Byrneville Elementary Releases First Nine Weeks Honor Roll
November 8, 2012
The following students were named to the first nine weeks honor roll at Byrneville Elementary School:
Mrs. Barberree’s Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
Ayden Atallah
Maddie Mae Driskell
Tyler Gilmore
Olivia Griffis
Damarius Jefferson
Daisy Johnson
Mia Kornegay
Madison Levins
Allie Odom
Jayden White
Mrs. Roger’s Kindergarten
All Satisfactory
Nicole Briscoe
Layla Brown
Ashton Covan
Kerissa Dortch
Anna Dunsford
Hunter Johnson
Kelan Jurey
Evin Matlock
Addisen Millen
Blake Shaw
Mallory Smith
Mrs. Dawson’s First Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Madalyn Grimes
Tyson McBride
“A/B” Honor Roll:
Reygan Steadham
Ms. Thornton’s First Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Alexa Castro
Riley Dawson
Meredith Johnston
Tyler Riggs
“A/B” Honor Roll:
Adrianna Atallah
Nolin Godwin
Josh Johnson
Aydan Smith
Mrs. Marshman’s Second Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Kaden Odom
Aloysia Dortch
“A/B” Honor Roll
Briana Dunsford
Chase Hampton
Johnnie Howell
Kayla Johnson
Emily Lambeth
Jessica Loftis
Dreama Wright
Mrs. Weaver’s Second Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Drake Allen Driskell
Micaleb Guntrum,
Emily Levins
“A/B” Honor Roll
Leah Anderson
Marina Franklin
Eli Jackson
Zane Rolin
Aleigh Thornton
Mrs. Dunsford’s Third Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Hunter Borelli
Torka Mills
Dillon Spears
“A/B” Honor Roll
Bama Coburn
Josh Dunsford
Tessa Flowers
Kailin Gafford
Jace Gifford
Taylor Levins
James Loftis
Harley Walker
David Ward
Mrs. Gilmore’s Fourth Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Maille Kilcrease
Logan Bryan
“A/B” Honor Roll
Travon Brown
Tyler Rolin
Tyler Merchant
Brianna Colter
Abigail Levins
Heather Knowles
Mrs. Johnston’s Fifth Grade
“A” Honor Roll
Madicyn Bell
Ian Gifford
Alex Glidewell
Chandler Hinote
Alexis Lee
Lea Nall
Cloe Smith
Savannah Steadham
Nicky Trump
Olivia Watson
Ashten Wright
“A/B” Honor Roll
Skyler Busbee
William Johnson
Jake Lambeth
Hannah Merchant
Kelli Merchant
Waylon Milstead
Valorie Padilla
Photos: Northview Honors Veterans
November 8, 2012
Northview High School held their annual Veterans Day Program Wednesday morning.
“I want to encourage you to find someone in your life who is a veteran and say ‘thanks’,” guest speaker Captain Carl Mock, , USN (Ret.) told the students. Mock is the former Commanding Officer of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) located at NAS Pensacolaand served 38 years before retiring in June 2005.
The program also featured a flag ceremony, special music and drama, and recognition of veterans.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A flag ceremony during the annual Veterans Day Program Wednesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured inset: The program also featured a drama presentation. Pictured below: The Northview High chorus performs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Resident Signs Nashville Recording Contract
November 8, 2012
A North Escambia resident has signed a Nashville recording contract.
Dusty Sanderson, 20, has signed with Lamon Records Nashville. He was in Quad Studios in Nashville recently recording original songs for his upcoming EP release, which should hit the street early in 2013.
The Molino native has been playing guitar since he was 10 years old and singing since he turned 14. “It all started around a bonfire on the river,” says Dusty, “with just me and my guitar, which eventually led to me getting my first real gig in my hometown at a little place called the Fugly Worm.”
Suddenly, the young aspiring artist was landing professionally paying gigs at all the bars and clubs in the area. His deep baritone voice is reminiscent of great country singers like Vern Gosdin or Lefty Frizzell, yet he makes every song his own.
“Dusty has a very unique quality to his voice and a viable music style of what he’s writing,” says his producer Dave Moody, president of Lamon Records. “It’s very ‘now’ … a mixture of backwoods country and hard driving high energy rock. I think he’s drawing from the best of today’s country artists, and classic outlaw artists too, like David Alan Coe, Waylon Jennings, and others. Whatever he’s doing, it seems to be working.”
Asked about his songwriting, Dusty says, “I’ve been interested in writing songs all my life, but I didn’t get serious about it until I was 17. I had a girlfriend that I spent all day, every day with, so when she took a trip to LA for a week I had no clue what to do with my time, so I sat down in my room and started writing.” And he’s not stopped since.
