Ernest Ward Middle Students Shine On College Prep Tests
April 23, 2009
Several Ernest Ward Middle School students participated in the Duke University Talent Identification Program.
In order to take part in the program, the students must have earned excellent FCAT scores. After meeting the qualification criteria, the students had the opportunity to take either the SAT or ACT college entrance exam. College-bound students do not usually take the SAT or ACT until they are high school juniors.
Dale Brown, Anna Donald and Jeremy Stacey earned state recognition for achieving a score of 20 or higher on the ACT. Other Ernest Ward students participating the Duke University Talent Identification Program were Kent Smith, Jennifer Spears and Courtney Weaver.
“The faculty, staff, and administration at EWMS are very proud of these students for the outstanding achievement,” said Gayle Hanks, Ernest Ward guidance counselor.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward students (L-R) Dale Brown, Jeremy Stacey and Anna Donald were recognized by the state for high scores in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Park Students Plant Tree In Memory Of Late Teacher
April 23, 2009
Fifth grade students at Molino Park Elementary planted a tree Wednesday in honor of Earth Day and a beloved teacher that passed away on the last day of school last year.
On the final day of school last year, fourth grade teacher Sharon Smith waved goodbye to her students, turned around and lost her breath. She died a short time later. She spent 36 years of her life educating students at the former Molino Elementary School and at Molino Park.
A year later, Mrs. Smith’s fourth grade students have moved on to fifth grade, but they have not forgotten Mrs. Smith, planting the blooming Japanese cherry tree in her honor Wednesday.
Fifth grade teacher Florence Cutler directed the tree planting after a moment of silence for Mrs. Smith. Several students from Mrs. Smith’s previous fourth grade class shoveled dirt around the tree. Also, bench was donated by the teachers and staff of Molino Park Elementary and placed beside the tree.
For more photos from the tree planting, click here.
To read more about Mrs. Smith, click here for the NorthEscambia.com article about her death from last year.
Mrs. Smith was also honored as one of the NorthEscambia.com Persons of the Year for 2008. To read that story, click here.
Pictured above: Fifth grade students planted a tree in memory of Mrs. Sharon Smith on Wednesday. Pictured below: Mrs. Sharon Smith and her fourth grade class wave goodbye about five minutes before their final walk to the buses on the final day of school last year at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
North Escambia Bus Drivers Meet To Discuss Student Safety
April 23, 2009
The 26 bus operators in Escambia County’s North Sector held an Excellence Forum Wednesday to discuss issues related to student transportation.
The bus operators met at Northview High School with Eric Fritz, the Escambia School District’s director of transportation.
“The meeting was held so that the drivers could make a presentation to Mr. Fritz with ideas and goals for our district transportation department,” said Tina Vickery, route supervisor for North Escambia. “Many ideas and goals were presented with enthusiasm and team spirit as we work together for the safe transportation of our most precious cargo, the school students of the North Sector of Escambia County.”
NHS Grad Considered For American FFA Degree
April 22, 2009
A Northview High graduate has applied to receive the coveted American FFA Degree.
Andrea Byars, a 2008 graduate of Northview, is one of 32 applicants in Florida. The National FFA organization will consider each of the 32 applicants for the degree.
Byars and the other applicants will be recognized and given an opportunity to introduce themselves on the main stage during the 9th General Session of the 81st Florida FFA Convention on Friday, June 12.
The American FFA Degree is the highest level that can be achieved as an FFA member. This final step in the FFA Degree system encourages students to grow and achieve personally toward establishing themselves in an agricultural career. Attaining the American FFA Degree requires a solid commitment to agriculture and FFA.
Pictured above: Andrea Byars at last year’s Northview FFA banquet. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bank Night For Relay; Skunk A Friend, Help ACS
April 22, 2009
From “skunking” your favorite person to simply using your credit card, there are several ways left to contribute to Century’s Relay for Life.
Tuesday was “bank night” for Century’s Relay for Life — the night for teams to get together, turn in funds raised to date and make final plans for Saturday’s big event. But it’s not too late to donate to Relay and the American Cancer Society.
The Century Library Relay team will “skunk” someone for Relay. They will place the skunked sign and skunks at the location of your choice for $5. Once you’ve been skunked, the sign stays until you donate $5 to relay for life. If you never want to be skunked again, that takes a $10 donation to Relay for Life. To have someone skunked, call the library at at 256-6217.
If you would like to donate to Relay online, that’s easy too. You can click here to make a secure online donation to the NorthEscambia.com Relay team.
Century’s Relay for Life will be held from noon Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday at Kayo Stanton Stadium at the old Century High School. Even if not part of a team, members of the public are invited to stop by during the event to enjoy entertainment, food and lots of fun — including a frozen t-shirt contest, tricycle race, team karaoke and more.
Participating teams will include the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, Bryneville Elementary, Carver/Century K-8, Century Branch Library, Century Correctional Institute, Century Pharmacy, Critter Caregivers, Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department and NorthEscambia.com.
EREC Announces Youth Tour Winners
April 21, 2009
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has named their 2009 Youth Tour to Washington contest winners.
Heather Lee from West Florida Academy was named the Escambia County representative, and Bridget Jacobs from Jay High School was named the Santa Rosa County representative on the Washington Youth Tour.
Students from our area interviewed with a panel of judges in this competition for a chance to win the opportunity to visit Washington on the Youth Tour to learn more about rural electrification, our nation’s capital and more.
