Back To School Photo Gallery
August 20, 2013
Thousands of area students headed back to class on Monday. We asked NorthEscambia.com readers to submit back to school photos, and we received hundreds.
Click here for a photo gallery.
We regret that we are unable to run all of the photos.
Pictured top: Fourth grader Kasen Sawyer with his teacher, Kim Ryan, at Bratt Elementary School. Pictured below: The “Atallah Bunch” – Adrianna, Madeleine, and Ayden attend Byrneville Elementary; Trystan attends Bratt Elementary; and Tryniti attends Molino Park. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Mini, Junior Dance Team Clinics Planned
August 19, 2013
The Northview High School Dance Team will hold dance team clinics for elementary and middle school girls.
The Mini Dance Team clinic is for elementary school students, grades K-5. And the Junior Dance Team Clinic is for middle schoolers in grades 6-8.
The clinics will be held Saturday, August 24 from 9 a.m. until noon in the school gym. A practice may also be held on Wednesday, August 28 from 4-5 p.m. on the track in the Northview stadium. The performance will be at the Northview Chiefs home football game on Friday, August 30.
Registration forms will be sent home from area schools and select private dance classes. Or, click here to download and print a registration form.
The clinic price is $30, including a t-shirt and snack.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Retired Firefighter Kimberl Celebrates 90th Birthday
August 19, 2013
One of the oldest living retired firefighters in Escambia County celebrated his 90th birthday over the weekend with a trip by a fire station.
Charles Kimberl retired as a battalion chief for the Pensacola Fire Department on the last day of 1982. Kimberl and Mabel, his wife of 66 years, have seven children, 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren — many of whom live in the Molino area.
Pictured: Charles Kimberl (third from left) along with (L-R) Lieutenant Nathan Edler, Firefighter Josh Szeliga, Interim Chief Matt Schmitt, Captain Rick Simmons, Firefighter Ben Gilmore, and Firefighter Neil Jones. Elder and Jones are Kimberl’s grandson-in-laws. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hero Lost: War Takes Husband From Her Life, Anniversary Photos
August 18, 2013
In a photograph from their November 2011 wedding in Pensacola, Marine Corps Sgt. Bradley Atwell smiles while gingerly wiping away the tears of his new wife, Danielle, as she looks deeply into his eyes.
Almost two years later, Danielle was back in Pensacola, but the resulting photographs are far different.
The 23-year-old is dressed in black, and the youthful innocence and joy have been replaced with loss and pain. Brad is absent, replaced by a picture in a frame, his wedding ring, dog tags and a folded American flag.
Both collections of photographs were taken by Florida-based photographer Melissa Thurber, a former Army combat medic and Iraq veteran, and shared with Stars and Stripes as a tribute to Brad. Atwell was killed in September as he heroically confronted 15 heavily armed Taliban fighters who breached the wire at Camp Bastion in southwestern Afghanistan and destroyed more than $200 million worth of aircraft.
The images are a moving reminder of the price paid by service members and their families during more than a decade of war.
“I think they’re beautiful,” Danielle Atwell said of the new photographs. “I would prefer anniversary photos but I don’t really have that choice, so I’m glad to have had the pictures done to honor Brad there.”
Pictured top: This summer, Danielle Atwell returned to the pavilion in Pensacola where she and her Marine husband were married in 2011. Pictured inset and below: The 2011 wedding day for Sgt. Bradley Atwell and his wife Danielle in 2011. Pictured bottom: Danielle Atwell hugs the flag from her husband’s casket at his grave at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola recently. Photos by Melissa J. Thurber for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Used with permission from Stars and Stripes. © 2013 Stars and Stripes.
From Ramps To Reefs – Program Set For Main, Molino Libraries
August 18, 2013
The free program “From Ramps to Reefs” , will be held at the Main and Molino libraries.
The first program will take place Thursday, August 22, at 6 p.m. at the Main Library branch, 239 North Spring Street, Pensacola. Hosted by Escambia County Marine Biologist Robert Turpin, the presentation will include the relationship between waterways in and around Escambia County.
A repeat presentation will occur Monday, August 26, at 4 p.m. at the Molino Branch, 6450 Highway 95A.
This free program is offered by the West Florida Public Library in connection with the Discover Earth: A Century of Change traveling exhibition, focusing on local earth science topics such as weather, water cycle and ecosystem changes, as well as a global view of our changing planet. The traveling exhibition will allow library patrons to understand how Earth’s global environment is effected by the local environment of all exhibition host communities.
