Ernest Ward Middle Thanks Veterans, Honors Memory Of LCpl. Travis Nelson
November 10, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School paused to honor veterans from across the area Wednesday in a very big way, while remembering LCpl. Travis Nelson who was killed in action in August in Afghanistan. Nelson attended middle school at Ernest Ward.
The school honored Nelson with a special video and presented flowers to his parents, Scott and Beckie Nelson, who are both veterans.
It was not the first time Ernest Ward students honored Nelson’s memory. When his remains were transported in a motorcade from Pensacola NAS to Atmore, hundreds of Ernest Ward students dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97 and waved American flags. As Nelson’s remains passed his middle school alma mater, the students stood in total silence, hands over their hearts.
“I applaud you Ernest Ward,” guest speaker Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County School superintendent said, ” for what you did that day, the most proud moment I’ve had since I’ve been superintendent.
“As long as there are young people that understand what you understand,” Thomas told the EWMS student body, “I believe that the future and hope of our country is great. You paid the best tribute you could pay that day, by pausing and sacrificing for a fallen hero — someone that was once one of your own.
“He knew that freedom would not be free; he would stand in the gap and fight the fight so we could grow up and enjoy all the freedoms we enjoy in this country.”
The students also took part in a unique “Thank You” video — presenting the words “Thank You” spelled out in various ways across the campus. The video ended with hundreds of Ernest Ward students spelling “Thank You!” on the school’s football field.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
For the LCpl. Travis Nelson video, click here.
For a portion of Malcolm Thomas’s address, click here.
Pictured top: Flowers are presented to Scott and Beckie Nelson, parents of fallen Marine LCpl. Travis Nelson, during a Veterans Day program Wednesday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured inset: Veteran Mike Hanks salutes the American flag during the program. Pictured below: Hundreds of Ernest Ward students spell out a “Thank You!” to veterans on the school’s football field. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDonald Named Molino Park Elementary Teacher Of Year
November 8, 2011
Twinette McDonald has been named Teacher of the Year at Molino Park Elementary School. She is the school’s music educator.
Pictured: Teacher of Year Twinette McDonald leads students recently at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park To Be Renamed Tuesday For Fallen Marine Lcpl. Travis Nelson
November 7, 2011
The Bratt Community Park will be renamed Tuesday in honor of LCpl. Travis M. Nelson, the local Marine killed in action in Afghanistan on August 18.
An official dedication for the “LCpl Travis M. Nelson Park” and a monument in his honor will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at 2 p.m. at the park on West Highway 4, just west of Northview High School.
The Nelson family requested the county’s permission to place a monument at the park on Highway 4 near Northview High School, just two doors down from where Travis Nelson grew up. The Escambia County Commission later voted to rename the park in the Marine’s honor.
Nelson was the first soldier killed in action from the Walnut Hill or Bratt area since 1969.
Pictured top: Work continues on a memorial in honor of LCpl Travis M. Nelson at the Bratt Community Park, which will be renamed Tuesday in Nelson’s honor. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Fire Honors Firemen, Community Members During Fish Fry
November 6, 2011
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department honored members of the community and the department during their 42nd annual fish fry Saturday.
District Chief Chris Brown said the Walnut Hill Station had responded to 357 calls during the past year in their 200 square mile district with 16 active members.
Chester Jantz received the department’s community service award for hosting the annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo at his catfish pond on South Highway 99. The fishing rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization. [Click here for a May story about this year's fishing rodeo.]
Jeffrey Huber was recognized as firefighter of the year, an award chosen by his peers. Kevin Mininger was named officer of the year. Arthur Levins was also recognized for 30 years of service to the department on Saturday, his 50th birthday, with a gift, cake and a letter from Gov. Rick Scott.
The department also recognized Robbie Whitfield for providing over 7,200 training hours for station members.
A blood drive during the fish fry collected 25 units of blood, according to Sarah Noel of Northwest Florida Blood Services. She said 110 units of blood were collected during drives at the Walnut Hill fire department during the year, up from last year. The next blood drive at the Walnut Hill Fire Station will be 8 a.m. until noon on January 12.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: Kevin Mininger (left) was honored as officer of the year Saturday by the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Pictured inset and below: Hundreds enjoyed the department’s annual fish fry. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Northview High 2011 Homecoming Court
November 6, 2011
Lauren McCall was named the 2011 Northview High School Homecoming Queen Friday night. Also named Friday night were:
- First Runner-up: Mallory Turner
- Second Runner-up: Savanna Singleton
- Junior Maid: Shaquanna Jones
- Sophomore Maid: Lindsey Francis
- Freshman Maid: Kamryn Brock
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Sophomore Maid Lindsey Francis, Junior Maid Shaquanna Jones, Second Runner-up Savanna Singleton, Homecoming Queen Lauren McCall, First Runner-up Mallory Turner, and Freshman Maid Kamryn Brock. Pictured inset: 2010 Homecoming Queen Brooke Tullis crowns 2011 Northview High School Homecoming Queen Lauren McCall. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Homecoming Parade
November 5, 2011
Click here for a photo gallery from Friday afternoon’s Northview High School Homecoming Parade.
