Molino Park Students Plant Tree In Memory Of Late Teacher
April 23, 2009
Fifth grade students at Molino Park Elementary planted a tree Wednesday in honor of Earth Day and a beloved teacher that passed away on the last day of school last year.
On the final day of school last year, fourth grade teacher Sharon Smith waved goodbye to her students, turned around and lost her breath. She died a short time later. She spent 36 years of her life educating students at the former Molino Elementary School and at Molino Park.
A year later, Mrs. Smith’s fourth grade students have moved on to fifth grade, but they have not forgotten Mrs. Smith, planting the blooming Japanese cherry tree in her honor Wednesday.
Fifth grade teacher Florence Cutler directed the tree planting after a moment of silence for Mrs. Smith. Several students from Mrs. Smith’s previous fourth grade class shoveled dirt around the tree. Also, bench was donated by the teachers and staff of Molino Park Elementary and placed beside the tree.
For more photos from the tree planting, click here.
To read more about Mrs. Smith, click here for the NorthEscambia.com article about her death from last year.
Mrs. Smith was also honored as one of the NorthEscambia.com Persons of the Year for 2008. To read that story, click here.
Pictured above: Fifth grade students planted a tree in memory of Mrs. Sharon Smith on Wednesday. Pictured below: Mrs. Sharon Smith and her fourth grade class wave goodbye about five minutes before their final walk to the buses on the final day of school last year at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Bus Drivers Meet To Discuss Student Safety
April 23, 2009
The 26 bus operators in Escambia County’s North Sector held an Excellence Forum Wednesday to discuss issues related to student transportation.
The bus operators met at Northview High School with Eric Fritz, the Escambia School District’s director of transportation.
“The meeting was held so that the drivers could make a presentation to Mr. Fritz with ideas and goals for our district transportation department,” said Tina Vickery, route supervisor for North Escambia. “Many ideas and goals were presented with enthusiasm and team spirit as we work together for the safe transportation of our most precious cargo, the school students of the North Sector of Escambia County.”
Bank Night For Relay; Skunk A Friend, Help ACS
April 22, 2009
From “skunking” your favorite person to simply using your credit card, there are several ways left to contribute to Century’s Relay for Life.
Tuesday was “bank night” for Century’s Relay for Life — the night for teams to get together, turn in funds raised to date and make final plans for Saturday’s big event. But it’s not too late to donate to Relay and the American Cancer Society.
The Century Library Relay team will “skunk” someone for Relay. They will place the skunked sign and skunks at the location of your choice for $5. Once you’ve been skunked, the sign stays until you donate $5 to relay for life. If you never want to be skunked again, that takes a $10 donation to Relay for Life. To have someone skunked, call the library at at 256-6217.
If you would like to donate to Relay online, that’s easy too. You can click here to make a secure online donation to the NorthEscambia.com Relay team.
Century’s Relay for Life will be held from noon Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday at Kayo Stanton Stadium at the old Century High School. Even if not part of a team, members of the public are invited to stop by during the event to enjoy entertainment, food and lots of fun — including a frozen t-shirt contest, tricycle race, team karaoke and more.
Participating teams will include the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Bryneville Elementary, Carver/Century K-8, Century Branch Library, Century Correctional Institute, Century Pharmacy, Critter Caregivers, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department and NorthEscambia.com.
EREC Announces Youth Tour Winners
April 21, 2009
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has named their 2009 Youth Tour to Washington contest winners.
Heather Lee from West Florida Academy was named the Escambia County representative, and Bridget Jacobs from Jay High School was named the Santa Rosa County representative on the Washington Youth Tour.
Students from our area interviewed with a panel of judges in this competition for a chance to win the opportunity to visit Washington on the Youth Tour to learn more about rural electrification, our nation’s capital and more.
“EREC is very proud to have these two outstanding students represent them on the Washington Youth Tour this year,” said Sabrina Owens, EREC’s director of marketing. “Congratulations to each of them on achieving this honor.”
Judges from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in Andalusia, Ala., scored contestants on their interviews based on their knowledge of Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Children of EREC employees are not eligible for the EREC Youth Tour competition, but those children can apply to the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA) Youth Tour contest for Florida co-op employee children. Travis Hatfield, son of EREC warehouse manager David Hatfield, won the EREC slot for employee children.
Hatfield competed against other co-op employee children across the state of Florida by writing an essay entitled “America’s Energy Future” and was selected by a panel of judges to represent the Florida Electric Cooperative Association on the Youth Tour.
The 2009 Youth Tour is June 12-18.
Pictured above: EREC Youth Tour winners (L-R) Bridget Jacobs, Heather Lee and Travis Hatfield. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Of The Year Named
April 20, 2009
Several North Escambia students were recently recognized as Students of the Year by the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs.
The students were presented their award by members of the Escambia County School Board and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at a recent program in Pensacola.
From North Escambia, the Students of the Year were:
- O’Neshia Spencer, Bratt Elementary
- Trevor Levins, Byrneville Elementary
- Andrea “Shea” Nall, Carver/Century K-8
- Jordan Helmken, Molino Park Elementary
- Angel Mitchell, Ernest Ward Middle
Pictured above: Angel Mitchell was the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs Student of the Year from Ernest Ward Middle School. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Century Plus Eight: Century Celebrates Birthday
April 19, 2009
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society celebrated the 108th birthday of Century Saturday with a day of activities.
