North Escambia Beekeepers Association Annual Workshop Is Saturday In Molino
February 21, 2020
The North Escambia Beekeepers Association’s Annual Honey Bee Workshop will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Molino Community Center.
Live bees will star in a demonstration on installing a nucleus colony. Amy Vu, University of Florida extension coordinator for Honey Bee Research, will discuss basic Honey Bee biology and pest management. Lynn Williams, president of Bee Hive Thermal Industries, will cover Organic Varroa treatment and Thermal Hive Treatment. Beginner and advance sessions also include how to become a commercial beekeeper, apiary placement, proper equipment and best practices.
Attendees can register at www.northescambiabee.com for $26, day of event is $36, which includes lunch, door prizes, and access to vendor booths. For more info, call Tom Meehan, Jr. at (850) 796-6894.
The 2019 North Escambia Beekeepers Association’s workshop at the Molino Community Center. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Local Players Named To 2019 Class 1A All-State Football Teams
February 21, 2020
Several local players have been named to the 2019 Class 1A All-State Football Teams compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com.
They are:
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
WR – Brent Eister, Sr., Jay
HONORABLE MENTION
RB Jayden Jackson, Jr., Northview
RB Trent Pebbles, Sr., Northview
OL Garrick Davis, Sr., Northview
OL Cameron Findley, Sr., Northview
DL Aunterio Minor, Sr., Northview
QB Judd Smith, Sr., Jay
Navy Federal Ranks In Top 20 Of FORTUNE ‘100 Best Companies To Work For’
February 20, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union is 19th on the 2020 FORTUNE list of the “100 Best Companies To Work For”. This is the 10th year the world’s largest credit union has received this award, and the highest ranking in company history.
“As a credit union, our team members are vital to our mission of serving our members,” said Mary McDuffie, president/CEO of Navy Federal. “We know when a team member feels valued they are more engaged, fulfilled, and ready to serve through world-class service to our members.”
Rankings are based on employees’ feedback, evaluating more than 60 elements of team members’ experience on the job. In awarding Navy Federal, FORTUNE noted that:
· 96 percent of employees say they were made to feel welcome when they joined the team and consider the employee benefits offered to be special and unique.
· 95 percent of Navy Federal employees are proud to tell others where they work and feel good about the ways the organization contributes to the community.
FORTUNE also recognized the family-like corporate atmosphere, as well as the numerous training and development programs at Navy Federal.
“We’re committed to fostering a workplace where our team members are proud to tell their friends and family where they work,” said McDuffie. “We’ve built a strong sense of community at the credit union and want to provide a great place to work for our team members for years to come. It’s an honor to once again be included among the best for these efforts.”
Here’s Your Sign: Century, Library Consider Sharing New Electronic Sign Cost
February 20, 2020
The Town of Century and the West Florida Public Libraries may partner on the purchase of a new digital sign alongside Highway 29.
Century’s current sign, believed to be about eight-years old, malfunctioned and will not display the correct date and time. The manufacturer determined it would cost $2,550 to make repairs, or over $5,000 for a new LED cabinet and display.
Todd Humble, director of the library system, approached the town about a partnership about a single digital sign for the town hall, CareerSource Escarosa (now located inside town hall) and the library. The library and town hall sit on adjoining parcels and share the same driveway and parking.
The town council voted to move forward with investigating the cost of a shared digital sign.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Wins $1,000 Wellness Challenge For Fourth Year; Ernest Ward And Northview Place Too
February 20, 2020
For the fourth time, Bratt Elementary School claimed the top spot in the Escambia County School District’s Choose Wellness Challenge, and North Escambia schools were tops in the middle and high school categories.
The challenge was to see which school or major department could achieve the highest level of participation in the challenge by the end of the school year. Participants completed steps to promote health and wellness, potentially reducing the district’s health care and lost work time costs.
At 69.1% participation, Bratt Elementary took the top prize of $1,000 to be used in some manner to promote wellness among the school’s staff. The most improved award of $500 went to Myrtle Grove Elementary.
The highest percentage participation award at the middle school level went to Ernest Ward Middle School at 58.6%, and the highest percentage participation award at the high school/secondary level went to Northview High School at 55.6%.
“Congratulations to all schools and departments for your success. It is worthy to mention that each winner announced also increased their participation compared to the prior year,” said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. “So, great job modeling and supporting employee wellness at your locations.”
Pictured above: Escambia School District Choose Wellness Challenge awards were presented to Bratt Elementary (top), Ernest Ward Middle School (below left) and Northview High School (below right). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Drops Season Opener 4-2 To Crestview
February 20, 2020
The Crestview Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over the Tate Aggies in their regular season opener.
