Photos: Blue Angels Thursday Practice
July 9, 2021
The Blue Angels took to the skies over Pensacola Beach Thursday for a practice show ahead of this weekend’s full Pensacola Beach Air Show.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a behind the scenes look with the pilots of the new jets and new Fat Albert, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Cox Recognizes Inspirational Student Heroes
July 8, 2021
Cox Communications honored a special group of Escambia and Okaloosa County students this past school year as Cox Inspirational Student Heroes. Combined, a record 85 students were celebrated for having overcome extreme hardships in their lives.
The students were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity. Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a smile on their face and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.
“Recognizing these Cox Inspirational Student Heroes is always one of our favorite ways to give back to the community,” said David Deliman, market vice president for Cox Gulf Coast. “These students remind us that even as we face challenges in our lives, we still have an influence on those around us. They deserve to be celebrated and honored for being an inspiration to others. We salute all of this year’s heroes.”
In the mail, students received a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor from Cox, Florida State Senators Doug Broxson and George Gainer and state representatives Michelle Salzman, Alex Andrade, Jayer Williamson and Patt Maney.
This year’s award recipients in Escambia County were:
- AK Suter Elementary School – Lincoln Williams
- Bellview Elementary School – Madison “Madi” Garrick
- Beulah Academy of Science – McKenzie Fuqua
- Beulah Elementary School – Jayden Lewis
- Beulah Middle School – Lenita Floyd
- Blue Angels Elementary School – Kendyl Wynne
- Bratt Elementary School – Kendal Ard
- Brentwood Elementary School – Casin Wooten
- Brown Barge Middle School – Riley Valdez
- Byrneville Elementary School – Jordan Mullally
- CA Weis Elementary School – Maverick Knapp
- Cordova Park Elementary School – Ryan Tjung
- Ensley Elementary School – Scarlet Funez
- Ernest Ward Middle School – Ja’mya Thomas
- Escambia High School – Jason Sauceda
- Ferry Pass Elementary School – Breanna Rice
- Ferry Pass Middle School – Zy’mirrea Norris
- Global Learning Academy – Andrea Webster
- Hellen Caro Elementary School – Gracelyn “Gracie” Eubanks
- Holm Elementary School – Javarious Toler
- Jim Allen Elementary School – Akeem Dobbins
- Jim Bailey Middle School – Hannah Villarreal
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Aiden Griffin
- Laurel Hill School – Hayden Fryday
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Zavion Dennis-Thomas
- Lipscomb Elementary School – Ja’liah Spurlock
- Longleaf Elementary School – Brianna Smith
- McArthur Elementary School – Joshua “Josh” Johanson
- Molino Park Elementary – Randy Jackson
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Shamlia Bentham
- N.B. Cook Elementary School – Emma Rathburn
- Navy Point Elementary School – Braeden Francis
- Northview High School – Payton Gilchrist
- Oakcrest Elementary School – Faheem Maddox
- OJ Semmes Elementary School – Cory Tepole
- PACE Center for Girls – Breiana Hendley
- Pensacola High School – Noah Anderson
- Pine Forest High School – Emilio Gonzalez
- Pine Meadow Elementary School – Raylan Rice
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Tyrus Richardson
- Ransom Middle School – Noah Jacobs
- Sherwood Elementary School – Nya Jackson
- Success Academy – Sanclaria Dumas
- Warrington Elementary School – Janiah Rolle
- Warrington Middle School – Lilly Moore
- Washington High School – Yasmin English
- West Florida High School – Kyla Bradford
- West Pensacola Elementary School – Jeremiah Slocum
- Workman Middle School – Antawn Wanliss
The Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards program began 28 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. The program has spread to other Cox markets in the Southeast Region. To date, Cox has recognized over 4,500 students from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Gainesville, Florida.
Pictured: Some of the Cox Inspirational Student Heroes from North Escambia.com. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders Hold Lil Aggie Summer Cheer Camp (With Photo Gallery)
July 6, 2021
The Tate High School Aggie cheerleaders held their Lil Aggie Summer Cheer Camp over three days last week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ordinary Call Leads To Random Act Of Kindness For Escambia Firefighters
July 5, 2021
When a group of Escambia County firefighters were leaving an ordinary “lift assist” call recently, they stopped to perform a random act of kindness.
The crew of Escambia Fire Rescue Squad 3 saw a wheelchair bound homeowner cutting his grass with a push mower. It was a tough job that the man said would have taken an hour and a half.
Squad 3 took over and was able to complete the job is less than 20 minutes with Lt. John Van Matre, firefighter Allen Harrison, and firefighter Kyle Saxton.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Improvement Committee Continues Weekly Food Giveaways
June 30, 2021
When the pandemic forced schools to close last year, it left many families in need of help to feed their children who had relied on school breakfast and lunch.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) stepped up and is continuing to hold weekly food giveaways.
The CIC food distributions begin at 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Carver Park and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. Participants are asked to line up on Webb Street facing north, and the food is loaded into vehicles. The takes place rain or shine.
Pictured: Volunteers from Ascend Performance Materials helped with a Cantonment Improvement Committee food giveaway Tuesday at Carver Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Hams Take To The Airwaves For Amateur Radio Field Day To Practice Emergency Communications
June 28, 2021
The Five Flags Amateur Radio Association will hold their annual field day this weekend during “Amateur Radio Week” in Escambia County.