Pictured top: Dave Moody, president of Lamon Records, and Dusty Sanderson in Nashville. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
International Paper To Hold Grant Application Info Meeting
November 7, 2012
International Paper’s Cantonment mill will award $50,000 in foundation grants in 2013 and is hosting a meeting for potential applicants to learn more.
The one hour meeting will be held Thursday, November 15 at 2 p.m. at the mill at 375 Muscogee Road. The meeting will focus on eligibility, criteria and restrictions. Grant committee members will be available for questions.
Reservations to attend the meeting are required as space is limited, however; attendance is not mandatory to apply.
The deadline for all 2013 grant applications is Friday, January 11.
Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., which focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement and critical community needs. Applicants must be a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, school, or qualifying government entity to apply.
International Paper To Hold Grant Application Info Meeting
Local Teacher Named To State Educators Hall Of Fame
November 6, 2012
A local educator was one of 15 teachers in Alabama honored for excellence in economic education and inducted into the inaugural class of the Alabama Economic Educators Hall of Fame in Birmingham recently.
Gerri McDonald of Walnut Hill and her students at Perdido Elementary/Middle School have been recognized frequently by ACEE. She was selected to attend a weeklong economics workshop held at the New York Stock Exchange and to write curriculum for economics at the International Cooperative Education Exchange Program in Economics held in Washington.
She has also been named the Alabama Economics Teacher of the Year and ACEE Master Teacher of Economics. Her students have consistently placed in the top 10 every year in the Stock Market Game, and have placed first six times. They have also placed first and second in the state in the “Whit King: Entrepreneurship and the American Free Enterprise Essay Contest” two years in a row.
Showing off their understanding of economic concepts and creativity, her students have placed in the top 12 in the state for the past five years in the “Color the Concepts” competition too.
“We have a vision of every student graduating from Alabama’s schools with superior economic education and the knowledge, understanding and skills to make successful economic decisions” said Johnnie Aycock, managing director of ACEE. “Through the Economic Educator Hall of Fame, we had the opportunity to recognize and honor exceptional teachers in Alabama that are having a significant impact on our young people’s knowledge of economic, personal finance and entrepreneurship.”
Pictured top: (L-R) Teacher Gerri McDonald, Gov. Bob Riley and Perdido Principal Craig Smith. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Releases First Nine Weeks Honor Roll
November 5, 2012
Bratt Elementary School has released their honor roll for the first nine weeks.
All A’s
- Rabekah Abbott
- Raegan Abbott
- Anna Adams
- Erich Amerson
- Maggie Amerson
- Sarah Bailey
- John Bashore
- Zoe Bergfield
- Leah Berry
- Brody Black
- Olivia Boatwright
- Sarah Branch
- Luke Bridges
- Aiden Broadhead
- Keaton Brown
- Abbie Buford
- Paris Burt
- Conner Byrne
- Emilee Cabral
- Kadence Calvert
- Tyler Cloud
- Shelby Cotita
- Sophia Cotita
- Sheyenne Dillon
- Savannah Doremus
- Carsyn Dortch
- Kaden Dove
- Ryan Dove
- Mayson Edwards
- Scotty Elliott
- Alexis Evans
- Jason Fayard
- Zykuria Fountain
- Amanda Franklin
- Gabby Franklin
- Caitlyn Gibson
- David Gilley
- Amber Gilman
- J.P. Gilman
- Emma Gilmore
- Maggie Godwin
- Shelby Godwin
- Ava Gurganus
- Zane Gurganus
- Berklee Hall
- Bryce Hall
- Tucker Hall
- Ashlan Harigel
- Tatum Hasting
- Kara Hawkins
- Leah Hetrick
- Sarah Margaret Hetrick
- Hannah Hughes
- Jacob Hughes
- April Johnson
- Hunter Johnson
- Allyson Jones
- Anna King
- Gage Lambert
- Kennedy Long
- Braeden McGhee
- Bailie Merchant
- Jaquez Moorer
- Colby Morris
- Mary Paige Nassar
- Bailey Van Pelt
- Bentley Van Pelt
- Madison Peterson
- Libby Pugh
- Kinzie Rackard
- Kenna Redmond
- Teriana Redmond
- Shelby Rice
- Angel Schoonover
- McKenna Simmons
- Arquavian Smith
- Savannah Spence
- Alyssa Stabler
- Mia Starns
- Aubrey Stuckey
- Autumn Williams
- Clay Wilson
- Kendall Wise
- Ty Wise
- Connor Wolfe
All A’s and B’s
- Addison Albritton
- Elijah Amerson
- Sara Amerson
- Sophia Bailey
- Adyn Barrow
- Bryuana Bivins
- Riley Blackwell
- Kyle Blanton
- Malachi Bolen
- Tanner Boone
- Cassidy Boutwell
- LJ Bradley
- Allie Brantley
- Lexi Broadhead
- Juliana Bryan
- Macie Buford
- Kadence Burklund
- Anyis Cabral
- Kayla Campbell
- Cadynce Chason
- Landon Chavers
- Ashton Cloud
- Noah Condrey
- Jacob Conley
