Escambia River Muzzle Loaders Make Donation To Escambia Fire Rescue
November 17, 2015
The Escambia River Muzzle Loaders stopped by the Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue with a donation Monday. They donated a turkey, spiral ham and $200 for the Escambia County Professional Firefighters Local 4131 burn fund charity. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Operation Christmas Child Collection Week At First Baptist Bratt, Grace Fellowship Atmore
November 16, 2015
Volunteers be busy this week at the First Baptist Church of Bratt and Grace Fellowship in Atmore during “National Collection Week” for Operation Christmas Child. For the 22nd year, the simple, gift-filled shoe boxes will bring Christmas joy and evangelistic materials to children in over 130 countries across the world.
National Collection Week for OCC is November 16-23. The First Baptist Church of Bratt will be the official OCC Relay Center for the north end of Escambia County, FL, while Grace Fellowship will collect boxes in Escambia County, AL.
“This is not about the FBC of Bratt”, says Student Pastor Tim Hawsey, Relay Center coordinator. “This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise. We have gone through the intense process of been approved as a church to be a Relay Center to collect the boxes from individuals, families, and churches of our area, document and pack them into special cartons and take them to the next level for Samaritan’s Purse, and we have been blessed to do it for six years now.”
Collection hours at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will be:
- Monday, Nov. 16 – Friday, Nov. 20: 8 a.m. – noon, 4-6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 21: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: 9 a.m. – noon, 4-7 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 23: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Collection hours at Grace Fellowship in Atmore will be:
- Monday, Nov. 16: 1-4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: 1-4 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18: 5 – 8 p.m. (packing party)
- Thursday, Nov. 19: 1-4 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 20: 1-4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 20: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 22: Noon-3p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 23: 8-9a.m.
Operation Christmas Child boxes should be packed in a specific manner, and there are changes this year. For more information, call Hawsey at the First Baptist Church of Bratt at (850) 327-6529, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ, or call (800) 353-5949. Resources are available for churches that wish to participate.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Academic Teams Compete; One Headed To Nationals
November 13, 2015
Three Ransom Middle School academic teams competed recently in Tallahassee, with one team walking away qualified to move on to the national level.
Ransom Middle School academic teams participated in the Second Annual Fairview Egghead Tournament Tallahassee. There were 10 intense rounds, as they competed against 28 middle school teams from North Florida and South Georgia.
The matches in the tournament paired opposing teams and challenged them to work together to answer complex academic questions.
Clarissa Brown and Lucinda Bateman coached the teams for Ransom Middle and explained that the tournament questions are much more than quick “trivia” questions.
“They have a ‘pyramidal’ structure, where the questions begin with more difficult clues, slowly progressing to more familiar information. It rewards the more knowledgeable students for their ability to answer with less and more difficult, high level information,” Brown said.
Members of the teams were:
Ransom Team A – Captain Elizabeth McConnell, Braden Boutwell, Maggie Brown and Chris Espy
Ransom Team B - Captain Ravyn Brown, Jordan Hay, and Tristin Kayworth
Ransom Team C – Co-Captain Sarah Stringer, Co-Captain Tia Sweet, Natalie Holt, and Tristan Espy
Ransom’s Team A finished third overall and qualified for the 2016 Middle School National Championship Tournament, which will be held the weekend of May 6–8, 2016, in Atlanta.
“Please join us in congratulating Elizabeth, Braden, Maggie and Chris, along with the rest of the teams for their outstanding effort and enthusiasm,” Ransom Principal Brent Brummet said. “We are so proud of how well they represented Ransom Middle School and Escambia County.”
Pictured top: Ransom Academic Team members (front, L-R) Elizabeth McConnell, Tristin Kayworth, Tristan Espy, (middle row) Natalie Holt, Tia Sweet, Maggie Brown, Jordan Hay, (back) Chris Espy, Braden Boutwell, Sarah Stringer, Ravyn Brown and Coach Clarissa Brown. Pictured below: Ransom’s Team A in action. Submitted photos for NorthEscabia.com, click to enlarge.
