Just Beautiful: Students Win Pageant Poster Contest
February 11, 2010
Three artistic youngsters at Byrneville Elementary School have been named winners in the Century Sawmill Pageant Poster Contest sponsored by the Century Lions Club.
Winners were first place, Abby Hammond, fourth grade; second place Jayda Warner, fourth grade; and third place Kris Baxter, third grade.
The posters will be used to promote the annual Century Sawmill Beauty Pageant on Saturday, March 27 at 10 a.m. at Carver/Century K-8 School. Registration forms are available at Whataburger in Century.
Pictured: (L-R) Century Lions Club member Edsol Smith, Century Sawmill Pageant Poster Contest winners Jayda Warner, second place; Abby Hammond, first place; and Kris Baxter, third place; and Lions member Don Sales. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ticket Sales For Marty Raybon Concert Begin Monday
February 10, 2010
Tickets for the April 3 Northview High School FFA Bluegrass Festival Featuring Marty Raybon will now go on sale on Monday on NorthEscambia.com and at selected outlets in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Tickets were scheduled to go on sale today, but was delayed until Monday.
For more on Marty Raybon and the concert, click here.
Update: Local Girl Recovering After Portion Of Her Brain Is Removed
February 9, 2010
Olivia Bush, 6, had part of her brain removed Monday at Miami Children’s Hospital and is now recovering well, according to family members.
The North Escambia girl underwent the surgery to alleviate seizures that have plagued her since she was born as the second youngest premature baby to survive at Pensacola’s Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. During the surgery, doctors removed a 7 centimeter portion of her brain — basically taking out the bad, non-functioning portion and leaving behind the good, healthy tissue.
She was out of the six hour surgery by 2:40 Eastern time, and by 6:45 p.m., she was awake, talking and moving her arms and legs. By this morning, she will be moved out of pediatric intensive care and into a regular room, according to father Tad Bush.
To read a Sunday story about Olivia, click here.
Pictured top: Olivia Bush resting Monday evening at Miami Children’s Hospital after brain surgery to alleviate seizures. Pictured left inset: Olivia prior to surgery. Submitted photos by Tad Bush for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Filling A Void: Produce Store Open In Molino
February 8, 2010
When Molino’s only grocery store closed a few years ago, it left a void in the community. There are a couple of convenience stores remaining, but a trip to the grocery store meant a 40-plus mile round trip toward Atmore or Century, or almost a 20 mile round trip to Cantonment.
Fran Hampton, owner of Fran’s Country Grill, decided to take part in an experiment of sorts to find out if the Molino area would support a local store again. The experiment is called Molino Produce.
As the name implies, it’s not a full-service grocery store, but an indoor produce market that offers a selection of staples like milk, eggs, sugar and bread in addition to produce. And it’s located in a former meeting room of Fran’s restaurant.
“Ms. Fran and I talked about this for a long time, and we saw a real need,” said Harlen Johnson who runs Molino Produce. “We wanted to see what happens and see if the need would justify a full store.”
The produce market has a full selection of items, especially for February, a traditional low-inventory month for produce. The store also stock items like sour cream, Amish cheese and butter, stone ground grits and a variety of Amish jams, jellies and preserves.
“The freeze in Florida has caused a little hardship for produce, especially tomatoes and even cabbage,” Johnson said. “But I’m working to get the prices back down as low as I can.”
As the weather warms and more local fresh items are available, the community can expect to see them in Molino Produce, he said. “People want to eat as healthily as possible, and fresh produce is one way to do that.”
“I think this store will mean a lot to the community,” Johnson said. “It will save that 8-9 mile drive when people can shop right here in the community. We are hoping to see a lot of support.”
Molino Produce is located next to Fran’s Country Grill on Highway 29. It is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pictured top: Harlen Johnson and Molino Produce, next to Fran’s in Molino. Pictured inset: The store has a variety of Amish jams, jellies and preserves. Pictured bottom: Molino Produce has opened in the North Escambia community. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Releases Honor Roll
February 8, 2010
Byrneville Elementary School has released its honor roll for the second nine weeks.
