Tate High School Showband Offers Preview Show
August 15, 2014
After a summer of hard work, the Tate High School Showband of the South held a Preview Night Thursday at Pete Gindl Stadium for parents and friends. This will be a big year for the band; in addition to Friday night performances, the Showband is headed to the 2014 Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. Photo by Paula Cawby for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Blessed School Year: Prayer Walk Held At Molino Park Elementary
August 14, 2014
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Students and adults from Highland Baptist Church prayed for the Lord’s blessings on the upcoming school year.
Prior to the prayer walk, volunteers worked to clean up the school grounds.
Pictured: A student prayer walk Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Coming Soon: Fall Tomato School
August 14, 2014
UF/IFAS Extension Gulf Coast Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises will present “Fall Tomato School” beginning next month. The evening workshops are intended for farmers who are interested in learning about small farm tomato production.
The course will combine lectures with hands-on activities with a course notebook at the West Florida Research & Education Center in Jay. The school will include topics such as transplanting, varieties, nutrition, diseases, staking, insect scouting, harvesting, storage and marketing. Classes will be held 6-7:30 p.m. on September 2 and 23, and October 7 and 28. The cost is $20 per class or $60 for the four-course series, payable at the first session.
To register, or for more information, call the UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa Office at (850) 623-3868.
Free Farm Share Food Giveaway Planned For Saturday In Century
August 13, 2014
A free food giveaway will be held Saturday in Century.
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, the AmeriCorps Coalition of Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties and Farm Share will host the free food distribution event for residents of Century and Florida residents North Escambia area (including Walnut Hill, Bratt, Molino, Cantonment and Jay) on Saturday at The Habitat Building (former middle school) at 150 East Pond Street. (This is a change of location from the originally announced Showalter Park.)
The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will continue while supplies last or until noon. Assisted by volunteers, Farm Share will distribute fresh produce, water and canned foods for up to 300 families in need. All participants must have a valid photo identification.
Pictured top: Volunteers help distribute food during a previous Farm Share event in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
West Florida Library’s Bookmobile Back In Service
August 13, 2014
A bit of good news today for residents that don’t want to make the trek all the way to their nearest library — the West Florida Library Bookmobile is back in service. The Bookmobile had been out of service since July 21.
The Bookmobile makes regular stops throughout Escambia County. Anyone with a West Florida Library card may visit the library on wheels and check out books, CDs, and DVDs from the selection of thousands on board. Patrons may also reserve materials online to be picked up on the Bookmobile’s next stop. Materials may be returned to the Bookmobile or to any library branch location.
Library card applications are also available from the Bookmobile driver.
The Bookmobile schedule below, provided by the West Florida Library, shows stops for the remainder of the year. Click the schedule to enlarge and print.
Expert: School Can Be A Real Headache For Some Kids
August 12, 2014
Going back to school after summer break can be a literal headache for some Florida children.
Dr. Nick DeBlasio with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Pediatric Primary Care Clinic says about 10 percent of school-aged children and more than 15 percent of teens experience periodic headaches. He says dehydration is one of the most common causes of those headaches, especially as the weather is still hot, kids are active, and it isn’t as handy to get a drink of water at school as it is at home. He notes, however, another cause of headaches is a lack of sleep.
“During the summer, everything’s a little bit more carefree and bedtimes tend to be a little later,” says DeBlasio. “Then, boom. All of the sudden you’re getting up early to go to school. So a lot of kids have really decreased sleep, especially the first few weeks of the school year.”
Skipping meals can also be a trigger. DeBlasio suggests relieving a child’s headache pain with water or an electrolyte drink and over-the-counter ibuprofen. He says maintaining a regular eating and sleeping schedule and keeping children well-hydrated can prevent headaches.
DeBlasio adds the stress of new classes, teachers and schedules can cause headaches as well. For some children, it may also be the sign of a vision problem.
“Typically that tends to be the kid who will say, ‘The board is a little bit blurry’ or ‘I’m straining to see the board,’” says DeBlasio. “That comes to light more in the beginning of the school year, when the kids are suddenly more in a structured environment.”
The pediatrician says most headaches in children are not a cause for alarm, but there are a few instances that signal the need for additional investigation.
“If you notice weird symptoms like waking up in the middle of the night with headaches, vomiting due to the headaches, headaches that get better immediately after vomiting, or an increase in frequency of headaches,” DeBlasio cautions, “that’s definitely something to talk to your pediatrician about.”
DeBlasio adds it’s important to note ibuprofen should not be taken more than three times a week. Greater frequency may cause rebound headaches.
by Stephanie Carson, Florida News Connection
Students: Enter The 2014 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech Contest
August 12, 2014
The Escambia County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, in collaboration with UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Extension, EscaRosa Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Escambia County Women’s Committee, will hold the 2014 Escambia County Youth Farm Bureau Speech contest on Thursday, September 4, at 4 p.m., at the Farm Bureau Building at 153 Highway 97, Molino.
