Not About The Catch: Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo Held In Walnut Hill (With Gallery)
May 3, 2015
The 41st annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo was held Saturday in Walnut Hill.
Over the history of the fishing rodeo, it has been held at locations ranging from Ft. Pickens to the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola. Since 2001, it has been held at Jantz’s Catfish Pond on South Highway 99, just off Highway 97.
Dozens of volunteers stood ready Saturday to help the disabled. They baited hooks, tossed a line and offered words of friendly encouragement, while dozens of disabled people were registered in Saturday’s fishing rodeo. They were from around the area.
“You going to put my picture on the New York Times,” one participant asked our photographer as she posed with her catch.
Saturday’s event wasn’t so much about the catch as it was the experience for those they often would otherwise never have the opportunity to fish.
“We both caught one, but mine weighed more than his,” one woman said, pointing a the man next to her. “It’s not about who catches the most, but having fun. But my fish was bigger than his.”
The Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization.
Pictured: The Pen Wheel Fishing Rodeo for the disabled Saturday in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Century Sawmill Day
May 3, 2015
Hundreds of people attended the annual Sawmill Day in Saturday at Century’s historical park. The event featured entertainment, plenty of great food, arts and crafts and free museum tours.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For car show photos, click here.
Pictured top: A spinning and yarn making demonstration. Pictured inset: Replacing cane on a circa 1939 dining room chair. Pictured below: Enjoying entertainment Saturday morning at Century’s Sawmill Festival. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Sawmill Day Car Show (And A Really Cool Red Flyer Wagon)
May 3, 2015
Large crowds attended the annual Sawmill Day Car Show in Century on Saturday.
For more photos, including a Radio Flyer wagon like you’ve never seen before, click here.
For Sawmill Day coverage and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Thousands Celebrate Mayfest
May 3, 2015
From beautiful babies, cute dogs, arts and crafts, entertainment and plenty of fun, Mayfest 2015 had a little bit of something for everyone Saturday at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore as thousands attended the annual event.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Standing With Coop: Yard Sale Benefits Cancer Patient
May 3, 2015
The First Baptist Church of Bratt held a benefit yard sale Saturday for 17-year old Bryant Cooper. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tickets On Sale Now For ‘Hairspray’ At Northview High
April 30, 2015
The Northview High School Theatre Department will present the Broadway musical “Hairspray” for two shows only next week.
It’s 1962, and pleasantly plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. It is a show that’s great for the entire family.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. in the Northview Theatre on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Advance tickets are $7 now through April 30 in the Northview front office.
Cobb Awarded Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship
April 29, 2015
Northview High School Senior Kendal Cobb has been awarded the Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship.
Applicants were required to fill out a brief application and write an essay explaining why the scholarship was important to them and how it would make it possible for them to continue their education.
Cobb was awarded the scholarship Tuesday night during the annual Northview DCT banquet. She plants to attend Pensacola State College and become a nurse.
The scholarship fund was established in memory of Tommy Weaver, DCT/Ag instructor and assistant coach who passed away in March 2012.
Pictured: Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship winner Kendal Cobb with Northview DCT instructor Brandy White. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Grad’s Team Wins Regional Robotics Competition
April 28, 2015
Northview High School graduate Colton Sims was a member of a team that won the recent 2015 SoutheastCon Hardware Competition in Fort Lauderdale. Sims is currently a senior at the University of South Alabama and will graduate in May with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
Over 50 engineering colleges across the Southeastern U.S. participated in this year’s competition.
Sims and his fellow students began work on their robot – lovingly named “Betsy” – when competition rules were announced in October 2014. Their autonomous robot had to run through a maze and complete four retro-themed tasks: play Simon Says for 15-seconds, rotate a Rubik’s Cube section 180 degrees, write “IEEE” on an Etch a Sketch, and remove the top card of the deck. The robot had to drive itself up to each game, physically manipulate the game correctly, and complete all four in five minutes.
Each team had three attempts at the maze and points were awarded for each task and for the time of each run. The University of South Alabama was the only team to achieve three perfect runs – successfully completing all four tasks each time.
”I knew the students were up to something good when they showed me the working Etch-a-Sketch in February,” said faculty advisor Dr. Russ. “So I was hoping they would be competitive. But first place? That is superb! I wish I could take more credit, but they did all the work themselves – very impressive!”
The team left Mobile the Friday of the conference driving 12 hours straight to the competition location. They faced a few glitches with their robot upon arrival and worked through the night getting “Betsy” ready for the next day. Sims and the four other USA students did not sleep until the competition was over Saturday afternoon.
One of the most impressive things about this win was the meager $1,500 budget the team had to work with to build the robot itself – compared to the several thousand dollars some of the other leading teams had. Team Captain Andrew Braun gives high praise to the College of Engineering.
Pictured top: University of South Alabama students accepting their trophy at the 2015 IEEE SoutheastCon Awards Banquet. From left, Northview graduate Colton Sims and fellow students Jan Hellmich, Andrew Braun, SoutheastCon Representative, Nicholas Carroll, and Kenneth Leggett. Pictured inset: The team’s robot “Betsy”. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Prayer And WD-40: 106-Year Old Hattie Schneider Passes Away
April 27, 2015
One of the North Escambia area’s oldest residents has passed way. Hattie Schneider of Molino turn 106 last March, giving credit for her long life to “prayer and WD-40″, and her trust in the Lord.
She is survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 1989.
Her family and friends said they thank God everyday for blessing them with her, and she was a true inspiration to everyone.
Visitation for Hattie Gay Schneider will be this Wednesday, April 29, from 10-11 a.m. at Highland Baptist Church in Molino, with funeral services set for 11 a.m.
Reimagine Century To Return Next Month
April 26, 2015
In just a few short weeks, the faithful will reach out during Reimagine Century to touch the hearts and lives of area residents in need.
“Reimagine Century is going to be better than last year. It’s going to be an event where businesses, the community, agencies, industries and churches come together to not only bless the impoverished, but to unite and serve each other,” said organizer Linda English.
She said the volunteers are on a mission to serve those less fortunate — both their physical and spiritual needs.
“We do this first and foremost to emphasize that we are one body of Christ. We have lots of denominations, we have racial division, so for one day come together and all that racial division falls down, all that denomination differences fall down, and we just serve Jesus, the one thing we have in common,” she said. “As we do that, we get the benefit of doing what the Bible says, which is to love on each other and love on the poor.”
“It’s honor to serve those individuals that are in need,” English said.
The event will include a wide variety of activities, including a 15,000 pound food giveaway, health screenings, AIDS testing, diabetes information, live music, fishing lessons from Mission Fishin’, free manicures, information from community agencies, a clothing giveaway, free lunch, free haircuts, youth and teen activities and sports, a diaper giveaway and more.
Reimagine Century 2015 will be held Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the old Century High School at 440 Hecker Road.
For more information or to become a part of Reimagine Century, call Linda English at (850) 454-5280 or Greg English (850) 712-8397.
Reimagine Century is sponsored in part by numerous organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: The first Reimagine Century event last September. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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