Atmore Receives ‘Main Street Alabama’ Designation
June 6, 2020
Atmore has received a “Main Street Alabama” designation.
“Main Street works 100% of the time if the community is willing to work,” said Main Street Alabama State Coordinator Mary Helmer. “Atmore impressed upon the selection committee that they had the work ethic to become a successful Main Street program that will bring jobs, dollars, and people back to the district.”
Atmore went thought a five month application process with through partnerships with community organizations, including the demonstration of the city’s commitment and proven track recording including the ongoing renovation of the Strand Theatre.
Main Street Alabama will begin work immediately in Atmore to provide board development, goal setting, work planning, market study with economic development strategies, targeted design assistance, and training related to downtown development.
Main Street Alabama is a private non-profit and state coordinating program of Main Street America. The 40-yea old National Main Street Four Point Approach is a model that focuses work in four areas – organization, design, promotion and economic vitality with strategies unique to the community and based on market-based outcome.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Mid-County Historical Society Presents Two Scholarships
June 3, 2020
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society recently presented two $1,000 scholarships.
The winners were Emma Barlow from Tate High School and Raeleigh Woodfin from Northview High School. Barlow (pictured above) plans to major in pre-med at the University of South Alabama, and Woodfin will major in communications at Troy University.
The scholarship checks were presented by Sarah Jenness, president of the Molino Mid-County Historical Society.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors 8th Graders With Fence Photos
June 3, 2020
Ernest Ward Middle School honored their graduating eighth grade class by lining the school fence with banners featuring a photo of each student. The students did not return to school following spring break due to the coronavirus.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Rare Sea Turtle Lays Eggs On Pensacola Beach
June 3, 2020
Visitors to Pensacola Beach were treated to an exciting sight Tuesday – a rare female Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle crawling ashore to nest and lay her eggs. She was the third turtle to nest on Escambia County Beaches this season, with two loggerhead nests recorded earlier this week.
“She dug a hole about 1.5 to 2 feet deep and when she got down in the hole she laid about 50-100 eggs. She used her flippers to cover the eggs with sand so you can’t see them and then she headed back to the water. She may come back up,” said Brenda Sexton, sea turtle volunteer of approximately 10 years. “Some of them come back up two or three times laying eggs and then they are exhausted and they go back home for two or three years. It’s kinda cool.”
Four species of sea turtles visit Escambia County beaches May through October to lay their eggs. Loggerheads are the most common visitor, however leatherback, green and Kemp’s Ridley nests have also been recorded on county beaches.
Typically, female sea turtles wait for nightfall before crawling ashore to dig their nests. Kemp’s Ridley are the only species that nest during the daylight hours. After 60 days, hatchlings wait for nightfall before emerging all at once, using the light of the moon and stars to find their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Sea turtles of all sizes face many threats. Excessive artificial lights can disorient both nesting and hatchling turtles, leading them away from the Gulf of Mexico and into danger. Furniture and other personal belongings left on the beach overnight can trap and injure turtles. Plastic pollution and other debris can entangle turtles and cause sickness when accidentally eaten.
Northview High Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian
June 2, 2020
Northview High School has named the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2020.
Valedictorian is Keaton Brown, and salutatorian is Kayla McKillion.
A graduation ceremony for the Northview High School Class of 2020 will held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Seating will be limited.
Click or tap here for more information on planned graduation ceremonies in Escambia County.
