‘It’s A Blessing’ – Volunteers Build Wheelchair Ramp For Molino Veteran
April 26, 2024
Air Force veteran David Lail took his wife Margaret by the arm and carefully walked into their Molino home Thursday for the first time in a long time.
David’s mobility has declined with age, and he is confined to a wheelchair most of the time. The couple had a wheelchair ramp before, but it rotted and had to be removed. That meant David and his wheelchair had to be carried out of their home each time he wanted to go somewhere His son and daughter-in-law recently moved in to help the family, but they needed a little extra assistance to improve the couple’s mobility situation.
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Team Depot, Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, partnered with the Pensacola Marine Corps League Cpl. J.R. Spears Detachment 066, and Heroes Among Us to construct a new wheelchair ramp for the family, remove debris and install a new flagpole Thursday morning at the home on Molino Road.
Shortly after the job was done, David was able to walk down the ramp.
“It’s nice and smooth,” he said with a bit of a smile on the 93-year-old veteran’s face.
The new wheelchair ramp allowed him to go outside on his own and join the volunteers for a lunch of hot dogs, baked beans, and pasta salad — his favorite.
After lunch, and a little couple time watching Old Glory wave on their new flagpole, the couple headed back up the wheelchair ramp.
“It is fine,” David said at the top of the ramp.
“Yes, it’s nice,” Margaret, 87, said.
“Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot,” Nine Mile Road store manager George Banta said. “The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, Team Depot, extends the mission of The Home Depot Foundation into local communities by investing sweat equity into serving the needs of communities where they live and work.”
“It’s a blessing, I tell you,” David’s daughter Beth Rutherford said.
Know someone that needs assistance with a wheelchair ramp? Escambia County residents in need of assistance are encouraged to apply. To learn more about the Escambia County Wheelchair Ramp Program, including eligibility requirements and application information, contact the Neighborhood Enterprise Division at ned@myescambia.com or call (850) 595-1642. This is a county-funded program not affiliated with The Home Depot or other groups that assisted the Lail family Thursday.
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Fields Of Faith: Community Worship Service Held At Northview High
April 25, 2024
Northview High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted a spring Fields of Faith on a cold Wednesday night in Northview’s Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
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63 New Members Inducted Into Northview High Beta Club
April 25, 2024
Wednesday afternoon, 63 students were inducted into the National Beta Club at Northview High School.
- Addison Classen
- Addison Eicher
- Addison Miller
- Allison Yoder
- Amanda Fernandez
- Amberly Dunn
- Amy Floyd
- Andrew Brown
- Asher Creighton
- Ashley Gleason
- Ashton Covan
- Ayden Crabtree
- Braden Glick
- Brielle Garcia
- Bryce Stabler
- Caley Deharsh
- Cameron Bodiford
- Camden Borelli
- Camryn Langham
- Christian Caraway
- Claire Amerson
- Cody Geneux
- Crimson Davis
- Daviona Randolph
- Evin Matlock
- Hallie Emmons
- Hayden Gipson
- Jackson Bridges
- Kaitlin Lloyd
- Kate Stinson
- Kathryn Beasley
- Kaylee Long
- Kinley Knowles
- Kira Reed
- Keeli Knighten
- Kelan Jurey
- Kylie Langham
- Lacie Kittrell
- Laura Laborde
- Lexi Smallwood
- Lilly Smallwood
- Lori Hall
- Luke Chavers
- Maddie Driskell
- Macy Miller
- Madeleine Atallah
- Maggie Stewart
- Makayla Plato
- Makenzie Levins
- Maria Valeria Franco
- Mary Catherine Hughes
- Mary Elizabeth Oliver
- Mikayla McAnally
- Morgan Driver
- Olivia Doyle
- Olivia Hall
- Payton Daw
- Presley Johnson
- Samantha Minchew
- Stevi Cofield
- Tierany White
- Tyler Gilmore
- Xyria Martin
The National Beta Club’s purpose is “to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, leadership and service among elementary and secondary school students”.
