Here’s How A Flomaton Moonshiner Did In A National TV Competition (Spoiler Alert)
March 11, 2020
“I’m an illegal distiller; I work in the backwoods.”
That’s how Flomaton resident Johnny Griffis described himself during Tuesday night’s episode of Moonshiners Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel.
He competed against two other distillers for bragging rights and a chance to have his moonshine bottled by the Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Griffis made it to the final competition of the show where he made his “old school corn liquor moonshine” using a recipe he got from a McDavid old timer some 13 years ago.
Spoiler Alert — Scroll down below the photo to see if Griffis won.
In the end, Griffis finished second in the competition.
To watch the episode, click here. (You must be a subscriber to a cable, satellite or streaming provider and have a package that includes the Discovery Channel.)
Pictured: Johnny Griffis of Flomaton on Moonshiners Master Distiller Tuesday night. Pictured first below: Griffis and his still somewhere near Flomaton. Images courtesy the Discovery Channel for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Holds ‘Night of Nature’
March 9, 2020
The annual Roy Hyatt Environmental Century Night of Nature was held Friday night.
Attendees had a chance to meet raptors, visit with reptiles, peer through telescopes, see a planetarium show, take a night hike and more.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is located at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment. The facility is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Learn About Ag During Fresh From Florida Event (With Gallery)
March 8, 2020
About 1,000 elementary school students attended the annual Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” agricultural advocacy program Friday morning at the school in Bratt.
Formerly known as the “Food For America program”, the event gave students a chance to learn about agriculture first hand, up close and personal with farm animals, farm equipment and more to learn how food gets from the farm to their tables. Students were even able to make and enjoy eating their own fresh butter.
The Northview High School FFA “Fresh From Florida” program has been honored as the number one program in the state multiple times, and the chapter was recently name one of the best in the United State by the National FFA Organization.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Annual Arts Day (Photo Gallery)
March 7, 2020
Molino Park Elementary School recently held their annual Arts Day with multiple performers.
Musical performers included individuals from the Pensacola Children’s Choir, Kaye’ Music, Schmidt’s Musi, West Florida High School Colorguard, Pensacola Symphony, and The Heavenly Brass Trio. Artists included Sara Bouldin, Dale Cooey, Larry Manning, Ruth Gordon, Robert McBrooms, Henritta Adams and Molino Park’s very own Matt Brabham.
The day concluded with dancers from the Heather Leonard’s Danceworks “Raising the Barre” Performance Team.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 6, 2020
Ransom Middle School has named Students of the Month for February. They are Lawson Killingsworth (pictured left) and Ashley Truong. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
March 5, 2020
Tate High School recently named their Students of the Month for January. They are Ana Sanchez-Morales and Kai Burnett-Burrows. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Names Students Of The Month For February
March 4, 2020
Bratt Elementary School has named Students of the Month for February. They are:
Pre-K
Leighton Freeman
Lizzie Stewart
Kindergarten
Kaylee Jace Marshall
Patrick Quinnlelly
Ja’Keelan Perry
Will Norton
1st Grade
Shaleigh Wesley
Cameron Parmer
Tiffin Hubbard
Bentley Kirkland
2nd Grade
Tripp Gilly
Cooper Rice
Riverly Heathcock
Carrie Emmons
3rd Grade
Azyiah Jackson
Lane Campbell
James Kerns
Payton Coon
Elynne Johnson
4th Grade
Jacob Dove
Madalynn Pittman
Tyler McAnally
Michael Greenwell
5th Grade
Dakota Richardson
Annberly Dunn
Hayden Gipson
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Dance Marathon Raises Record Amount For Children’s Miracle Network
March 3, 2020
The eighth annual University of West Florida Dance Marathon raised a record $87,838.21 on Feb. 29 in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for pediatric hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children’s health issues. All proceeds from UWF’s event will be donated to the oncology unit at Pensacola’s Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, a member of the Children’s Miracle Network.
During UWF Dance Marathon, participants stand on their feet and dance for 10 hours in support of children who cannot. The event was held in the UWF Field House.
“Dance Marathon at UWF is an amazing event for a great cause,” said Dr. Brandon Frye, associate vice president, Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs. “I am very proud of our students, and excited about the work that they have done with the Dance Marathon event over the last eight years.”
The amount raised smashed the previous Dance Marathon record of $60,890.59, set in 2018. Mya Clark, a senior journalism major and executive director of the event, credited initiating Dance Marathon fundraising activities earlier than in previous years for the record amount. The fundraising activities kicked off in October during Homecoming Week with a cookout on the Cannon Green.
“We were more engaged and had more activities to get people involved and excited about it,” Clark said. “The cookout on the Cannon Green got things going in the right way. People were excited from the start.”
The Miracle Network Dance Marathon is held at more than 400 locations across the country and has raised over $300 million since 1991.
UWF fraternities, sororities and other student organizations raised funds as teams for the event and competed in the “Miracle Ball” to see who could raise the most money and create the most awareness for the event through social media and spirit nights. A total of 453 students from 17 teams participated in UWF’s 2020 Dance Marathon. Miracle Ball winners were split into three divisions based on the number of members in the organization:
Cannon Division (less than 30 members): Argonettes Dance Team
Nautilus Division (30-75 members): Pi Kappa Alpha
Argonaut Division (more than 75 members): Kappa Delta
Northview’s Brown Named Chamber Outstanding Student Of The Year
March 2, 2020
Keaton Brown from Northview High School was named the Outstanding Student of the Year for 2019-2020 by the Century Area Chamber of Commerce. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday, Joyce Gunn Retired. She Had Worked At Northview High Since The Day It Opened.
February 29, 2020
Friday was retirement day for Joyce Gunn who had worked at Northview High School since the day the school opened in 1995.
After a decade as the bookkeeper, she became the administrative secretary. Since 2011, she had been the senior finance specialist at Northview. Gunn has a total over 30 years of loyal service to the Escambia County School District.
“Enjoy every day and do the best you can,” Gunn said Friday. She looks forward to spending more time with her family and traveling now that she is retired.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
