Bratt Elementary Presents Fifth Grade Awards
June 2, 2009
Today, NorthEscambia.com begins a series of stories with award listings from area schools. Today’s listing is from the fifth grade at Bratt Elementary School.
(Editors note: If you are a teacher or administrator at an area school, please send any awards lists that you might have to news@northescambia.com for a future story.)
BRATT ELEMENTARY FIFTH GRADE
Student of the Year: O’Neisha Spencer
Shining Star Award: Bethany Reynolds
Presidential Educational Achievement –Gold Medal: Bethany Reynolds; David Thorpe; Bradley Van Pelt; Kaitlyn Abbott; Saige Garrett; Gavin Grant; Meagan Ogle; Nathan Donald; Savanna Roux; Brianna Parker
Presidential Educational Achievement — Silver Medal: Jadlyn Agerton; Kayla Caraway; Dariane Guy; Lorri Harrell; Jordan Taylor; Shnala Banks; Mark Lee; O’Neisha Spencer; Christopher Brown; Gavin Coon; Zachary Holland; Tyler Houston; Grady Rigby; Liberty Peebles
American Citizenship Pens: Jadlyn Agerton; Lilly Allen; Tamara Barrows; Allan Brown; Kayla Caraway; Dariane Guy; Lorri Harrell; Bethany Reynolds; Kyle Smith; Jordan Taylor; David Thorpe; Bradley Van Pelt; Kaitlyn Abbott; Shnala Banks; Saige Garrett; Jacob Gibbs; Gavin Grant; Brayden Hubbard; Mark Lee; Danielle Robinson; Nathan Singleton; O’Neisha Spencer; Auston Trump; Christopher Brown; Gavin Coon; Sarah Dutton; Leah Fischer; Natalie Goetter; Megan Hardy; Zachary Holland; Danielle Jackson; Meagan Ogle; Jessica Barrows; Breanna Campbell; Amber Freeman; Laurel Haag; Cole Lambert; Deonte Mitchell; Brianna Parker; Liberty Peebles; Bradley Rolin; Ladarrius Thames
Sons of the American Revolution Award: Lillie Allen; Bradley Van Pelt; Saige Garrett; Danielle Robinson; Meagan Ogle; Savanna Roux; Jessica Barrows; Steve Wilson
Escambia Writes Certificate, 6.0: Meagan Ogle
Election Day In Alabama
June 2, 2009
Today is election day in Escambia and seven other Alabama counties, but very few registered voters are expected at the polls.
Republican Greg Albritton, a former state representative from Range, will face Democratic candidate Marc Keahey of Grove Hill for the District 22 Alabama Senate seat left vacant early this year by the death of Sen. Pat Lindsey.
Keahey, an attorney, currently serves in the Alabama House of Representatives. Albritton is a retired Navy commander.
Elections officials said that voter turnout was dismal in the Republican primary back in April, with just under 7 percent of registered voters heading to the polls.
The Alabama Senate seat pays $52,646 per year plus expenses.
We will post the results on NorthEscambia.com for our Alabama readers.
Bill Cantrell Receives Molino Servant’s Heart Award
June 1, 2009
William (Bill) Cantrell was awarded the second annual Servant’s Heart Award Sunday morning at CrossFaith Church in Molino.
The community service award was presented to Cantrell for his unselfish dedication to the Molino and Cantonment communities.
Cantrell, 59, has been active in the Cantonment Sports Association, having coached little league baseball for several years. At Christmas, he provides toys for the needy. He helps when someone’s electricity is being turned off. He provided food for the needy.
“Whatever is needed in any area, he is the first to step forward and either write a check or help organize a fund raiser, CrossFaith Pastor Rob Hines said. “But he always does it in all humility letting no one know, if possible, that he is the one helping.”
He has a passion for playing musical instruments and singing, gospel and blue grass being his favorite music. He has been known to play music at Fran’s Diner with a group of friends on Saturday mornings as well as using his talent at church.
He attended 1-10th grade in Escambia County, including Tate High School, and graduated high school in Arkansas. But his family quickly returned from Arkansas, and Cantrell has been busy ever since serving his community in Molino, Cantonment and Pensacola.
While at Tate he played football and baseball, being named most outstanding football player several years and making the all county teams for both baseball and football. While attending Parkin High School in Arkansas, he was captain of the football team and was also selected for the Northeast Arkansas all-star team, class Vice-President and was named Mr. Parkin High School.
