Walnut Hill Fire Department Holds Record Setting 45th Annual Fish Fry
November 9, 2014
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during a record-setting 45th annual fish fry Saturday.
Brian Rolin was named Officer of the Year, an award chosen by his fellow firefighters, while Andrew Peters was named Firefighter of the Year and recognized for his years of service to the department.
David’s Paint and Body of Atmore received the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s Community Service Award for outstanding and dedicated service to the community. The company provides the department with scrap vehicles that are used for extrication and other training.
Volunteers served 676 catfish or grilled chicken plates were sold during the event, which was a record for an ordinary fish fry held by the department. Proceeds are used during the year to provide assistance to displaced fire victims in the area.
Pictured top: Walnut Hill VFD firefighters Chad Rigby (left) and Andrew Peters fry catfish Saturday for the department’s 45th annual fish fry. Pictured inset: Department Chief Chris Brown presents the Officer of the Year Award to Brian Rolin (left). Pictured below: Brown presents the Firefighter of the Year Award to Andrew Peters. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Byrneville Dance Groups Perform At Arts Festival
November 9, 2014
Members of the Northview High School Dance Team and groups from Heather Leonard’s Danceworks based in Byrneville performed Saturday afternoon at the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival in Pensacola. Photos by April Maholovich for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Honors Veterans
November 8, 2014
The Town of Century held a special Veterans Day observance Friday to honor their local veterans.
“Hero — we throw that term around a lot, but they really are the superheroes of this world that keep us safe and allow us to enjoy the freedoms that God intended us to have,” guest speaker Rep. Clay Ingram told the small crowd at Century’s Nadine McCaw Park.
The event included other speakers and patriotic music from Byrneville Elementary School fourth and fifth grade students.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors Veterans (With Photo Gallery)
November 7, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School paused to honor veterans from the across the area Thursday afternoon.
“It’s a great day to be here, in the United States of America,” guest speaker retired Navy Capt. Frank Smith told the student body and their veteran guests. “Because we truly do live in the land of the free.”
During an emotional display. the students prepared a small, white table with a place setting for one in front of an empty black chair. The ceremony represented the never-ending hope for the return of MIA soldiers. The program also included patriotic music, an armed forces salute and the presentation of colors from the Northview High School NJROTC.
The annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward is a longstanding community tradition, held annually for over 20 years.
Pictured top: Retired Navy Capt. Frank Smith recalls taking his Oath of Enlistment into the U.S. Navy. Pictured inset: The Ernest Ward Middle School Advanced Chorus performs. Pictured below: The “MIA Table”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill VFD Fish Fry Is Saturday
November 6, 2014
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department’s 45th Annual Fish Fry will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97.
Plates will be $7 each with your choice of catfish fillets or grilled chicken, plus baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, homemade bread and cake. There will also be drawing for door prizes beginning at 1 p.m. and a live auction.
Funds raised by the event area used to help fire victims.
The Northwest Florida Blood Center Bloodmobile will also be on hand for a blood drive.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photo: A Politician Sweeps Around His Own Door
November 6, 2014
A photo we first published Tuesday on Facebook only went viral on a local scale, so we wanted to share it here on NorthEscambia.com.
On election day, we actually found a politician that sweeps around his own door — literally. Our camera caught Atmore, AL, Mayor Jim Staff sweeping outside the main entrance to the Atmore City Hall. Amidst all the negative flip-flopping of the all those TV election ads, we thought it was a bright moment in politics.
Staff explained that his momma taught him how to use a broom, and he’s not a afraid of a little work. He was not on Tuesday’s ballot.
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NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
2015 Tate High Chaparrals Named
November 6, 2014
The 12 members of the 2015 Tate High School Chaparrals winter guard have been named.
They are: Katie Dupre, Celina Dyess, Breanna Langley, Megan Leonard, Katy Luebke, Jo Jo O’Steen, Michaela Overbey, Madison Philley, Brenn Repine, Kelsey Strength, Virginia Vaughn and Savannah VonStein.
The Chaparrals are the oldest competitive scholastic winter guard in the nation and former world champions. They begin competing in late January and conclude their season on March 28.
Pictured: The 2015 Tate High School Chaparrals are (front, kneeling, L-R) Madison Philley, Celina Dyess, Jo Jo O’Steen, Virginia Vaughn, (back, standing) Breanna Langley, Michaela Overbey, Megan Leonard, Savannah VonStein, Katy Luebke, Kelsey Strength and Brenn Repine. Not pictured is Katie Dupre. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Marine Programs Working To Protect Local Environment
November 5, 2014
Instructors and students from four Escambia Marine Science Education programs teamed up recently to fry hundreds of pounds of mullet and to educate the community about the four high school programs and their ongoing research projects.
One of the projects, Bringing Back the Bayous, involves students from Washington, West Florida, Escambia and Pensacola high schools collecting water samples. The samples are taken from Bayou Texar, Bayou Chico, Bayou Grande and Perdido Bay. The samples are transported to Washington High where biology and chemistry students measure the levels of chlorophyll and other nutrients such as phosphates and nitrogen in the local water.
“When these levels get too high, the water ways experience algal blooms that kill fish and damage local ecosystems,” explained Allie Fuller, Washington High senior and president of Washington’s Marine Science Academy. As a senior, she has had a variety of research opportunities in her four years in the program. She and classmates have collected water samples, planted sea grass, replenished the shorelines, and collected sea life in seine nets. They have learned how to properly test the water’s quality and how to report numbers of local species in diversity studies.
