Malone, Meacham To Wed
December 11, 2011
Allen and Shelly Jay of Atmore and Blake and Jackie Malone of Pass Christian, MS, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kaysie Antoinette Malone, to Norvelle Alexander Meacham of Perdido, AL, the son of Tom and Bobbie Meacham.
Kaysie graduated in 2010 from Atmore Christian School. She is a full time student at University of Mobile studying elementary education and works with Atmore Ambulance.
Alex graduated in 2008 from Atmore Christian School. He is the intern assistant to the Director of International Ministries and Church Planting for the Mobile Baptist Association and is a sales associate at Kohl’s. Alex is also a student at University of Mobile majoring in intercultural studies.
The wedding will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at Brooks Memorial Baptist Church on McRae Street in Atmore. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Jay Native, Century Correctional Employee Serving In Afghanistan Receives Awards
December 9, 2011
An Jay native assigned to NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan was recently awarded for actions taken in early August when his team successfully combated an insurgent attack in Kabul.
U.S. Army Sgt. Chester Tolbert helped defeat a multiphased attack in which insurgents used small-arms and improvised explosive devices to attack the British Council Building, a base located in a relatively upscale area of the country’s capital used for education and helping Afghanistan’s civil society groups. Although no U.S. service members were harmed, 12 people died in the attack.
Stateside, Tolbert was employed by the Florida Department of Corrections at Century Correctional Institution.
Commander Task Force Yankee Army Brig. Gen. John Hammond presented Tolbert with Joint Service Achievement Medal and combat action badge.
“I’m extremely proud of the soldiers,” said Hammond. “Our medics responded to the wounded while the remaining soldiers worked toward assisting the Afghan partners and special operations forces in neutralizing the insurgents … they all worked hard and came together extremely well.”
Pictured top: U.S. Army Sgt. Chester Tolbert, from the 1165th Military Police Unit assigned to Task Force Yankee in Kabul, receives a Joint Service Achievement Medal and a combat action badge for actions taken in early August when his team successfully combated an insurgent attack on the British Council Building. Picture inset: Sgt. Tolbert helps an Afghan National Police officer detect vehicle threat indications in the heart of downtown Kabul last early last month. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Nominate North Escambia Persons Of The Year
December 9, 2011
NorthEscambia.com will honor several North Escambia residents as North Escambia Persons of the Year as 2011 comes to a close, and we need your help.
We are asking our readers to nominate individuals that they believe made a difference in North Escambia during 2011. We will choose several of them to be named as a 2011 North Escambia Person of the Year. The awards are our way of saying thanks to those that have worked to improve our lives in the North Escambia area during the past year.
We are not necessarily looking for a person with a long list of accomplishments. We are looking for people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2011.
To nominate someone, please email their name, contact information (if known), and the reason why you believe they should be a Person of the Year. The person must either be a resident of North Escambia, work in North Escambia or otherwise have significantly impacted North Escambia in some way. For the purposes of this award, we define North Escambia as being Cantonment north to the Alabama line.
Entries should be emailed to news@northescambia.com by Tuesday, December 20. We need your email and phone number just in case we have questions, but your name and contact information will not be published.
Please make your nominations by email; do not use the story comment form below.
The 2011 North Escambia Persons of the Year will be named after Christmas.
Pictured: Lawrence and Doris Cooper, two of the North Escambia Persons of the Year for 2010. Read their story by clicking here. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: An Old Fashioned Canoe Christmas Celebration
December 9, 2011
It was an old fashioned Christmas celebration Thursday night as friends and neighbors came together with the Canoe Civic Club. The group sang Christmas carols, ate great food and just enjoyed spending time with friends and neighbors from Canoe, Bratt, Walnut Hill and surrounding areas in a celebration reminiscent of community gatherings from days gone by.
Longtime Canoe Civic Club member Caroline Conn (who is sometimes affectionately referred to as the mayor of Canoe, Alabama ) shared her thanks with club members for their friendship, support and labor of love for the club.
Mike Hanks from the First Baptist Church of Bratt led the crowd in Christmas carols as his wife Gayle Hanks played the piano, and a group from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church treated the crowd to Christmas carols.
Have photos to share from your community event? Email them to news@northescambia.com
Pictured top: A group from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church performs Christmas carols Thursday night at the Canoe (Ala.) Civic Club. Pictured inset: Mike Hanks from the First Baptist Church of Bratt led Christmas carols. Pictured below. Caroline Conn (far right), the “mayor of Canoe”, visits with friends and neighbors. NorthEscambia.com photos by Marcella Wilson, click to enlarge.
