Rudd Accepts Air Force Academy Appointment
April 12, 2013
Robert Rudd, a senior at Pine Forest High School and Cadet Commander of the school’s NJROTC battalion, has officially accepted his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy for the incoming class of 2017.
Rudd was joined by his family, NJROTC instructors and cadets, PFHS administration and staff. Rudd is also the Cadet Commander of the Collin B. Haines Civil Air Patrol squadron out of NAS Whiting Field and several members also attended the ceremony
He will report to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 25th to begin his training. Following graduation from the Academy, he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant.
Senator Marco Rubio nominated Rudd for this highly competitive appointment. Of the 12,000 plus applications received, approximately 1,200 offers of appointment were extended. The value of an Air Force Academy education is calculated to be approximately equal to a $414,000 scholarship.
Rudd also had offers from Auburn University, University of Kentucky, University of South Florida, Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC.
Okahashi, Cousin To Wed
April 12, 2013
Al and Jessica and Stephen Porter of Pensacola announce the engagement of their daughter, Kiani Okahashi, to Cody Cousin, son of Jennifer and Keith Winters of Atmore.
Kiani is a 2012 graduate of Northview High School and currently teaches with Heather Leonard’s Danceworks.
Cody is a 2010 graduate of Northview High School. He joined the Army after graduation and was recently discharged.
The wedding will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the Museum of Commerce at 115 East Zarragossa Street in downtown Pensacola.
Ernest Ward Names March Students Of The Month
April 11, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School has named their Students of the Month for March. They are (left to right) Desmone Knight, 8th grade; Sierra Slay, 6th grade; Hannah Godwin, 7th grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
WXBM Auctions Beulahfest Autographed Guitar For Autism
April 11, 2013
A guitar signed by the major artists at last month’s Beulahfest was auctioned off Wednesday morning, netting $1,000 for local autistic children.
The guitar — signed by country stars Randy Houser, The Kentucky Headhunters, John Anderson and Confederate Railroad — was auction on 102.7 by morning shows hosts Marty White and Lindsey Marie. Within an hour, the wining bid was submitted by Allen Moore.
The autographs were obtained by Steve Grant, organizer of April Nicole’s Ride For Autism, with all of the proceeds set to be used locally.
“This money will buy aids such as iPads and apps for iPads to help autistic children communicate better, but they aren’t cheap. When Steve approached us, we were more than glad to help”, said White. “That’s what we have always done at WXBM. When there is a need, and there is always a need, we do what we can to help and our listeners always come through.”
The April Nichole Ride for Autism will begin at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Ollie’s Neighborhood Grill in Milton. For more info, call Steve Grant at (850) 324-0295.
Bratt Elementary Releases Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
April 10, 2013
The following students were named to the third nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
All A’s
Ke’Azia Washington
Rabekah Abbott
Raegan Abbott
Anna Adams
Erich Amerson
Maggie Amerson
Sarah Bailey
John Bashore
Brody Black
Riley Blackwell
Sarah Branch
Luke Bridges
Aiden Broadhead
Keaton Brown
Abbie Buford
Conner Byrne
Emilee Cabral
Kayla Campbell
Kadence Clavert
Tyler Cloud
Shelby Cotita
Sophie Cotita
Cassie Davis
Wyatt Dillon
Colton Dockens
Savannah Doremus
Carsyn Dortch
Kaden Dove
Ryan Dove
Mayson Edwards
Scotty Elliott
Zykuria Fountain
Breyden Freeman
Caitlyn Gibson
Olivia Gibson
David Gilley
Amber Gilman
J.P. Gilman
Emma Gilmore
Gracie Godwin
Maggie Godwin
Shelby Godwin
Ava Gurganus
Zane Gurganus
Berklee Hall
Bryce Hall
Tucker Hall