“Field Day started out as kind of a civil defense thing back in the early, early days,” said ham operator Gene Bannon, call sign KB4HAH. “And then it kind of mushroomed it into an operation, practice drill, and a now it’s a contest. The whole goal for the amateurs is to basically go out where you normally don’t have your towers and equipment all set up and run on preferably emergency power.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
And for 24 hours this pst weekend, they did just that at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
Club member set up their amateur radio equipment — ranging from 1960s tube radios that literally glow in the dark to modern digital gear and satellite communications. With a generator and portable antennas, including a wire antenna running some 300 feet through the trees, they were soon communicating with ham operators across the United States and Canada. The goal was to reach another ham operator in Canadian province and U.S. state, including Alaska and Hawaii.
“You just basically practice emergency communications of course, and, by the way, make a contest out of so people will actually do it. Give them something to look forward to, even if it’s nothing more than bragging rights. Nobody gets a brand-new car out of the deal or anything.”
There were six amateur stations operating this year. Last year, during COVID-19, there were nine.
Local hams participate in providing emergency communications during hurricanes and other disasters when normal communications can be knocked out of service.
The amateur radio operators have their own equipment inside the Escambia County Operations Center, ready to provide needed communications during local emergencies. That room is being named for Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, a ham operator that passed away May 29.
“He was a major instrumental factor to amateur radio from the mid 80s to the early 2000s. He was the coordinator for a lot. He was one of the instrumental people when Katrina hit Louisiana and the Gulf Coast — Mississippi, Alabama, South Alabama, South Mississippi and North Florida. He combined people together who could go over to Louisiana and help.”
For more information, visit the Five Flags Amateur Radio Association webpage.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: The Beauty Of A North Escambia Thunderstorm
June 27, 2021
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Pictured: The beauty of a North Escambia thunderstorm just before 7 p.m. Saturday as seen from various points along Highway 29 from Molino (bottom photo) to McDavid (above). A radar image showing the location of the storm is below. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay High’s Carson Walters, First National Merit Finalist In School History, Receives Auburn Scholarship
June 14, 2021
Jay High School Class of 2021 graduate Carson Walters has been awarded the National Merit Auburn University Scholarship. Walters is the first National Merit Scholar finalist to graduate from Jay High.
College-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners are a part of a distinguished group of about 7,500 high school seniors who will receive National Merit Scholarships for college undergraduate study worth a total of nearly $30 million. Walters lists his probable career field as orthopedic surgery and will be attending Auburn University in the fall.
‘There’s So Much Good’ — Beulah Middle FFA Provides Summer Food For Students In Need
June 11, 2021
The Beulah Middle School FFA worked to make sure students in need would have food this summer.
For a little over a year, The Beulah FFA has held food drives before every extended break, including Christmas, spring and fall breaks. This year, they decided to give summer break a shot.
People donated food, money and backpacks. In the past, they used grocery bags to distribute the food, but it was decided that backpacks would be much more discrete.
The last week of school, 53 backpacks full of food were distributed. Each one contain a laminated card with a QR code; students can simply scan to send an alert that they need more food.
“Yes, there is no shortage of negativity and downright awfulness if we choose to see it. But, if we choose to turn our sights to the positive, the positivity is also endless,” Beulah FFA sponsor Leanne Jenkins said. “This picture was snapped by one of the guidance counselors. She sent me the picture the last day of school and told me stories about families who cried as they picked up their food.”
“There is so much good,” Jenkins said. “Let’s choose to see it. Let’s choose to be it.”
Mira Awards Honor Escambia’s Most Creative High School Seniors
June 10, 2021
Each year the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation celebrates the unique gifts and creative talents of students from the Escambia County School District’s seven high schools with the presentation of the Mira Creative Arts Awards.
Students received a custom medallion during their school’s senior awards to wear with their cap and gown at graduation.
The awards presented last month were as follows:
Escambia High School
Band: Aubrey Crooks, Lily Strickland, Jonathan Trillo
Chorus: Keith Franco, Ashlee Radcliff, Mary Rouse
Drama: James Smith
Instrumental – Piano: Nicholas Grimes
Orchestra: Jacob Barrow
Yearbook: Shea Robards
Northview High School
Band: Alexia Jeneske
Drama: Josiah Carter
Graphic Arts: William Wilson
Graphic Design: Savannah Doremus
Visual Arts: Alexis Fleming
Visual Design: Libby Pugh
Yearbook: Hannah Hughes
Pensacola High School
Band: Alyssa Pasco, Mikael Patriarca
Drama: Owen Ides, Graybill Partington, Gabrielle Vines
Orchestra: Jenalynn Fernandez
Photography: Tavi Parker
Visual Arts: Khuyen Tran, Calla Endacott, Morgan Green
Pine Forest High School
Band: Yasmin Blount, Keith Jackson
Chorus: Bennez Kornegay
Culinary Arts: Dillon Southerland
Orchestra: Saudia Davis
TV Production: Natalia Eddy
Visual Arts: Christian Missal, Ayshia Williams
Yearbook: Mary Prokosch
Tate High School
Band: Michael Dixon, Mia Morehouse
Drama: Grey Benauer, Brody Kuehn
Orchestra: Reeve Roberts, Jade Ronca
Photography: Maggie Williams
Theater/Chorus: Adalynn Joiner, Liliana Watson
Visual Arts: Natalee Stuart
Booker T. Washington High School
Band: Joshua A. Mullikin, Rick Washington
Chorus: Kindell Nathaniel Harris, Jonathan West
Orchestra: Zachary Ford, Alyson Maybin
Theater: Nathaniel Holzknecht, Anna E. Miley
Visual Arts: Scarlett Mariana Coffey, Jordyn Johnson
West Florida High School
Band: Autumn Clayton, Selalina Hakaumotu
Drama: Grace Stanley
Graphic Arts: Marie Jansen, Abe Pasion
Journalism: Parker Hassebrock, Myles Powers
Orchestra: Olivia Enkey
Visual Arts: Skai Estares, Liberty Isbell