“It doesn’t matter what you own, how much money you have in the bank, how talented or educated you are, or how many people you know. If God calls you to have a servant’s heart, He will make a way for you to accomplish what He has put on your heart to do,” Hines said.
“A servant’s heart has more to do with your relationship with God than it has to do with your desire to be recognized for your good deeds. Having a servant’s heart is one of the most beautiful expressions of love I know. It’s showing your love to another human being by simply being who God intended you to be. It’s about seeing a need and fulfilling it without any strings attached…it’s about showing Christ’s love through your actions and words.”
Cantrell and his wife Judy have been married for almost 40 years. They have two children, Jason Cantrell and Charlene Etheridge; and five grandchildren Austin, Wade, Brian, Melody and Ben.
Last year’s recipient of the first CrossFaith Church Servant’s Heart Award was Frances Hampton from Fran’s Diner in Molino.
Pictured above: William (Bill) Cantrell receives the CrossFaith Servant’s Heart Award for community service Sunday morning at CrossFaith Church in Molino from Pastor Rob Hines. Pictured inset: Cantrell and his wife Judy. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hurricane Season Begins: Does Century Still Have A Shelter?
June 1, 2009
Today marks the first day of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, but the future of a public shelter in Century is unclear following the closure of Carver/Century K-8 School.
Carver/Century K-8 School served as Century’s only public shelter, with a capacity to house up to 547 people in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. The Escambia County School Board voted to close the school at the end of this school year, and school staff is working this week to pack up the contents of the school in order to move school furnishings to Bratt Elementary and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall said he has asked Superintendent Malcolm Thomas if the town and the American Red Cross would still be allowed to use the building for a public shelter, but McCall said that so far he has not received an answer.
The mayor said there are no other buildings in Century with a sufficient size and wind rating that could be used for a public hurricane shelter.
The next nearest Escambia County public hurricane shelters to Century are located at Northview High School and Molino Park Elementary. Northview has a hurricane shelter capacity of 1,260. Molino Park has space for 2,225 evacuees.
Molino Park is 20 miles from Century, and Northview is about nine miles away. Those distances would present a great problem for persons needing to evacuate from Century, McCall said, because many do not have adequate, dependable transportation.
In addition, the mayor said Century has a greater need for a public hurricane shelter than some communities simply because of the number of substandard housing units in his town.
Pictured above: The future of a hurricane shelter in Century is uncertain. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Fifth Grade Math FCAT Scores The County’s Best
June 1, 2009
Fifth grade students at Byrneville Elementary School had the highest FCAT math proficiency score in Escambia County.
With 83 percent of fifth grade student taking the math FCAT scoring a grade level 3 or above, Byrneville’s score was tops in the county.
The district average was 58 percent scoring a grade level 3 or above.
Take A Survey: What Do You Think Of Your Child’s School?
June 1, 2009
The Escambia County School District is giving you the chance to take a survey and rank how well your child’s school and its staff performed.
The survey, offered on the district’s web page, allows participants to rank many school performance areas based upon how they feel about statements such as:
- I feel welcome at this school.
- Learning is interesting at this school.
- The principal at this school communicates effectively.
- Students are challenged to their ability at this school.
- Students receive recognition for good performance in academics.
There is also an open-ended question designed to recognize outstanding persons in the school district: “Can you identify one individual in the Escambia School District who has had an impact on you or your family during this school year?”
The survey is completely anonymous with no attempt to identify the participants, the district says, and the survey asks for “frank and honest” responses.
To take the survey, click here and then click on the red “Take the School Climate survey” link near the upper right corner of the page.
Attention Teachers, Schools, Parents: Send Us Awards Info
June 1, 2009
Teachers and schools from across North Escambia are encouraged to submit the names of students that received awards during your recent awards programs. We will begin publishing award lists on Tuesday and continue for several days.
Moms and dads: You are invited to submit your award ceremony photos to us as well.
Email the information to news@northescambia.com with the subject line “Awards”.
Please include a valid email address or phone number that we can use to contact you if we have questions.
Parking Improvements Made At Barrineau Park Community Center
June 1, 2009
The Barrineau Park Community center recently received 37 new parking spaces installed by the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department. A new walkway was added to provide a clear and level means of getting to and from the building from the parking area. A driveway was added to allow for parking on both sides of the sidewalk. Split rail fences were used to protect the play area, identify the driveway and to generally beautify the park. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.