Ernest Ward Students Explore Past With National History Day Projects
January 13, 2012
History came alive through the eyes of students at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday evening as they displayed weeks of work on projects for National History Day.
The History Fair in the school’s gym capped off a project in which EWMS students were required to do research into a topic. The research was presented in exhibit form, much like the typical science fair, or as a drama or web presentation. Students complete projects either individually or in teams.
For a photo gallery of projects, click here.
This was the third year Ernest Ward has participated in the national program, with the top projects from Ernest Ward headed next to a district competition. Winners included:
Individual Projects:
- Bethany Reynolds — The Cotton Gin: An Invention That Revolutionized a Global Industry
- Tristan Barrett — Scared of Reds: America’s Reaction to Communism
- Evan Till — The United States Cotton Industry
- Bailee Hinote — Native American Indians
Group Projects:
- Thomas Moore, Ben Preston, Jarod Townley — Railway System
- Mallory Gibson, Autumn Albritton — How The Revolutionary Ward Affected Indians
- Jessica Stacey, Abby Hammond, Destiny Watson — Pablo Picasso
- Tylet Houston, Tristan Reaves — The Revolution of Space Technology (Space Race)
Names of winners in the performance, web and research paper categories were not immediately available.
Pictured top: Ernest Ward Middle School National History Day entitled “Pablo Picasso” by Jessica Stacey, Abby Hammond and Destiny Watson. Pictured inset: Tristan Barrett’s “Scared of Reds: America’s Reaction to Communism” is judged. Pictured below: “Native American Indians” by Bailee Hinote. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Bride-To-Be Hoping To Win Dream Wedding On Auburn Campus
January 12, 2012
A young North Escambia area woman has big dreams — a free wedding this spring on Samford Lawn on the campus of Auburn University.
Jennifer Coleman, a Flomaton High School graduate, and her groom-to-be, Wes Sinor, are one of three couples vying to win the May 26 wedding of their dreams including the dress, tuxedos, flowers, photos, cakes, limousine, entertainment, reception — the whole wedding package worth thousands.
“We met playing intramural football in October of 2008 here at Auburn out on the intramural field. We just started hanging out after that,” Wes said.
“We were best friends for about two, two and a half years, so we already knew each other through and through,” Jennifer said. But they did not decide to date until after that two plus years of friendship.
“So from the first moment we decided to date, we knew this was it,” she said.
A month after the first date, Wes popped the question — kind of a spur of the moment caught in love kind of thing — without a ring. She said yes.
About a year after that first impromptu proposal, Wes repeated the proposal. This time he was prepared. He had saved some cash for a ring and made his wedding proposal one night on the intramural field where the couple had met, surrounded by candles. Once again, Jennifer said yes.
The winning War Eagle Wedding couple will be chosen by votes from the public. To vote for Jennifer and Wes, visit www.wareaglewedding.com and vote. Additional votes can be cast on four Facebook pages listed on the War Eagle Wedding website. Voting ends at 4 p.m. on January 18.
Pictured top: Wes Sinor proposes to Jennifer Coleman of Flomaton on an intramural football field at Auburn University. Pictured inset: Pictured inset: The couple, pictured here at the 2011 Auburn-Mississippi State game, are huge Auburn football fans. Pictured below: War Eagle Wedding finalists Wes and Jennifer (photo courtesy Flip Flop Foto). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Students Named To Chorus, Band All-State Groups
January 12, 2012
Numerous North Escambia students have been selected to participate in various Florida Music Educators Association All-State groups at the upcoming FMEA Conference in Tampa.
After an extensive audition process, the following students were chosen to represent the Escambia County School District and participate with other students from across the state:
Middle School Treble Chorus
Allison Cramer, Ransom Middle School
Emma Shows, Ransom Middle School
Middle School Mixed Chorus
Shelby Becker, Ransom Middle School
Middle School Honors Band
Elizabeth Shin, Bellview Middle School
Middle School Concert Band
Jonathan Voyles, Ransom Middle School
All-State High School Women’s Chorus
Katelyn Godwin, Tate High School
Joycelyn Woods, Washington High School
All-State High School Mixed Chorus
Eion Blanchard, Tate High School
All-State High School Honors Band
Kevin Fails, Pine Forest High School
Steven French, Escambia High School
Brandon Spencer, Washington High School
All-State High School Concert Band
Graham Gardner, Tate High School
All-State High School Symphonic Band
Chris Snyder, Tate High School
All-State High School Jazz Band
Jacob Dearrington, Tate High School
All-State High School Concert Orchestra
Noah Heintz, Tate High School
Photos: Northview NJROTC Holds Military Ball
January 11, 2012
Northview High School recently held their annual Military Ball at the Naval Aviation Museum aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, a joint event with Washington High School.