- Chloe Criswell
- Karlee Criswell
- Cassie Davis
- Franki Daw
- Waylon Dillon
- Irmani Dixon
- Colton Dockens
- Tyteanna Dubose
- JT Dunson
- Cody Edwards
- Jackson Edwards
- Gage Eicher
- Ahmad Elliott
- Jamyla Feagin
- Cameron Findley
- Jacob Findley
- Neionni Findley
- Daelyn Fine
- Breyedn Freeman
- Makayla Garrett
- Jakob Gibson
- Raleigh Gibson
- Gracie Godwin
- Shane Hardin
- Kohle Harigel
- Summer Harrell
- A.J. Hasty
- Joshlynn Helton
- Gabe Henderson
- Ji’keir Hudson
- Trent Knighten
- Anna Lee
- Sarah Long
- Houston Lowry
- Blake Macks
- Kaleigh Macks
- Tobias Madison
- Ansleigh Maholovich
- Reid McCall
- Megan McGhee
- Angel Merchant
- Michael Merchant
- Landon Mooney
- Cassie Mullins
- Abigail Nelson
- Travis Nelson
- Chris Nordman
- Jaylon North
- Audrey Odom
- Joseph Parker
- Taviana Parker
- Blaize Parrish
- Rebecca Peebles
- Adam Peterson
- Ethan Pickern
- Dennis Pittman
- Dallon Rackard
- Mary Grace Rice
- Dariontae Richardson
- Savannah Roley
- Paige Ross
- Bryson Sanders
- Nicholi Sanderson
- Kasen Sawyer
- Kaylee Sawyer
- Adrianne Shanks
- Carter Sigafoose
- Jarvis Skanes
- David Stokes
- Jaimee Taylor
- Cody Thomas
- So’Lae Trotter
- John Michael Ward
- Summer Waters
- Raycer Watson
- Kiara Wesley
- Tahna Wesley
- Addison White
- Cassidy White
- Ben Wilson
- Cash Wilson
- Lane Wilson
- Wyatt Windham
Veterans Day Programs This Week At Northview, Ernest Ward
November 5, 2012
Veterans Day program are scheduled this week at Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle schools.
Northview High
Northview High School will hold its annual Veterans Day program on Wednesday, November 7 in the school theater. Identical programs will be held at 9:35 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Captain Carl Mock, United States Navy, retired. Captain Mock is the former commanding officer of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) located at NAS Pensacola. He served 38 years before retiring in June 2005. All veterans, their families and community members are invited to attend.
Ernest Ward Middle
Ernest Ward Middle School will hold its annual Veterans Day program at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, November 8 in the school gym. The public is invited, and a special invitation is extended to veterans in the community. The event will feature guest speaker Albert Hunninghake from Walnut Hill, patriotic music and presentations. Refreshments to follow.
Pictured top: A flag ceremony during the annual Veterans Day Program last year at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Weekend Gardening: Colorful Bedding Plants Can Brighten A Winter Day
November 4, 2012
Decreasing day length is a signal to start preparing for winter. Soon, deciduous shrubs will drop their leaves and the landscape will appear stark and less impressive. To keep the gloomy days of winter at bay, add cool season bedding plants to the landscape.
Bedding plants are those that are commonly used in residential and commercial landscapes to provide color and interest. No other group of plants can so quickly and economically create a colorful landscape.
Most bedding plants are annuals. These short-lived plants grow from seed, bloom and die within one growing season. The transient nature of annuals means that at the end of their season when they are no longer attractive, annuals are removed and replaced with new plantings.
Many flowering plants prefer a very specific season; therefore, bedding plants are classified into two groups based on the temperatures they prefer. Cool season bedding plants do best in the cold to mild temperatures of October through early May and generally tolerate typical winter freezes without protection.
According to a University of Florida/IFAS publication, bedding plants that can be added to the North Florida landscape now include alyssum, baby’s breath, calendula, carnation, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, hollyhock, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansy, petunia, snapdragons and violas.
Most annual bedding plants prefer to be in a sunny location. Prepare the planting beds several weeks before planting. First, remove any weeds or other unwanted plants from the bed. Next, turn the soil to a depth of about eight inches. Spread a two- to four-inch layer of compost, rotted leaves, aged manure, composted finely ground pine bark or peat moss over the bed, and then evenly sprinkle a light application of an all purpose fertilizer. Thoroughly blend the organic matter and fertilizer into the bed, rake smooth and you’re ready to plant.
Gardeners are accustomed to (and even demand) that bedding plants be in bloom when they are purchased. Some cool season bedding plants, however, will provide far superior results if they are purchased when young and before the colorful display begins.
