Photos: A Black Tie Affair
April 29, 2012
Residents at Century Care Center enjoyed their third annual Black Tie Ball Friday afternoon with good music, great food and good times with friends.
Dressed in formal attire, the residents were escorted into a ballroom setting where they were served a “formal” dinner.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: The third annual Black Tie Ball Friday afternoon at Century Care Center. Pictured inset: Robert and Diane Shanks celebrated their 46th anniversary during the event. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jones, Wetzel To Wed
April 29, 2012
Duane and Melanie Hines of Brewton and Doug Jones of Gulf Shores are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Ashleigh Elizabeth Jones, to Travis Michael Wetzel, son of Mike and Karen Wetzel of Pensacola.
The bride elect is the granddaughter of Evelyn Riley and the late Gordon Riley of Brewton and Nick and Melba Jones of Gulf Shores.
Ashleigh is a 2008 graduate of T. R. Miller High School where she served as valedictorian. She is graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Montevallo in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a minor in chemistry. Ashleigh will be attending the University of West Florida in Pensacola to pursue a Master’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in statistics.
The prospective groom is the grandson of Paul and Shirley Wetzel of Pensacola and the late Geraldine Morris of Jay.
Travis is a 2006 graduate of Jay High School, graduated from Pensacola State College in Pensacola with an Associate of Science degree and is currently attending Global University, majoring in ministerial studies. He is currently employed with David Bowen Sporting Goods in Pace and as associate pastor and worship pastor at Courts of Praise Fellowship in Pensacola.
The wedding is planned for May 26, 2012, at Courts of Praise Fellowship in Pensacola.
Photos: Atmore Walks For A Cause
April 28, 2012
The 2012 Atmore Relay for Life was held Friday night at Tom Byrne Park. The six-hour event, ending at midnight, raised almost $60,000 for the American Cancer Society.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Survivor’s Lap at the 2012 Atmore Relay for Life was held Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flag Flying Again For The First Time Since Hurricane Ivan
April 25, 2012
Old Glory is once again flying over the Byrneville Community Center, the first time since the county-owned facility’s previous flagpole was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.
Walt Porz, president of the Byrneville Community Center’s board of directors, said a replacement had been requested numerous times since 2004. He said the newly installed flagpole is not actually new; it was moved from a county facility were it was no longer being used.
“It’s good enough,” Porz said. “We are very grateful for what we can get from out tax dollars at work.”
Gopher Tortoises Emerging, New Wildlife Conservation Efforts Aim To Protect
April 25, 2012
As gopher tortoises are emerging across the North Escambia area, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering information and tips to protect the species, while the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida is taking applications from landowners for technical and financial assistance to restore and protect the gopher tortoise habitat.
Gopher tortoises move slowly through ‘spring training’ of grazing, burrow-digging
The gopher tortoise is emerging from winter dormancy and moving slowly and steadily through the landscape in search of greenery to eat and a new place to dig its burrow.
Look for gopher tortoises’ distinctive domed brown shells and stumpy legs, as these land-dwellers make their way through Florida’s open canopy forests and sandy areas. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) asks people to remember that gopher tortoises are good neighbors, so leave them and their burrows alone.
“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission works with, and is grateful to, the homeowners, landowners, businesses and public agencies willing to share their lands with gopher tortoises and their burrows,” said Deborah Burr, the FWC’s gopher tortoise plan coordinator. “This state has made progress in reversing the decline of gopher tortoises by providing direction to developers, including re-locating tortoises if necessary, and help to people interested in making room for tortoises.”
Since the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan took effect in 2007, an annual average of 36,000 acres of gopher tortoise habitat has been restored and managed; protected tortoise habitat expanded by more than 6,500 acres; and more than 4,000 gopher tortoises were humanely relocated from development sites.
“In addition to changes in Florida’s economy, the needs of the gopher tortoise have changed since the plan was first approved in 2007,” Burr said. “The proposed revisions to the plan include new actions that the FWC and our partners can implement together to improve the status of the species, and help secure viable populations well into the future.”
In Florida, it is illegal to harm gopher tortoises or their extensive burrows, which provide shelter to more than 350 other native species. Generally, the only time people should pick up and move a gopher tortoise is to help it get across a road. Remember, though, not to put the tortoise in your car. Do point the tortoise in the same direction it was going when you picked it up, but never put it in the water because it is a land animal.
The gopher tortoise can live 40-60 years in the wild.
New Wildlife Conservation efforts to protect gopher tortoise habitat
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is currently taking applications for technical and financial assistance on a new innovative partnership approach to restore and protect the habitat for targeted threatened and endangered species, while also helping other vulnerable and game species. Florida landowners can sign-up for assistance to help manage and restore habitat for the gopher tortoise.
Interested producers and landowners in Florida can enroll in the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) on a continuous basis at their local NRCS field office. NRCS funds from WHIP will share the cost of conservation practices with landowners. All eligible applications received by the application cutoff date of April 30, 2012 will be assigned a priority and ranked as needed. If funds are available a second ranking cut-off date will be May 30, 2012.
Escambia County’s NRCS field office is located at 151 Highway 97 in Molino. For more information, call (850) 587-5345. In Santa Rosa County, the NRCS field office is located at 6277 Dogwood Drive in Milton, call (850) 623-2441.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names March Students Of The Month
April 24, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School has named March Students of the Month. They are: Rhayeshawanna Davidson, sixth grade; Hunter Kite, seventh grade; and Blake Green, eighth grade .
