Bob And Bess: You Can Learn A Lot From A Couple Of Byrneville Ducks
January 31, 2019
At Byrneville Elementary School, there’s a plenty of learning about reading, writing and math, and there’s a lot of learning from Bob and Bess.
Bob and Bess are a couple of ceramic ducks that sit in the hallway near the front door. Each and every school day, there is a message taped to each, usually a conversation between the duo.
“Gosh, Bess it really is cold this morning. I am glad that we live inside the school,” Bob’s message greeted Byrneville students on a freezing cold Wednesday morning.
“Me too, Bob. I don’t think it will stay this cold much longer, but the boys and girls need to be prepared if it does,” was the reply from Bess.
They’ve spread their messages for many years, thanks to Byrneville Principal Dee-Wolfe Sullivan. Bob and Bess are a Byrneville Braves tradition and are often a first stop for students arriving at school.
“If I had saved all the messages and stacked them up, they would probably reach up to here,” she said, holding her hand above her waist.
“The kids just really love them,” Sullivan said with a smile.
Pictured: Bob (top) and Bess (below) at Byrneville Elementary School Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
“
Molino Park Students Dress As 100-Year Olds To Celebrate 100th Day Of School
January 30, 2019
Molino Park Elementary School students celebrated the 100th day of the school year Tuesday by dressing up like 100-year olds.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names January Students Of The Month
January 30, 2019
Ransom Middle School has named their Students of the Month for January. They are Tom Fleming, sixth grade, and Erica Langton, eight grade. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Names January Students Of The Month
January 28, 2019
Bratt Elementary School has named their January Students of the Month. They are:
Pre-K
Jasiah Barnes
Kayson Southard
Kindergarten
Brantley Sharpless
Shaleigh Wesley
Benji Burkland
Hayden Batson
1st Grade
Emma Southard
Bentley Alexander
Jadon Long
Landon Lee
Linley Dunn
2nd Grade
Olivia Garrett
Na’kiyah Williams
Shawn Andrews
Sophia Ikner
3rd Grade
Alyssa Barber
Anthony Johnson
Tyler McAnally
Hunter Parker
Kasei Barlow
4th Grade
Mikayla McAnally
Anna Sanspree
Kylar Davis
5th Grade
Bryson Orso
Maggie Stewart
Charlee Weaver
Camden Clark
Music
Max Mason
Carsyn Dortch Named Miss Ernest Ward (With Pageant Photo Gallery)
January 27, 2019
Carsyn Laine Dortch was named Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Saturday night in a “The Greatest Show” themed pageant at the school.
Third runner-up was Jamison Abigail Gilman, second runner-up was McKenna Rae Simmons, and the first runner-up in the annual pageant was Emma Sage Gilmore.
The Personality Award went to McKenna Rae Simmons; Miss Hospitality, the People’s Choice Award and the Physical Fitness Award to Jessica Faith Stabler; the Poise and Appearance Award to Emma Sage Gilmore; and Miss Congeniality to Carsyn Laine Dortch.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the pageant, click here.
Pictured top: Miss Ernest Ward Middle School Carsyn Laine Dortch. Pictured below in descending order: First Runner-up Emma Sage Gilmore, second runner-up McKenna Rae Simmons, and Third Runner-up Jamison Abigail Gilman. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Family Celebrates Three Generations Of Birthdays On The Same Day
January 22, 2019
Against the odds, three generations of a local family are celebrated a birthday on Sunday.
Janis O’Farrell of Walnut Hill, born in 1935, turned 84. Her son Dennis O’Farrell of Walnut Hill, born in 1959, turned 60. His daughter Candi O’Farrell Lusk of nearby Perdido, AL, was born in 1981 and turned 38 Sunday.
What are the odds? 1 in 133,225, according to published reports.