“EREC is very proud to have these two outstanding students represent them on the Washington Youth Tour this year,” said Sabrina Owens, EREC’s director of marketing. “Congratulations to each of them on achieving this honor.”
Judges from PowerSouth Energy Cooperative in Andalusia, Ala., scored contestants on their interviews based on their knowledge of Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the history of rural electrification. Personal attributes of each candidate such as character, academic ability, personality and leadership abilities were also considered.
Children of EREC employees are not eligible for the EREC Youth Tour competition, but those children can apply to the Florida Electric Cooperative Association (FECA) Youth Tour contest for Florida co-op employee children. Travis Hatfield, son of EREC warehouse manager David Hatfield, won the EREC slot for employee children.
Hatfield competed against other co-op employee children across the state of Florida by writing an essay entitled “America’s Energy Future” and was selected by a panel of judges to represent the Florida Electric Cooperative Association on the Youth Tour.
The 2009 Youth Tour is June 12-18.
Pictured above: EREC Youth Tour winners (L-R) Bridget Jacobs, Heather Lee and Travis Hatfield. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Of The Year Named
April 20, 2009
Several North Escambia students were recently recognized as Students of the Year by the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs.
The students were presented their award by members of the Escambia County School Board and Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at a recent program in Pensacola.
From North Escambia, the Students of the Year were:
- O’Neshia Spencer, Bratt Elementary
- Trevor Levins, Byrneville Elementary
- Andrea “Shea” Nall, Carver/Century K-8
- Jordan Helmken, Molino Park Elementary
- Angel Mitchell, Ernest Ward Middle
Pictured above: Angel Mitchell was the Escambia County Council of PTAs and PTSAs Student of the Year from Ernest Ward Middle School. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Century Plus Eight: Century Celebrates Birthday
April 19, 2009
The Alger-Sullivan Historical Society celebrated the 108th birthday of Century Saturday with a day of activities.
The day featured Civil War reenactors, displays from museums, free museum tours, yard sale items, food, entertainment and more.
The events took place in the area of the Alger-Sullivan Historical District on Jefferson Avenue.
For a complete photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from Century’s 108th Birthday Bash Saturday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Fire Holds Spaghetti Supper For Relay For Life
April 19, 2009
A spaghetti supper to benefit the Century Relay for Life was held Saturday night in Walnut Hill. All proceeds from the event at the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue went to the American Cancer Society. Pictured above: Walnut Hill Assistant Chief Kevin Mininger hands off a plate of spaghetti to Tracy Benner. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ride For The Son
April 19, 2009
It took a few months but the Escambia county chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association is well on its way to becoming a fully recognized chapter. The group includes members from around South Alabama as well as North Escambia.
The group recently held their officer elections and are in the process of selecting a chapter name. “We don’t just select a name that sounds cool,” said President Doug Chandler. “We have been praying about this because our name will reflect what our ministry is all about. Once we select a name we have to submit it with a explanation of its meaning to national for approval”.
In the mean time the local chapter is working with chapters all over the U.S. on C.M.A.’s only fundraiser of the year called Run For The Son. “Run For The Son is a nationwide effort to raise money that reaches out to the world…not just the motorcycle community,” explained Chandler. Sixty percent of the money raised goes toward worldwide missions and 40 percent goes toward motorcycle ministry.
“C.M.A. buys dirt bikes for missionaries who work in remote, mountainous areas. Without this form of transportation it would be almost impossible for them to reach some of the villages. It is amazing to hear about the number of churches that have been planted because of motorcycles donated by C.M.A. to missionaries.”
Another outreach is the Jesus film. C.M.A. has it translated in to various languages then sends it with a projector, sound system and screen to missionaries. “I saw a video of a village watch the Jesus film for the first time. This wasn’t just the first time they had seen the film, this was the first time they had ever heard the Word of God. Now they were able to see it and hear it in their own language. It brought me to tears to see literally hundreds of kids crying and screaming as they watched Jesus being beaten by the Roman soldiers. Then when Jesus came forth from the tomb they cheered and danced. I then watched in amazement as a whole village came forward to give their life to Christ. All because people donated a few dollars here and there and some bikers went on a ride. It just blows me away.”
C.M.A. also supports organizations that smuggle Bibles into areas where Bibles are banned.
“Yes, we minister to the motorcycle community but through Run For The Son we can do so much more. Someone can donate five dollars toward my ride and who knows…they may save the soul of someone in a village far, far away.”
On May 2nd C.M.A. chapters all across the U.S. will mount their bikes and ride for Run For The Son. The Escambia County chapter will be joining several other chapters on a ride to Birmingham.
If you would like to make a donation to the ride contact one of the chapter members or Doug Chandler at (251) 294-0386. All donations are tax deductible. “Who knows your dollar may be the dollar that brings someone to Christ.”
Pictured: Escambia County C.M.A. Newly elected officers: Back (L-R): Jeff Price, road captain; Doug Chandler, president; Sean Callaway, vice president; Frank Marquis; chaplain; Dylan Marquis, photographer. Front( L-R): Tyler Chandler,webmaster; Millisa Callaway, treasurer; Julie Chandler, secretary; Roger Vogel, administrator/newsletter editor. (Not pictured Fabiana Price-Run For The Sun Secretary) Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.