About 170 cadets attended the ball, which included an opening ceremony, presentation of colors, the national anthem, a POW ceremony, presentation of the king and queen from each school and an evening of dancing.
Northview recognized:
- King – Cadet Jody Day
- Queen – Cadet Kiani Okahashi
- Jr Prince – Cadet Jonathan Moretz
- Jr Princess – Cadet Ashley Simpkins
- Soph. Prince – Cadet Willie Owens
- Soph. Princess – Cadet Victoria Wright
- Freshman Prince – Cadet Sean Allister
- Freshman Princess – Cadet Lakelynn Parker
A Navy tradition was also celebrated with the cutting of a cake with the first slice being presented to the oldest and youngest in attendance – Northview Cadet Lane Carnley, and Washington’s LCOL Peter Peters, SNSI.
Pictured top: (L-R) King – Cadet Jody Day, Queen – Cadet Kiani Okahashi, Junior Prince – Cadet Jonathan Moretz, and Junior Princess – Cadet Ashley Simpkins. Pictured below: (L-R) Sophomore Prince – Cadet Willie Owens, Sophomore Princess – Cadet Victoria Wright, Freshman Princess – Cadet Lakelynn Parker, and Freshman Prince – Cadet Sean Allister. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spreading Cheer: IP Gives Back In The Community
January 8, 2012
International Paper, the Cantonment Council on Aging and Heritage Baptist Church joined forces to spread holiday cheer during the Christmas season.
The groups delivered Walmart gift cards, turkeys and hams to area families in need. IP employeees Denise Samuel from the finance team and Andy Martin from pulp safety/training took part in the deliveries.
“My husband and I are in our sixties and are raising the third of the last three grandchildren over the past few years,” said Ken and Judy Mitchell. “ I have a chronic illness and had to quit work in August. My social security starts in January. Your gift given to us by Andy was God’s hand reaching down to help us.”
Each year, the Pensacola Mill provides community neighbors in need with gift cards (this year totaling $750) and delivers turkeys that are either donated by employees or leftover from the annual Lead Team turkey distribution.
“Thank you (International Paper Pensacola Mill employees) for the turkey and gift card. They were a great blessing to me and helped out a lot,” said Jessie Houston.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: A Great Day To Be On The River
January 8, 2012
Dozens of people took advantage of great weather Saturday morning to hit the Escambia River in Molino for a little fun and fishing.
At Fairgrounds Park and the Molino Boat Ramp, the parking lot was nearly full by late morning with vehicles and boat trailers. The county-owned Molino Boat Ramp and Fairgrounds Park is a 1.5 acre boat ramp and park located at 6698 Fairgrounds Road in Molino. The park includes a boat ramp, dock, picnic tables, portable restroom, security lights and a nature boardwalk.
Pictured: Saturday morning a the Molino Boat Ramp. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Rho Kappa Sends Care Packages To Deployed Alumini
January 6, 2012
Tate High School’s history honor society Rho Kappa recently sent care packages to deployed Tate High alumni. The packages included a variety of personal care items and non-perishable foods.
For more photos, click here.
Pictured above: Tate’s Rho Kappa history honor society recently collected items for care packages for deployed Tate graduates. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Seniors Can Apply For Cooperative Scholarships
January 5, 2012
This April, Escambia River Electric Cooperative will award the Herman D. Johnson Scholarships to graduating seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Two $4,000 scholarships, one in each county, will be offered to students with a parent or guardian that is a member of cooperative. The students must show proof of enrollment and maintain a 2.5 GPA to continue to receive the funds each year.
To apply, seniors in EREC’s service area should check with their high school guidance counselors or contact EREC Marketing and Communications at (850) 675-4521 or (800) 235-3848. The deadline to submit an application is March 1. Winners will be announced at EREC’s annual meeting on April 28.
This is EREC’s 15th year of offering scholarships to high school seniors. In the past, capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed were required to be turned over to the state. But state legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified, educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships for graduating seniors in EREC’s service area.
Area Band To Perform At BCS Championship Game
January 5, 2012
An area high school band will perform next Monday night at the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans.
The T.R. Miller High School band of Brewton will play at the game as the Alabama Crimson Tide takes on the Tigers of LSU for number one in the nation.
Band members have rehearsed and held fund raisers for months. Band Director Lance Gainous said his young musicians earned the trip through hard work and a string of superior ratings in competitions last fall. The band departs for New Orleans on Friday and will return after the game.
