Four Years After Ivan: Steeple Returns To Walnut Hill Church
October 15, 2008
Fours years after Hurricane Ivan ripped the steeple from the top of Annie Jones United Methodist Church, a new steeple now sits atop the small concrete block church.
The steeple was installed Tuesday morning at church, which is located on Arthur Brown Road near Highway 97 in Walnut Hill.
For more photos from the steeple installation at Annie Jones United Methodist Church, click here.
Pictured above: A new steeple was installed under beautiful blue skies Tuesday morning at Annie Jones United Methodist Church in Walnut Hill, four years after the church lost its previous steeple to Hurricane Ivan. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Some photos in the gallery are courtesy Sherry Digmon.
A White Hummingbird?
October 13, 2008
Cindy Voorhees in Davisville reported a strange little visitor recently.
The pictured hummingbird, which is mostly white, visited her feeder at her home on Highway 4 for several days.
She said the bird is all white, except for darker areas on his wings, tail and head. She said he was shy compared to her other birds.
Submitted photos.
Northview NJROTC Gets High Marks In Annual Inspection
October 9, 2008
Northview High School’s NJROTC Annual Inspection was held Wednesday at the school, with cadets undergoing a face to face inspection with a Navy commander.
Commander Merlin Ladner, USN (Ret) conducted the inspection. 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.
One by one, Cmdr. Ladner went face to face with each cadet, asking them questions about their NJROTC experience and conduction a complete inspection of their uniform.
Click here for a complete photo gallery.
“I will spend 20 to 25 seconds with each cadet, asking them questions,” Lander told the audience. “You won’t hear what I have to say to them, but it will help me get a sense of the unit’s health and how it’s going.”
“Yes, sir,” the cadets answered as they faced the questions about their NJROTC service, their ribbons, the shine on their shoes and some less than expected questions that left some cadets trying not to crack a smile.
“You play football?” Ladner asked one freshman cadet.
“Yes, sir,” he replied, obviously relieved at the easy question.
“Are you a freshman?” he asked another.
“Yes, sir,” she answered.
“That’s tough sometimes,” Ladner said.
“I want you all to know how proud I am of how you look this morning,” Ladner, who conducts annual inspections at about 60 high schools in the Southeast, told the entire group following his inspection.
He said it had been two years since he was last at Northview, and “it’s a pleasure to see how they have progressed in two years.” A visiting officer conducts inspections during the years Lander does not visit Bratt.
“Our cadets have the option,” he said, “to perhaps join the military.”
Ladner said the voluntary military service, and a voluntary Navy JROTC program is a good thing for the United States.
“I don’t think I’d want to be in a foxhole with someone that did not want to be there,” he said.
Three cadets — c/PO1 Monica McLain, c/PO3 Cardean Smith and c/SR Melissa Moretz –were presented with an “Exemplary Appearance Ribbon” for their efforts in Wednesday morning’s inspection.
Northview’s NJROTC received high marks in the review, including personnel inspection, pass in review, financial and property inventories and unit operations.
To view the program for the event, which includes a list of all Northview NJROTC cadets and officers, click here.
Northview’s NJROTC is under the command of Senior Naval Science Instructor Charlie Code and Senior Chief Lee Coleman. The unit is led by Company Commander LCDR Amanda Sellars and Executive Officer Cadet LT Dalton Cummings.
Pictured above: Commander Merlin Lander, USN (Ret), inspects Admin Officer c/ENS Clinton Davis Wednesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured below: First Lieutenant, c/LTJG Harrison Whitehead stands with his platoon awaiting their inspection. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
IP Presents Ernest Ward With Grant Check For Advanced Readers
October 7, 2008
International Paper presented Ernest Ward Middle School with a $1,462 grant Monday afternoon to purchase Interactive Readers for mid-level and advanced reading students.
“One of the main focus areas for IP is literacy,” said Jessica Morris, IP’s Pensacola Mill communications director. “It feels good to be able to support you in the central and north part of the county because that is where IP is, and that is where were are shifting our focus a bit.”
About 60 community groups attended a workshop at International Paper to learn how to submit lengthy grant applications for a share of $50,000 in grant money. Of those, 34 actually applied and 15 groups were chosen by a selection committee to have their project funded.
The mid-level and advanced readers at Ernest Ward did not have new materials and were the focus of Ernest Ward’s grant application, according to Carolyn Findley, reading coach.
“That’s what we thought was special about this application,” Morris said. “This was different because it takes these mid-level readers and bumps them to the next level. Usually these projects are for lower level readers.”
“We were very fortunate and very blessed that IP did choose us,” Findley said.
“We are so appreciative of IP for helping us,” EWMS Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said. “They are helping our middle to higher readers. A lot of the time, the focus is on the lower level readers and the upper level kids are left behind.”
