Special Meeting: A Little Boy In Need And An Unselfish Young Lady
October 16, 2013
Before Tuesday, Shelby Godwin of Bratt had never met Wyatt Johnson, an 18-month old from Century who is suffering from a chronic liver disease that will require a transplant. Hugs, smiles and happy tears filled the Bratt Elementary School Library Tuesday afternoon as Shelby saw Wyatt in person for the first time.
But there was already a special bond between the two, a little boy in need of all the help the world will give him and a young lady with an unselfish heart.
As we reported last month, Shelby saw a fundraising flyer with Wyatt’s picture at CVS in Century. She was so emotionally touched by the young man that she wanted to do something to help him.
Her idea was a fresh orange juice stand along East Highway 4 in Bratt, under the shade trees in front of her house. The 10-year old used her own money to purchase the oranges and supplies for her little business venture and borrowed an old fashioned juicer from a friend of her mom.
“Hey,” Shelby said to Wyatt, taking his hand in hers. “It’s good to meet you.” Tears poured from the face of Nicole Johnson, Wyatt’s mom, as she embraced Shelby in a hug. Afterwards, Shelby pushed her glasses up and wiped her eyes.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” mom Nicole said.
“You are an amazing young lady,” Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told Shelby. “This world needs more people like you.”
“We do need more people like you,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall added, presenting Shelby with an official proclamation in her honor. “You are very special. There’s a special place in heaven for you.”
Wyatt’s dad, Justin Johnson, presented Shelby with a single white rose, a card, and a “Team Wyatt” shirt. Shelby and her mother, Kim Godwin, gave Wyatt a gift, a teddy bear and a matching outfit. Wyatt looked at the teddy bear cautiously, smiled and began to play. His smile grew larger as he twirled the bear’s fur around his finger and poked at his nose.
The Godwins then presented Nicole with the proceeds from Shelby’s orange juice sales.
“Hey there,” Shelby said and she kneeled next to Wyatt for photos. As the camera clicked off the photos, their smiles became bigger and bigger as did those of everyone in a room. For a moment, all was well in the world of the new best friends, a little boy in need of all the help the world will give him and a young lady with an unselfish heart.
Shelby’s orange juice stand is open some Friday and Saturday afternoons in the 5100 block of West Highway 4, almost directly across from the Bratt Assembly of God. A small fresh squeezed orange juice is $1 and a medium is $2. Donations are welcome and very much encouraged. All proceeds benefit Wyatt Johnson. A fund has also been established in Wyatt Johnson’s name at Pen Air Federal Credit Union.
Pictured above: (front, L-R) Shelby Godwin, Nicole Johnson, Wyatt Johnson, Daisy Johnson, (back) Bratt Elementary Principal Karen Hall, Kim Godwin, Justin Johnson, Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, and Century Mayor Freddie McCall.
Pictured above: Shelby Godwin makes fresh orange juice to raise money for Wyatt Johnson.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Visit The Pumpkin Patch
October 16, 2013
Looking for a pumpkin? The Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Men’s Pumpkin Patch is open once again this year at the corner of Highway 29 and Neal Road. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available, with some priced as low as $1. The pumpkin patch is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Organizers said hundreds of pumpkins have been sold far this year; another delivery is expected by the weekend.
The church’s Third Annual Fall Festival will be held at the pumpkin patch on Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be free activities for the children, local musical entertainment, food, baked goods and more. Admission is free.
Pictured: The Allen Memorial Pumpkin Patch in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Kids Learn Fire Safety
October 15, 2013
The VPK class at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center recently visited the Century Fire Station to learn all about fire safety. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: A Firefighter’s Wedding
October 14, 2013
Two members of the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue — Lt. Drew Manning and Julia Cleckley — were united in marriage Saturday. Their wedding was held at the Molino Fire Station.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Meagan Kennedy and Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Great Escambia Relay For Life Kickoff Meeting To Be Held Tuesday
October 14, 2013
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greater Escambia will get underway Tuesday night. A kickoff event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Baptist Church off Highway 297A.
As participants gather this year to register teams and launch fundraising efforts, they’ll be helping the American Cancer Society redouble its efforts to make this cancer’s last century – not just for members of Escambia County, but around the world.
As the world’s largest grassroots fundraising program, the Relay For Life movement mobilizes friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, service organizations and faith-based groups in communities throughout the country, to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and provide everyone an opportunity to fight back against the disease.
For more information, call the American Cancer Society at (850) 475-0850 or visit relayforlife.org.
The Relay for Life of Greater Escambia will be held April 25, 2014, at Tate High School.
Pictured: Last year’s Relay for Life of Greater Escambia at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
17 High School Bands Take Part In Assessments At Tate
October 13, 2013
The Florida Bandmasters Association Marching Music Performance Assessments were held Saturday at Tate High School. Seventeen bands from across the area took part in the event.