The traveling exhibit, which will visit 10 libraries throughout the U.S., is part of the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net) led by the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute. Exhibit partners include the American Library Association, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the National Girls Collaborative Project. Discover Earth is supported through a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Pictured: The Molino Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: August To Do List
August 18, 2013
Here are gardening tips for the month of August from the UF/IFAS Extension program:
What to Plant
- Bedding Plants: The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat tolerant vinca, gaillardia, bulbine, and coleus.
- Bulbs:Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
- Herbs: Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger,Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
- Vegetables: This month starts the fall planting season. Many cool season crops can be planted now, including a final crop of warm-season vegetables such as pepper. Tomato can be planted for the fall garden.
- Lawn problems: Damaged areas can be the result of insects, disease, or irrigation problems. Be sure to determine the cause so the proper remedy is used. Use a sharp mower blade and only remove 1/3 of grass blade to reduce stress on the lawn.
- Palms: If older fronds are yellowing, you may have a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
- Poinsettias: Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
- Ornamental Plants: Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants. Fertilize those plants that show signs of deficiencies.
- Bedding Plants: Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.
- Adjust irrigation based on rainfall.
- Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.
- Monitor the garden for insects and disease.
- Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established.
Birth: Carter Ray Wells
August 18, 2013
Carter Ray Wells was born July 16, 2013, at 1:18 to parents Brandy and Jeffrey Wells of McDavid. He weighed seven-pounds, 11-ounces and was 20 inches long.
He maternal grandparents are Anthony (Georgia) Watts of Seminole and Carrie ( Rufus) Evans of Brewton. Paternal grandparents are Jerry and Brenda Wells of McDavid. Carter was welcomed home by big brother Ashton and big sister Justina.
Chloe Channell Done On ‘America’s Got Talent’; She’s Singing Again Friday At Olive
August 15, 2013
She wowed America and the judges for weeks on American’s Got Talent, but when it came down to the wire Wednesday night, everyone’s favorite 11-year old super-enthusiastic country girl was headed back to Pace.
“Chloe was electric last night on America’s Got Talent,” The Band Perry tweeted about her Tuesday night cover of their hit “Done” live at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
The Band Perry and America had to wait literally until the final seconds of Wednesday night’s results show to find out if Chloe was done. Chloe and Taylor Williamson, as the fourth and fifth place acts from Tuesday night, faced the judges’ vote to see who would continue on to the America’s Got Talent semifinals.
Shock Jock Howard Stern and comedian Howie Mandel voted for Williamson, while supermodel Heidi Klum and singer Melanie Brown voted for Chloe. With a judge’s tie, the decision went to the yet unknown America’s vote as the closing credits rolled. After a stage hand ran out with the results envelope, host Nick Cannon read the verdict — Williamson was moving on and Chloe was headed home.
“I want to thank you all for everything,” Chloe said Wednesday night via Facebook. “This is only the beginning. The out pour of support has been amazing.”
Chloe Channell will be back on a local stage Friday night at 6:30 at her church as Olive Baptist presents the “Opry at Olive”, an event scheduled before Chloe’s moment in the national spotlight. The benefit concert for the Olive Ministry Village will feature a mixture of bluegrass and folk music from the Sawmill Band and the voice talents of Chloe Channell. Admission is free, but a love offering will be taken.
Pictured: Chloe Channell during a going away party in Pace before her trip to Radio City Music Hall in New York City. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Prayer Walk Held At Molino Park Elementary School
August 15, 2013
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Dozens of students and adults prayed for the Lord’s blessings on their upcoming school year.
This year’s prayer walk, led by Highland Baptist Church, took on extra meaning as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues their search for suspects that sometime last Saturday night vandalized the school and stole many thousands of dollars worth of computers and other electronics used in the school’s educational programs.
Pictured: A student prayer walk Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional And Partners Donate School Supplies, Bicycles
August 15, 2013
Century Correctional Institution partnered with Quantum Resources, S&S Construction and the Ensley Walmart to provide school supplies and bicycles for area children. CCI delivered $3,000 in school supplies and 64 bicycles for Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Jay Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, Northview High and the Camp Fire USA program in Century. The bicycles are typically used by the schools as education prizes or incentives.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution and partners delivered bicycles and school supplies Wednesday to (top) Byrneville Elementary, (inset) Bratt Elementary, and (below) Camp Fire USA in Century and Jay Elementary. Pictured bottom: School supplies loaded up in a CCI van ready for delivery. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