For a complete list of grant recipients, click here for an August 21 NorthEscambia.com story.
Jay Peanut Festival Attracts Thousands
October 5, 2008
Thousands of people attended the 19th Annual Jay Peanut Festival this weekend at Gabbert Farm in Jay.
The festival featured something fun for everyone including arts and crafts, antiques, inflatable rides, rock climbing wall, pony rides, hay rides, train rides and much more. The Gabbert’s 1930’s Farm Museum was also open for tours.
There was plenty of food available…kettle corn, BBQ, hamburgers, roasted corn, apple dumplings and more.
And, of course. peanuts were the star of the festival, and this year there were plenty of green peanuts and boiled peanuts as well as fried, roasted and candied peanuts.
The event is dedicated to the memory of Melissa Caroline Gabbert, who died of cancer in 1990.
For a complete photo gallery from the Jay Peanut Festival, click here.
The event had free admission and free parking.
Pictured above: Large crowds attended the annual Jay Peanut Festival on Saturday. Pictured below: The bungee jump was a popular attraction. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle’s Got Talent; Pie In The Face
October 4, 2008
Eighth grader Angel Mitchell received top honors Friday night in Ernest Ward Middle School’s Talent Explosion 2008.
Nineteen acts, ranging from singing and dancing to pies in the face, participated in the program.
Angel performed a dance routine to “Got Me Going Crazy” by the Jonas Brothers.
For a complete photo gallery with each act, click here.
For a video with some of the performances, click here.
NorthEscambia.com will have a video from the talent show posted Monday morning.
Performers in the talent show were;
- Ashton Gibbs, 8th grade, singing and playing guitar “Bring Me Down”
- Morgan Ward, 6th grade, human video to “Gone Without Goodbye”
- Arielle Ford, 8th grade, singing “Our Song”
- Harley Caraway and Hanna Ziglar, both 8th grade, singing “Leave the Pieces”
- Josh Ingram, playing original guitar piece
- Tamara Wise, 6th grade, singing “Stay Beautiful”
- Rachel Presley and Lauryn Walker, both 7th grade, dance routine
- Lily Townsend, Mason Solchenberger, Danielle Steadham, all 7th grade, comedy, “Redneck Game Show”
- Reagan Bell, 6th grade, singing “Never Alone”
- Shalmali Bhadkamkar, 6th grade, singing “Alana Nita Nana” (Portugese Lullaby)
- Cory Hester, 7th grade, singing and playing guitar “Freebird”
- Gregory Diggs, 6th grade, dance routine to “Soldja Boy” remix
- Skye Brown, Jenny Spears, Katelynn Zisa, singing “MyHeart Will Go On”
- Alison Bardin, 8th grade, singing “I Need You to Love Me”
- Taiquesha Mitchell, Teamber Moorer, Kassey Redmond, dance routine
- Joselynn Wiedel, 6th grade, singing “If We Were a Movie”
- Dezarae Turner, 8th grade, singing “Pressure”
- Angel Mitchel, 8th grade, dance routine to “Got Me Going Crazy”
- Danielle Scott, 7th grade, singing “I Am”
Pictured above: Angel Mitchell performs a dance routine to Jonas Brothers song Friday Night during an Ernest Ward Middle School talent show. Pictured below: The “Redneck Game Show” routine included pie in the face. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Names NJROTC Officers
October 2, 2008
Northview High School has named NJROTC officers for the 2008-2009 school year.
They are front row, left to right:
- Company CDR, c/LCDR Amanda Sellars
- Weapons Officer, c/SCPO Daniel Jordan
- Operations Officer, c/LTJG Deniece Jordan
- Supply Officer, c/ENS Miranda Scott
- Command Master Chief, c/MCPO Jessica Bloodsworth
- Executive Officer, c/LT Dalton Cummings
Back row, left to right:
- Athletics Officer,c/CPO Katie Mann
- First Lieutenant, c/LTJG Harrison Whitehead
- Admin Officer, c/ENS Clinton Davis
- Public Affairs Officer, c/CPO William Conway
- Chaplin, c/CPO Zachary Lamb
The Northview High NJROTC is under the command of Senior Naval Science Instructor Charlie Code.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Of The Month Named At North Escambia Schools
September 29, 2008
The students of the month for Escambia County have been selected. From North Escambia schools, they are:
Bratt Elementary: Lydia G. Smith, second grade; Claudio A. Santander, fifth grade.
Carver/Century K-8: Markayla D. Bradley, fourth grade; Martavious A. Odom, fourth grade.
Molino Park Elementary: Cheyenne R. Gray, fifth grade; Haley D. Brown, fifth grade ; Demarcus J. Dukes, fifth grade; Tasashera L. Granderson, fifth grade.
