Fair Provides $30K In Educational Grants To Local Students
April 21, 2015
The Pensacola Interstate Fair, Inc. has given out a total of $30,000 for the 2014-2015 John E. Frenkel, Sr. Educational Grants.
This grant provides $1,000 each to 30 recipients, made payable to any accredited college. Since the inception of the grant program in 1983, Pensacola Interstate Fair, Inc. has given over $1 million to local students.
These grants are restricted to graduating High School Seniors of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties who, during their high school years, have participated in or volunteered at the Pensacola Interstate Fair.
The grant recipients for this year are:
- Brandon H. Ingram, Central High School
- Mark A. Reid, Escambia High School
- Amanda S. Tanner, Escambia Virtual Academy
- Sydney J. Ezelle, Gulf Breeze High School
- Makenzie C. Bray, Jay High School
- Kolby L. Copeland, Jay High School
- Clayton T. Fischer, Jay High School
- Tucker C. Harrington, Jay High School
- Jeffery T. Kelley, Jay High School
- Micah J. Kemp, Jay High School
- Colby A. Odom, Jay High School
- Tyler W. Odom, Jay High School
- Alisa B. Roberts, Jay High School
- Emily S. Russell, Jay High School
- Kourtney P. Smith, Jay High School
- Derrill S. Starling, Jay High School
- Donald P. Cunningham, Pace High School
- Elizabeth A. Parra, Pensacola High School (IB)
- Erin B. Fairall, Pine Forest High School
- Carissa J. Carroll, Tate High School
- Tristan W. Fromm, Tate High School
- Samantha Early, Washington High School
- Amy K. Fellgren, Washington High School
- Briahna D. McDavid, Washington High School
- Christopher P. Searcy, Washington High School
- Michaela A Tullius, Washington High School
- Joshua L. McLamb, West Florida High School
- Raleigh E. Nesbitt, West Florida High School
- Hannah E. Power, West Florida High School
- Josephine N. Venable, West Florida High School
Weekend Livestock Show Award Winners Announced
April 20, 2015
Award winners have been announced from Saturday’s Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization (GCA & NRYO) Spring Livestock Show in Molino. The complete list is below.
For an earlier story about the show, click here.
Pictured is Haylee Weaver and her 1,425 pound Grand Champion Market Streer named “Breakaway”.
Click the list below to enlarge
Photos by Meridith Caum for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Grocery Prices Up In ‘Spring Picnic’ Survey
April 19, 2015
Higher retail prices for several foods, including sirloin tip roast, ground chuck, deli ham and orange juice, resulted in a slight increase in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Spring Picnic Marketbasket survey.
The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $53.87, up $.60 or about 1 percent compared to a survey conducted a year ago. Of the 16 items surveyed, eight increased and eight decreased in average price.
“Several meat items increased in price, accounting for much of the modest increase in the marketbasket,” said John Anderson, AFBF’s deputy chief economist. “The 1 percent increase shown by our survey tracks closely with the Agriculture Department’s forecast of 2 percent to 3 percent food inflation for 2015,” he said.
Items showing retail price increases from a year ago included:
- sirloin tip roast, up 14 percent to $5.71 per pound
- ground chuck, up 12 percent to $4.61 per pound
- orange juice, up 7 percent to $3.47 per half-gallon
- toasted oat cereal, up 7 percent to $3.12 for a 9-ounce box
- deli ham, up 6 percent to $5.53 per pound
- eggs, up 4 percent to $2.05 per dozen
- shredded cheddar cheese, up 3 percent to $4.59 per pound
- potatoes, up 2 percent to $2.74 for a 5-pound bag
These items showed modest retail price decreases compared to a year ago:
- flour, down 9 percent to $2.52 for a 5-pound bag
- bacon, down 8 percent to $4.44 per pound
- apples, down 8 percent to $1.47 per pound
- chicken breast, down 7 percent to $3.28 per pound
- whole milk, down 6 percent to $3.45 per gallon
- vegetable oil, down 6 percent to $2.67 for a 32-ounce bottle
- bagged salad, down 5 percent to $2.47 per pound
- white bread, down 3 percent to $1.75 per 20-ounce loaf
Price checks of alternative milk and egg choices not included in the overall marketbasket survey average revealed the following: 1/2 gallon regular milk, $2.24; 1/2 gallon organic milk, $4.47; and one dozen “cage-free” eggs, $3.57.
The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks closely with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.