Pictured: New Beta Club members at Northview High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
How Cute! Beulah Middle Welcomes Three New Kids
April 23, 2024
Beulah Middle School has welcomed three new kids recently to their farm.
FFA members were excited that they made their debut five days early. All were healthy, and mom is doing a fantastic job.
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Tate AJROTC Teams Place In Top 10 At State Competition
April 23, 2024
written by C/1LT Jayce Latzer
Four Tate High School Army JROTC teams placed in the Top 10 at the state drill meet in Lakeland.
The teams were:
- Male Unarmed Platoon commanded by Cadet LTC Sappington placed 6th out of 34 teams.
- Male Armed Platoon commanded by Cadet CPT Stegall placed 6th out of 31 teams.
- Male Armed Squad commanded by Cadet CPT Davis placed 7th out of 34 teams.
- Female Armed Platoon commanded by Cadet CSM Allgyer placed 8th out of 21 teams.
For the first time in competition history, Tate also took part in individual and a duel exhibition at the state level.
They were:
- Male Individual armed exhibition commanded by Cadet SSG Wells.
- Male Dual armed exhibition commanded by Cadet 1LT Stringer and performed with Cadet SFC Colston.
Beulah Middle FFA Teams Places 7th In Florida In Meat Identification
April 22, 2024
The Beulah Middle School FFA team placed as the seventh best team in the state for meat identification. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School FBLA Members Participate In Spring Cleanup At Veterans Memorial Park
April 21, 2024
Students from the Tate High School FBLA worked Saturday morning in the annual spring cleanup at the Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola.
Under the leadership of Tate faculty members Janice Courson and Tommy Maher, the students worked to spruce up the park, including using brushes to meticulously clean monuments.
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Northview High 2024 Prom King And Queen Named
April 21, 2024
Ava Gurganus was named prom queen, and Joe Wright was named prom king at the Northview High School 2024 prom Saturday night.
The prom, “A Night at Gatsby’s” was held at the Sanders Beach Resource Center in Pensacola.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thousands Of High School Students Attend Northwest Florida Construction Career Days
April 18, 2024
Over 1,300 area high school students were treated to an interactive look into the transportation industry during the 4th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days (CCD) event this week at the Santa Rosa County
Fairgrounds in Milton.
Students had the opportunity to operate heavy equipment and learn about bridge inspections, paving, concrete, traffic control, engineering, and more. Students were also introduced to the large number of career paths available in the transportation, structural, engineering, and building industries, and were able to interact with representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), as well as various engineering firms, and contractors looking to hire in the Northwest Florida area.
High school seniors who attended CCD in-person or virtually were eligible to receive a portion of up to $50,000 in scholarship funds that will be awarded this year. The scholarship fund was established to assist high school graduates enrolling in college, trade/vocational education programs, or those entering directly into the workforce. Local high school junior and senior students from Santa Rosa, Escambia, Okaloosa, and Walton counties were anticipated to attend.
With billions of dollars of construction activity lined up for the next decade and entry-level workers in high demand, FDOT District Three is working to create a pipeline of workforce and economic opportunities for the next generation. Not only did this event give students a unique chance to explore career opportunities that have substantial benefits and add tremendous value to their communities, but it also allowed FDOT and its industry partners to
connect with young people of all backgrounds and skill levels. Students over the age of 18 were able to fill out applications for hiring companies during the event.
Pictured: Students from Northview High School were among over 1,000 that attended the 4th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days in Milton. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Godwin and Hernandez Named EREC Scholarship Winners
April 17, 2024
Maggie Rose Godwin and Anna Marie Hernandez have been named as the winners of Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s 2024 Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards.
Godwin (pictured left) is a senior at Northview High School.
Hernandez is a senior at Central School.
Godwin and Hernandez will receive $1,000 each for four years providing they continue to meet the scholarship criteria. The scholarships will be formally presented at the EREC annual meeting on April 27 at Ernest Ward Middle School.
In the past, capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed had to be turned over to the state. But state legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified, educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships.
Courtesy photos.
