Program Allows Jailed Moms To Read To Their Kids
February 8, 2012
Women who volunteer to participate in the WRAP Program (Women’s Reentry Assistance Program) at the Escambia County Jail can now read books to their children during their jail visits.
The Women’s Reentry Assistance Program (WRAP) was developed and implemented in the Escambia County Central Booking and Detention Facility in January 2011. The program is eight weeks in duration and targets those women who are serving county jail sentences. The program offers counseling and case management to participants prior to release.
The idea of reading books came about when one young mother asked what she could do during the hour-long visits she had with her 2 year old son. Children are able to see their parents through a glass window, but cannot touch or play with their children during visits. She said that he would get impatient and attempt to run around the visitation area, which is not permitted. This question was brought up in the parenting class offered by Community Drug and Alcohol Council, which is one of the many classes offered in WRAP.
Books used in the lending library were generously donated by The Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County. Parents are required to complete a “book report” after each visit recording which books they borrowed and what the experience was like both for them and their child.
One mom is now reading books on every visit and said, “My child loves for me to read her books at home, so she was really excited for me to be able to do it from in here. It made me feel better as a mother to still be able to do something she enjoyed during this time.”
The benefits of reading to children are great, increasing the parent-child bond as well as increasing reading-readiness skills. If parents can make a positive connection with their child while in jail, then that will hopefully help them continue that relationship when they are released and are back with their families, according to organizers.
Culp Named Tate High Teacher Of The Year
February 7, 2012
Alan Culp has been named the Tate High School Teacher of the Year.
Culp is the chair of the science department at Tate, and he teachers AP and honors biology. He hold a BA in Education Biology and has been a teacher for 10 years, eight of those years at Tate.
Teachers of the year are chosen by the faculty and staff at each school in the county. The Escambia County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual Golden Apple Awards Dinner later this month.
Ernest Ward Students Of The Month Named
February 7, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School Students of the Month for January have been named. They are (from left) Ian Schneider, seventh grade; Emily Walston, eighth grade; and Josh English, sixth grade. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sharplesss Graduates From USMC Boot Camp
February 6, 2012
Private Aaron R. Sharpless, 20, of Walnut Hill graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on January 20, 2012.
Private Sharpless successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at MCRD Parris Island as one of 62 recruits in Training Platoon 1001.
Following 10 days home on leave he will report to Camp LeJeune for one month at Military Combat Training then Military Occupation Specialty School in Pensacola.
Great For The Kids: Turtle Point Science Center Open House
February 5, 2012
There was an open house held Saturday at the Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton. If you missed it, there is another chance to see the facility next month.
The next open house at Turtle Point is scheduled for March 31 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Admission is free.
For more photos from Saturday’s open house, click here.
The 3,000 square foot facility offers a touch tank for children and other hands-on exhibits. It boasts an extensive collection of wildlife specimens including many Alabama birds, nests, and eggs; a butterfly and living bee exhibit; live alligators, turtles, snakes, amphibians, and fish of the East Gulf Coastal Plain geophysical region. Also, plant lovers will find six teaching gardens and a wetland nature trail.
Bird watchers are encouraged to hike the nature trail boardwalk and enjoy the red-tailed hawk, great blue heron, great egret, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, yellow-shafted flicker, yellow bellied sap sucker, eastern bluebird, wren, killdeer, green heron, barred owl, screech owl, and many other native birds and wildlife.
Turtle Point’s goal is to provide hands-on environmental education to students and adults in the South Alabama and Northwest Florida. Turtle Point is located at 20959 Highway 31 in Flomaton, near Hurricane Park and Flomaton High School. For more information, call (251) 296-3401.
Pictured top: The Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton. Pictured inset: A golden eagle on display at Turtle Point. Pictured below: A view of the Big Escambia Creek as seen from the nature trail at Turtle Point. Photos by Marcella Wilson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Birth: Freddie W. McCall IV
February 5, 2012
Freddie W. McCall III and Ashley L. McCall are proud to announce the birth of Freddie W. McCall IV. Freddie was born January 27, 2012.
Freddie weighed 7-pounds, 12-ounces and was 18.5 inches long.
He was welcomed by grandparents Freddie McCall, Jr. of Brewton and Sheri McCall of McKenzie, and Katie and Donnie Gibson from Atmore. Great-grandparents are Bo and Dot Brantley of Flomaton; Freddie McCall, Sr. and Margie McCall of Century; and Linda Giles of Atmore and Boby Gibson of Atmore. His great-great grandmother is Lois Gibson of Walnut Hill.
Photos: Career Night
February 3, 2012
Ernest Ward Middle School held a Career Night Thursday evening to give parents, students and community members the chance to learn more about career and educational opportunities available in the area.
From attorney to EMT, from interior designer to electrical lineman, attendees were able to learn about a variety of career fields. School representatives — including Northview, Ernest Ward, Tate and George Stone, were on hand to provide more information about career academies, middle and high school academic programs and extracurricular activities.