The topic of this year’s speech is “Food security is an important issue to the people of the United States. How can Florida Agriculture continue to provide quality solutions for the future?}”
The speech time limit is five minutes for each personally crafted speech. Competitors must be at least 14 years old and not over 18 years old on or before September 19, 2014, and must be a resident of Escambia County, Florida, but do not need to be a member of Farm Bureau.
Judges reserve the right to ask questions not to exceed more than three minutes per contestant. The winner of the county contest will be asked to compete in the district contest. Escambia County Farm Bureau will help with the cost of transportation to the district meeting, and if the Escambia County contestant wins the district, Escambia County Farm Bureau will also help defray part of the cost to attend the state competition.
Anyone wanting to participate must contact Katrina Sanford at (850) 587-2135, by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, to schedule a time for the competition. To access the application and more information, along with resources that can be used for the speech contest visit www.floridafarmbureau.org.
Pictured: Nort hview student Courtney Solari placed second in the state last year in the Florida Farm Bureau Speech Contest. She is pictured with Northview FFA Alumni President Angus Brewton (left) and Escambia County Farm Bureau President Jimmy Cunningham. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Update: Yard Sale Bible Headed Back To Family Of Deceased Military Member
August 11, 2014
Update: After this NorthEscambia.com story was posted on Sunday, a family member was found and the Bible will be returned to the family on Tuesday.
An Alabama woman is looking to return the a Bible to the family of a deceased military member likely to be from the Atmore or Walnut Hill area.
Johnnie Smith of Monroeville found the Bible in box of old books and magazine purchased at a yard sale in Atmore. Inside the Bible, the dedication page says the Bible was presented in remembrance of Edwin Smith by the American Legion Post in Atmore on May 16, 2007. The King James Version Bible was in a wooded box presented “in recognition of you loved one’s service to our country”.
“I cant imagine why a family member would want to sell it in a box of old books and magazines,” Johnnie Smith said.
If you know how to reach the family of Edwin Smith, email news@northescambia.com with the details and your contact information; we will pass the information along to Johnnie Smith.
Molino Park’s Woodward Named Escambia Principal Of The Year
August 8, 2014
Molino Park Elementary School Principal Alice Woodward has been named as Escambia County’s Principal of the Year, according to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Janet Penrose of Belleview Middle School was named the Assistant Principal of the Year.
Principals are nominated by their peers for the awards, with Thomas making the final selection. Both will be recognized at the August regular meeting of the Escambia County School Board and will compete for state honors in the spring.
“Alice is an outstanding principal,” Thomas said. “She is greatly respected among the administrators in our district. She is that ’steady hand’ that guides Molino Park, and she’s very involved in the community. She is an excellent role model.”
The Florida Department of Education annually honors principals and assistant principals from each of the state’s 67 school districts for their exemplary contribution to students, schools, and communities. Award criteria also include innovative leadership, dedication to academic excellence, and increased student performance.
Pictured: Escambia County Principal of the Year Alice Woodward of Molino Park Elementary School. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Prison K-9 Team Rescues Lost Child
August 5, 2014
When a two-year old child went missing from her family’s home off Munson Highway in Santa Rosa County Saturday, the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution’s K-9 team jumped into action to quickly find the little girl and return her safely to her family.
The Santa Rosa Correctional Institution K-9 search team consisted of Sergeant Robert Lenzo, Officer Christopher Gilbert, Officer Joshua Chandler and K-9 Luke. Despite the young girl having been missing for two hours, temperatures in the high 90’s and the area crowded with friends, family and volunteers trying to locate her, the K-9 team established her track and found where she had left the residence. They followed the track through the woods and located her approximately one-half mile behind her home in a thick patch of thorns and vines. Sergeant Lenzo crawled into the thicket and freed her from the vines.
The child was quickly turned over to the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office deputies who reunited her with her parents.
“I am proud of the brave men and women of the Department of Corrections who serve their communities daily through their public service, including by committing acts of heroism and bravery such as this rescue,” said DOC Secretary Michael Crews. “Ensuring the safety of Florida families is a priority of the Department of Corrections, and the Santa Rosa C.I. K-9 team is a stellar example of that commitment.”
The little girl was playing in her family’s backyard and ran into the woods as her mom stepped inside briefly to get her water.
The Florida Department of Corrections has 38 K-9 programs statewide which are used to support other law enforcement agencies with felon apprehension, searching for missing persons and locating and providing aid to persons in distress. In addition to the team at Santa Rosa C.I., a K-9 team is also located at the Century Correctional Institution.
Pictured top: A little girl that went missing on Saturday meets K-9 Luke. Pictured inset: Ofc. Christopher Gilbert and Ofc. Joshua Chandler after Saturday’s rescue. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.