Crestview scored two runs in both the first and second innings in a game that saw the Aggies scoreless until the seventh.
Tate’s Jordan Jarman gave up four runs on three hits in four innings while striking out one. Ethan George tossed a couple of innings, giving up one run and striking out five.
In the top of the seventh, Jadon Fryman smacked a homer for the Aggies, going 1-3 with a RBI. Also for Tate: Jackson Penton 2-3, R; Adam Nisewonger 1-3.
In junior varsity action, the Tate JV Aggies defeated Crestview 11-8 on Wednesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Crystal Tolbert, click to enlarge.
Cat Country 98.7 Named ACM Station Of The Year For The Fourth Time
February 20, 2020
For the fourth time, Cat Country 98.7 has been named Small Market Station of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.
“I’m so proud of our whole team. This achievement is exciting for the community of Pensacola, and we are incredibly honored,” Cat Country 98.7 owner Dave Hoxeng said.
The 55th Annual ACM Awards Show will air locally on WKRG 5 at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 5.
Locally owned Cat Country won the Small Market Station of the Year Award previously in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
Pictured: The Cat Country 98.7 mascot at the Pensacola Beach Mardi Gras Parade. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Undefeated Century Heat Tops Atmore Kings For League Championship
February 20, 2020
The undefeated Century Heat beat the Atmore Kings 45-12 to claim their league championship.
The Heat jumped out to a 27-2 lead and never looked back as they went on to the win Tuesday night in Atmore. Jakaveon Jackson led the Century Heat with 26 points. LaMarion Mixon had nine points,Caleb Madison six points, and Christian Madison added four.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Federal Appeals Court Rules Pensacola Bayview Cross Can Remain
February 19, 2020
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the cross at Pensacola’s Bayview Park does not violate the Establishment Clause of the Constitution and it can remain due to its historic status.
In Kondrat’yev v. City of Pensacola, a federal appeals court previously found that the cross must come down, with two of the three judges saying that the outcome was “wrong” but that their “hands were tied” because of the notorious Lemon test. The U.S. Supreme Court in June 2019 instructed the lower appeals court to reconsider its ruling in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding another cross monument in Bladensburg, Maryland.
In the Pensacola case, the appeals court on Wednesday found “the cross does not offend the Constitution.”
“Pensacola is a historic city with a rich and diverse history. The Bayview Cross is an important part of that history as a symbol of our community’s coming together during a national crisis,” Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Today the citizens of Pensacola will celebrate our long-awaited victory and the preservation of the Bayview Cross.”
The cross was in place, in one form or another, for 75 years without incident before the suit to have it removed was filed. The court found that there is no evidence the City of Pensacola has ever made the space around the cross available to the public on anything other than a neutral basis.
“The surest proof of that fact: Just two months before the filing of this lawsuit, the City granted plaintiff David Suhor’s request to reserve the cross for his own ’satanic purposes,’ which required a church that had already reserved it to move to another area of the park,” the ruling states.
The plaintiffs, four individuals represented by American Humanist Association, can still appeal the decision.
History of the Bayview Cross
In 1941, the National youth Administration erected a wooden cross in in the eastern corner of the park for an annual Easter sunrise program organize by the Pensacola Jaycees. It became a tradition, with people gathering for Easter services during World War II to pray, among other things, for “the divine guidance of our leaders” and for faith to “see through the . . . dark days of war”, according to court documents.
The services continued following the war, and in 1949 the Jaycees built a small stage—or “bandstand”—immediately in front of the cross to serve as a “permanent home” for the annual program In 1969, the Jaycees replaced the original wooden cross with the 34-foot concrete version at issue in this case. The new cross was dedicated at the 29th annual Easter sunrise service. The Jaycees later donated the cross to the city, which continues to light and maintain it at a current cost of around $233 per year.
Although the cross is only one of more than 170 monuments scattered throughout Pensacola’s parks, it is one of only two—and the only religious display—located in Bayview Park. Over the years, the cross has continued to serve as the location for an annual Easter program, but it has also been used for other purposes, including as a site for remembrance services on Veterans and Memorial Days, at which attendees place flowers near it in honor of loved ones overseas and in memory of those who have died fighting in service of the country.
Man Found Shot; Investigation To Determine If It Was Stand Your Ground
February 19, 2020
An investigation is underway to determine if a shooting death Tuesday night in Escambia County was a stand your ground case.
Jeffrey Sherbrook, 47, was shot by his ex-wife near the front door of her home on Mossy Creek Road near Eight Mile Creek Road about 9:30 p.m. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find the Sherbrook dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
The Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office are working to determine if charges should be filed or if it was a stand your ground situation.
There have been no arrests in the case.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.