Pictured top: Tim Hawsey from the First Baptist Church of Bratt explains “minister of music” as a career choice. Pictured inset: Chefs demonstrate cake decorating at Ernest Ward Middle School’s Career Night Thursday evening at the school. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
February 2, 2012
The following students were named to the second nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
All A’s
Anna Adams
Lexxi Baggett
Haley Baker
John Bashore
Brody Black
Tanner Boone
Ann Margaret Boothe
Sarah Branch
Luke Bridges
Alexia Broadhead
Keaton Brown
Juliana Bryan
Conner Byrne
Emilee Cabral
Ashtyn Carnley
Noah Casson
Landon Chavers
Logan Chavers
Ashton Cloud
Karlee Criswell
Da’Mius Wesley
Cassie Davis,
Haleigh Dean
Colton Dockens
Savannah Doremus
Jackson Edwards
Jason Fayard
Amanda Franklin
Gabby Franklin
Makayla Garrett
Caitlyn Gibson
Alabama Gilley
Amber Gilman
JP Gilman
Emma Gimore
Gracie Godwin
Shelby Godwin
Zane Gurganus
Kara Hawkins
Gabriel Henderson
Sarah Margaret Hetrick
Hannah Hughes
April Johnson
Anna King
Trent Knighten
Anna Lee
Sarah Long
Braeden McGhee
Bailie Merchant
Colby Morris
Mary Paige Nassar
Abigail Nelson
Travis Nelson
Chirstopher Nordman
Jaylon North
Dallon Rackard
Kinzie Rackard
Tyler Ray
Kenna Redman
Teriana Redmond
Delaney Reynolds
Allison Rice
McKenna Simmons
Arquavian Smith
Lydia Smith
Vivyan Smith
Savannah Spence
Alyssa Stabler
Bailey Van Pelt
Summer Waters
Cailee Wilburn
Autumn Williams
Clay Wilson
Lane Wilson
Kendall Wise
All A’s and B’s
Maggie Amerson
Shelby Bartley
Leah Berry
Garret Bodiker
Emilee Bomba
Trevor Bomba
Aiden Broadhead
Meggan Brown
Anastasia Bryan
Kadence Burklund
Tereasia Burt
Anyis Cabral
Caren Cannon
Jordan Capps
Cedriana Carter
Hannah Clayberger
Jacob Conley
Chloe Criswell
Justin Cruce
Tyler Davis
Franki Daw
Sheyenne Dillon
Wyatt Dillon
Makayla Dove
Ryan Dove
Cody Edwards
Alexis Evans
Jamyla Feagin
Ar’Mya Findley
Neionni Findley
Savannah Fullerton
Paige Gibbs
Olivia Gibson
Charles David Gilley
Tony Hall
Shane Hardin
Kerry Hicks
Zachary Hilton
Martina Howard
Payton Jackson
Wyatt Jarvis
Cameron Long
Kaleigh Macks
Ansleigh Maholovich
Angel Merchant
Joshuwa Merchant
Michael Merchant
Madison Nassar
Audrey Odom
Joseph Parker
Blaize Parrish
Gabbie Peebles
Madison Peterson
Cheyenne Philyaw
Larry Philyaw
Madelyn Plant
Matthew Pruitt
Libby Pugh
Mary Grace Rice
Shelby Rice
Savannah Roley
Samantha Roux
Kaylee Sawyer
Adrianne Shanks
Madelin Sheedy
Madison Sherouse
Carter Sigafoose
David Stokes
Savannah Stokes
Melissa Sunday
Peggy Sunday
T’ahna Wesley
Aaliyah Tucker
Hunter Wainwright
Jeremy Ward
John Michael Ward
Ahmad Warmack-Elliott
Kiara Wesley
Cameron White
Cassidy White
James Windham
Ty Wise
Connor Wolfe
FFA Students Complete At Districts, Advance To State
February 1, 2012
Local FFA chapters recently participated in the Florida FFA Association District 1 competition in Pensacola.
Ernest Ward Middle School received first place in Middle School Parliamentary Procedure and will advance to the state competition in June in Orlando.
Tate High School also advanced to state in the High School Parliamentary Procedure division. West Florida High School took home first place in Safe Tractor Operations for a trip to the state competition.
Northview High School had two teams to take the Farm Business Management and Agriculture Mechanics tests. Scores will be determined at a later date.
Jay High School’s Harley Tagert won the Prepared Speaking Middle School Division with her speech on hydroponics. She will also advance to state.
Pictured top: Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA. Pictured below. Members of the Northview High School FFA. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Baggett, Johnson Headed To Boys State
January 30, 2012
Two Northview High School juniors have beenchosen as Boys State representatives for 2012.
Corry Baggett and Trey Johnson were chosen by The American Legion to travel to Tallahassee for a week long comprehensive course in state and local government.
- Develop civic leadership and pride in American citizenship
- Develop a keen interest in the detailed study of our government
- Develop in our citizens a determination to maintain our form of government, primarily by bringing them to the realization of how great it is to be an American
- Develop a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation
- Safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy.
Pictured: Northview juniors Trey Johnson (left) and Correy Baggett were chosen for Boys State. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.