2013 Persons Of The Year: Shelby Godwin
January 6, 2014
NorthEscambia.com is naming several Persons of the Year for 2013. An additional honoree will be named on Tuesday.
Shelby Godwin of Bratt has been named one of our North Escambia persons of the Year.
At 10, Shelby is by far the youngest person we’ve ever named one of our persons of the year. At just 10, she exhibited a heart of gold and a love for her fellow man that touched thousands across the area as she touched the heart of a young man she’d never met.
Shelby had never met Wyatt Johnson, a 17-month old from Century who is suffering from a chronic liver disease. But she saw a fundraising flyer at CVS with Wyatt’s picture and was so emotionally touched by the young man that she wanted to do something to help him.
Her idea? A fresh orange juice stand along East Highway 4 in Bratt, under the shade trees last September in front of her house. The 10-year old used her own money to purchase the oranges and supplies for her little business venture and borrowed an old fashioned juicer from a friend of her mom. All the proceeds went to Wyatt’s cause.
When Shelby had the chance to meet Wyatt in October, hugs, smiles and happy tears filled the Bratt Elementary School Library. There was already a special bond between the two, a little boy in need of all the help the world will give him and a young lady with an unselfish heart.
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas was on hand to recognize Shelby, and the Town of Century issued a proclamation in her honor. And the nationally syndicated John Boy and Bill Show got wind of a NorthEscambia.com story and named Shelby as one of their heroes.
But the greatest honor of all for Shelby was the giant smile on Wyatt’s face.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
2013 In Photos: November
January 6, 2014
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2013. Today, we are featuring photos from November.
Four people were left homeless by this November fire near Century.
A Georgia church provided Thanksgiving dinner for Century residents. As part of their “Compel Century” outreach event, Rivertown Church of Columbus provided the free meal.
Students from several northern Santa Rosa County schools put in a hard day’s work to help make sure hundreds of families have a good Thanksgiving dinner.
Hunting and fishing licenses are now available at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century.
Citrus canker was discovered in Santa Rosa County.
Century residents protested against a new barnyard animal ordinance.
Fans react as the Northview Chiefs lose to Cottondale.
Northview’s Keondrae Lett reacts emotionally after the Chief’s regional final loss in Cottondale.
Firefighters from Alabama and Florida battled a train engine fire near the state line.
A wreck involving a semi-truck and a car claimed one life at the intersection of Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
Two brand new Escambia County EMS units were delivered to Century.
A biker group built a ramp for an injured motorcycle rider in Molino.
An item suspected to be a possible pipe bomb found alongside Highway 29 in Cantonment turned out to be harmless.
Northview High School held their annual Veteran’s Day program.
A driver that allegedly fell asleep on Highway 97 late took a wild ride that ended with his SUV heavily damaging a house.
The Tate Aggies ended their best regular season in 10 years at 8-2.
Ernest Ward Middle School held their annual Veteran’s Program.
A unique roadside bee hive in Walnut Hill on Highway 99, just off Highway 97.
Southwest Airlines first flight to arrive in Pensacola.
Fire destroyed this home on Bradberry Road in Bratt.
The Northview High School FFA chapter was awarded one of the highest national honors presented by the National FFA in November. Northview’s FFA received the Three Star Chapter award on live national television during the National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, KY.
2013 Persons Of The Year: Richard Freisinger
January 5, 2014
NorthEscambia.com is naming several Persons of the Year for 2013. More honorees will be named on Monday.
Richard Freisinger of Molino has been named one of our North Escambia persons of the Year.
Freisinger, a Tate High School graduate, has dedicated decades of service to the Molino community.
Freisinger was a charter member of the Molino Ruritan Club—a rural service organization—giving back to the community through its efforts of supporting the schools, the fire department, scholarships, and residential fires through fundraisers to meet these needs. Freisinger was employed in 1954 in the research laboratory with Monsanto Textiles and later the analytical research laboratory working 29 years until an early retirement in 1985. He currently operates a small tree farm after row cropping corn and soybeans for many years.