Ashlan Harigel
Leah Hetrick
Sarah Margaret Hetrick
Hannah Hughes
Jacob Hughes
April Johnson
Hunter Johnson
Ally Jones
Anna King
Gage Lambert
Kennedy Long
Braeden McGhee
Bailie Merchant
Jaquez Moorer
Colby Morris
Mary Paige Nassar
Taviana Parker
Madison Peterson
Libby Pugh
Kenna Redmond
Angel Schoonover
Carter Sigafoose
McKenna Simmons
Savannah Spence
Mia Starns
Aubrey Stuckey
Bailey Van Pelt
Bentley Van Pelt
Summer Waters
Raycer Watson
Clay Wilson
Lane Wilson
Jonathan Windham
Kendall Wise
Ty Wise
All A’s and B’s
Addison Albritton
Elijah Amerson
Sara Amerson
Leah Berry
Bryuana Bivins
Kyle Blanton
Malachi Bolen
Tanner Boone
Cassidy Boutwell
Allie Brantley
Lexi Broadhead
Anastasia Bryan
Juliana Bryan
Macie Buford
Adrian Buggs
Paris Burt
Anyis Cabral
Cadynce Chason
Landon Chavers
Ashton Cloud
Cameron Cloud
Chloe Criswell
Karlee Criswell
Andrew Davis
Franki Daw
Sheyenne Dillon
Irmani Dixon
Makayla Dove
Tyteana Dubose
Cody Edwards
Jackson Edwards
Gage Eicher
Ahmad Elloitt
Alexis Evans
Jason Fayard
Jamyla Feagin
Jacob Findley
Neionni Findley
Kailey Fisher
Makayla Garrett
Paige Gibbs
Jakob Gibson
Ahzavion Gregory
Tony Hall
Kohle Harigel
Summer Harrell
Tatum Hasting
Kara Hawkins
Joshlynn Helton
Gabe Henderson
Martina Howard
Ji’Keir Hudson
A’laysha Huff
Trent Knighten
Anna Lee
Sarah Long
Houston Lowry
Kaleigh Macks
Tobias Madison
Reid McCall
Megan McGhee
Anija McNeir
Angel Merchant
Michael Merchant
Landon Mooney
Cassie Mullins
Abigail Nelson
Travis Nelson
Chris Nordman
Jaylon North
Audrey Odom
Joseph Parker
Blaize Parrish
Adam Peterson
Caden Peterson
Dallon Rackard
Kinzie Rackard
Teriana Redmond
Mary Grace Rice
Shelby Rice
Savannah Roley
Paige Ross
Kaylee Sawyer
Adrianne Shanks
Madelin Sheedy
Courtney Shramek
Jarvis Skanes
Arquavian Smith
Anna Spence
Alyssa Stabler
Jaimee Taylor
Cordarrius Thomas
John Michael Ward
Da’Mius Wesley
T’ahna Wesley
Addison White
Cassidy White
Autumn Williams
Ben Wilson
Wyatt Windham
Connor Wolfe
Joshua Zisa
Learn About Living With Snakes
April 10, 2013
Snakes are common animals in the North Escambia area, consuming pests that can be expensive for humans to manage while providing a service to home environments.
The Escambia Extension Service will hold a program at three locations to discuss the natural history of snakes, to reduce the chance of a snake encounter and how to properly handle a potential snake encounter.
The programs will be held at:
- Roy Hyatt Environmental Center, 1300 Tobias Road, Cantonment on Thursday, April 11, 6 p.m.
- Agriculture Building on Highway 4, Century, on Tuesday, April 30, 6 p.m.
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino on hursday, May 2, 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Rick O’Conner at (850) 475-5230.
Lawmakers Look To Get Rid Of “R” Word
April 10, 2013
It’s known as the “R” word.
Florida lawmakers are moving toward erasing the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from myriad state laws, as the word “retarded” has become widely viewed as offensive to people with disabilities.
“Mental retardation” would be replaced by “intellectual disability,” and “mentally retarded” would be replaced by “intellectually disabled.” As an indication of how references to retardation thread through state laws, the House is considering a 71-page bill to replace the terms — which pop up in everything from criminal laws to health laws.
“”It makes me upset, mad, when people use the R word. The word makes us (people with developmental disabilities) mad, and angry, and sad. People need to stop saying this word. I speak for others like me,” Barbara Collier (pictured), a client of ARC Gateway in Pensacola since 1996 said. She is a resident of one of six ARC group homes, a valuable member of the ARC horticulture program, a bocce player and bowler in the Special Olympics.
Deborah Linton, executive director of The ARC of Florida, said she has worked for three years to convince lawmakers to eliminate the “R” word and its variations. In the past, Linton’s group was known as the Association for Retarded Citizens.