Bedding plants are typically planted to make a dramatic statement. To accomplish that, place multiple plants of the same kind in a bed. Bedding plants generally look best and the beds will fill in better when the rows are staggered. Lay out the first row of plants spaced properly. The second row is laid behind the first row at the appropriate spacing from it, but the plants are placed between the plants of the first row so that they form triangles with those plants.
Flower beds of colorful bedding plants add a lot to the landscape but require a fair amount of maintenance to stay looking their best. Keeping beds well weeded is critical. A two-inch layer of mulch will help considerably in keeping weeds from growing, and using preemergence herbicides (weed preventers) may help in some situations. However, always plan on having to do some hand weeding.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
In His Own Words: The Ride Of A Lifetime With The Blue Angels
November 2, 2012
This morning, NorthEscambia.com takes you along for a flight with the Blue Angels with Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh, in his own words:
The interesting aspects of the experience were numerous, but the standout in my mind is just the professionalism of the entire team, from the support staff, to the briefing personnel, to the PAO, to the ground crew, to the pilots.
For our rides, the #7 pilot, who also doubles as the team’s narrator, was tapped for the job. Lt. Mark Tedrow, a 2004 Naval Academy graduate, was extremely gracious and accommodating. In addition to his gregarious demeanor, this pilot was physically impressive.
He was easily 6’3”, and when I shook his hand before and after the flight, I felt like I was shaking hands with a bronze statue—this guy was a rock—kind of what one would expect as a Naval aviator from the movies. I also learned that none of the pilots wear “G Suits” during their flights—they have to control the G-forces’ effects on their bodies via a muscle flexing and breathing regimen called the HICK maneuver.
As we taxied down the runway we talked a bit, and he told me he was a football player, wide receiver. “On a team that didn’t like to pass the ball,” he quipped. An interesting thing I learned from Lt. Tedrow was that as a part of the rotation process coming on to the Blue Angels, many of the pilots spend their first year serving as narrator, before they rotate up to the actual demonstration team.
While serving as narrator, these pilots still train and fly, and these are the pilots tapped for giving VIP rides. Another thing I learned was just how lucky I was to get a ride; the ground-crew member who assisted with buckling me into the 14 point restraint system in the cockpit told me it took him eight years to earn his first backseat ride — eight years serving with the Blue Angels before he got a ride! That puts it into perspective for me — I was SO LUCKY to get this chance!
BLAST OFF
My ride lasted 30 minutes, and started with a bang as Lt. Tedrow began our flight by executing a high-speed, high performance takeoff that pulled six G’s of force. After we flew down the runway at 300 Knots, Lt. Tedrow put the nose of the jet straight up, vertical, and hit the afterburners. The jolt of the sudden change in direction pushed my whole body forward as we quickly ascended into the sky.
Once we hit our cruising altitude of 16,000 feet, we flew about 30 miles off the coast, descended toward the ocean, and performed a series of low and high speed maneuvers that resulted in various levels of G-forces on our bodies — from three to five G’s sustained — during some of the turns. The highlight for me, aside from the ridiculously insane takeoff, was when Lt. Tedrow lit the afterburners and we broke the sound barrier and went supersonic. I have never felt anything like that in my life; it was incredible!
And how many civilians will ever get the chance to break the sound barrier? Flying upside down was also an amazing sensation — and the views out of the canopy when one is flying upside down simply defy description. Awesome.
Aside from the majestic beauty of the day which allowed for views of over 20 miles up and down the coast, the final highlight was coming in to NAS Pensacola for a landing amidst the beauty of our local beaches and emerald water. After the flight, the Blue Angels presented me a signed commemorative photograph, as well as the complete cockpit video of the entire flight (Something my wife and kids now affectionately refer to, as their “endless source of entertainment” due to my facial expressions up there during the flight.) And to answer the one lingering question everyone has asked — NO, I did not black out during the flight — even while pulling G’s. I did grunt and strain but never blacked out!
The 30 or so minutes I spent up there that morning are 30 minutes I will remember as long as I live. I still can’t quite believe I was so fortunate to be selected for this honor, so much so that a part of me is still up there in the sky — on cloud nine!
Pictured top: Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh flies with the Blue Angels. Pictured insets: Bergosh with the Blue Angels. Pictured below: Bergosh’s autographed ride photos. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Hundreds Attend Molino Fall Festival
November 1, 2012
Hundreds of people attended a community-wide Fall Festival in Molino Wednesday night. Sponsored by four area churches, the interdenominational event provided a safe Christian alternative on Halloween night.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
The event was sponsored by Victory Assembly of God, Highland Baptist Church, CrossFaith Church and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
The event featured a variety of games, bounce house, a hayride and lots of free food.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