Freisinger and his wife, Jacqueline, saw the need for a rural, central water system for the Molino community and in 1965 after many hours of door-to-door contacts Molino Utilities was founded with over 200 users (members). This system followed the first system of this type located in Walnut Hill. Today this utility has over 2,000 members and has been extended to the Barrineau Park, Dogwood Park, and the Pine Barren communities. He served as a director for over 40 years.
He was involved with others in the community with the formation of the Molino Volunteer Fire Department and served as a volunteer firefighter for 10 years.
In 2001, Freisinger was appointed to the board of the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation. He served for 12 year, including six years as chairman, before retiring this year. He served on the board of Three Rivers RC&D for 29 years to the present time. In 2006 he received appreciation from the Board for ‘Outstanding Efforts on the Big Escambia Restoration Project.’ This was the culmination of a long-time effort to remove the log jam on the Escambia River.
Freisinger is active in his church and has been recognized by the Escambia County Commission.
Pictured top: Sheriff David Morgan talks with Molino residents Jacqueline and Richard Freisinger following a town hall meeting at Fran’s Diner. Pictured inset: Richard Freisinger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlrage.
2013 In Photos: October
January 5, 2014
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2013. Today, we are featuring photos from October.
Fire ripped through the remnants of a previously burned and now abandoned home on Juniper Street in Walnut Hill.
Century added their first CNG vehicle to their fleet in October.
Hundreds attended the annual Williams Station Day in Atmore where the Alabama Blues Brothers performed on their farewell tour.
The Northview Tribal Beat Band took top honors in their class during the annual Dixieland Band Showcase at T.R. Miller High School in Brewton.
The Tate High School Drama Department presented “Jabberwock”.
Jim Allen Elementary Principal Rachel Watts goes down in the dunking booth at the school’s annual fall carnival.
Dozens of families turned out to enjoy a free outdoor showing of the movie “Despicable Me” on a giant inflatable screen at Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. The event was sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Anna Fischer was crowned Northview’s homecoming queen.
The sophomore float in the Northview High School Homecoming Parade as it rolled through Bratt.
The Allen Memorial Pumpkin Patch on Highway 29 is an annual fall tradition.
Two members of the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue — Lt. Drew Manning and Julia Cleckley — were united in marriage in October. Their wedding was held at the Molino Fire Station.
Hundreds attended the annual Molino Park Elementary School Fall Carnival.
This pickup collided with a tree on Highway 99 in Bratt.
A wreck in Santa Rosa County was just nuts. Seriously nuts. A peanut wagon apparently came loose from a truck and hit three parked cars, sending peanuts everywhere near the Allentown crossroads.
The Northview High School dance team performs.
Thousands attended the annual Jay Peanut Festival
The Northview Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals.
Molino Park students try on a fireman’s hat as they learn about fire safety.
PCA topped Tate and Northview during a cross country meet in Jay.
2013 Persons Of The Year: Marilyn Robinson
January 4, 2014
NorthEscambia.com is naming several Persons of the Year for 2013. More honorees will be named on Sunday.
Marilyn Robinson of Century has been named one of our North Escambia persons of the Year.
There’s that old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That’s Marilyn Robinson.
The Carver Community Center Association has been a big part of the Century community for many years. The center was started by a group of senior citizens in 1992, spearheaded by Leola Robinson, the mother of Marilyn Robinson, who now serves as the director. The center provides a safe place for children to go after school and during the summer and offers year-round tutoring and other programs.
The Carver Community Center on Jefferson Avenue provides food for 70 to 100 children Monday through Thursday and serves as a satellite office for Catholic Charities and United
Ministries.
Marilyn Robinson works tirelessly each year to organize Century’s annual Martin Luther King Day celebration. She is a board member of the Century/Flomaton Improvement Association, where she acts as a mentor to citizens providing services to local residents in the area of finance, education and housing improvement.
Robinson is active in the Community Action Program, assisting citizens with financial necessities and works with Farm Share to organize events to provide tens of thousands of pounds of food and necessities to the community.
During 2013, Robinson and the Center were presented The President’s Volunteer Service Award. Established in 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation encourages citizens to volunteer in their communities. Congressman Jeff Miller honored the Center and Robinson with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. And the Carver Community Center Association was presented Gulf Power Company’s prestigious Power of Service Award.