Let The Miracle League Fry Your Turkey
November 12, 2015
Want a fried turkey but afraid to try it yourself? Volunteers from the Miracle League of Pensacola will fry your turkey for you on Wednesday, November 25, saving you the time and trouble while benefiting the charity. And there is still time to make an appointment.
Completely thaw your turkey, removing all of the inside packaging and giblets. Write down exactly how much your turkey weighs so it is fried perfectly and take it to the Miracle League Park at 555 East Nine Mile Road from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. For a monetary donation to Miracle League, the volunteers will fry your turkey to perfection. A minimum of $20 per turkey is necessary to help cover costs, and any additional donation will benefit the Miracle League of Pensacola.
Call (850) 384-9180 with questions or to schedule your time (leave a message if no answer). Reservations should be made early as they number of time slots is limited.
New Tate High Winter Guard Named
November 9, 2015
New members of the Tate High School Winter Guard have been named.
They are:
Chaparrals
Rifles: Caroline Bruns, Michaela Overby, Brenn Repine, Celina Dyess, Savannah Vonstein
Sabres: Megan Leonard, Katy Luebke, Kelsey Strength, Breanna Langley, Madison Philley
Flag line: Carly Lawrence, Jojo Osteen, Katy Dupre, Kendall Lombardo, Elizabeth Durazo, Makayla Tainter
Cadets
Weapons: Kenzi Ricardy, Virginia Vaughan, Raegan Tainter, Cordia Shaw, Olivia Starnes
Flag line: Jazmyn Quarls Julia Jimenez Sarah Stephens Julie Stanton Kirsten Carter
The Chaparrals are the oldest competitive scholastic winter guard in the nation and former world champions. They begin competing in late January.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Chaparrals. Pictured below: Cadets. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Gospel Artist Releases CD, Music Video; Plans Concerts
November 8, 2015
Country gospel artist Caleb Dennis of Davisville has new single, new album and a new music video that was filmed in North Escambia.
His single “Jesus is Always on Time” will be released to radio this month.
“After 15 years of working as a side musician, the release of this debut album ‘The Gravel Road’ is a fresh new start for me in the gospel music field,” Dennis said. “God has poured out so many blessings lately it’s overwhelming, and the band and I are looking forward to what 2016 holds.”
The first video from “The Gravel Road”, entitled “The Old Grist Mill” (see below) was filmed in North Escambia. It was shot along Pineville Road at Brushy Creek in Enon and includes some of Dennis’ family and friends.
“I so enjoyed filming the first video from the album. I loved that it was filmed here in my hometown. (That) makes it even more personal for me,” the Walnut Hill native said.
Dennis will be concert on Saturday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Molino First Assembly of God and Sunday, November 29 at 5 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Baptist Church. Admission is free for both events.
“The Gravel Road” is available on iTunes or Amazon.
Pictured top: Caleb Dennis in his new music video filmed along Brushy Creek and Pineville Road in North Escambia. Below: The new video “The Old Grist Mill” from Caleb Dennis. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
If you do not see the video above, it is because your work, school or home firewall is blocking YouTube videos.
UWF Hosts 2015 BEST Robotics Competition
November 8, 2015
The University of West Florida College of Science and Engineering hosted the eighth annual Emerald Coast BEST robotics competition at the UWF Field House on Saturday.
Student teams from 18 area high schools and middle schools participated in “Pay Dirt,” a competition in which each team designed and built a robotic system to repair a simulated mine and retrieve its resources. The teams were evaluated based on robot performance, notebooks, marketing presentation, team exhibit, spirit and sportsmanship.
BEST Award
The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the attributes associated with “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology” in its development, which include teamwork, diversity of participation, sportsmanship, creativity, ethics, positive attitude and enthusiasm, school and community involvement, and exposure to and use of the engineering process. The first-place winner of the 2015 BEST Award was Seaside Neighborhood School, followed by Woodham Middle School in second-place and Woodlawn Beach Middle School in third-place.