Jailers Collect 166 Coats For Needy Kids
December 8, 2011
The Detention Division of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office collection 166 coats to keep children warm in the Jay area during the long cold days of winter. The coats were collected as part of the “Coats for Kids Drive”. The nearly 14 dozen coats will be distributed by the Jay Chamber of Commerce.
C-Shift was tops in the coat drive, collecting 65 coats. They received a certificate and a pizza party for their efforts.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Flomaton High Group Brings Cheer To Century Care Center
December 8, 2011
Members of the Flomaton High School Beta Club visited Century Care Center this week. The group sang Christmas carols and brought a gift for every resident at the facility.
For more photos, click here.
Pictured: Members of the Flomaton High School Beta Club sang carols and provided gifts for the residents of the Century Care Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Christmas Parade Set For Saturday
December 7, 2011
Final plans are being made now for the 9th Annual Molino Christmas Parade this Saturday.
The parade begins at 1 p.m. and will travel the intersection of Crabtree Church and Sunshine Hill roads to the Molino Ballpark where Santa will visit with all the good little boys and girls.
Entries are still being accepted for the parade; pre-register at Fran’s Diner or Barnes Feed Store, or register the day of the parade. Parade line-up will be at 12:15. Entry fees are $20 for floats; vehicles, motorcycles, golf carts and tractors are $10; and horses are $5 each. Go karts and 4-wheelers are not allowed.
For more information, contact Jayson Ging at (850) 587-2825, Fran’s Diner at (850) 587-2803, Barnes Feed Store at (850) 587-4060 or Christy Wise at (850) 587-3107.
All proceeds from the parade benefit Molino area children in need during the Christmas season. Donations of toys and non-perishable food items are also being accepted at Fran’s Diner.
In the event of rain, the parade will be rescheduled for Sunday, December 11 at 2:30 p.m.
Pictured: Scenes from last year’s Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Toyz For Kidz Bike Ride To Help Those In Need
December 6, 2011
Santa will have some very special helpers on Saturday as the LA Bikers roll across the area to make sure needy kids get a Christmas present.
The 11th Annual Toyz for Kidz Bike Ride will raise funds for the program and distribute toys to families in need.
The event begins at David’s Catfish on South Main Street in Atmore with registration from 9-10 a.m. The ride will begin at 10, traveling first to Bratt Elementary School, then to Arrington Auto Parts in Flomaton and the Atmore City Hall. At each stop, families that are already preselected will receive the toy donations.
Registration is $20 per bike, with all proceeds going to the LA Bikers Toyz for Kidz program. For more information, contact Jody Jeter at (251) 547-7030.
Hot Dog! It’s The Wienermobile In North Escambia
December 6, 2011
The world-famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was spotted in the North Escambia area Monday afternoon.
The unmistakeable 27-foot long hot dog-shaped vehicle traveled through Atmore, south along Highway 97 through Walnut Hill, and then down Highway 29 from Molino to Pensacola. NorthEscambia.com was able to “ketchup” with the Wienermobile for some photos in front of Ernest Ward Middle School. The giant fiberglass bun was, well, a bit soggy from the rain as it turned heads on Highway 97.
There are actually six full-size Wienermobiles; the one in the area Monday was the big wiener itself with the Wisconsin license plate of “WEENR”.
They are driven by “Hotdoggers” — college seniors who cut the mustard from thousands of applicants to operate the vehicle from a “condiment control panel”. They are able to relish the job for a year before moving along.
Frankly, it’s all about the brand on the Wienermobile; the horn even plays the jingle “I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener”.
Pictured above: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile passes Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill Monday afternoon. Pictured below: The Wienermobile in downtown Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Atmore photos courtesy Regina Hare and Casey Hare for NorthEscambia.com.
Local Woman One Of America’s Newest Citizens
December 5, 2011
A Flomaton resident is one of America’s newest citizens.
Jeanette Johnson and 19 others became United States citizens following a naturalization ceremony in U.S. District Court in Mobile last Thursday. Jeanette, who is originally from the Philippines, lives in Flomaton with her husband Steven and daughter Breanna.
Pictured: New American citizen Jeanette Johnson of Flomaton, along with her husband Steven and daughter Breanna following a naturalization ceremony in Mobile. Submitted photos by Kelly McNeese for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.