Complete school by school results and more photos will be available and published next week on NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: The Florida Bandmasters Association Marching Music Performance Assessments Saturday at Tate High School. Performances included bands from Northview (pictured top), Jay (pictured inset) and Washington (pictured below). NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Baptist Church Breaks Ground On New Family Life Center
October 13, 2013
Walnut Hill Baptist Church recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Family Life Center. The new building will provide additional Sunday School rooms, rooms for the church’s children and youth departments, a full basketball court, a full kitchen and a stage.
The ceremony was officiated by the church’s pastor, Rev. Ted Bridges. He was joined by contractor David Denham of D&D Construction; and Alex Jones, Ricky Smith, Kellie Ridgeway and Rachel Holland from United Bank. Also taking part in the ceremony were Walnut Hill Baptist Church trustees Brett Ward, Curtis Amerson and Carl Deckard.
Construction on the new Walnut Hill Baptist Church Family Life Center is expected to being in early November.
Pictured: (L-R) Rev. Ted Bridges, Brett Ward, Curtis Amerson, Carl Deckard, Alex Jones, David Denham, Ricky Smith, Kellie Ridgeway and Rachel Holland. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fire Truck Pull Benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities
October 13, 2013
Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Annual Fire Truck Pull was held in downtown Pensacola Saturday. Thirty-two teams competed to see who could pull a fire truck 50 feet in the fastest time.
This year, a new tournament style had teams advancing through the brackets to determine an undisputed champion. Each team had 15 people.
All proceeds benefited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida, allowing the organization to provide a home away from home for families of children who travel to Pensacola to receive medical treatment.
Pictured top: The Ronald McDonald House Fire Truck Pull Saturday in Pensacola. Winners were: 1st place – Southeaster Dog Hunter’s Association (pictured below in pink); 2nd place – Naval Hospital Pensacola (pictured bottom); 3rd place – NAS Whiting Field Crash and Rescue (pictured inset). Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thompson, Wiggins To Wed
October 13, 2013
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Wiggins and Mr. Charles Thompson are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Chastity Alita, to Scotty Dewayne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Buford Wiggins. The wedding will be held at Lake Stone in Century on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. Reception to follow.
Weekend Gardening: Time To Plant Strawberries
October 12, 2013
In many parts of the country, strawberries are a summer crop, but here in Florida they grow best during the cooler months of the year. Plant yours between October 15 and November 15 to enjoy tasty berries in the spring.
Temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees F and less than 14 hours of daylight are required for the development of flowers and fruit on most strawberry varieties. This combination of day length and temperature exists for much of the fall, winter and spring in Northwest Florida.
Strawberry plants are perennial; they can live for several years. However, because of their susceptibility to diseases, we normally grow them as annuals here in Florida. To be successful with strawberries, it’s important to plant the right variety, protect the flowers from freezing weather and manage pests.
The first step in successful strawberry production is choosing adapted varieties. Currently, the University of Florida suggests three varieties for the Florida home garden: ‘Camarosa’, ‘Sweet Charlie’, and ‘Festival’. All three varieties produce attractive, flavorful berries suitable for eating fresh or for freezing.
‘Camarosa’ has been the most productive variety in North Florida. It produces a blocky, dark red berry.
‘Festival’ is the number one variety in Florida. It has good red color and is a firm, conical shape berry with medium sweetness. It is an excellent choice for eating.
‘Sweet Charlie’ is a University of Florida variety. Although it is an older variety, consumers still like it. Its soft sweet fruit is an orange red color.
Strawberries grow best in a location receiving at least eight hours of direct sunlight per day. If a full sun location is not available, try to choose a spot that is sunny during the morning and early afternoon. The soil should be well drained and slightly acidic with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
Strawberries can also be planted in growing boxes, strawberry pots, barrels and other containers. For best results, fill your container with a high-quality potting media—do not use garden soil.
Strawberry flowers and fruit can be injured by air temperatures below 32 degrees F. However, if properly planted, the plant itself will not be damaged unless the temperature falls to the low 20’s. If a frost or freeze is predicted, cover the plants with a lightweight blanket. This will help prevent the flowers or fruits from getting damaged.
The key to successful pest management is to begin with healthy, disease-free transplants. If problems do arise, be sure to contact your local Extension Agent for advice and recommendations. Additional advice is available in an online publication located at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs403.
The first berries should be ready to pick roughly 90 to 110 days after planting. The harvest season usually stretches through May with fruit yield peaking around March.
Pick berries when at least three-fourths of their surface has turned red. The fruit quickly deteriorate once it becomes totally red. So, it is best to harvest regularly—every two to four days.
Once picked, the berries will not sweeten any further. Freshly picked strawberries generally keep for only a few days, so be sure to eat them soon after harvest. If you have a surplus of berries, you may freeze them.
Theresa Friday was the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.