The game airs on ESPN beginning at 7:30 Monday night. There’s no word yet if the Miller band will appear in the broadcast.
Pictured: The T.R. Miller Band practices. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2011 Persons Of The Year: LCpl Travis Nelson And Family
January 3, 2012
NorthEscambia.com is naming Persons of the Year for 2011. The recipients were nominated by our readers as individuals that have a made a difference in North Escambia during the past year — people that have given of themselves to help others and the communities of North Escambia during 2011.
Recipients named so far included the volunteers and supporters of the Health and Hope Clinic, and Northview Athletic Director Sammy Day. and Wade Jernigan and organ donors.
Fallen Marine LCpl. Travis M. Nelson and his family have been named as 2011 North Escambia Persons of the Year.
LCpl. Nelson gave all on the battlefields of Afghanistan in August 2011, and his family has continued to give back to the North Escambia area.
A world was shattered in August at the Nelson home in Bratt as three men in military uniforms stood at the door. “I just screamed and said no,” Beckie Nelson off Bratt said shortly after she learned that her son, LCpl Travis Nelson, was shot and killed while conducting combat operations in in Helmand province, Afghanistan. “I just went to my knees and said don’t let them come in. I knew right away that he was gone.”
It was a tragedy that began a wave an emotions and events that touched the entire North Escambia area and a nation. The community grieved as hundreds if not thousands changed their Facebook profile pictures to a single image in honor of Nelson. Tears flowed as powerful photos were published that showed an honor guard removed Nelson’s flag-draped coffin from a plane at Dover AFB in Deleware.
The rain poured down at Pensacola Naval Air Station as the final leg of Nelson’s journey home began. The rain did not send them running; they stood silently — many holding American flag — as the hearse carrying an American hero departed on a 55-mile journey to Atmore. Along the way, some of Pensacola’s busiest roadways came to a complete standstill as the motorcade passed. Many motorists stood outside their vehicles and paid their respects. In Walnut Hill, just a few miles from Nelson’s boyhood home in Bratt, the motorcade slowed as it approached Ernest Ward Middle School. Nelson was Golden Eagle, attending Ernest Ward in the sixth and seventh grades.
Hundreds of Ernest Ward Middle School students and teachers dressed in red, white and blue lined Highway 97, American flags in hand, waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.
As the procession passed, the students stood with their hands over their hearts, waving Old Glory. The thunder of 127 Patriot Guard motorcycle riders vibrated the ground and echoed across the country fields near the school.
Six Florida Highway Patrol trooper vehicles led the hearse past the school. Many broke down in tears at the sight of a flag draped coffin. Others cried as they made eye contact with Nelson’s parents and their daughter — a sixth grader at Ernest Ward.
The motorcade continued into Atmore, where crowds stood along the route, waving Old Glory. At a local bank on Highway 31, people stood with large flags as the Northview High School NJTROC stood steadfast at attention. Across the way at the iconic Atmore train station, a group of local veterans stood proudly and saluted as Nelson’s remains passed.
Nelson’s funeral was held in Atmore where, again, hundreds paid their final respects.
Nelson was not forgotten. His name was added to the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall of Honor and other area memorials. A scholarship was announced. The Bratt Community Park was renamed the LCpl. Travis M. Nelson Park. Nelson’s family was honored at the annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Madeline Cates was to marry LCpl Travis Nelson when he returned from service with the Marines in Afghanistan. She had picked out her dress just before he lost his life serving his country half a world away in August.
“It wasn’t suppose to happen,” Madeline Cates said about the death her soulmate. “He was the love of my life.”
Cates, 21, decided that she would join the Marines to finish what Travis Nelson had started. She is due to report to boot camp in March 2012. After a NorthEscambia.com story was published about her decision, Cates’ story made international news.
Travis Nelson’s parents, Scott and Beckie Nelson, just could not stand the thought of their first Christmas without their son. To take their minds off a Christmas without Travis in the house, they decided to give back to the communities that had supported them so much following his death.
The Nelson family, along with a small army of volunteers, prepared and delivered about 125 Christmas meals Sunday for elderly, shut-in and needy people in the Bratt, Atmore and surrounding areas.
“He really was our hero,” Scott Nelson said.
LCpl Travis Nelson left behind a short, simple note just in case he did return from the battlefield in Afghanistan.
“Dear friends and family, if you are reading this, I didn’t get to come home. I love each and every one of you. I have no regrets, I died for a meaningful cause.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
