Former Poarch Creek Indian Chief Appears At Century Library
April 18, 2008
Billy Smith, the former chief of the Poarch Creek Indians, delighted children and adults alike Thursday afternoon at the Century Branch Library.
Appearing in traditional dress, Smith (pictured above) spoke to the children about safety with strangers while explaining traditional Indian customs.
“They are young, and we want to set the right example for them,” Smith said of the children.
Along with Douglas Daughtry (pictured left), Smith led the children in a “friendship dance” around the library by playing his traditional antelope skin drum. Smith was in a traditional Western Plains dance costume that he handmade. While his dance at the library lasted just a few moments, he said that competition dances at pow wows can last up to ten minutes.
Smith presented the children with copies of a photograph of him on a horse named Buckshot. He said he has distributed about 800,000 of the postcard photos to children around the country during the last several years.
Smith is the general manager of the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, a business enterprise of the Poarch Band Creek Indians. He served 18 years on the Tribal Council and serves on the PCI Gaming Board that is responsible for the new Windcreek Casino development north of Atmore.
“Windcreek” was Smith’s idea for the casino complex name, he said. It is derived from “wind” in the Wind Clan in Atmore and “creek” in Poarch Creek Indians. He was also responsible for the very first Poarch Creek Indian Pow Wow, an event that started on July 4 but was later moved to Thanksgiving weekend.
Pictured below: Children at the library are reflected in a mirror on Daughtry’s traditional Indian dress.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ms. Century Care Center Competes In Regional Senior’s Pageant
April 17, 2008
Mrs. Century Care Center, Jimmie (Mozelle) Roberts recently competed in the 8th Annual Ms. Northwest Florida Senior Pageant.
Mrs. Roberts was born in Wedowee, Alabama, on October 28, 1917, to W.L. Smith, a farmer, and Maude Wilson, a homemaker.
The family moved to Florida when Mrs. Roberts was only about six years old. She married Ortho Roberts one day before her seventeenth birthday. He later became a Santa Rosa County Deputy Sheriff, an electrician and a farmer. They were married 52 years before he passed away.
Mrs. Roberts was a Merle Norman representative for 16 years, until her husband became ill.
She has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Roberts did not win the pageant, “but she put a scare into the competition,” Century Care Center Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
The pageant was sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association.
Carver/Century Students Learn Safety From Pensacola Pilot Club
April 16, 2008
The Pensacola Pilot Club recently visited the kindergarten and second grade classes at Carver/Century K-8 School, and they brought along some animated friends to talk about safety.
Hero Horse, Brave Bob Beagle,Toolip Pig, Danny Deep the Pilot Fish and Captain Kitty talked safety with the students. The taught them about helmet safety ,gun safety, crossing the street safely, swimming and water safety, wearing a seat belt and calling 911. The students also received BrainMinder Buddies coloring books and other great information to take home.
Submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Man’s Land Is Named As Florida Stewardship Forest
April 15, 2008
About 65 acres near Molino has been named a Stewardship Forest by the Florida Division Forestry.
Richard Freisinger (pictured above left) was presented the Stewardship Forest designation Monday morning by Escambia County’s Senior Forester Adam Parden (pictured above right).
The Division of Forestry helped Freisinger develop a stewardship plan for his forest land located about a mile north of Barrineau Park Road on County Road 95A. That stewardship plan outlines how he should provide for timber, wildlife and soil management on the land.
“Mr. Freisinger’s property is an ideal property,” Parden said. “It is an ideal property for other land owners to follow his example.”
The Forest Stewardship Program was founded in 1990 by Congress to encourage and help private forestland owners with at least 20 acres to actively manage their forest resources for multiple benefits including wood products, habitat for fish and wildlife, clean air and water, recreational opportunities, and aesthetic beauty.
A difference between Forest Stewardship and more common Tree Farm designation is that the stewardship program’s emphasis on management for multiple benefits. Stewardship landowners choose a primary objective and at least one other secondary objective. Many landowners in the program manage for some combination of timber and wildlife.
“”The program helped me to managed my land better,” Freisinger said. “And more than the program called for, I’ve always tried to keep everything neat and nice to look at.”
He said hurricanes Ivan and Dennis were a major setback, one that he has not yet completely been able to clean up after. “I used to go down the rows with a grub hoe and clean up. Then I would bush hog. But since the mess made by the hurricanes, I have not been able to bush hog down all of the rows.”
Pictured below: Richard Freisinger points out some young pine seedlings in an area of his Florida Stewardship Forest. Additional pictures below (scroll down): Several views of Freisinger’s Stewardship Forest in Molino. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
T-ball Field To Be Named In Memory Of Drew Marlow
April 15, 2008
Cyndi Marlow stood alone in the middle of a simple, unfinished dirt t-ball field Monday afternoon. A cold wind blew across the nearby wheat field as she stood holding a small, child-size Florida Gator bat.
It was Drew’s bat. A brightly colored little bat, with scuff marks on its fat end where Drew played hard with it.