Ernest Ward Middle School: Charmayne M. Fountain, sixth grade; Courtney A. Weaver, seventh grade.
Northview High School: Luke F. Killam, senior; Jessica M. Mothershed, senior.
The students of the month are awarded certificates from the Escambia Association for Administrators In Education.
Pictured above: Luke Killam (left) and Jessica Mothershed, both seniors at Northview High School, were among the North Escambia students of the month named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. Submitted photo.
Teams Get Ready For The 2009 Relay For Life
September 28, 2008
An Early Bird Registration for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life was held Saturday, with five teams signing up for next year’s Century Relay.
Byrneville Elementary School, the Century Branch Library, Critter Caregivers, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church and NorthEscambia.com are all early bird registrants for next year’s Relay for Life.
It’s not too late to register for Relay for Life…teams interested in registering their team for Century’s Relay can still visit the Century Relay for Life website at www.CenturyRelay.com and click “Sign Up” in the left column.
“We would like to encourage people around Walnut Hill and Bratt to register teams for Relay,” Jernigan said. Century’s Relay event, scheduled for April 25-26 is the the closest American Cancer Society Relay event in Florida for residents in Walnut Hill, Bratt and McDavid.
Century’s Relay for Life is also looking for cancer survivors and caregivers to honor at next year’s events. Cancer survivors and caregivers can register online at www.CenturyRelay.com.
Information about cancer, treatments and the American Cancer Society were also available during Saturday’s Early Bird Registration.
The domain www.CenturyRelay.com is provided as a public service by NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: Teresa Watford (left) registers the Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Relay for Life team Saturday at early bird registration day at the Century Whataburger. Event chairperson Paula Jernigan (right) was on hand to take registration information. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Local Rotary Making A Difference In The Tri-Cities And The World
September 22, 2008
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club is looking for a few good members to join the club in making the tri-cities and the world a better place to live, even if it means buying a water buffalo or two.
The local Rotary Club, which includes Flomaton, Century and Jay, is involved in a long list of community projects, according to Bo Brantley, club president.
Locally, the club provides scholarships, Thanksgiving meals, Christmas meals, Christmas presents for needy children, support for the humane society, locator bracelets for alzheimer’s patients, dictionaries for elementary students and more.
The Tri-Cities Rotary recently sponsored “the biggest thing to hit Escambia County since Ivan,” Brantley said. That event was a “Bull Riding Blowout” in late August in Flomaton. The family friendly event feature bull riding, country music, food and more. “We worked hard, raised a little money. But, best of all, we brought some family friendly entertainment to the area, and everyone had a good time.”
The local Rotary Club has even had a hand in buying water buffaloes for little girls in third world countries.
“Sometimes the craziest ideas get the best results,” Leon Hirsh from the Pensacola North Rotary Club told local members. “A young girl with a water buffalo gains status in her world in is allowed to go to school to learn to ready. Without the water buffalo provided by Rotary, she would never have the chance to attend school or learn to read.”
Studies have found that the one girl that learns to read will learn to teach as many as five others how to read, Hirsh said, increasing the literacy rate in countries like India.
The 12 Rotary clubs that make up the Combined Rotary of Pensacola, were among the the first in the world to raise funds for water buffaloes. The group, which includes the local Tri-Cities Rotary Club, raised enough money to buy 50 water buffaloes. With a matching grant from the national Rotary organization, 100 water buffaloes were purchased to increase literacy.
The local club is also supports Rotary’s PolioPlus program.. The program works worldwide with one goal — eliminate all polio from the world. Vaccines are purchased for poor children around the globe, with the program having made dramatic progress against the disease around the world. Polio now basically limited to just four countries across the globe.
“That’s a wonderful example of how a club like the Tri-Cities Rotary Club can make a worldwide impact,” said John Tice from the Pensacola North Rotary Club. “This club, especially for its size, does a remarkable job.”
Sometimes the club’s efforts pay off in a more personal way.
Just before Christmas a few years ago, Brantley delivered a check to a local woman to buy Christmas gifts for her children and food for the holidays.
“We sat in the swing outside,” he said. “She cried. I cried. This club can having an amazing impact on the people in our community.”
Everything a Rotarian does is suppose to pass the “Four Way Test”:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The Tri-Cities Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon upstairs at the Escambia County Bank in Flomaton.
You can learn more about the basics of Rotary by clicking here. (700k pdf file)
Rotarians from around the world, including those in the Tri-Cities Rotary Club, partner for PolioPlus to rid the world of the diseases. Pictured above, a child in Moradabad, India, receives the polio vaccine from a Rotary Club member. Courtesy photo.