Students on the Byrneville Elementary School Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll are:
Kindergarten: Mrs. Barberree
All Satisfactory:
- Cody Adams
- Hunter Borelli
- Nevaeh Brown
- Bama Coburn
- Shelby Cotita
- Cole Dunsford
- Cameron Grimes
- Dalton Hanks
- Taylor Levins
- Paige Ross
- Dillon Spears
Kindergarten: Mrs. Dawson
All Satisfactory:
- Joshua Dunsford
- Kaitlin Gafford
- Eli Jackson
- Lillie McCall
- Torka Mills
First Grade: Mrs. Thornton
All A’s:
- Maille Kilcrease
- Heather Knowles
- Ty Rolin
A’s and B’s:
- Danielle Barrow
- Logan Bryan
- Sophia Cotita
- Maggie Mae Cufr
- Tyler Merchant
- Trevor Scott
- Tylor Qualls
Second Grade: Mrs. Lambeth
All A’s:
- Alex Glidewell
- Cloe Smith
A’s and B’s:
- Skyler Busbee
- Jacob Coleman
- Steven Cotita
- Jake Lambeth
- Kelli Merchant
- Kayla Turner
- Olivia Watson
Second Grade: Mrs. Rogers
All A’s:
- Ian Gifford
- Lea Nall
- LaurelSims
- Ashley Taylor
- Nicholas Trump
A’s and B’s:
- River Calloway
- Valorie Croley
- Hannah Merchant
- Tyler Newton
- Ciara Smith
- Hannah Wilcoxon
Third Grade: Mrs. Dunsford
All A’s:
- Seth Killam
A’s and B’s:
- Kris Baxter
- Matthew Caine
- Rebeca Diamond
- Grace Johnson
- Paige Killam
- Destiny Payne
Third Grade: Mrs. Weaver
All A’s:
- Colby Graham
- Tanner Levins
- Courtney Payne
- Olivia Porter
A’s and B’s:
- Austin Adams
- Jacob Borelli
- Sarah Nelson
- Lane Sims
- Faith Watters
Fourth Grade: Mrs. Gilmore
All A’s:
- Anna Belle Barberree
- Kayla Glavan
- Bailee Hinote
A’s and B’s
- Jenna Black
- Patience Newsome
- Alaina Rolin
- Meagan Reid
4th grade: Mrs. McDaniel
All A’s:
- Shellie Harrelson
- Beau Henderson
A’s and B’s
- Abby Hammond
- Jayda Warner
- Destiny Watson
5th grade: Mrs. Johnston
- All A’s:
- Raychell Baker
- Alyssa Bell
- Dustin Bethea
- Alyssa Borelli
- Dillon Clary
- Hunter Cofield
- Jessica Stacey
- Jacob Weaver
A’s and B’s
- Cameron Biggs
- Tommie Campbell
- Kaley Jo Cofield
- Kristen Johnson
- Hunter Lassiter
- McKayla Macks
- Blake Reid
- Reno Reynolds
- Mallarie Rigby
- Brianna Smith
- Caleb Therrell
Help EWMS Help Relay For Life: Submit Your Recipes
February 8, 2010
The Ernest Ward Middle School Relay for Life team needs your help in the kitchen — the school is organizing a cookbook and needs your recipes. To submit recipes, visit www.gandrpublishing.com with username “ernestward” and password “eagles”. You can submit up to six recipes by the deadline of Friday, February 12. The cookbooks will be on sale in May, with all proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Homemakers: Use A Potato Bag
February 7, 2010
A microwaved baking potato is much better when cooked in a “Potato Bag” — that was the lesson of the day at the February meeting of the Molino Homemakers Club.
The following was submitted by Terri Brown on behalf of the Molino Homemakers Club.
Being a creative homemaker doesn’t require a lot of money but it does require a lot of time and attention. This month the Molino Homemaker’s program was given by Nancy Holland on making “Potato Bags”.
These bags are microwaveable bags made out of 100% cotton material used to cook baking potatoes in the microwave. This material will not burn as the heat of the microwave cooks the potato. The inside of the potatoes will be well done and moist while the outside skin remains tender. The potatoes only need to be washed, dried, wrapped in a paper towel, inserted into the potato bag and microwaved. No pricking! Cooking time will vary depending on the power of your microwave and the number of potatoes you are cooking.
Each bag will hold 1-4 baking potatoes. When done let the potato bag air dry until you’re ready to use it again or machine wash and dry. They are also kid safe.
Of course it would be easy to order a potato bag off the internet but wouldn’t be near as interesting as learning how to make one from a club member. Potato bags sell on the internet between $5 and $12 each.
If you are interested in learning how to make a potato bag, please contact Nancy Holland at (850) 587-5464.
The Molino Homemakers Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month except July at Molino First Assembly of God Church.
