Under The Sea: Danceworks Holds Recital
June 2, 2010
Heather Leonard’s Danceworks presented their annual recital “Under The Sea” recently at Ernest Ward Middle School.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Preschool :
Emma Gilmore, Madalyn Grimes, Ava Gurganus, Berklee Hall, Leah Hetrick, Meredith Johnston, Gracie Long, Mariana Minchew, Jordan Sanders, Aubrey Stuckey, Aleigh Thornton
5-6 year olds:
Bama Coburn, Sarah Margaret Hetrick, Jamison Janes, Makayla Minchew
7-8 year olds:
Shelby Bashore, Anna Grace Janes, Ansleigh Maholovich, Olivia Porter, Bailey Van Pelt
9-10 year olds:
Anna Belle Barberree, Karrie Gibson, Allison Johnson, Cassidy Murphy
11-12 year olds:
Jalyn Bodiford, Katie Born, Leah Fischer, RayAnn Free, Courtney Grim, Jenna Thornton, Brittney Ward
Teen:
Morgan Digman, Anna Fischer, Chloe Leonard, Jessica Lowery, Madi Minchew, Shelby Nielsen
Leonard started Danceworks in 1994. She has over 30 years of dance training, 25 years of teaching experience and serves as Danceworks’ director. The Danceworks students are instructed by Chelsea Sims, with 15 years of dance experience and five years as an assistant teacher. She is a former Northview High School cheerleader and Miss Northview.
Photos courtesy Ramona Fischer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: A Look Back At A Long North Escambia Weekend
June 1, 2010
North Escambia Memorials Honor Those That Served
May 31, 2010
People across North Escambia and the country paused Monday to remember the brave men and women that have served our country today as we celebrated Memorial Day.
In North Escambia, there are memorials that honor those that have service in the military:
Walnut Hill
The largest such memorial in the North Escambia area, the Veteran’s Honor Wall has stood in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center since its dedication in 2003. There are about 300 names on the wall, including 13 names of soldiers killed in action. The wall honors those from the Walnut Hill area that have served in the nation’s military.
The Walnut Hill Veterans Wall is located in front of the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97.
Century
About 30 of those that served from the Century area are honored on the Century Veteran’s Wall of Honor at Century’s Roadside Park on Highway 29.
Barrineau Park
The Wall of Honor inside the Barrineau Park Community Center honors over 100 people that have served in the military. The wall was a project of the Barrineau Park Historical Society.
Pictured above: The names of those killed in action on the Walnut Hill Veterans Wall. Pictured below: The Wall of Honor inside the Barrineau Park Community Center. NorthEsambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Molino Memorial Festival
May 30, 2010
The annual Molino Memorial Festival was held Saturday at CrossFaith Church. The day’s activities included arts and crafts vendors, children’s activities, plenty of food, guest speakers and live entertainment.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured scenes from the Molino Memorial Festival Saturday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fuller, Miller To Wed
May 30, 2010
Danny and Lisa Fuller of Byrneville are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Devon Elizabeth, to Mr. William Ryan Miller, of Long Island, New York.
Devon is the granddaughter of Daniel and Betty Fuller of Pensacola and the late Emory and Ellen Wilkinson of Pensacola. Ryan is the son of William Miller and Marjorie Miller, both of Long Island, New York, and the grandson of Bob Hohenberger and Barbara Blackwelder of Westfield, North Carolina, and Maurice and Alice Blackwelder of Bardstown, Kentucky.
Devon is a graduate of Northview High School and is currently pursuing her RN Degree. Ryan is a graduate of Half Hollow Hills West High School and State University of New York Maritime where he earned a Bachelor’s of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ryan is currently serving in the U. S. Navy at NAS Whiting Field, where he is in advanced helicopter flight training school.
The wedding will be held Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel aboard NAS Pensacola, and will be officiated by Rev. Tim Hawsey.
Retirement Party Honors Master Deputy Randy Murph
May 29, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office honored Randy Murph of Byrneville with a retirement party Friday afternoon.
Murph retired recently after 27 years in law enforcement — 22 of those in North Escambia
Friends, family and coworkers, including Sheriff David Morgan, applauded Murph for his years of service.