Pictured: The Northview High School Homecoming Parade rolls through Bratt Friday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Molino Fall Carnival
November 1, 2011
Hundreds of people attended a community-wide Fall Festival in Molino Monday night. Sponsored by four area churches, the interdenominational event provided a safe Christian alternative on Halloween night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The event was sponsored by Victory Assembly of God, Highland Baptist Church, CrossFaith Church and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
Pictured top: The “Potty Toss” was a popular game Monday night during an annual Fall Festival in Molino. Pictured inset and below: The annual Fall Festival sponsored by four Molino area churches Monday night in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Century Care Center Halloween Carnival
November 1, 2011
Century Care Center held their annual Halloween Fall Carnival Monday afternoon with lots of fun and a haunted house for trick 0r treaters.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino Park Fairy Tale Night
October 31, 2011
Molino Park Elementary School recently held their annual Fairy Tale Night with activities to encourage students to enjoy reading.
In additional to fairy tales “Paul Bunyan” read by Matt Brabham and “The Three Little Pigs” read by Paul Morrellbook, events included a character costume contest, with Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and a pirate from Peter Pan stealing the show.
Pictured: Fair Tale Night at Molino Park Elementary School. Submitted photos by Candice Blackburn for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Robots Bring Out The BEST In Local Students
October 30, 2011
A cheering crowd, referees, mascots and cheerleaders – no, it’s not another football game.
On Saturday morning the University of West Florida Field House buzzed with activity and the Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition whirred to a start.
The competition plays out in an arena setting as 20 area high schools and middle schools compete against each other with their robots. Gulf Power Company is the major sponsor for the Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition, which is held annually.
This year’s theme for the competition, BUGS, refers to a conceived disaster of genetically engineered bugs escaping from a BEST lab. The goal for the robots is to recover and contain the bugs before they create a potential health and environmental crisis.
Students had six weeks to build their robots and teams were judged on robot performance, oral presentation, table display, project notebook, spirit and sportsmanship.
It’s all a part of an initiative to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition each fall. Student teams are judged on robot performance, marketing presentation, team exhibit/interview, project engineering notebook, and spirit and sportsmanship.
Introduced by two MIT students, BEST — Boosting, Engineering, Science, and Technology — has grown into a nationally recognized competition challenging more than 50,000 participants since its start in 1993. Area schools have been competing since 2004, when Gulf Power sponsored eight local teams in the regional competition in Mobile.
Dallas Rich, a math and science teach from Workman Middle School, said the competition encompasses everything they want to teach the students.
“This is the best program I’ve ever seen. It involves problem-solving, sportsmanship and gives the kids a real-world aspect of life,” said Rich.
Austin Scharer, eighth grader from Workman Middle School, said he will definitely compete again next year. “The competition is nerve-racking, but as long as the team sticks together, we’ll be alright.”
“There is a lot of camaraderie between the competing schools as well,” said Rich. “It’s a great positive atmosphere.”
Four schools in Northwest Florida were among the winners that will advance to the finals at Auburn University December 2-3 – Milton High School, Pensacola High School, Seaside Neighborhood and Woodham Middle School.
Winners:
BEST Award
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
2. Woodham Middle School
3. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
Game Award
1. Milton High School
2. Pensacola High School
3. Seaside Neighborhood School
4. Hobbs Middle School
Best T-shirt Design Award
1. Deane Bozeman K-12 School
Web Page Design Award
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
Founders Award for Creative Design
1. Workman Middle School
2. Seaside Neighborhood School
3. Hobbs Middle School
Most Robust Robot
1. Milton High School
2. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
3. Seaside Neighborhood School
Most Photogenic Robot
1. Bethlehem K-12
2. Hobbs Middle School
3. West Florida High School
Best Team Exhibit and Interview
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
Best Marketing Presentation
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
Best Project Engineering Notebook
1. Holley Navarre Middle School
Best Spirit and Sportsmanship
1. Seaside Neighborhood School
Hub Director’s Pit Friend Award
1. Pensacola High School
HEXBUG Busy Bee Award
1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
Gulf Power- Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape Award
1. Brown Barge Middle School
This year’s teams:
Bay County: Deane Bozeman K-12 School
Escambia County: Bellview Middle School, Brown-Barge Middle School, Escambia High School, Newpoint Pensacola High School, Pensacola High School, Ransom Middle School, Tate High School, West Florida High School, Woodham Middle School, Workman Middle School
Holmes County: Bethlehem K-12 School
Jackson County: Cottondale High School
Santa Rosa County: Avalon Middle School, Hobbs Middle School, Holley-Navarre Middle School, Milton High School, Pace High School, Woodlawn Beach Middle School
Walton County: Seaside Neighborhood Middle School
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