“Through the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that figure has decreased steadily and is now about 16 percent, according to the Agriculture Department’s revised Food Dollar Series,” Anderson said.
Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this $53.87 marketbasket would be $8.62.
.
Smith Completes Parris Island Training
April 19, 2015
PFC Cody Dewayne Smith graduated recently after 13 weeks of Marine Corp training at Parris Island, SC. Smith served as a squad leader during his training. He was awarded as an expert in rifle markmanship and was promoted to private first class. Smith is the son of Rex and Theresa Smith of Jay.
Molino Park Presents ‘Alphabet Adventures of Sometimes Y’
April 17, 2015
The first grade classes at Molino Park Elementary School presented “The Alphabet Adventures of Sometimes Y” Thursday night at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Tate Students Get Real World Voting Experience
April 16, 2015
Students at Tate High School got a little real world voting experience Wednesday. They voted for class officers and student council officers during lunch, using real ballots and real voting equipment provided by the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Students cast 501 ballots, the Elections Office was able register 21 students to vote in real elections.
Absentee ballots will be available Thursday for students that missed voting on Wednesday, and the winners be announced on Friday.
Tate Juniors also cast ballots for their prom court, king and queen.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bigfoot Monster Truck Visits Local Company That Keeps It Running
April 14, 2015
Bigfoot monster truck “Trick Flow” made a stop by sponsor Alto Products in Atmore Monday afternoon. The truck achieves its superior power from Atmore-made Alto Red Eagle clutches. Alto has provided the transmission clutch plates for the Bigfoot vehicles for the past 15 years.
“The most fun is the kids. I can remember being a little kid and looking up to the truck drivers. When they come up to see the truck and they light up, that just makes my day,” Trick Flow driver Darron Schnell said. He has been a part of the Bigfoot team for seven years.
The truck is also sponsored by Trick Flow, a division of Summitt Racing.
Pictured: Bigfoot monster truck “Trick Flow” at Alto Products in Atmore, where the vehicle’s transmission clutch plates are manufactured. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Names Students Of The Month
April 13, 2015
Ernest Ward Middle School has named students of the month for March. They are (L-R) Gabrielle Peebles, eighth grade; Destiny Bradley, sixth grade; and Melissa Sunday, seventh grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blackman Receives Royal Rangers’ Honor Gold Medal Of Achievement
April 12, 2015
Nicholas Blackman of Cantonment was recently awarded the Royal Rangers’ Honor Gold Medal of Achievement, the group’s highest award.
The Gold Medal of Achievement is awarded upon the completion of the entire Royal Rangers advancement system, representing a full 13 years of work. Recipients of this award must earn the highest award in each age group and meet other criteria.
Commander Ray Carnley presented Nicholas with his Gold Medal of Achievement at Pace Assembly Ministries where Blackman has been a member since birth. Blackman is also a member of Frontiersman Camping Fellowship.
The Royal Rangers program is an activity-based, small group church ministry for boys and young men in grades K-12. The group strives to empowerthe next generation of Christlike men and lifelong servant leaders.
Pictured with Nicholas Blackman are Ray Thompson, district commander; Don Fowler, assistant senior commander; Ray Carnley, advising and recruiting commander; and Terry Bracey, senior commander. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay, UWF Hold Relay For Life Events (With Photo Gallery)
April 12, 2015
Hundreds of people took part in Relay for Life events this weekend in Jay and and at the University of West Florida.
At the Jay Relay for Life, there were 13 teams and 80 participants registered to take part in the eight hour event. At last count, the event had raised $25,048 for cancer research, exceeding a $25,000 goal. Top teams going into Saturday’s event were Purple Power and Jay United Methodist Church. For a photo gallery from the Jay event, click here.
The UWF Relay For Life was moved inside the University Commons Great Hall. There were 41 teams and 408 participants registered for the event. The top teams as last count were Alpha Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha and Mako CrossFit.
A Luminaria ceremony was held at both events as participants remembered friends and loved ones that have lost the battle against cancer and honored those currently fighting cancer.
Other upcoming area Relay for Life events include the Relay for Life of Greater Escambia at Tate High School with 44 registered teams beginning at 11 a.m.. on April 18, and the Relay for Life of Escambia-Atmore at Hertiage Park. beginning at 6 p.m. on April 17, and the Relay for Life of Pensacola with 51 teams at Washington High School on May 8.
Pictured: Jay Relay for Life. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
