Stolen Historic Century High Class Ring Found In Yard Sale Items
May 10, 2012
Members of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society in Century received a bit of surprise recently when a class ring stolen from their museum years ago was unexpectedly returned.
The gold Century High School Class of 1995 ring belonged to Dick Erwin, principal during the final year at Century High School. It has been displayed in one of the historical society’s museums before it was stolen.
Jerry Fischer of the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society said the ring was discovered by an area pastor in some items he purchased at a yard sale and then returned historical society for display.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Yep – That Was A Banana Car
May 9, 2012
Bet you looked twice. Yep. That was a big banana car slipping along in Flomaton and splitting down Highway 29 through North Escambia on Tuesday. The official name of the vehicle is (are you ready for this?) – Big Banana Car.
It’s operated by two brothers that thought the idea of a car that looked like a banana was appealing. Actually they first considered a peanut, but later felt shorted by a bag of 59 cent peanuts that only contained 218 peanuts when their previous bag contained 223. Seriously, it drove them nuts.
“I wrote a stern letter to the company asking them to account for this deplorable discrepancy but never heard anything back,” said Steve Braithwaite, driver and builder. “I no longer wanted to build a big peanut car.”
Then a few days later, he picked up a banana at a convenience store and he was ripe with ideas. He’d always loved all things yellow and had fallen in love with yellow hot rods after the movie “American Graffiti”.
“As I viewed it from all sides I started to see that it would be a perfect shape for a car. I pictured where the wheels would go and where the occupants would sit. Where the engine and bumpers would fit,” Braithwaite said.
“Why not build an enormous banana car and drive it around the world?”
The Big Banana Car will peel out of the Pensacola area today, headed toward a night stop in New Orleans. By May 12, they will slide into New Orleans for the 25th Annual Art Car Parade.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Annual Letter Carrier Food Drive Is Saturday
May 8, 2012
Escambia and Santa Rosa Letter Carriers will join forces to help Stamp Out Hunger in our communities with their annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food driveon Saturday.
“This is the single most important food drive in the two counties and will largely determine how well providers will meet the needs of the hungry in the coming months,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna executive director.
Residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag of non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 12. Escambia and Santa Rosa County letter carriers will collect food donations for local food banks.
Across the six pantries operated by Manna in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, there was 44% increase in need in 2011 compared to 2010.
In 2011, local drive organizers collected more than 200,000 pounds of food. This year, the food will be distributed at Manna Food Pantries, St. Vincent de Paul, Bay Area Food Bank, Warrington Emergency Aid, Acts Ministries of Gulf Breeze and We Care Ministries of Navarre United Methodist Church.
Escambia Honors Shining Stars
May 8, 2012
The Greater Escambia Community Foundation and WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, presented the Shining Star Award to 39 Escambia County elementary students in a ceremony Sunday afternoon at WSRE’s Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on the main campus of Pensacola State College.
Area principals and teachers selected the winners based on good citizenship, community service and adherence to the core values of the Escambia County School District: equality, responsibility, integrity, respect, honesty and patriotism. Each winner was awarded a certificate of achievement and a new bicycle and helmet.
From the North Escambia area, recipients (pictured at bottom of page) were:
- Lydia Smith, Bratt Elementary
- McKayla McConathy, Byrneville Elementary
- Logan Nelson, Jim Allen Elementary
- Dalton Brown, Molino Park Elementary
For a photo gallery, click here.