During the past 15 months, during Robinson’s tenure as director, a widespread group of people across the region have given back to the Carver Community Center.
After a December 2012 article about the Florida Department of Children and Families statewide “Operation Santa Cause” campaign featuring the needs of the Carver Community Center, people stepped up to help.
The Center’s needs included internet service (about $100 per month) and at least 15 computers to replace current computers that are old, slow and sometimes non-functioning. A man in St. Petersburg volunteered to cover the internet service for one year, according to DCF. And the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners donated 20 refurbished computers for the children.
A small army of volunteers organized by Americorps worked during the 2013 National Day of Service to paint the Carver Community Center. Nearly 100 volunteers painted inside the community center, a much needed facelift covering flaking and peeling paint in hallways and classrooms. The volunteers were from groups like Pensacola State College’s Student Government Association, DCF, Northwest Florida College, Americorps Coalition of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, the Ministry Village from Olive Baptist Church, Chain Reaction and Habitat for Humanity.
Word of the Carver Community Center spread to Georgia and the Rivertown Church of Columbus. They spent a portion of their summer working and volunteering in Century, and church members returned to provide a free Thanksgiving dinner for the town.
And UF IFAS/Extension Escambia County Agents teamed up with Robinson during the summer to offer lessons to about 50 children related to nutrition, preparing healthy food, water resources, insects, livestock, discovering where originates, and healthy choices for the youth of Century.
Pictured top: Marilyn Robinson is honored during 2013 by the Century Town Council. Pictured middle inset: The Carver Community Center. Pictured bottom inset: Children learn about nutrition during a summer event at the Carver Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
2013 In Photos: August And September
January 4, 2014
Florida is not always the “Sunshine State” as seen on Highway 97 in Davisville.
Multiple dump trucks were destroyed by fire at Roads, Inc. on Stone Boulevard in Cantonment.
The Northview Chiefs beat Bozeman 34-14.
West Florida downed Tate.
Jay beat Cottage Hill 18-12.
Groundbreaking was held for the new Ernest Ward Middle School.
Sheriff David Morgan sang the praises of neighborhood watch programs during a Molino meeting.
An empty desk were computers once sat following a burglary at Molino Park Elementary.
Jake Clayton of Molino proposed to his girlfriend Jenna Peoples of Milton during a weekend Pensacola Blue Wahoos game…and she said “yes”.
A Back to School Bash helped the needy in Century prepare for the start of school.
Tate Aggie fans.
Blue Angels at the end of the rainbow, courtesy US Navy.
Marty White marked 40 years on the radio on his “Hometown Morning Show” on WXBM.
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles beat the Panthers of Excel.
A pickup truck plummeted into a rain-swollen creek in Bratt. The driver escaped without injuries.
Hundreds of students gathered at their schools across the area in September during the annual See You at the Pole event.
Northview beat Jay on the volleyball court.
Bailey Burk was crowned homecoming queen at Tate High School.
Tate High School homecoming parade.
There was a big change of address for a home that was located on North Highway 99 in Bratt as it was moved about 10 miles to its new location.
“It literally takes your heart and breaks it” is how one Northview student described the 9/11 Memorial.
Students learn fire safety at the Cantonment fire station.
The Dollar General in Molino was the scene of an armed robbery.
The Young Marines of Pensacola honor LCpl. Travis M. Nelson at the park named in his honor in Bratt.
The Sonic restaurant on Highway 29 in Cantonment closed abruptly in early September.
2013 In Photos: July
January 3, 2014
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2013. Today, we are featuring photos from July.
A Nokomis woman was attacked and mauled by two pit bulls.
North Escambia firefighters practice using the Jaws of Life.
Fire destroyed this pickup on Highway 4 in Walnut Hill.
Molino’s Caleb Gindl made history in July for the Milwaukee Brewers as he became the first in franchise history to hit a walk-off for his first MLB homer.
Two pit bulls attacked a road crew and were later shot and killed by an Escambia County deputy in the Grand Oaks Subdivision in Cantonment near Tate High School.
An educator from Iraq spent time learning about farming in Walnut Hill.
Dozens of local children took part in a musical camp at Highland Baptist Church.
