Ernest Ward FFA Holds Breakfast
February 26, 2009
FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School did their part to celebrate National FFA Week with a Wednesday morning breakfast for faculty and staff.
“Step Up, Stand Out” is the theme of National FFA Week this year as more than half a million members around the nation are participating in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. Stepping up and standing out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it’s also a call to action for others. FFA members set a positive example with their leadership, work ethic and community service activities
Students cooked a breakfast of eggs, grits, biscuits, bacon, sausage and more for the EWMS faculty and staff.
Click here for a photo gallery from the breakfast.
Pictured above: FFA members at Ernest Ward Middle School served breakfast to school staff Wednesday morning as part of their National FFA Week activities. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Church Donates Bears To Atmore Police
February 26, 2009
Romeo’s little bear Sam will provide a little bit of joy for a child that might have experienced the worst day of their life.
Sam is one of 10 Build-A-Bear stuffed animals presented to the Atmore Police Department Wednesday morning by the Senior Adults at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. Sam was the creation of Bratt member Romeo Coleman.
The First Baptist Church of Bratt Senior Adults donated the stuffed animals to Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean. Dean said the bears will be given to children that are experiencing a crisis such as a violent event or a house fire.
“A lot of times it will give them something they can hold on to and hug,” Dean said. “That can make them feel better where there is something bad going on.”
Each stuffed animal’s box contains the phone number for Bratt Pastor Gary Wieborg. That way, church member Marcella Wilson said, a family in need has an easy way to contact a pastor to help them in their time of need.
“A lot of people in the department have a tender heart for the kids,” Dean said. “These bears are a very good thing for the kids.”
The Bratt Senior Adults have plans to purchase more bears to be presented to the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Department.
Pictured top: The Senior Adults from the First Baptist Church of Bratt presented Build-A-Bear stuffed animals to the Atmore Police Department Wednesday morning. Pictured are (L-R) Barbara Posey, Robery Bartley, Nina Bartley, Marcella Wilson, Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean, Romeo Coleman, Winnie Hollingsworth and Pastor Gary Wieborg. Pictured inset: Romeo Coleman and his bear Sam. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire In The Sky
February 26, 2009
Several large control burns around the area have led to lots of smoke in North Escambia the past few days, creating a unique sunset Wednesday evening.
Winds will be light from the southeast today, allowing the smoke to settle in some areas. It will be warm through Saturday, with afternoon high expected to top out around 75.
Rain creeps in to the forecast by Friday night at 30 percent. The rain chance jumps to 60 percent for Saturday and continues at 40 percent for Saturday night.
By Sunday, the rain will clear and it will be cooler with a high of just 58 degrees.
Pictured above: Drifting smoke led to an interesting sunset Wednesday afternoon. The sun can be seen through a drifting cloud of smoke. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Let The Good Times Roll! Century Care Celebrates Mardi Gras
February 25, 2009
Residents at the Century Care Center celebrated Mardi Gras Tuesday in grand style with both a parade and a party.
The parade, held Tuesday morning, featured lots of throws, including Mardi Gras beads and other trinkets. Residents in Mardi Gras costumes paraded and rolled through the hallways in their wheelchairs to the delight of other residents watching the parade.
Ms. Katie Clark was named Century Care Center’s Mardi Gras Queen, and Mr. Grady Sims was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King at a Tuesday afternoon Mardi Gras party.
Click here for a complete photo gallery.
Pictured above: A Mardi Gras parade will held Tuesday at the Century Care Center. Pictured below: Mrs. Katie Clark (left) was named Century Care Center’s Mardi Gras Queen and Mr. Grady Sims was named CCC’s Mardi Gras King. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Northview Celebrates National FFA Week With Faculty/Staff Breakfast
February 25, 2009
FFA members at Northview High School celebrated National FFA Week Tuesday morning by cooking breakfast for the faculty and staff.
“Step Up, Stand Out” is the theme of National FFA Week this year as more than half a million members around the nation are participating in National FFA Week activities at the local and state levels. Stepping up and standing out is not only a way of life for FFA members, but it’s also a call to action for others. FFA members set a positive example with their leadership, work ethic and community service activities
Students cooked a breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes, grits, biscuits and sausage for the NHS faculty and staff and local agricultural and community leaders.
The FFA began in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America.
For more pictures from the National FFA Week breakfast at Northview High School, click here.
Northview High School has had an active FFA membership since it opened. Ernest Ward Middle School started a FFA chapter in 2005. Both schools work together, volunteer in the community and help each other throughout the school year.
Pictured above: Northview FFA students serve a National FFA Week breakfast Tuesday morning at the school. Pictured left: Northview FFA Vice President Allie Vidak serves eggs to the school faculty. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Eagle Cafe: Ernest Ward Middle Art Contest
February 24, 2009
Sixth grader Kyndall Hall’s artwork will proudly decorate the Eagle Cafe at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The school held a contest for a logo for a large lunchroom food service cart the school acquired from the Washington High School. EWMS tudents voted on which piece of artwork they liked best without knowing the name of the artist.