The complete list of 2012 Community Foundation of Northwest Florida and WSRE Shining Star recipients is as follows:
- Connor Queen, A.K. Suter Elementary
- Katelynn Barber, Bellview Elementary
- Bethany Faucett, Beulah Elementary
- Kristian “Nealy” Ard, Blue Angels Elementary
- Lydia Smith, Bratt Elementary
- Kiara Betts, Brentwood Elementary
- McKayla McConathy, Byrneville Elementary
- Gregory Posey, C. A. Weis Elementary
- Lillian Wiggins, Cordova Park Elementary
- Kyla Homewood, Creative Learning Academy
- Abdul Alsubaie, Ensley Elementary
- Allee McDonald, Episcopal Day
- De’Aveon Fisher-Primm, Escambia Christian
- Sara Siler, Ferry Pass Elementary
- Scarlett Nguyen, Global Learning Academy
- Mallory Mott, Hellen Caro Elementary
- Michelle Luther, Holm Elementary
- Logan Nelson, Jim Allen Elementary
- Aronje Palmer, Lincoln Park Elementary
- Alisha L’Orange, Little Flower Catholic
- Avery Resmondo, Longleaf Elementary
- Cason Forst, McArthur Elementary
- Dalton Brown, Molino Park Elementary
- Kayla Therrien, Myrtle Grove Elementary
- Trinity Holmes, N. B. Cook Elementary
- Michael Young, Navy Point Elementary
- Tejaun Browne, O. J. Semmes Elementary
- Kimberly Anguilu, Oakcrest Elementary
- Carlee Amberson, Pensacola Beach Elementary
- Madeline Markham, Pensacola Christian
- Natalie Gandy, Pine Meadow Elementary
- Rhapeepan Antrim, Pleasant Grove Elementary
- Griffin Pearce, R. C. Lipscomb Elementary
- Erin Meszaros, Redeemer Lutheran
- Dalton Wulzer, Scenic Heights Elementary
- Morgan Jacobs, Sherwood Elementary
- Helen Driscoll, St. Paul Catholic
- Ritchie Knutie, Warrington Elementary
- Exiquio Enriquez, West Pensacola Elementary
Above: Lydia Smith, Bratt Elementary.
Above: McKayla McConathy, Byrneville Elementary.
Above: Logan Nelson, Jim Allen Elementary.
Above: Dalton Brown, Molino Park Elementary.
Photos courtesy WSRE for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Final Results: GCA & NRA Livestock Show (With Gallery)
May 7, 2012
The 19th annual Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Association annual Spring Livestock Show was held recently at the Langley Bell 4-H Center on 9 Mile Road in Beulah.
The show provides 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.
For a photo gallery from the steer and swine shows, click here.
For information about grand champions and auction prices, click here for an earlier story.
Complete results were as follows:
YOUTH SWINE SHOW
Grand Champion Swine
- Matthew Smith
Reserve Grand Champion Swine
- Dylan Livingston
Lightweight Swine
- Samantha Cote
- J. Wesley Hardin
- Rachael Coswell
Middleweight Swine
- James Reeves
- Jared Boswell
- Allie Warren
Light Heavyweight Swine
- Petra Miller
- Jake Scott
- Jessica Baldwin
Heavyweight Swine
- Matthew Smith
- Dylan Livingston
- Eva Miller
Junior Showmanship
- Eva Miller
- Davis Warren
- Jayme Smith
Intermediate Showmanship
- Petra Miller
- Matthew Smith
- J. Wesley Hardin
Senior Showmanship
- Mallory Smith
- Austin Pfeiffer
- Thomas Aliff
RABBIT SHOW
Grand Champion Rabbit
- Kerrigan Scott
Reserve Grand Champion Rabbit
- Virginia Montgomery
Clover Bud Rabbit
- Elizabeth Tourney
Junior Rabbit
- Ami Rodgers
- James Gruenwald
- Ami Rodgers
Intermediate Rabbit
- Kerrigan Scott
- Jonathon Rodgers
- Donnie Dixon
Senior Rabbit
- Virginia Montgomery
- Elli Ellard
POULTRY SHOW
Grand Champion Poultry
- Joshua McLamb
Reserve Champion Poultry
- Klaire Ann Ellard
Junior Poultry
- Klaire Ann Ellard
- Klaire Ann Ellard
- Klaire Ann Ellard
Intermediate Poultry
- Andrew Fendley
- Jonathan Rodgers
- Wyatt Oliver
Senior Poultry
- Joshua McLamb
- Jereme Johnson
BEEF BREEDING
Registered Angus Class I
- Ashley Cunningham
Registered Angus Class II
- Austin Cunningham
- Willow Foxworth
- Donald Cunningham
Registered Angus Class III
- Tyler Simmons
Grand Champion Registered
- Ashley Cunningham
Reserve Champion Registered
- Austin Cunningham
Commercial Heifer
- Ashley Cunningham
Supreme Champion Beef Breeding
- Ashley Cunningham
Reserve Champion Beef Breeding
- Austin Cunningham
Junior Showmanship
- Tyler Simmons
Intermediate Showmanship
- Willow Foxworth
Senior Showmanship
- Donald Cunningham
- Ashley Cunningham
- Austin Cunningham
MARKET STEERS
Lightweight Steers
- Ethan Cunningham
- Kyle Livingston
- Brant Worley
Middleweight Steers
- Donald Cunningham
- Parker Cunningham
- Austin Cunningham
Heavyweight Steers
- Ashley Cunningham
- Tyler Vines
- Luke Nunley
Grand Champion Steer
- Donald Cunningham
Reserve Grand Champion Steer
- Ashley Cunningham
.