Fuller was a pioneer in Washington High’s program and she believes Pensacola needs more scientists so they can educate the public about the causes of local water pollution and how to avoid making things worse. “We have learned how to help by cleaning out the baffle boxes to keep big trash from washing into the bay. We also have added oyster shells and plant life to help reduce run-off and prevent erosion.”
Kevin Turner, a marine science instructor at Washington High School, says his wish is to teach his students how they can help clean up our local waterways. “We work with three other schools so water samples can be collected at more locations. All of the schools send their samples to us for testing. The reagents we need for the testing process are expensive. That’s why we decided to hold this fish fry, to raise money.”
Around $4000 was raised to help the Bayou project.
For Madison Meyer, a junior from Escambia High School, the recent event was a chance to tell more people about the Turtle T.H.I.S. (Teens Helping In the Seashore) project and to ask everyone to remember the negative effect bright lights can have along the coast for sea turtles. “People who live by the water need to shade their lights so the light can go where they need it, but not go where it’s not needed, because it affects turtles. If you need to use a flashlight, you should always use a red light.”
Meyer’s involvement in this project has also introduced her to a possible future employer, the National Parks. “I want to go into marine biology, and I plan to work for the park service, because you can go anywhere.”
“The people of Pensacola have become complacent,” said Jennifer Sublett, a junior at West Florida High School, when she was asked why it was important for her to be there talking to the public. Last spring, WFHS students collected tar patties from local beaches as part of Project G.O.O. (Gulf Oil Observers). The students learned the proper protocol for collecting the tar samples and then sent 40 patties to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to have them analyzed.
“Twenty six of our samples had the same composition as the tar from the BP Deep Water Horizon oil spill. This is important to know, because it tells us we still have a lot of oil out there from the spill,” Sublett said. This year, WFHS students will continue this work as part of Project G.O.O. II.
While Meyer and Fuller now know this experience is just a beginning in their interest in working in a scientific field (Meyer in the park system and Fuller in the nature cinemagraphic field), Sublett isn’t so sure just yet. But, she said that isn’t important, because she has already learned from her WFHS instructor, Shawn Walker, that anyone can be a citizen scientist.
“If you learn the right way to help, you can collect samples and help someone (a scientist) with their research,” explained Sublett.
Pictured top: Pictured inset: Jennifer Sublett, a junior marine science student at West Florida High School, explains the process and protocols used to collect sample tar balls from local beaches by students working with Project GOO (Gulf Oil Observers). Madison Meyer, Escambia High junior, explains what she has learned about turtles to Rayeko McCartan. Pictured below: Allie Fuller, Washington’s Marine Science Academy president and senior, and Kevin Turner, a Marine Science instructor at Washington High, presented information about the marine science program. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Want To Operate A Successful Cottage Food Business?
November 4, 2014
Santa Rosa County Extension will host a “Operating a Successful Cottage Food Business” program for those that wish to sell food made in their homes.
The program will cover pricing, taxes and marketing. It will also include a time for questions and answers with the Extension Service Small Farms and FCS Staff. Farms or individuals interested or currently marketing processed foods are encouraged to attend.
Cottage foods by definition are foods made in the home for resale that do not require refrigeration. These include but are not limited to jams, jellies, preserves, honey, cakes and pies.
Two identical programs will be held — November 7 from 10 a.m. until noon and November 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Santa Rosa County Extension Service at 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton. The cost is $10.
For more information or to register, call Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Ginny Hinton at (850) 623-3868 or email ginnyh@santarosa.fl.gov.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Veterans Programs Planned For Ransom, Ernest Ward, Bratt, Northview And Century
November 3, 2014
Several programs are planned over the next week to honor veterans in advance of Veterans Day on November 11. Veterans and the public are invited to the following events:
Ransom Middle School will host a Patriotic Program honoring active military and veterans on Wednesday, November 5 with assemblies at 2:25 and 3:15 p.m. Music will be provided by the Ransom band, orchestra and chorus. Students from the Ransom History Club and Student Leadership Team will announce and help lead the program. The Tate High School JROTC Honor Guard will give the Presentation of the Colors. Speakers include a MIA presentation, a veteran story and acknowledgement of veterans. The programs are open to the public. Veterans are encouraged to attend.
Ernest Ward Middle School will hold their annual Veterans Day Program on Thursday, November 6 at 2 p.m. in the school gym. The program will include patriotic music performed by the school’s band and chorus, a special student presentation and special performances. The guest speaker will be retired Navy Capt. Frank Smith. All veterans are welcome to attend. Veterans unable to walk long distance should park in front of the gym. All other guests should park behind the gym or football field due to construction.
The Town of Century will hold a Veterans Day Program on Friday, November 7 at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Wall at Nadine McCaw Park (the former Roadside Park) at the corner of North Century Boulevard and Hecker Road. Everyone, including all veterans, is invited to attend. Guest speaker will be Rep. Clay Ingram.
Bratt Elementary School will host a Veterans Day Event on Monday, November 10 at 9:00 a.m. The school’s fourth grade students will present “We Honor the Brave”. For more information, call (850) 327-6137.
Northview High School will host a Veterans Day Program on Monday, November 10 at 9:35 and 10:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Major Michael Ray, United States Air Force, retired. Major Ray served 21 years before retiring in May 2014. During his 21 years of service he flew the T-1, T-34, T-39, T-38, B-1 and F-15 aircraft. He served his final tour on active duty at NAS Pensacola as the Assistant Director of Operations for the Air Forces 451st Flying Training Squadron. All veterans, their families and community members are invited to attend.
Pictured top: Members of the Ransom Middle School Band practices for their Veterans Day program on Wednesday, November 5. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.