The day featured Civil War reenactors, displays from museums, free museum tours, yard sale items, food, entertainment and more.
The events took place in the area of the Alger-Sullivan Historical District on Jefferson Avenue.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from Century’s 108th Birthday Bash Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Thank You For Underwear Drive Help
April 19, 2009
Several North Escambia churches and organizations recently conducted an underwear drive for the Gulf Coast Kid’s House
The following “thank you” was submitted by Rikki Vidak of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, the group the organized the drive.
Our Underwear Drive was very successful and we would like to thank the many organizations and people who took their time and money to help these children in need. We
were able to fill an SUV – our version of Cram the Van!
We would like to thank:
- Aldersgate UMC
- Walnut Hill Baptist Church
- Oak Grove Baptist Church
- Highland Baptist Church
- St. Monica’s Episcopal Church
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Northview High School FCCLA
- Farm Bureau Offices Molino and 9 Mile Road
Rikki Vidak
Farm Bureau Women’s Committee
Pictured above: Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members (L-R) Rikki Vidak, Jane Breault and Martha Carpenter. Other Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members who were instrumental in making the drive a success were Dot Cunningham, Katrina Sanford and Christi Oppenhien. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
4-H Celebrates 100; Barrineau Park Club One Of State’s Oldest
April 16, 2009
Florida’s 4-H has turned 100 years old, and North Escambia is home to the oldest continuous 4-H club in Florida.
The Barrineau Park 4-H Club is the oldest continuous 4-H club in the state. The Barrineau Park 4-H Club was established in 1914.
Attorney General Bill McCollum celebrated 100 years of 4-H in Florida with over 100 4-H members from around the state. During a tree planting ceremony at the Capitol, the Attorney General spoke about the importance of 4-H’s commitment to teach young people to be leaders in their communities and good stewards of their environment.
“I am excited to join Florida’s environmental community to champion an effort to make our planet a little greener,” said Attorney General McCollum. “It is imperative the young people of this state understand the gravity of their responsibility to lead their peers and protect the precious resources with which they have been entrusted.”
Florida 4-H is a strong youth development program which has touched the lives of over 263,000 youth and nearly 12,000 volunteers. Nationally, 4-H has over 6 million members who participate in hands-on learning activities geared at helping youth become contributing, productive, self-directed members of society.
“We are excited that Attorney General Bill McCollum is honoring our legacy by planting this tree in the Rose Garden at the Florida Capitol,” said Marilyn Norman, Ph.D., associate professor and associate dean over the state’s 4-H program. We feel the growth of this tree represents the thousands of Florida 4-H volunteers, parents, and professionals over the last 100 years who created quality learning environments in which positive youth development occurs.”
The tree planting was part of 4-H’s “Million Tree Project,” which is working toward the goal of planting 1 million trees across the continent to help lower greenhouse emissions, reduce runoff, and promote a better state of environmental consciousness. The tree, a crepe myrtle, was chosen because of its ability to thrive in Florida’s environment with little water once established.
Pictured above: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum plants a tree with help from 4-H members to celebrate the groups centennial. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All Aboard: Flomaton Area Railroad Museum
April 14, 2009
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum houses a look back at the area’s railroad past, and the museum is asking for your help.
The museum is looking for individuals that have knowledge of local history to share that knowledge, and they are looking for historical items for the museum. In addition to railroad items, the museum is in search of other local history items related to local history in and around Flomaton, South Flomaton (present day Century) and the surrounding area.
“Flomaton and the surrounding areas have a rich history,” said the FARRM’s Publicity Director Betty Jones. “The museum is a place everyone should visit.”
The Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, located on Sidney Manning Boulevard (Highway 29) at College Street, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and it also serves as the official Flomaton Welcome Center. Admission is free.
The group now has over 70 charter member families, and they are seeking new members. Membership is $20 yearly for a family, $10 for seniors.
The group meets every second Tuesday of the month, including tonight, at the museum. For more information on the Flomaton Welcome Center and the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum, call (251) 296-1100.
Click here for a photo tour of the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum.
Pictured top: One of the displays in the Flomaton Area Railroad Museum includes the backdrop painting from Flomaton’s Centennial Play last year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Takes Spring Break (With Photo Gallery)
April 13, 2009
Last week was Spring Break for students in Escambia County School. We asked for our readers to submit photos of their Spring Break activities, and we have put together a photo gallery of North Escambia on Spring Break.
Click here for the NorthEscambia Spring Break gallery.
Austin Albritton and his parents Lisa and Randy traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada; Lake Havasu, Arizona (home of the London Bridge); Yuma, Arizona; Los Algodones, Mexico; San Diego, California; and Los Angeles during Spring Break. The Albritton’s flew to Vegas then rented a car and drove to the other locations and then flew back from San Diego.
Kendal, Kolbi and the Cobb family enjoyed part of their Spring Break on jet skis.
Jason Fischer, Chloe Leonard, Leah Fischer and Anna Fischer enjoyed Spring Break in Gulf Shores.
If you would like to add your Spring Break photos to our gallery, email news@northescambia.com.
Pictured: Anna Fischer on Spring Break in Gulf Shores. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.