Students Of The Month Named
October 28, 2008
Students of the month have been named by the Escambia Associations for Administrators in Education. The following were named from North Escambia schools:
- Bratt Elementary: Allison M. Rice, second grade; Austin T. Campbell, fifth grade.
- Carver/Century K-8 School: Janay S. Page, sixth grade ; Mildred T. Jackson, seventh grade.
- Molino Park Elementary: Brandon E. Korinchak, fourth grade; Kayleigh G. Linam, fourth grade.
- Ernest Ward Middle: Logan J. Lee, sixthgrade; Jennifer N. Spears, seventhgrade.
- Northview High: Hunter R. Black, ninthgrade; Michelle D. Bellamy, 12th grade.
Pictured above: Hunter R. Black (left) and Michelle D. Bellamy were named as Northview High School’s Students of the Month for October. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
Thousands From Across Our Area Enjoy Williams Station Day
October 26, 2008
Thousands from across South Alabama and Northwest Florida enjoyed Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday.
Residents and visitors alike turned back their clocks to 1866 when their community was named Williams Station – just a supply stop along the Mobile & Great Northern railroad.
It was a simpler time, when life revolved around the railroads and folks marked time by the sound of the steam engines chugging through town or the whistle of the local lumber mill. The regional festival featured a fun day of family entertainment. Williams Station Day was packed with great venues to fit every taste, with an old fashioned sampling of southern heritage seasoned with the blues, arts and crafts, cane milling and railroad memorabilia.
Historic Pensacola Avenue was the setting for two separate art shows, both fine arts and crafts. Ancestors and artisans demonstrated the art of making pottery, fine art, primitive art, painted gourds, soap making, bird houses, baskets, and photography. Many were shopping early for Christmas gifts.
Entertainment featured a “A Mission of Fun” with The Alabama Blues Brothers (a.k.a. Jamey and Justin Crisler from Town Creek, AL). Dressed in signature black suits and night-black Ray-Bans, these outstanding Blues impersonators accompanied by talented musicians, performed show stoppers that include “Soul Man”, “Rawhide”, and many other great R & B Blues Brothers tunes.
Engine running, a working locomotive was available for tours from the AL & Gulfcoast Railroad. On a much smaller scale, a model train show took place inside the YMCA.
For a complete NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Williams Station Day, click here.
Williams Station, which would later become Atmore, was named for a Walnut Hill man. Click here to read that story from NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured above: Thousands attended the annual Williams Station Day in Atmore Saturday. Pictured below: The excitement was just a little too much for this guy to handle. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Tribal Beat Band Debuts New Uniforms
October 25, 2008
The Northview High School Tribal Beat marching band debuted new uniforms Friday night at the school’s homecoming.
The Tribal Beat band also had some specials guest with them on the field during both their pre-game and halftime shows. An Alumni Band, made up of former Northview, Century and Ernest Ward high school bands, also marched.
For a complete Homecoming photo gallery of the Northview Tribal Beat band, click here (The band members you see not in uniform are the Alumni Band members.)
The Northview Tribal Beat band performs under the direction of Band Director Charles Tucker, Assistant Director Joe Wright and Drum Major Brianna Halteman.
Pictured above: The Northview Tribal Beat band debuted new uniforms Friday night for the school’s Homecoming. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Leading The Cheer
October 25, 2008
Both the varsity and junior varsity Northview cheerleaders led the crowd at Friday night’s Homecoming game against Vernon.
The Northview Cheerleaders are coached by Anna Berry and Megan Carroll.
For a photo gallery of the Northview Cheerleaders at Friday night’s Homecoming game, click here.
Pictured above: The Northview High School cheerleaders at Friday night’s Homecoming game. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Day Of Caring Brings Volunteers To North Escambia
October 25, 2008
About 1,200 volunteers were hard at work Friday in Escambia County, including about 20 at Ernest Ward Middle School, as part of the United Way’s Day of Caring.
The one-day community events put volunteers from area businesses to work across the county at nonprofits, home and schools.
About 20 volunteers from the Pensacola accounting firm Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund spend the morning doing a little cleanup around Ernest Ward Middle School. The volunteers cleaned out buidlings, and cleaned up flower beds around the Walnut Hill School.
Pictured above: United Way Day of Caring volunteers Beth Varhalla, Megan Rice and Carol Gaines clean out a flower bed at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Chelsea Sims Crowned 2008 Northview High Homecoming Queen
October 25, 2008
Miss Chelsea Sims was named Northview High School’s Homecoming Queen Friday night.