It was Drew’s dream to play t-ball. And Drew’s dad dreamed of the day he would see his son give that ball a good strong whack off a tee at the ballpark. It does not matter if a little fellow gets to first base in that first game. Dads will cheer; dads will smile with pride anyway for their sons. It’s just what dads do. Danny Marlow looked forward to that day with great anticipation.
But Monday afternoon, Cyndi Marlow stood alone on that field at the back of Walnut Hill’s Bradberry Park. She did not hold the bat dangling from her hand or just in the middle like most people hold a bat. She held the bat close to her heart with both hands before posing for a picture with Drew’s bat. On Drew’s Field.
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Drew and Danny will never see that field. Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died January 28 in an accident on Highway 97.
The Northwest Escambia Little League has voted to name the new t-ball field at the back of Bradberry Park “Drew’s Field” in honor of Drew’s dream.
“We were going to go play t-ball,” Cyndi said with a smile. “That’s all Drew talked about. “
“He would play and play with this bat, his very own Gator bat,” she said of her son, gently rubbing a finger along the handle where Drew would hold the bat.
She laughed a little. “Well, it was more like golf when he played with it. He could not really hit the ball unless it was on the floor, or unless Danny held it is his hand and let him hit it.”
Drew and Danny spent hours playing with that blue and orange bat. Dreaming of that big t-ball opening day they both just knew would come when that little boy with a big number “3” on his jersey stepped to the plate.
Danny had it all planned out, down to the jersey number. Drew was Cyndi and Danny’s “miracle baby”…he was their third attempt at in vitro conception.
“We were just so excited. But then we went to the doctor. They rate the chances of the embryo surviving on a scale of one to five. A four or below has a small chance of surviving.”
“The doctor rated the embryo as a three that was Drew. A three out of five. We knew it was all in God’s hands.”
And God blessed the Marlows with a healthy sandy blonde baby boy they named Drew.
“That’s where the jersey number ‘3’ came from. Danny always said ‘could you imagine if he was a five’,” Cyndi said. “He always wanted Drew to wear ‘3’ in his first t-ball game.”
“I kept thinking that I wanted to do something so that they would be remembered. My family was always at almost every ballgame. I wondered if they (NWE) would let me make a field and call it ‘Drew’s Field’.” When she approached the NWE Board, they agreed to make her dream a reality.
Now the rush is on…the plans call for Drew’s Field to be ready for dedication on closing day, June 6. The biggest expense, Cyndi said, will be the memorial marker for the field.
“We have quite a few volunteers ready to help us on making this happen,” she said. “I’m so excited. I have mixed emotions. I’m still sad, but I’m really excited about it. It is quite an honor for it to be named after him.”
“I still cry every day,” she said. Up this point, she has fought back the tears during our interview. Now she wipes the tears from her eyes. “It’s been hard.”
“I was overwhelmed with your printed comments,” Cyndi said, referring to a Memorial Message Board and a blog that was published here on NorthEscambia.com. Dozens and dozens of people from the community posted their thoughts and comments about the tragedy.
“I’m really sad. But it makes me feel good that he touched so many lives,” she said.
“There was this family that told me they started going to church. There was this lady that bought Bibles for her children. Drew’s story has changed so many lives.”
“Everything is for His glory,” Cyndi said. “I’ve been asked why I am not mad at God.”
“But I am not mad at God. I don’t understand it,” she said, fighting back her emotions. “I know God has a purpose. And I try to think about the good losing my husband and my child has done for others. To bring glory to God.”
“I was blessed to have him two and a half years,” she said of Drew. She paused and took a deep breath to get the words out. “I love him. I really miss him.”
A fund will soon be established at an area bank if you would like to contribute to Drew’s Field. NorthEscambia.com will post information on how you can help as soon as the fund is established.
To read the NorthEscambia.com blog from February 3 entitled “Go Home Truck”, click here.
To read the “Tragedy In Walnut Hill: A Memorial Message Board”, click here.
Pictured top of page: Drew Marlow’s bat on first base at Drew’s Field. Pictured middle of page: Cyndi Marlow holds Drew’s bat in the middle of what will become Drew’s Field. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
McDavid VFD Honored At Church Appreciation Day
April 14, 2008
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department was honored Sunday for over 25 years of service to McDavid and surrounding communities.
Most of the department’s 18 members were on hand Sunday morning at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia as the church devoted much of their morning worship service to recognizing “Station 9″. The event was Ray’s Chapel’s first ever service honoring the local volunteer fire department.
Prior to the formation of the McDavid VFD, calls in the McDavid area were answered by the Century Volunteer Fire Department.
“This started out with an idea to give more to the folks in McDavid,” Elton Gilmore (pictured left) of the McDavid VFD told the packed church. “Many of you and many of the volunteers gave of their time, themselves and sometimes gave by risking their lives for this department.”
“It’s a real pleasure to work with these guys,” Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. David Preston said during the service.
“When I’m called to duty God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save a life,” Preston read from The FireFighter’s Creed. “I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me to guard my neighbor and protect his property. And if according to Your will I have to lose my life bless with Your protecting hand my children and my wife.”