A Walnut Hill farmer fertilizes cotton.
A minister at his post in the chapel of the Century Correctional Institution.
Hail from a summer thunderstorm.
The Pensacola Beach Airshow went on without the Blue Angels.
Community members, seen here reflected in a security mirror, toured the Century Correctional Institution.
Flash flooding at Highway 29 and Highway 97.
Chloe Channel wowed audiences on America’s Got Talent.
Atmore fireworks.
Century fireworks.
Century Care Residents Welcome 2014
January 2, 2014
The residents of Century Care Center welcomed 2014 with a New Year’s Day party Wednesday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview FFA Wraps Up Annual Citrus Sale, Awards Top Members
January 2, 2014
The Northview High School FFA recently completed their annual fruit sale fundraiser.
Selling the most fruit were:
1st Place — Haylee Weaver sold $691 worth of fruit
2nd Place — Bethany Reynolds sold $534 worth of fruit
3rd Place — Kaylee Foster sold $393 worth of fruit
Fruits available included red apples, grapefruit, navel oranges, tangelos and Hamlin oranges.
Pictured top: First place fruit salesperson Haylee Weaver and second place Bethany Reynolds. Not pictured: Third place winner Kaylee Foster. Pictured inset: Some of the hundreds of pounds of fruit the Northview FFA sold. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
2013 In Photos: May And June
January 2, 2014
All this week, we are looking back at the photos that were in the news in 2013. Today, we are featuring photos from May and June.
Area law enforcement agencies held a June active shooter exercise in Flomaton High School.
Gov. Rick Scott signed Florida’s new texting while driving law.
One person was injured in this crash on Highway 29 near Morgan Cemetery Road in Molino.
Ernest Ward Middle School presented academic awards to hundreds of students.
The Northview High School Class of 2013 held their Baccalaureate Service at the First Baptist Church of Bratt.
Hundreds of people attended the 18th annual Heather Leonard Danceworks recital at Northview High School in May.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recovered and returned stolen kart racing equipment belonging to a Molino teen.
An alleged burglar was shot at a home in Walnut Hill.
A high speed chase that began in Brewton, AL, ended with an unsuccessful manhunt in Century.
Northview split two Spring Jamboree games against two Alabama teams.
Fire destroyed this community transportation bus on Highway 29 in Molino. There were no injuries.
Firefighters from Nokomis, AL, joined the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue for joint training.
Two boys playing in a dirt pile at the edge of a Davisville cemetery discovered apparent human remains in early May.
Record crowds attended the annual Sawmill Day and Car Show in May.
The annual Relay for Life of Greater Escambia at Tate High School.
Northview High School presented Grease before a sold-out audience.
Rev. Ted Bridges of the Walnut Hill Baptist Church, on his knees, reading from his Bible during a National Day of Prayer event.
LCDR John Hiltz, pilot of the No. 2 Blue Angels plane, gets a little help with a story that pointed out humans have arms, not wings, during story time at the Molino Branch Library.
Fire damaged the Hadji Shrine Temple on Nine Mile Road in late June.
A stolen BMW was found torched alongside Barrineau Park Road near Molino.
Hundreds of people turned out to honor Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Thomas, 31, who was killed June 10 while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Work started in June on the demolition of a portion of Ernest Ward Middle School for the construction of the new school.
NEP won the Gospel Projects 2013 Tee Ball World Series in June.
A June North Escambia sunset.
A driver slammed his pickup into a Cantonment business. The driver was not seriously injured.
Kids get hands on with a large snake during a program at the Century Branch Library.
Alabama and Florida firefighters held joint “get out alive” training in Atmore.
Flooding closed Highway 29 in Cantonment for about nine hours.
Gov. Rick Scott signs the “Infants Born Alive” bill at the Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Cantonment.
A graduation program was held for eighth graders at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Florida’s first quintuplets, the Bakers, graduated from Tate High School. Pictured (L-R) Ian Kirk, Marcus Wade, Elizabeth Jane, Tristan Miller and Evan Whitson — with mom Mona Baker at Tate High School’s graduation.
Jazzlyn Franklin of Walnut Hill was named the Northview High Class of 2013 valedictorian.