An Early Spring! North Escambia Weather Ducks Miss Shadow
February 2, 2018
On this Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil, the world famous groundhog, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. But our local weather guys, the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks, missed their shadow on an overcast Friday morning and predicted an early spring for the North Escambia area that’s seen two Florida snow and ice storms so far this winter season.
Forklore says that if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, it means six more weeks of winter. We did not have a groundhog handy for a photo, but we did have the NorthEscambia.com Weather Ducks (pictured above).
And unlike like their more famous Pennsylvania weather buddy, our weather ducks also did not see their shadow Friday morning here in North Escambia.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Student Nominated By Nobel Prize Winner For Science, Tech Congress
February 2, 2018
Tate High School sophomore Sophia Swenson has been nominated for the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Lowell, MA, this summer.
T
he Congress is an honors-only program for high school students who arc passionate about science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this event is to honor. inspire. motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to prov ide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.
Swenson was nominated by Dr. John C. Mather, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Science Director of the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent Florida based on her academic achievement. leadership potential and passion for science and technology.
During the three-day Congress, Swenson will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science recipients talk about leading scientific research, be given advice from deans of the world’s top tech universities, be inspired by fellow teen science prodigies: and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future of science and technology.
Pictured: Tate Counselor Christy Mill (left) and Sophia Swenson. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Names Students, Citizens Of The Month
February 1, 2018
Molino Park Elementary School has named students and good citizens of the month for January. They are (L-R) Students of the Month Raedon Barcinas and Lilly Dekker; and Good Citizens of the Month Haleigh Mishoe and Eli Davis. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview, Jay FFA Students Attend ‘Ag On The Hill’ In Tallahassee
February 1, 2018
Northview and Jay High School FFA students attended the annual Ag on the Hill week this week in Tallahassee. Students were welcomed to the event by the Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, several members of the Florida Legislature, and Florida Department of Career and Technical Education personal. Nothview and Jay FFA students visited with Rep. Jayer Williamson (pictured below) and Sen.Doug Broxson (pictured above). The annual event is hosted by the Florida FFA Association and Florida Association of Agriculture Educators.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Celebrates ‘Winter Wonderland’ For Literacy Week
January 31, 2018
Bratt Elementary School celebrated a “Winter Wonderland” For Literacy Week.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Elementary Holds Donuts For Dads (With Photo Gallery)
January 31, 2018
There were plenty of dads at Molino Park Elementary School Monday morning as the PTA held its annual Donuts with Dads event. Donuts with Dads gives dads a chance to stop by and be involved with their children and find out the latest school information.
Photos by Kristi Barbour and Molino Park PTA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida 4-H Hall Of Fame Member Francis Robert Gindl, Sr. Passes Away
January 30, 2018
Florida 4-H Hall of Fame member Francis Robert Gindl, Sr. passed away Saturday. He was 89.
Gindl was passionate about 4-H and very active about supporting his children and hundreds of other children with their 4-H activities.
Gindl joined the 4-H Corn Club in 1939, but he soon found that 4-H had much more to offer. He was the first 4-H member in his club to raise more than 100 bushels of corn per acre. He participated in public speaking, beef, swine, poultry, and tractor maintenance projects. He also joined a state 4-H livestock judging team.
He became a volunteer leader with the Barrineau Park 4-H club, which is the longest operating 4-H club in the state of Florida. The club’s projects included consumer judging, tractor maintenance, livestock, and public speaking. His club participated in Florida 4-H Legislature, Florida 4-H Congress, the Pensacola Interstate Fair, and community service projects. His club was the first one to be integrated with both boys and girls in 1965 and then racially in 1972.
“Being part of Barrineau Park 4-H is a true honor” Dillon Conti , the 2016-2017 president of Barrineau Park 4-H Club said. “Mr Francis Gindl did so much for our club, we are very lucky that this rich history is preserved at Barrineau Park Historical Society in the museum for my generation and generations to come to see how much this man gave to Barrineau Park 4-H Club”.
He shared many of his skills with youth and adults in 4-H. He taught the state 4-H record book workshop for extension agents at the University of Florida and obtained community service grants for 4-H projects. He hosted an exchange student from Brazil with the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) program.
