Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
April 13, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for February and March. Pictured top: (L-R) March Students of the Month Ashlan Harigel, sixth grade; Hannah Mascaro, eighth grade; and Austin Smith, seventh grade. Pictured below: (L-R) February students of the Month Anna King, sixth grade, and Madalyn Lathan, eighth grade. Not pictured: Justin Cruce, seventh grade. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Love, Give, Live 5K Walk Raises Organ Donation Awareness
April 13, 2014
A Love, Give, Live, Donate Life 5K Walk in Memory of Laurie Cooey was held Saturday morning in Pace. Cooey was a four-time kidney transplant recipient. The goal of Saturday’s walk was to increase the number of organ donors so other families can hold on to the hope of life, according to organizers. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Humane Society Works To Save Hit And Run Puppy
April 12, 2014
The Pensacola Humane Society is asking for help covering the medical bills for Olaf, a puppy that was hit by a car and seriously injured last Saturday.
After Olaf was hit, the driver kept going but two young women dropped Olaf off at the humane society. He was rushed to the Veterinary Emergency Referral Center for immediate treatment.
He was transferred on Monday to the Olive Branch Pet Hospital where one of his legs was amputated due to severe damage. Olaf’s medical bills will top $3,o00, and the Pensacola Humane Society has managed to raise $1,000 toward his care.
Donations to help with Olaf’s medical care can be made on a Paypal donation link: http://bit.ly/1e7EMdG. Or more for information, call the Pensacola Humane Society at (850) 432-4250.
Olaf will not be available for adoption for a few weeks.
Pictured: Olaf, just a few days after his leg was amputated due to injuries received when he was hit by a car. Photos by Cheryl Casey, Cheryl Casey Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Students Read To Success
April 9, 2014
Molino Park Elementary School students recently took part in the “Read to Success” program where they could earn a Six Flags Over Georgia ticket for reading six hours and keeping a reading log.
Students in participating grades reaching the goal were:
Kindergarten
- Kailyn Wiggins
- Kamryn Gibbs
- Dominic Picheo
- Tyler Wilson
- Jessica Santos
- Garrett Crabtree
- Ayden Silcox
- Desi Fryman
- Destiny Spencer
- Layton Woodward
- Shiloh Prince
- Wyatt Pawless
- Mary Oliver
- Chet Knable
- Riana Hillard
- John Hatch
- Shay Crosby
- Ayden Crabtree
- Ryann Burson
- Destiny Abrams
2nd Grade
- Jarrett Bodiford
- Moses Delarosa
- Matthew Dix
- Makayla Golson
- Nicholas Lutterman
- Flora Mumaw
- Addison Pawless
- Brodie Rhodes
- DeQuan Shabazz
- Domanique Turner
- Lilly Hatch
- Riley Crites
- Kendall Alvare
3rd Grade
- Karson Brown
- Shelby Lashley
- Adian Vaughn
- Aaron Adams
- Raven Brigman
- Ethan Collier
- Brycee Woodward
5th Grade
- Damion Payne
- Shadonavon Young
- Cody Pigeon
- Keaton Edmonson
- Hannah Brousseau
- Ashley Ragsdale
- Tristian Griffin
- Zachary Stanton
- Brook Thomas
- Kellie Parsons
- Connor McQuaid
- Branden Massie
Pictured top: Some of the kindergarten students at Molino Park Elementary School that reached thei “Read to Success” program goal. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click toe enlarge.
FWC: Look Out For Gopher Tortoises
April 8, 2014
A gopher tortoise strolling across a road or through a backyard or field is a common sight during spring in the North Escambia area. Yet as tortoises become increasingly active this time of year, they are vulnerable to being struck by vehicles and injured or killed.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is urging residents to look out for these slow-moving reptiles with their bony-plated shells and elephantine legs. They leave their burrows in search of green plants to eat and a tortoise to become their mate. From now through May, females will be laying eggs the size of ping-pong balls in the sandy apron outside their burrows.
FWC is also encouraging drivers to slow down on highways to help protect the state’s gopher tortoises. If a gopher tortoise is crossing the road, it is OK to pick it up and move it to safety – but keep it pointed in the direction it was heading and do not put this terrestrial animal into the water.
People also can help by downloading and using a new smartphone app to report to the FWC when and where they spot gopher tortoises. The free “Florida gopher tortoise” app recently became available on iPhone and Android. When users of the app take a photograph of a tortoise or its burrow, the photo and its GPS coordinates will be sent automatically to the FWC.