Robotics Award
Awarded to the teams whose machines finish first, second and third in the tournament bracket. The first-place winner of the robotics award was Pace High School, followed by Tate High School in second-place and Seaside Neighborhood School in third-place.
Dr. Bradley Regez, program manager and instructor for the UWF Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, leads the Emerald Coast BEST steering committee. Dr. Mohamed Khabou, associate professor and chair of the UWF Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is also a part of the committee along with several other University and community representatives.
“Each year that I am given the chance to participate in the Emerald Coast hub, it’s an opportunity to help students learn,” said Regez. “These kinds of competitions are great for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math because they provide opportunities for hands-on experience and seeing a project from start to finish.”
The annual competition is coordinated through BEST Inc., a non-profit, volunteer-based organization. Its name stands for Boosting Engineering Science and Technology, and its mission is to inspire middle and high school students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in the sports-like robotics competition.
The Emerald Coast BEST hub is the only one in Florida. The hub is funded completely by corporate and individual sponsorships, which provide each team with a material kit to build the robots. No fees are paid by students or schools that participate in the BEST robotics competitions.
Award winners
Advancing to Regional Robotics Championship:
Robot: Pace High School
BEST 1: Seaside Neighborhood School
BEST 2: Woodham Middle School
Robotics Game Award:
1. Pace High School
2. Tate High School
3. Seaside Neighborhood School
4. Woodham Middle School
BEST Award:
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
2. Woodham Middle School
3. Woodlawn Middle School
T-Shirt Design Award:
1. Pace High School
2. Santa Rosa High School
3. Woodham Middle School
BEST Spirit and Sportsmanship:
1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
2. Seaside Neighborhood School
3. Woodham Middle School
Best Team Exhibits and Interview:
1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
2. Seaside Neighborhood School
3. Woodham Middle School
Best Marketing Presentation:
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
2. Woodham Middle School
3. Pensacola High School
Best Project Engineering Notebook:
1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
2. Creative Learning Academy
3. Seaside Neighborhood School
Software Design and Simulation Award:
1. Tate High School
2. Creative Learning Academy
3. Woodham Middle School
Founders Award for Creative Design: Seaside Neighborhood School
Most Robust Machine: Episcopal Day School
Most Photogenic Machine: Woodlawn Beach Middle School
Gulf Power Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape Award: Pensacola High School
Web Page Design Award: Episcopal Day School
Arts, Crafts And Car Show Held In Molino (With Gallery)
November 8, 2015
The Fourth Annual Open Car Show and Arts/Craft Show was held Saturday at Highland Baptist Church in Molino. The top and best in class vehicles were awarded, numerous vendors were one hand and there free activities for children.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Over A Month After Homeless Story Goes Viral, Steve Has Been Found
November 6, 2015
Remember Steve the homeless man? He’s been found again and plans are underway to help him make it through the winter.
In late September, NorthEscambia.com published a story about John Brantley, an Atmore elementary school principal, and his encounter with Steve outside a Best Buy store in Mobile. The story of Steve went viral, viewed well over a million times.
It all began when Brantley snapped a photo of Steve, on his knees digging through a trash can looking for bits of food.
Offers poured in from around the country to help Steve….except Brantley and others were not able to find him again. Until Thursday night.
“I had a long conversation with Steve tonight and he has agreed to be helped,” Brantley wrote in a Facebook post. “I have set up this gofundme account to help raise money for Steve a place to stay this winter as well as helping him with basic essentials and ultimately helping him get back on his feet.”
To read our original story about Steve and Brantley’s encounter with him, click here.
To visit the gofundme page and donate to help Steve, click here.
Tate Names Students Of The Month
November 6, 2015
Tate High School has named October students of the month. They are Ian Ruiz and Madison Nelson, pictured with Principal Rick Shackle. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.