The serving cart be decorated with the new artwork by the beginning of next school year.
Other students submitting artwork in the contest were Katelyn Ziza, Tamara Wise, Emily Gudell, Tiffani Cruce, Julia Thorpe and Kent Smith.
Click here to see all of the entries.
Pictured top: Kyndall Hall’s drawing that will decorate the Eagle Cafe at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured left: Kyndall Hall with the food service cart that will be decorated with the logo. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EREC Youth Tour Participants Visit Tallahassee
February 24, 2009
Escambia River Electric Cooperative took 16 juniors from its service area to Tallahassee recently to learn more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives as part of its Youth Tour.
While in Tallahassee, the students met with Representatives Clay Ford and Dave Murzin and had the opportunity to tour the governor’s mansion. The students participated in a mock session in the house chambers and in the Florida Supreme Court as well. In addition, the students enjoyed visiting the Mary Brogan Museum and seeing the “Our Body – The Universe Within” exhibit.
Participants included Jessica Bloodsworth, Erica Bogden, Emma Bone, Sandra Boyett, Jordan Bray, Clint Davis, Kathryn Floyd, Drew Garcia, Travis Hatfield, Bridget Jacobs, Heather Lee, Austin Lowery, Miranda Scott, Felicia Settle, Allison Spence and Allison White.
The Youth Tour program provides students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact with other students from co-ops throughout the state. It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group.
Pictured above: EREC Youth Tour students outside the Governor’s Mansion. Front (L-R): Sandra Boyett, Heather Lee, Allison White, Kathryn Floyd, Erica Bogden, Jordan Bray, Jessica Bloodsworth, Miranda Scott, Felicia Settle and Allison Spence. Back (L-R): Emma Bone, Bridget Jacobs, Drew Garcia, Austin Lowery, Travis Hatfield and Clint Davis. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Many Northview FBLA Students Place In District Competition
February 20, 2009
The FBLA from Northview High School participated in the 2008-2009 FBLA District I Competition recently at the University of West Florida. High schools from across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties partipated in the event.
Northview winners were:
- Business Calculations: Brett Hanks, 3rd; Ashley Snow, 4th.
- Business Law: Magen Weekly, 1st
- Business Math: Kayla Hall, 4th; Derrick Portis, 5th
- Business Presentation (team): Amber Holland, 1st; Samantha Merritt, 1st; Amie Sutton, 1st
- Business Procedures: Kinsey Hendrix, 3rd; Shaquaina Lewis, 5th
- Desktop Publishing (team): Alex McDonald, 4th; Megan Tharp, 4th
- Introduction to Business: Destiny Showers, 5th
- Introduction to Business Communication: Taylor Byrd, 2nd
- Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures: Heather Kite, 2nd
- Public Speaking I: Rebecca Dean, 2nd
- Public Speaking II: Zachary Lamb, 2nd
- Word Processing II: Alesha Copeland, 4th; Kayla Rentz, 5th
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kids Race To Fun At The Library
February 20, 2009
Boys and girls raced to the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon for a racing story time, the chance to sit in a real race car and a high speed box car derby.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured above: Ready…set…go! A box car race at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Pictured below: Children had the chance to sit in a real race car. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
North Escambia History Began With The Spanish
February 19, 2009
North Escambia can trace its history back to the Spanish with the first settlers in the area arriving when this area was a Spanish territory.
With the King and Queen of Spain in Escambia County today, we thought we would take a trip back to the early 1800’s when North Escambia was part of the Spanish kingdom.
The first recorded settler in Walnut Hill was John Gaylor in or about 1816. Gaylor received a land grant for acreage near Walnut Hill from the Spanish government. North Escambia was part of the Spanish Territory at the time. The land grant was for land located in the vicinity of the present-day Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Gaylor was under contract to use the land to raise cattle to be sold to the Spanish in Pensacola.
Many of the first settlers in the Davisville area also lived on land from Spanish Land Grants along Pine Barren Creek, known then as the Paxesco River.
The Spanish Land Grants were land claims filed by settlers in Florida after the transfer of the territory from Spain to the United States in 1821 in order to prove land ownership. Starting in 1790, Spain offered land grants to encourage settlement to the sparsely populated and vulnerable Florida colony. When the United States assumed control of Florida, it agreed to honor any valid land grants.
Residents had to prove that validity through documentation and testimonials. Those records became the dossiers filed by grantees to the U.S. government. They were either confirmed (found to be valid) or unconfirmed (found invalid) by the US government through land commissions, federal courts, or by the U.S. Congress. Most of the records for West Florida are missing.
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain are in Pensacola today to help celebrate the city’s 450th anniversary.
Pictured: Copies of the Land District West Territory of Florida records from 1826 confirming John Gaylor’s Spanish Land Claim for land in Walnut Hill. Click to enlarge.