Photos: Molino Park Second Grade Grandparents Breakfast
January 19, 2019
Molino Park Elementary School held their Second Grade Grandparents Breakfast Friday morning. The school holds a grandparents breakfast during the year for each grade level.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
GoFundMe Established For DUI Crash Family; Tate ‘Numbers’ Memorial Honors Banks
January 15, 2019
Balloons with the numbers 40, 53 and 28 were on the fence outside Tate High School on Monday. Those were the jersey numbers worn by 15-year old sophomore Sean Banks in basketball, football and baseball.
Banks and his older sister Antoinette Marie McCoy, 22, were killed early Saturday morning in a suspected DUI crash on East Kingsfield Road.
The number 53 football jersey at Tate has been retired and will never be worn again.
A GoFundMe account for the Banks family has been established, according to the Tate Quarterback Club. The funds will help with funeral expenses and time off work for the parents. To contribute to the GoFundMe account, click here.
RELATED STORIES:
Tate Aggies Football Banquet Honors Student Athlete Killed In Crash; Mom Addresses Attendees
Grief Counselors Available Monday For Students, Staff At Tate High School
Tate High Aggie Family Mourns Loss Of Student Sean Banks
Two Killed In East Kingsfield Crash; Cantonment Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC Explains More About Rare Redhorse Fish Found In The Escambia River
January 14, 2019
After we published a story about a rare river redhorse fish being found in the Escambia River, numerous people responded on NorthEscambia.com and our social media with reports of frequently seeing or catching the fish.
Until the recent discovery, the river redhorse had not been documented in the Escambia River since 1976, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
NorthEscambia.com reached out to the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for more information. Here is their response:
The river redhorse is a species that may easily be confused with other commonly found fish – in particular, the spotted sucker and the blacktail redhorse.
The river redhorse is only found in the Escambia River, whereas the spotted sucker occurs in every river in the panhandle and the blacktail redhorse occurs in all drainages in Florida west of the Apalachicola River.
Ways you can tell them apart- a blacktail redhorse has a black strip that occurs in the tail, and the spotted sucker has noticeable spots on its scales.
Researchers captured a river redhorse during a night trawl. In Florida, the river redhorse is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
The fish prefers large, clean rivers with sand or gravel bottoms and swift currents. The river redhorse was implanted with an acoustic tag and released. The movement of the fish will be monitored to estimate site occupancy and assess population trend, according to the FWC. The fish was found as freshwater biologists were working on imperiled species trawl survey in the Escambia River.
Pictured top: The rare river redhorse fish documented in the Escambia River for the first time since 1976. Other fish that look similar are below, courtesy of FWC and the Florida Museum. Each photo is labeled. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: Spotted Sucker
Above: Blacktail redhorse
Above: River redhorse
Arbor Day Art Contest Entries Accepted Now
January 13, 2019
Celebrate Arbor Day by participating in the UF/IFAS Extension Arbor Day mail art contest. Make your own drawing, collage, painting or photo — or decorate a postcard or envelope — related to the theme, “Plant Trees Today for Shade Tomorrow.” Be creative and have fun!
The contest age groups are children 12 and under, teens ages 13-18, and adults 18 and older. One winner will be selected from each age group, and winners will receive either a tree, a shovel or a book about trees.
Mail entries to: Arbor Day Mail Art Contest, Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment, FL 32533. Entries can also be dropped off at the Extension office. Include your name, age and phone number or email address on the back of your art. Entries must be postmarked by Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Entries will be displayed at the Escambia County Extension office through the month of January. Artwork may be used in Extension programs, such as blogs, flyers and workshops. No received work will be for sale, and we reserve the right to omit offensive work. A panel will judge the works and choose one winner from each age group prior to Friday, Jan. 18.
Winners will be awarded Saturday, Jan. 19 during the mail art display and tree giveaway event at the Escambia County Extension office. If winners cannot attend, they may pick up their prizes at the Escambia Extension office by appointment.
For more information, contact Carrie Stevenson at 850-475-5230 or ctsteven@ufl.edu.