Top Escambia And Santa Rosa Career Academies, Students Honored
May 27, 2020
The Workforce Education departments of the Escambia and Santa Rosa County school districts have named this year’s business and community partners of the year as well as the top career academy instructors and students. This year’s honorees are:
- Construction Industry Partner of the Year: Florida Department of Transportation, Kelli Rice
- Culinary Industry Partner of the Year: Broussard’s Bayou Company, Andy DeMartin
- Education Industry Partner of the Year: Community Action Program Committee, Inc., David Powell
- Health Industry Partner of the Year: Baptist Healthcare, Drew Stringfellow
- I.T. Industry Partner of the Year: Global Business Solutions, Mel Stinson
- Middle School Career Academy Student of the Year:
- Escambia County – Roman Sison, Agriculture Academy, Beulah Middle School
- Santa Rosa County – Benjamin Johnson, Pre-Engineering Academy, Holley Navarre Middle School
- Middle School Career Academy Teacher of the Year:
- Escambia County – Allison Cameron, Game & Application Development Academy ▪ Ferry Pass Middle School
- Santa Rosa County- Jennifer Schmitt, Pre-Engineering Academy, Sims Middle School
- Middle School Career Academy of the Year:
- Escambia County – Agriscience Academy, Beulah Middle School
- Santa Rosa County – Academy of Information Technology, Sims Middle School
- High School Career Academy Student of the Year:
- Escambia County – Zaniah Heath, Sports Medicine Academy ▪ Pensacola High School
- Santa Rosa County – Tyler Hines, Licensed Practical Nursing, Locklin Technical College
- High School Career Academy Teacher of the Year:
- Escambia County – Dynita Bufford, Early Childhood Education Academy, Escambia High School
- Santa Rosa County – Jessica Mathews, Culinary Arts Academy ▪ Central School
- High School Career Academy of the Year:
- Escambia County – Media Academy, Booker T. Washington High School
- Santa Rosa Academy – Agritech Academy, Jay High School
- Career Academy Student Intern of the Year:
- Escambia County – Calysta Ilano, Multimedia Academy, West Florida High School
- Santa Rosa County – Alyssa Lucier, Pharmacy Technician, Locklin Technical College
- High School Career Academy Scholar of the Year:
- Escambia County – Nasim Boussarhane, Game, Simulation & Animation Academy, J. M. Tate High School
- Santa Rosa County – Haley Bondurant, Digital Design Academy ▪ Pace High School
Schools Wrap Up The School Year. The One With The Quarantine. (With Jim Allen Photo Gallery)
May 26, 2020
Schools across the North Escambia area wrapped up the school year — the one with the quarantine — in their own special way last week.
At Jim Allen Elementary School, a “Ride-Bye” was held for the fifth grade class.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Drive-By Birthday Parade Held For 102-Year Old Pearl Harbor Survivor (With Photo Gallery)
May 25, 2020
A drive-by birthday party was held Sunday afternoon in Gonzalez for 102-year old Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond.
Emond, CWO4 USN (RET.), spen t his naval career as a musician and band director. He was on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) getting ready to play morning “Colors” on his French horn when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Emond then walked to the conductor’s stand, picked up the baton and proceeded to direct the band in “Stars and Stripes.”
After seven years of playing horn, he became a Navy bandleader, retiring in 1968.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“I’m about the last one (Pearl Harbor survivor) left around here,” Emond said.
He’s still a musical man; sometimes he still leads the music at Gonzalez United Methodist Church. He still performs with the Pensacola Civic Band. The Guinness Book of World Records named him the “Oldest Musical Conducter” in the world last year after he participated in a 2019 Memorial Day concert.
The church planned the parade as a big surprise and thank you for Emond, who turned 102 last Thursday. Emond stood for the entire 20-minute parade, spryly waving and walking up to vehicles to receive cards and presents. Several men stopped to salute.
The parade included the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Patriot Guard, motorcycle and car clubs, Pensacola’s Boat Car, a long line of well wishers and more.
“It was really special,” Emond said with a little smile on his face. “Somebody went to a lot of trouble on this for me. I really appreciate it.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: A drive-by 102nd birthday party for Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Emond Sunday at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church. NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Special Early Father’s Day Parade Held For Stage 4 Cancer Patient In Cantonment (With Photo Gallery)
May 25, 2020
A special Father’s Day parade was Sunday for a Cantonment man.
Johnell Smith was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer a few months ago. His 12-year old son Dakota wanted to go ahead and do something special for him now for Father’s Day, and asked for the parade for his dad.
The two sat together in a golf cart alongside Casey Lane Sunday afternoon to watch as the community came together for the very special parade.
And for a while, all was well as the parade went by, led by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. There were fire trucks, big trucks, antique cars, motorcycles — all the good stuff that fathers and sons can enjoy together.
There was laughter. And tears. And that special bond that a father and son share. It may have been a few weeks early, but it was a happy Father’s Day.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click enlarge.
John Odom From Flomaton Serving Aboard USS Harry S. Truman During COVID-19 Pandemic
May 24, 2020
Machinery Repairman Fireman John Odom, from Flomaton is serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Arabian Sea.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.
The Truman has spent at least one day underway for 30 of the last 34 months, in direct support of global security around the world. . Keeping the strike group at sea in U.S. 2nd Fleet allows the ship to maintain a high level of readiness during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Navy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