First runner-up was Amber Holland, and second runner-up was Ashley Snow.
Raylin Spence was named freshman maid. Magen Weekly was named junior maid, and Ande Gideons was named sophomore maid.
For a complete photo gallery of the queen and her court, click here.
Pictured above: Miss Chelsea Sims is crowned as Northview’s Homecoming Queen. Pictured below (L-R). Freshman Maid Raylin Spence, Junior Maid Magen Weekly, First Runner-up Amber Holland, Homecoming Queen Chelsea Sims, Second Runner-up Ashley Snow and Sophomore Maid Ande Gideons. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Remembers Founding By Walnut Hill Man
October 24, 2008
A Walnut Hill man’s founding of the railroad supply stop that would later become Atmore will be celebrated this weekend with the annual Williams Station Day.
This weekend’s Williams Station Day remembers Atmore’s past, a past that started with William “Uncle Bud” Larkin Williams of Walnut Hill.
In 1816, John Gaylor settled in the Walnut Hill area on land from a Spanish Land Grant. A great deal of that land was later sold to Williams who began a logging and cattle operation in the Walnut Hill area sometime prior to the Civil War.
Just after the Civil War, in 1866, Williams opened a supply stop along the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad in the area that would later become Atmore. The area around the supply stop thrived, later becoming known as Williams Station. The name of the settlement was changed to Atmore in 1897.
As for Walnut Hill’s Williams, he served as a spy for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He was captured by the Union Army but was later released after he convinced the Union soldiers that he was just an innocent man traveling to Pensacola.
Williams allowed the Florida 13th Calvary to camp at his Walnut Hill home, which was near the current Ernest Ward Middle School. A number of those soldiers died during their stay and were buried in a small cemetery. That cemetery was located between the current Walnut Hill Community Center and Bradberry Park. It is no longer recognizable.
Walnut Hill’s first log school and a Methodist Church were built on land owned by Williams near the present-day intersection of Highway 97 and Arthur Brown Road. The log church was later rebult and named the Annie Jones Methodist Church.
Sources: “Walnut Hill, A Historical Overview” compiled by Billy R. Ward from Escambia County Land Records researched by Robert Glenn Thrower, Sr. and “History of Ernest Ward School” by William Arthur Brown; and from northwestfloridacomm.com, compiled by students at Northview High School.
Pictured: William “Uncle Bud” Williams, the Walnut Hill man that founded Alabama settlement that would later become Williams Station and then Atmore. This photo is believed to have been taken at his 88th birthday celebration in McDavid on February 18, 1895. Click to enlarge.
Century Fire’s Engine 519 Crews Creates New Web Site
October 22, 2008
The crew of Century’s Engine 519 have put together a new web site to inform area residents about the firefighters that staff the Century Fire Station each weekday.
The four members of Engine 519’s crew — Lt. Greg Sims and firefighters Greg Therrell, Donald Merritt and Kyle “Crash” Kraatz — staff Engine 519 daily from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The new web site introduces the four crew members, provides information on Engine 519’s services, fire safety and more.
The new Engine 519 web site is www.engine519.weebly.com
‘Best Bountiful B Belebration’ Held
October 18, 2008
Carver/Century K-8 School improved their school grade in just a year from an F to a B, and they are big time proud of it. Friday, the entire school celebrated with the “Best Bountiful B Belebration”.
The entire school took part in a fall carnival of sorts, with a dozen activities ranging from a hubcap toss (inspired by the “My Big Redneck Wedding Show”), to a cupcake walk to a tour of a Marine helicopter.
Student played games for candy, prizes and cupcakes.
Click here for a photo gallery from the celebration.
Pictured above: A little bounce house bouncing at Carver/Century’s “Best Bountiful B Belebration”. Pictured below: Firefighter Kyle “Crash” Kraatz shows Carver/Century students Engine 519 Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Library Crammed With Costumed Kids For Annual Event
October 17, 2008
Witches, superheroes, princesses, cowboys and more crammed into the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon for the library’s annual Halloween story time.
About 75 children in all sorts of costumes listened to a spooky story, painted pumpkins, entered a costume contest and enjoyed candy goodie bags as part of the event coordinated by Librarian Pat Rigel (pictured left in costume) and her staff.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