Morgan said he remembered meeting Murph about six years ago and Murph’s comments about the need for the sense of community and belonging in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is not to say goodbye, but to wish you luck in whatever you do in the future,” Morgan told Murph.
“I want to thank the citizens of Escambia County for giving me the opportunity to protect them,” the recently retired master deputy said before thanking his wife, Mary, for standing behind him.
“It takes a special woman to be a cop’s wife,” he said. “When you walk out that door, your never know.”.
Murph started his law enforcement career in Escambia County, Alabama, working for then-Sheriff Tim Hawsey. He spent five years patrolling the 950 square miles of the county before moving south into Florida.
For the next 22 years, he worked for the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, spending all of those years in North Escambia.
To read a previous NorthEscambia.com story about Randy Murph and his retirement, click here.
Pictured above: Retired Master Deputy Randy Murph (right) and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Pictured below: Randy Murph and his wife Mary at his retirement party Friday afternoon in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Passenger Train Travels Through North Escambia
May 29, 2010
For the first time in decades, a passenger train made its way south through western North Escambia Friday.
Described a luxurious trip in 1940’s style, the rail tour operated by High Iron Travel started Wednesday in Columbus, Mississippi, and traveled Thursday to Fountain, Ala. It followed the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railroad line south on Friday, traveling through Atmore, Walnut Hill and Cantonment on to Pensacola.
After an overnight layover in Pensacola, the train returned north on Saturday via the same Alabama & Gulf Coast Railroad line through North Escambia to Linden, Alabama, and then to Meridan, Mississippi.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Cars in the train included the Cimarron River, a privately owned 1948 Pullman sleeping car which has been renovated with modern heating, electrical and air conditioning systems while retaining the charm and ambiance of 1940’s railroad travel. It sleeps 20 people — one person in each of 12 roomettes and two people in each of four bedrooms, which have two bunk beds. The beds all fold into the walls to provide comfortable seating during the day.
The Caritas in considered one of America’s premier art-deco private railway cars, built in 1948 by the Pullman company for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad. The Caritas sleeps eight guests in three double bedrooms that maintain the original configuration, while a master room has a double bed and its own shower.
The train also included the 1949 sleeper lounge Swift Stream from the New York Central’s Great Steel Fleet. The car includes six double bedrooms, shower, kitchen and pantry, art deco lounge, and dining area for 16.
The train also included the ex-Santa Fe “Great Dome” car.
The basic fare for the trip was $5,750 per person, double occupancy. The trip was a one-time event.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The first passenger train in decades passes through Walnut Hill Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Ernest Ward Presents Spring Play With Giant Roach
May 29, 2010
With a giant roach, a crazed Italian chef, and a little mistake where bug poison and cheese were switched, the Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Team presented their annual Spring Play “Chateau La Roach” Thursday night and Friday morning.
This year’s production was a comedy about a small hotel being overrun by cockroaches. Mimi and Francois LaRoche had to find some way of stopping the health inspector from finding out about their little bug problem. With the help of their wacky staff, the two of them tried to determine which guest was the health inspector before it was too late.
For a photo gallery from the play, click here.
Pictured above: Samantha Barrow and Chelsea Turner watch a giant roach portrayed by Joselynn Wiedel during the Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Team presented their annual Spring Play “Chateau La Roach” Friday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Area Resident Attends American Idol Finals, Wins $25,000
May 28, 2010
Nikki McMullen of Atmore won $25,000 in the AT&T American Idol Sweepstakes Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Nikki and her daugther Madison were able to attend Tuesday night’s final performances with Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze and Wednesday night’s final show where DeWyze was crowned the new American Idol.
Pictured top: Former American Idol finalists come out to support winner Nikki McMullen of Atmore, Ala. (center) and daughter who won $25,000 at the live event in Los Angeles. AT&T grand prize sweepstakes winner Nikki McMullen poses with daughter Madison, former Idol finalist Megan Joy and her $25,000 winnings. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NHS Grad Richard Braun Of Molino Graduates From Basic Training
May 26, 2010
Air Force Airman Richard K. Braun graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Laura and Billy Braun of Haupert Lane, Molino. Braun is a 2009 graduate of Northview High School.