Junior Showmanship
- Brant Worley
- Ethan Cunningham
Intermediate Showmanship
- Blake Worley
Senior Showmanship
- Donald Cunningham
- Tyler Vines
- Luke Nunley
Prospect Steer
- Donnie Dixon
GOAT AND LAMB
Prospect Market Goat
- Donnie Dixon
- Donnie Dixon
- Ethan Thorne
Meet Breeding (3-5 months)
- Izzy Kent
- Madison Fendley
- Hanna Thorne
Meet Breeding (6-8 months)
- Carly High
- Donnie Dixon
Meet Breeding (9-12 months)
- Jereme Johnson
- Ebony Morgan
- Maronica Grier
Meet Breeding (12-14 months)
- Donnie Dixon
Grand Champion Meet Breeding
- Izzy Kent
Reserve Grand Champion Meeting Breeding
- Jereme Johnson
Breeding Lamb
- Jessica Baldwin
Junior Goat and Lamb Showmanship
- Izzy Kent
- Madison Fendley
- Jamie Gruenwald, Hanna Thorne, Ethan Thorne
Intermediate Goat and Lamb Showmanship
- Donnie Dixon
Senior Goat and Lamb Showmanship
- Jessica Baldwin
- Jereme Johnson
- Amber Reeves
Not About The Catch: Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo Held In North Escambia (With Gallery)
May 6, 2012
The sounds of excitement were all around Saturday for the 38th annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo 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.
Dozens of disabled people were registered in Saturday’s fishing rodeo. They were from around the area, including Pensacola and Century.
The Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo is provided to the disabled for free as a project of the Pensacola Fiesta of Five Flags organization. Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill supplies the cold drinks, Escambia River Electric Cooperative supplies the ice, and scores of volunteers join in to make the annual event a success.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from the 38th annual Pen Wheels Fishing Rodeo in Walnut Hill Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Celebrating Mayfest
May 6, 2012
From beautiful babies, cute dogs, arts and crafts, entertainment and plenty of fun, Mayfest 2012 had a little bit of something for everyone Saturday at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore. Hundreds attended the annual event.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from Mayfest in Atmore, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Farmer’s Market Opens 2012 Season
May 6, 2012
The Market at St Monica’s Episcopal Church in Cantonment kicked off their 2012 season Saturday.
The community farmer’s market is open on the first and third Saturdays of every month, May through October as local farmers and artisans gather in the church parking lot at 699 South Highway 95A.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“Like many other communities across the country, we are seeing a growth in demand for locally grown produce and fresh prepared food products,” said Viven Welch, market manager. “We have ramped up our vendor recruitment and promotion efforts to meet this demand and expect to offer the community access to more vendors and a broader range of produce and prepared food in the 2012 season.”
Vendors taking part in opening day included Smocked With Love, Pawless Mini Farm, Po Man’s Pickins, M&K Mayhaws, Ladybug Acres Natural Growers, Tracie’s Candles, Susan’s Hot Dogs, Polly & Glenda’s Baked Goods (they sold out by 10 a.m.), Jackie’s Sno-cones & Popcorn, Lyle & Shirley, Mr. V’s DJ Service, St. Monica’s Quilters, ECW and more.
Organizers said opening day festivities are just the start of the activities planned for the 2nd season. Future plans include canning demonstrations, along with agricultural, nutrition and health information.
For more information about Market’s vendors, special events, or schedule, click here, call the church office at (850) 937-0001, or email communications@st-monicas.org.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Opening Day of The Market at St Monica’s Episcopal Church in Cantonment. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Attend Yard Sale For Baby Blaze
May 6, 2012
Hundreds of people attended a benefit yard sale in Flomaton Saturday for baby Blaze Johnson. He is currently in an Atlanta hospital awaiting his third open heart surgery in two months.
For more information about Baby Blaze, click here for an earlier story.
Pictured: A “Baby Blaze” benefit yard sale Saturday morning in Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo: Supermoon
May 6, 2012
Saturday night’s supermoon, seen in the photo above, was the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.