“I appreciate them, and I appreciate them being there,” he said of the working relationship in North Escambia between the volunteer fire departments and the sheriff’s department. Often the job is hard, but the McDavid VFD is always there, he said.
“When there’s a fire, a death, a MVA (motor vehicle accident), a family that has just lost everything in a fire, there’s rarely emotion right then,” Preston (pictured left) said. “You are trained to react, and you do it.”
“Sometimes it’s really personal when something happens,” he said. “They have to work it; they have to clean it up. Then they have to go home and think about it.”
“We are gratefull to help out community out where we can,” McDavid VFD chief Eric Gilmore told the church during. “We have been to a lot of these recognition ceremonies, but it really means much more coming from our community.”
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church’s RA (Royal Ambassadors) children’s group presented the firemen with handmade cards of appreciation.
“When my mom had a seizure, you were there,” one young man said in his card. “Thank you for helping.”
The children in the church also present small gifts to each fire department member that was present.
“Lord, we thank You for the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department. We thank You for the service they provide for the community ” recently retired Ray’s Chapel Pastor Fil Enfinger prayed at the close of the service. “Lord, we pray that You would keep them safe. Lord we pray that You would keep them secure.”
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated in 1982 with a 1962 firetruck on loan from the Florida Division of Forestry. They purchased a1948 Ford firetruck in 1983. The station was constructed on land purchased from what was then St. Regis Paper Company in 1984. Many more modern trucks and pieces of equipment were purchased over the years.
The department has nine certified firefighters, with one in training. The department has seven certified first responders and one EMT.
The McDavid VFD answered 237 calls last year, ranging from fires, to motor vehicle accidents to one call for an activated fire alarm.
Pictured above: Mark Digmon from Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church presents a certificate of appreciation to McDavid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Eric Gilmore Sunday morning.
The members of the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department are: Eric Gilmore, Elton Gilmore, Kenny Malone, Phyllis Malone, Ben Gilmore, Chris Kinley, Michelle Kinley, Larry Kinley, Matt Carter, Matt Gilmore, William Sheffield, Wayne Godwin, Galen Goetter, Morgan Goetter, Eddie Gunter, Chris Hawkins, Dorothy Gunter, Alec Estes and Adam Estes.
The Renaissance Fair Held Saturday At Northview High School
April 13, 2008
The English Department at Northview High School held “The Renaissance Fair” at the school on Saturday afternoon.
“The fair featured many activities, including jousting at the dreaded Barbarian Pit, trips to the daunting gallows, music and more.
The senior class also performed William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” during the event.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, with additional submitted photos by Perry Byars.
Miss Century Sawmill Crowned
April 13, 2008
Jillian Hegyi (pictured above) was crowned the Overall 2008 Century Sawmill Queen in the 17th Annual Century Sawmill Pageant Saturday afternoon. The pageant was sponsored by the Century Lions Club.
For a complete photo gallery of all of the winners, click here.
Century Celebrates 108 Years Of History
March 30, 2008
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society celebrated the 108th birthday of Century Saturday with a day of activities.
The day began at 9:00 with the raising of the colors. There was a “War Between the States skirmish” reenacted, as well as an authentic Civil War canon firing. Visitors had the opportunity to visit a civil war campsite, enjoy food and live music, and visit the museums. A Mayberry sheriff’s car and Barney Fife look-a-like (pictured left, click to enlarge) were also on hand.
The events took place in the area of the Alger-Sullivan Historical District at Fourth and and Jefferson streets in Century.
For a complete photo gallery from Century’s 108th birthday celebration, click here.
Pictured above: A Civil War era cannon was fired for the 108th birthday of Century Saturday. Notice the fire shooting out of the front of the cannon at the exact moment it fired. Pictured below: A Civil War camp was setup in the Alger-Sullivan Historical District in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Treated To Rare Full Double Rainbow
March 29, 2008
Walnut Hill was treated to a complete double rainbow Saturday just before 6:00 pm.
Complete double rainbows that stretch across the horizon are actually considered to be rare, according to the Wikipedia. With a double rainbow, a secondary rainbow is seen, which is a second, fainter arc, outside the primary arc. In the second rainbow, the colors are in the opposite order, that is, with violet on the outside and red on the inside.
It is hard to see in these photographs, but the event included another even more rare phenomenon called a complete Alexander’s band…a darker area of sky between the two complete rainbow arcs. Light reflected in the rain in this area is reflected at such an angle that the observer is unable to see it all, creating the dark band.
And, just to make this rainbow even more spectacular, it was possible to see “the end of the rainbow” here in a field at the corner of Highway 97 and Highway 99. Click this photo to enlarge.
We have also had emails that the rainbows were at least partial visible from Davisville, Bratt, Byrneville, Century, Atmore, Nokomis and Canoe.
We missed photographing the entire rainbow from side to side across the horizon. On a 35mm camera, it takes a 19mm or less lens; we only had a larger lens with us at the time. Scroll down for more photos. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