When inducted into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame 2n 2002, Gindl said his decades as a 4-H member and volunteer helped him become a people person, improve his speaking ability and raising his confidence.
Gindl served on the Langley Bell 4-H Center Board of Trustees. The impact Gindl made on Escambia County 4-H is still felt today in livestock, public speaking and community service project areas. He was recognized with the State 4-H Alumni award in 1964 and was selected as the 4-H volunteer leader of the year in 1976.
He also spent 39 years working at Monsanto, and was a charter member of the Barrineau Park Historical Society.
Gindl was a 1946 graduate of J.M. Tate High School where he was voted the most handsome in the senior class. While he attended high school, he was employed by the system to drive a school bus because there was a driver shortage due to WWII. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba during the Korean War.
Gindl is survived by his wife, Pauline Summerlin Gindl; daughters, Linda (Andrew) Veren of Fairhope and Amy (Marc) Thibodeau, of Danville, VA; daughter in law, Tena Mann Gindl, Cantonment; sisters, Mildred Anderson, Pensacola and Mary Ann Prembroke of Bennington, VT; and a large number of other family members.
Visitation will be at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment on Tuesday, January 30 from 5:00 to 7:00. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 31. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
To read the complete obituary, click here.
Updated: Owl Recovering After Rescue From Tangled Fishing Line
January 30, 2018
A barred owl — better known as a hoot owl — rescued near Century Saturday is recovering from his injuries.
The owl was hanging by a wing that was tangled in fishing line at Salter’s Lake. After being rescued by a group of local residents, the owl was picked up by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and transported to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.
Wildlife Sanctuary Director Dorothy Kaufmann said Monday afternoon that the owl was examined by Dr. Tommy Knight at the Westside Animal Clinic. She said the biggest concern right now is the left wing tip from which the owl was dangling.
“We will see how things heal over the next six to seven days,” Kaufmann said. “The shoulder will also be a time situation to see how much he can recover the range of motion.”
The owl was rescued by local duck hunters Ben Preston and Lakelynn Parker…click here to read more.
Photos by Ross Daughdrill and Tammy Parker for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FFA District Winners Announced
January 29, 2018
Friday, FFA Chapters from across the area competed in the FFA District competition. Competitors previously won their Sub-District competitions in December to advance to this level.
The FFA provides numerous career and leadership development events providing a variety of opportunities for members to compete in individual and team events.
Winners of FFA District 1 competitions are below. The first place winner from each category will advance to represent the district at the 90th Florida State FFA Convention in Orlando in June.
Opening and Closing Ceremony:
1st Place – Jay Middle FFA
2nd Place – Paxton Middle FFA
Middle School Extemporaneous Speaking:
1st Place – Colton Philips, Paxton Middle FFA
2nd Place – Thuan Vo, Beulah Academy of Science FFA
Middle School Prepared Public Speaking:
1st Place – Haley Pickron, Paxton Middle FFA
Creed Speaking:
1st Place: Amber Gilman, Northview FFA
2nd Place: Laura Fleaman, Chipley FFA
Tractor Driving:
1st Place – Zach Rutherford, Central FFA
2nd Place – Bailey Miller, Bethlehem FFA
High School Parliamentary Procedure
1st Place – Tate FFA
High School Prepared Public Speaking
1st Place – Avery Young, Tate FFA
2nd Place – Bailey Patterson, Chipley FFA
High School Extemporaneous Speaking
1st Place – Wyatt Patterson, Chipley FFA
2nd Place – Gabe Ferguson, Tate FFA
For additional winner photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Collects Thousands Of Pop Tabs For The Ronald McDonald House
January 27, 2018
Molino Park Elementary School students collected tens of thousands pop tabs — those little pull tabs off the tops of aluminum drink cans — to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida.
The pop tabs were delivered to the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola Friday night…there were too many to weigh right away, so we’ll update you on the total later.
The money from recycling the tabs is used by the facility to help pay their utility bills for the house on Bayou Boulevard.
And it’s not too late to donate pop tabs to Molino Park Elementary for the Ronald McDonald House…the school is still accepting donations.
Pictured: Molino Park Elementary dropped off a lot of pop tabs Friday night at the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