Pictured: March Students of the Month at Ernest Ward Middle School (L-R) Rhayeshawanna Davidson, Blake Green and Hunter Kite. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Informant: Subject Of Matt Damon Movie Speaks
April 23, 2012
His life story was so compelling that Matt Damon portrayed him in a 2009 Warner Brothers movie. He was one of the top executives at one of the largest companies in the world. Making $3 million per year, living in a huge house with his wife. He was on top of the world.
Until his wife called the FBI.
Then, he discovered his real happiness behind bars in a federal prison — making not millions, but $20 a month.
Mark Whitacre, now 54, made history as the highest level corporate whistleblower ever, working undercover with the FBI for years to expose a price fixing scheme at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a massive global food processing corporation.
“Society will give you a second chance and they will forgive you,” Whitacre said as he addressed a group of GED graduates and their fellow inmates at Century Correctional Institution. Whitacre is no stranger to being in prison; he spent nine years in federal prison after ADM accused him of embezzling $9 million while he was working as a FBI mole. “It is about redemption and second chances.”
In the early 1990’s, Whitacre’s wife began to notice that something was wrong with him. He fessed up, telling her about the price fixing scheme.
“I told her that it effects everyone that goes to the grocery store,” he said, “that we were stealing from them.” ADM makes food additives such as high fructose corn syrup and other products found in most of the processed foods in the average grocery store. “It was wealthy people taking advantage of poor people.”
“She turned me in,” Whitacre said, “within an hour to the FBI.”
In federal prison, he knew things had to change.
“I knew I had to come out different than I went in,” he said. “I came out better.”
A few months into his prison sentence, Whitacre said he made the decision to help his fellow inmates. Whitacre helped inmates obtain their GED certificates and their correspondence course college diplomas. He finally felt he was earning his keep in life, while making $20 a month behind bars — a far cry from that $3 million a year ADM salary.
“Helping people…I will continue that until I am gone,” he told the Century Correctional inmates.
There are three steps that all inmates need to take, he said….steps that can also be applied to those on the outside.
The first is taking personal responsibility and not blaming others for being in prison.
“I got everything I deserved; the 9.5 years were my fault,” he said. “I had a catch me if you can attitude. It took a stay at home mom to start the probe into the largest price fixing scheme in U.S. history….but it was all my fault.”
The second step is surrounding yourself with positive influences.
“Show me your friends, and I will show you your future,” he said.
The third step, he said, is giving back.
“There is nothing more rewarding than giving back in your community, even in prison.
Once released from prison, Whitarce went to work for the biotech company Cypress Systems, Inc., a company that is heavily involved in cancer research. He started at the bottom of the employment ladder and eventually worked his way up to his current position of chief operation officer and president of operations. He often speaks at FBI events and was the guest speaker in 2011 at the Quantico FBI Academy where he told his story of second chances.
As for his wife…they couple is still married. She is a recent teacher of the year at Warrington Middle School in Pensacola.
“I stand here as living proof,” he said to Century Correctional inmates, “that America does forgive and give you second changes. You can get your life back.”
Whitacre’s story was later made famous in the Warner Brothers movie “The Informant!” with Matt Damon was Whitacre.
For a previous story about the Century CI graduation, click here.
Pictured top: “The Informant” Mark Whitacre addresses GED graduates at Century Correctional Institution. Pictures top inset: Century Correctional inmates listen to Whitacre speak. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Miss Century Care Participates In NWFL Senior Pageant
April 23, 2012
The Annual Miss Senior Northwest Florida Pageant was held Friday, with Sally Kenney from Uni-Health of Santa Rosa taking the crown.
Miss Dorothy Roper was the Century Care Center entrant in the annual event. “She didn’t win, but she still feels like a princess,” Century Care Activities Director Mae Hildreth said.
In the question and answer portion of the pageant, Roper was asked “What is your favorite time of the year and why?”. Her response was “Summer, ’cause it’s hot, hot, hot!”.
Pictured top: Miss Century Care Center Dorothy Roper at the Miss Senior Northwest Florida Pageant Friday with program host Sue Straughn of WEAR. Pictured below: Pageant contestants. Pictured bottom: Century Care Center staff work to get Dorothy Roper ready for the pageant. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: CrossFaith Church Holds Molino SpringFling
April 22, 2012
CrossFaith Church in Molino held a Spring Fling on Saturday, featuring live music, crafts, vendors, horse rides, a petting zoo, inflatables and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The annual Spring Fling was held Saturday at CrossFaith church in Molino. Submitted photos by Katelyn Garrison for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Births: Tripp Shiver Gilly, Riley Erin Chancery
April 22, 2012
Two local couples that are close friends are celebrating births just hours apart.
Tripp Shiver Gilly
Billy and Ashley Gilly of Molino are proud to announce the birth of their son, Tripp Shiver Gilly, born April 10, 2012, at 4:18 p.m. He weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 inches long. Tripp is the grandson of Greg and Lorri Clary of Byrneville, Johnny Bonner of Pace, Alex and Felicia Amerson of Enon, and Bill Gilly of Molino.
Riley Erin Chancery
Aaron and Britany Chancery of McDavid are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Riley Erin Chancery, born April 10, 2012, at 6:24 p.m. She was 7 pounds, 6.7 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Riley is the granddaughter of Richard and Lisa Chancery of McDavid, Loretta Floyd of Pensacola and James Ford of Molino.
Pictured on the left are Aaron and Britany Chancery with their daughter Riley Erin Chancery, while Billy and Ashley Gilly are on the right with their son Tripp Shiver Gilly. Pictured below: Riley Erin Chancery (on left) and Tripp Shiver Gilly. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