Pictured: Molino Homemakers Club member Millie Brantley with a finished potato bag. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Grammy Award Winning Marty Raybon To Headline Northview Music Festival
February 5, 2010
A man that achieved legendary status in country music — 13 number one singles, 22 songs on the charts, a Grammy Award, and a CMA Vocal Group of the Year trophy — will headline an April concert in Bratt.
The Northview FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund and NorthEscambia.com will present the Northview FFA Bluegrass Festival featuring Marty Raybon on Saturday, April 3. Marty Raybon and a host of other area groups will perform two shows in the Northview High School Theater.
Marty Raybon is perhaps best known as the former lead singer of the country mega-group Shenandoah from 1985-1996. . He led Shenandoah to 22 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including thirteen number one singles, such as: “The Church on Cumberland Road” (1989), “Sunday in the South” (1989), “Two Dozen Roses” (1989), “Next to You, Next to Me” (1990) and “Butterfly Kisses” (1997). At the top of the charts, Raybon became known for his bluegrass and gospel-influenced semi-traditional country sound.
Raybon offers a full spectrum of vocal entertainment. His talents are unmatched, whether he’s singing country, gospel or his personal favorite, bluegrass. He has become one of country music’s busiest artists, performing over 100 shows per year between the United States and Canada.
He grew up in bluegrass and later earned acclaim in country music, so it should come as no surprise that the latest release from Marty Raybon and his band, Full Circle, bears the mark of both.
“I love bluegrass,” Raybon says with a passion, “and I love to see young people love it. I was younger than a lot of them are when I started playing, and I’d sit in school and try to draw Bill Monroe’s mandolin peghead. That’s how into it I was then–and I still am. When we go out there and see young people at our show, it makes us feel really good, and all we want to do, whether it’s at a show or on this album, is entertain them and let them feel good.”
All proceeds from the Northview FFA Bluegrass Festival will benefit the Northview FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund..
It All Adds Up: Northview Math Team Wins Big
February 5, 2010
The Northview High School Math Team placed second overall during the Annual JDCC Invitational Math Tournament Thursday at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton.
Four of the top 10 winners were from Northview: AJ Lambert, Josie Doucette, Laneicia Gomez and Jamichael Carson.
Northview’s participants were: Emily Vickery, Holly Dickson, Justin Halteman, Josie Doucette, Laneicia Gomez, Jamichael Carson, Ty Randolph, Clint Davis, Dustin Lewis, Colton Sims, AJ Lambert and Seth Leonard.
Pictured top: (L-R) Northview High School’s winning math team Emily Vickery, Holly Dickson, Justin Halteman, Josie Doucette, Laneicia Gomez, Jamichael Carson, Ty Randolph, Clint Davis, Dustin Lewis, Colton Sims, AJ Lambert and Seth Leonard. Pictured below: (L-R) Northview’s top ten individual math tournament winners AJ Lambert, Josie Doucette, Laneicia Gomez and Jamichael Carson. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Desperate Hope: Bratt Native Holds Concert, Book Signing
February 4, 2010
Bratt native Candi Pearson-Shelton was among friends, family and fans Wednesday night with a concert and book tour stop in Atmore.
Candi was promoting her first book, Desperate Hope: When Faith in God Overcame My Despair, a book that chronicles the journey through the death of her brother Rick Pearson and the glory of God in the midst of the tragedy.
She and her husband Jonathon had been in California for about four months when she received the news about her younger brother who was living in Atlanta.
“We get a phone call saying Ricky was sick, a serious kind of sick,” she said. Forty days later, he was dead from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Candy and Rick Pearson’s family found strength in a verse from Isaiah 40 — “A voice cries in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God…. Then every eye will see the glory of the Lord revealed.”
Drawing inspiration from that verse, she penned what would become the title track on the Dove Award winning album Glory Revealed, and she was soon on the album’s tour with artists Mac Powell, Shane & Shane, Brian Littrell and others.
After performing Glory Revealed during her Wednesday night concert at Grace Fellowship in Atmore, Candi sat down and talked about her book.
“I don’t really think of it as a grief book,” the Northview High School graduate said. “It’s a book about hope, a well placed hope.”
Earlier in the afternoon, she held a book signing at the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore.
For more concert photos, click here.
For more on Candi Pearson-Shelton’s book, click here.
Pictured top: Bratt native Candi-Pearson Shelton performs the title track from the Dove award winning album Glory Revealed Wednesday Night at Grace Fellowship in Atmore. Pictured inset: Candi reads from her new book Desperate Hope: When Faith in God Overcame My Despair. Pictured bottom. Candi held a book signing Wednesday afternoon in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.











