Perry Byars Named Northview High Teacher Of The Year

March 4, 2013

Perry Byars has been named Teacher of the Year at Northview High School. Byars has been teaching for 25 years and currently teaches Agriscience.  While attending the University of Florida,Byars earned both his Bachelors degree and Masters degree in Agriculture. He also earned an Associates degree from Lake City Community College.  He is the sponsor of the National FFA Organization at Northview. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week

March 4, 2013

Escambia County Extension and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) are drawing attention to invasive species during National Invasive Species Awareness Week, March 2 to March 8. Invasive species are non-native or exotic species that do not naturally occur in an area and cause economic, environmental harm or harm to human health.

Invasive exotic plants and animals cause many challenges for natural resource managers of timber, wildlife and recreational uses. Invasive species can displace native plants and wildlife affecting fire regimes, water flow and biodiversity. Private and public lands are in need of frequent treatment to eradicate these invasive species. Invasive species do not know boundaries and as a result public and private lands are affected as well as natural and man-made water bodies and associated watersheds.

For more information on prevention and containment of invasive species contact Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or click here.

Pictured: Cogongrass, considered one of the 10 worst weeks in the world, occurs throughout Florida, displacing native species. Courtesy photo  for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Escambia Residents Take Part In Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee

March 4, 2013

Numerous Escambia County residents joined Vice President Joe Biden and a host of U.S. House and Senate members in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee. The annual event commemorating the beating of voting rights marchers on  “Bloody Sunday” in 1965 during which the marchers were turned around as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge on their march from Selma to Montgomery. Speakers at the Martin and Coretta King Unity Brunch at Wallace Community College prior to the bridge crossing included Eddie Tullis, former chief of the Poarch Creek Indians. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

North Escambia Bee Association Holds Annual Workshop

March 3, 2013

The annual North Escambia Bee Association Workshop was held Saturday at Northview High School.

The event featured a variety of workshops and demonstrations as beekeepers from across the area gathered.

Participants learned about caring for their hives, pesticides, honey production and more.

For more photos, click here.

Pictured: The annual North Escambia Bee Association Workshop was held Saturday at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Birth: Ellison Harper Miller

March 3, 2013

Ellison Harper Miller was born January 22, 2013, at 3:43 p.m., weighing 7-pounds 0.5-ounces and 19¾ inches long.  She was welcomed by parents Eli and Sarah Miller and big brother John Parker.

Her maternal grandfather is John Johnson of Bratt, and paternal grandparents are Joyce and Ronnie Crutchfield of Cantonment and Jimmy and Becky Miller of Molino.

Photo by Dellaina Jordan Photography.

Escambia Special Olympics Held At Tate (With Gallery)

March 2, 2013

The track and field portion of the Escambia County Specials Olympics was held Friday at Tate High School.

Hundreds of athletes from over a dozen schools took part in Friday’s event. Hundreds of Tate High students also took part,  running events and serving as volunteer “buddies” for the athletes.

The day included track and field events, softball and tennis ball tosses, and other competitive events — plus fun events like fishing games, a petting zoo, face painting and more.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Pictured: Friday’s track and field events Special Olympics held  Friday at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Photos: Northview’s Got Talent

March 2, 2013

Northview High School held their annual talent show Friday night.

Winners were:

1st place -  Dance Group
2nd place — Guitar Trio
3rd place — Alison Bardin
Honorable mentions — Morgan Ward, Anna Donald
“Crowd Pleaser” — Northwest Florida Swim Team

For a photo gallery, click here.

Pictured top: Talent show first place winners “Dance Group”. Pictured inset: Honorable mention winner Morgan Ward. Pictured below: Second place winning guitar trio. Pictured below: The “Northwest Florida Swim Team”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Local Singer Releases First Songs, Bluff Springs Music Video Premieres

February 28, 2013

Molino native and Tate High grad Dusty Sanderson’s first four songs and his first music video — filmed in Escambia County — have been released.

Sanderson, 20, signed with Lamon Records and recorded his four-song EP at Quad Studios in Nashville with Grammy nominated producer Dave Moody. His first music video for the title track “Chuggin’ Along” was shot January 24 in Bluff Springs, including a bonfire scene that featured a lot of his friends around a bonfire enjoying the song. Additional scenes were filmed earlier in the day at Chan’s on Nine Mile Road.

The first single “Chuggin’ Along” has just shipped to country radio stations across the nation. The four-song album highlights Dusty’s songwriting abilities, and in addition to the title cut, it includes “Dang Good Country Song,” “Country to the Stone,” and the ballad “This Old Guitar”.

“I’m still overwhelmed. It’s just crazy how fast a childhood dream can turn into a reality if you work hard enough for it,” Sanderson told NorthEscambia.com.

Sandrson has been playing guitar since he was 10 years old and singing since he turned 14. “It all started around a bonfire on the river,” he said, “with just me and my guitar, which eventually led to me getting my first real gig in my hometown at a little place called the Fugly Worm.”

Asked about his songwriting, Sanderson said, “I’ve been interested in writing songs all my life, but I didn’t get serious about it until I was 17. I had a girlfriend that I spent all day, every day with, so when she took a trip to LA for a week I had no clue what to do with my time, so I sat down in my room and started writing.” And he’s not stopped since.

“Chuggin’ Along” and Dusty Sanderson’s complete four song EP release are available from iTunes and Amazon.com. To watch the “World Premiere” of Sanderson’s video “Chuggin’ Along” on NorthEscambia.com, click here.

The Dusty Sanderson band will open for the Kentucky Headhunters on Saturday, March 16 at Beulahfest.

Pictured: Scenes from Dusty Sanderson’s video “Chuggin’ Along” that was filmed partially in Bluff Springs, just off Highway 29 in North Escambia. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Sherri Stallworth Named Ernest Ward Middle Teacher Of The Year

February 28, 2013

Sherri Stallworth has been named the Teacher of the Year at Ernest Ward Middle School. Stallworth serves as the school’s media specialist, and also coordinates the production of the Ernest Ward Middle School yearbook “The Talon”. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Area Students Visit Space, Rocket Center, Science Lab

February 27, 2013

Fifth graders from Escambia Academy in Canoe, Ala., recently took their annual field trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.

The students from Elizabeth McDonald’s class learned the history of space travel, participated in chemistry labs, rode flight simulators and went rock climbing.

The students also stopped at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham where they were able to pet sharks and stingrays, learn about bugs and birds and get hands-on with a variety of scientific equipment.

Pictured top: Escambia Academy fifth graders at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville: (front, L-R) Olivia Lamb, Ragon Lassiter, Madison Hammons, Makenzie Rolin, Malorie Parker, Abby Stewart, Rachel Donald, Madelyn Smith, Mary-Stuart Lewis, Lily Woods, (middle row) Chase Bell, Gracie Girby, (back row) Troy Fountain, Shivam Bhakta, Chaz McGhee, Sam Smith, Bryant Quimby, Hart Taylor, Parker Reynolds and Matthew Ray. Pictured below: Troy Fountain, Shivam Bhakta, Sam Smith and Matthew Ray get a close look at a lunar rock. Pictured inset: Chase Bell and Madison Hammons conduct a science experiement. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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