“It was a medical term, and it became an insult,” Linton said Tuesday after the House Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill (HB 1119). At the other end of the Capitol, the Senate Rules Committee also voted unanimously for the Senate version (SB 142).
House sponsor Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, said 39 states have made similar changes to their laws. A person with an intellectual disability typically has an IQ of 70 to 75 or below, has limits on the ability to carry on everyday life activities and had the disability before age 18, according to The ARC website.
But while advocacy groups have made a priority of changing the terms, two speakers with intellectual disabilities told the House committee Tuesday that they are still hurt by getting called retarded.
“A lot of people have special needs and different personalities,” said Tyler Creamer, 20, of Panama City “I don’t like when people judge us or put us down. I am important.”
Members of the committee praised the measure.
“Sometimes the most simple of bills can be the most monumental,” said Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach.
By The News service of Florida
Apply Now: Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship
April 10, 2013
Applications are being accepted now for the Solon Lee Gandy Memorial Scholarship to be presented to a Flomaton or Jay High School senior.
The student must have played at last two years of high school football, baseball, softball or track/field and have at least a 2.5 overall GPA, or the student must be willing to pursue advanced studies in the forestry field after high school. Students from Jay must have a parent who is a current member of the Santa Rosa Professional Educators association.
Applications are due by April 15 and can be obtained from the guidance departments at Jay and Flomaton high schools.
Grand Champions Named In Annual Livestock Show (With Photo Gallery)
April 7, 2013
The 20th annual Gulf Coast Agricultural & Natural Resources Association Livestock Spring Show was held Saturday at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on West Nine Mile Road.
The show provided an opportunity for local 4-H and FFA members to show their steers, swine, goats, lambs, heifers, rabbits and poultry. In addition, many of the steers and swine in the program were auctioned off.
Coming Monday: Saturday’s 20th anniversary livestock show will be the last at the Langley Bell 4-H Center after the property was sold to Navy Federal Credit Union. We’ll update you on the search for a new 4-H facility.
This year’s Grand Champion Steer was exhibited by Donald Cunningham. Donald, age 15, is a member of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club. In addition to showing steers, he enjoys swimming, NJROTC, basketball, football, working and being a Boy Scout. He is the son of Lewe and Beth Cunningham. He attends Pace High School. His Grand Champion Steer sold at auction to Dr. Tom Lampone for $3.50 per pound.
The Reserve Grand Champion was exhibited by Ashley Cunningham, a 17-year old Northview High School Student and member of the Northview FFA. Ashley is the daughter of Andy and Christina Cunningham. She is a Northview High cheerleader and a member of the Northview Dance Teams. Her hobbies include bowling, playing tennis, showing cattle, and volunteering at the Century Care Center.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Other winners Saturday included:
Beef Breeding Registered:
- Grand Champion: Willow Foxworth
- Reserve Grand Champion: Tyler Simmons
Beef Breeding Commercial:
- Grand Champion: Austin Cunningham
Beef Breeding Registered and Commercial
- Supreme Grand Champion: Willow Foxworth
- Reserve Supreme Grand Champion: Tyler Simmons
Swine:
- Grand Champion: Patra Miller
- Reserve Grand Champion: Whitney Patterson
Patra Miller’s Grand Champion Swine sold to Mike Johnson for $5 per pound.
Meat Breeding Goats:
- Grand Champion: Izzy Kent
Dairy Goats
- Grand Champion: Virginia Montgomery
- Reserve: Madison Fendley
Lamb:
- Grand Champion: Jessica Baldwin
Rabbits:
- Best in Show: Donnie Dixon
- Reserve Best in Show: Ethan Thorne
Poultry:
- Best in Show: Joshua McLamb
- Reserve Best in Show: Ami Rodgers
The 20th annual Gulf Coast Agricultural & Natural Resources Association Livestock Spring Show was sponsored in part by NorthEscambia.com.
Complete results were not available Saturday night. NorthEscambia.com anticipates receiving complete results for publication later this week.
Pictured top: Donald Cunningham. Pictured top inset: Ashley Cunningham. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sun Dogs Signal Sunny Skies
April 7, 2013
Pictured: Colorful “sun dogs” appear over Walnut Hill Saturday morning. Reader submitted photo by Sandi Boone for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.