App-generated data collected by citizen scientists will help guide conservation of this threatened species. Biological information and a quiz testing the user’s knowledge of the only tortoise east of the Mississippi River also are included in the app.
Harming a gopher tortoise, its burrows or eggs is against the law.
Photos: Northview Spring Concert
April 7, 2014
The Northview Music Department Spring Concert featured a variety of music Friday night at the school. Performances included members of the Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and below:
Pictured above and below: The Northview High School Music Department Spring Concert Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Prayer and WD-40: NorthEscambia Headline Inspires Country Song
April 7, 2014
Inspiration for a song can come from most anywhere. For Michael Peterson of McDavid, that inspiration came from a NorthEscambia.com headline.
“Prayer And WD-40: Hattie Schneider Celebrates 105th Birthday” was that NorthEscambia.com headline last week.
“The headline that you put for the story about the elderly lady turning 105 sounded like it should have been a song,” Peterson later emailed NorthEscambia.com. “I told it to my friend and we sat down and wrote one. The content of the song is a bit different, but I have to say thanks for the awesome title.”
Peterson and his friend, Obe Brown, turned the song into the story of a 91-year old war veteran who lost his leg at Normandy — and now he survives on the Good Lord looking out for him, plus he never goes anywhere without (you guess it) prayer and WD-40.
Peterson has recently performed as part of the band Mayhaw Road, but he says songwriting is where his passion lies.
“I pride myself for being a songwriter mostly,” he said. “That’s my passion.”
He’s played at some local venues, at the Frank Brown Songwriters Festival and is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
“My dream is to be a staff writer with a Nashville publishing company. Getting to hear my songs on the radio would be a dream come true,” he said. “I like to sing but its songwriting that drives me. Me and Obe grew up together, taught each other to play the guitar.”
Peterson and Brown both graduated from Northview High School in 1998. Brown lives in Atlanta now, but the duo writes together using the video chat program Skype.
To hear “Prayer and WD-40″, click here or use the player below.
Vickrey Graduates Basic Training, Military Police School
April 5, 2014
Hunter Vickrey of Molino graduated from basic training/military police AIT school this week at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
He was one of just two of 150 soldiers in the group selected to receive a K-9 and will now receive K-9 training. Vickrey is scheduled to report to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas later this month for 11 weeks of K-9 training.
He will then report to Fort Meyer in Alexandria, Virginia.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Church News: Ray’s Chapel Adding Second Sunday Morning Service
April 5, 2014
Things were getting just a little too close for comfort Sunday mornings at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia. So beginning Sunday, April 6, the church will offer two mostly identical Sunday morning services.
An 8:30 a.m. service will be added along with the church’s normal 11 a.m. service.
“We are filling up the sanctuary on Sunday mornings,” Pastor Nathan Brown said, “and it was decided that now was the time to add a second service.”
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church is located at 170 West Bogia Road in McDavid, just west of Highway 29.
Pictured: Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Pastor Nathan Brown.
Company To Find Sign Sponsors For Blackwater Heritage Trail
April 4, 2014
A Fort Myers company has been hired to find sponsors to put up signs along some of Florida’s premier hiking trails including the Blackwater Heritage Trail.
Bikepath Country Florida will act as an “intermediary” on behalf of the state to seek corporate sponsors on seven state trails, the Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday.
The contract is an offshoot of a 2012 law that supporters said would help cover or replace some of the estimated $1 million a year the state spends annually to provide upkeep on public trails. But when no sponsors bid last year to put up signs, the state turned to Bikepath.
Mara Burger, a spokeswoman for the DEP, said the state agency would have final say on the sponsors.
“Naturally, we seek family-friendly businesses whose logos and messages are in harmony with the mission of the Florida Park Service, which is to provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources,” Burger wrote. “Companies that are parties to current litigation against the department or the state of Florida will not be considered.”
Sponsors would be allowed to place signs at trailheads or access points, with the signs no larger than 16 square feet at trailheads and 4 square feet at access points.
The contract allows Bikepath Country to find sponsors for the Blackwater Heritage Trail, Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail, Nature Coast State Trail, Withlacoochee State Trail, General James A. Van Fleet State Trail and the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.
According to the agreement, Bikepath would initially get to keep 50 percent of the gross revenue from each sponsorship contract. When the sponsorship proposal was debated during the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions, opponents objected that the ads would become an intrusive distraction for people visiting pristine state lands.
by The News Service of Florida