhausted their life savings.
Her friends have organized a 75-mile Labor Day motorcycle ride to benefit Sonja. The ride (detailed at the bottom of this story) will start Monday at the Alabama Wing House in Atmore. For the friends, it’s a labor of love.
That’s because Sonja has given so much to the community over the past several years. She’s the person behind the annual Molino Christmas Parade. She has served tirelessly for years on the board of directors for the Molino Recreation Association. Relay for Life, Special Olympics…the list just goes on and on. Helping the communities of North Escambia has been her calling.
“I’m a little overwhelmed by all of the people that want to help me,” Sonja said. “I would rather give than receive. I have the most amazing friends in the world.”
Sonja was first diagnosed with cancer about five years ago when her son was senior in high school. Her son Timothy is now 22 and daughter Samantha is 21.
“All I did was pray for God to let me see my children graduate,” she said. “I got my miracle.”
For Sonja, there’s always someone that needs help more than she does.
“I do what I do because I like to help,” she said. “There is always somebody worse that I am.”
And that’s one of her goals. She plans, and fully intends, for her Texas treatment to work. She, of course, wants the treatment to work so she can be with her family and friends. But she also wants to get fully back into helping others.
“I am going to be around to work on my causes,” she said. “I’m ready to get out there and help raise money for causes that need it.”
She’s already making plans for this year’s Molino Christmas Parade, and she is looking forward to helping with next year’s ball season. “Any I want to make sure that everybody gets involved with Relay for Life,” she said. “It if were not for the cancer research money provided by Relay for Life, I would have not a chance right now in my fight. I would have no hope if it were not for Relay for Life.”
The Labor Day 75-mile motorcycle ride for Sonja Luker will take place Monday. Registration will be at 9 a.m. at the Alabama Wing House at 124 Lindberg Avenue in Atmore. The ride will begin at 11 a.m. The ride is $20 per bike, $25 for two riders. There is a $5 entry fee for a bike competition, and a $20 entry fee to a car show. The event will also feature life music, food and fun activities for the whole family. For more information, contact Jessica at (850) 418-4848 or Pam at (850) 712-6267.
Pictured top and bottom: Sonja Luker with her husband Chris. Pictured middle: Sonja (far right) at this year’s Relay for Life at Tate High School. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tri-Cities Rotary Club Receives Presidential Citation
September 3, 2009
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club was awarded a Presidential Citation at their Wednesday meeting. The recognition was presented to Tri-Cities Rotary President Bo Brantley (left) by Assistant District Governor Leon Hursch. The Tri-Cities Rotary Club is comprised of members from the Century, Jay and Flomaton areas. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Galleries: Hundreds Of North Escambia Weekend Photos
August 31, 2009
If you missed NorthEscambia.com this weekend, you missed hundreds of photos from across the area. From mini-cheerleaders to exciting football action, we had the area covered in pictures.
Click gallery name below to view the photos:
- Northwest Escambia Mites vs. Pace.
- Northwest Escambia Midgets vs. Pace.
- Northwest Escambia Cheerleaders.
- Flomaton High School versus Calhoun.
- Northview High Mini-Cheerleaders.
- Molino Residents watch the Pelicans win.
- Meet the NHS Tribal Beat Band.
- Byrneville Elementary emergency drills.
Molino Residents Check Out The Pels’ Big Win
August 30, 2009
A caravan of fans from a Molino church were at Pelicans Park Friday night as the Pels won the 2009 Second Half South Division Championship with an 8-3 win over the Shreveport Captains. The fans from Aldersgate United Methodist Church were among nearly 2,300 fans to see the Pensacola Pelicans clinch a playoff spot, the first for the Pels since 2005.
Pictured top: Pensacola Pelicans fans from Molino at a Friday night Pels game. Pictured bottom: Aldersgate United Methodist Church youth Zach Glenn and Julian Satterwhite got many signatures from the champs. Submitted photos by Sandra Greenwell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.