Escambia County 4-H Holds Annual Awards Banquet
August 13, 2022
submitted by Brian Estevez, UF/IFAS Escambia County 4-H Agent
Escambia County 4-H celebrated its annual 4-H Banquet on August 5 th at the Langley Bell 4-H Center in Cantonment. More than 120 guests participated in the celebration and recognition of Escambia County 4-H achievements in a mardi gras theme setting.
Guests were greeted in front of the building by a 4-H mardi gras float, complete with thrown beads and music. Many awards were given out at the banquet to recognize the accomplishments of our 4-H members. County council members and honored guests presented certificates, pins and awards to the recipients.
“The 4-H Awards Banquet was made possible with the donations from our many sponsors. Escambia County 4-H thanks you for your donations of money, time and effort to make the banquet possible,” said Aly Schortinghouse, Escambia County 4-H/Livestock Agent.
Our graduating seniors were recognized on-stage and 4-H volunteers received awards for their service. Escambia County 4-H also honored the members that made up the 2021-2022 County Council and inducted a new group of council officers for 2022-2023. The new council officers are as follows: A.T. Bridgers and Reid Spagnuolo as district delegates, Syrah Chauvette as motivational leader, Matt Dunlap as sergeant-at-arms, Tucker Padgett as parliamentarian, Alan Bray-Crews as historian, Laney Clarke as reporter, Ava Chauvette as treasurer, Kailee Dunlap as secretary, Madelyn Goss as vice president, and Gracie Meredith as president.
According to Brian Estevez, Escambia County 4-H agent, the new officers were inducted in alighting of the candle ceremony and were told that “good officers pledge their hands to the service of their 4-H council, its members, and the clubs they represent.”
The past 12 months have been an outstanding year for Escambia County 4-H. Four hundred and fifty-eight youth were enrolled in sixteen 4-H clubs, volunteer enrollment increased, and day camp and workshop quality were the best they have ever been. Escambia County 4-H members placed first in multiple state 4-H competitions including: 2021 state 4-H tailgating contest, 2021 junior horticulture judging, 202 1intermediate horticulture judging, 2022 senior Insectathon, 2022 Gator Pit entrepreneur contest, 2022 avian bowl, 2022 junior and senior graphic design, and 2022 junior and senior photography. Belinda Spann, 4-H senior office support assistant, was also recognized on-stage for being selected as the 2022 Florida Association of Extension 4-H
Agent’s Support Staff of the Year.
“Escambia County 4-H would like to say thank you to all of the 4-H members, parents, sponsors, and guests that attended the 2022 4-H Awards Banquet,” said Estevez.
The 4-H Awards Banquet was made possible with the donations from our many sponsors.
Escambia County 4-H would like to thank: Beasley Jewelry, Escambia County Farm Bureau, the Langley Bell family, Escambia County 4-H Foundation, Inc., and the Escambia County Home and Community Educators. Escambia County 4-H thanks you for your donation of money, time, and effort to make the banquet possible.
Photo Gallery: First Day Of School In Escambia County
August 11, 2022
Wednesday was the first day of school in Escambia County.
For a gallery of parent submitted photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Restaurant Honors Legacy Of Fallen Marine “J.R.” Spears Of Molino
August 10, 2022
A shadow box was presented to a Pensacola restaurant Tuesday to help keep alive the legacy of Cpl. Jonathan Ross “J.R.” Spears (USMC) of Molino. He was killed in action, Ramadi, Iraq, on October 23, 2005.
The Marine Corps League Pensacola presented the shadow box to Bubba’s 33 on Davis Highway.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tuesday Was National Book Lover’s Day At West Florida Libraries
August 10, 2022
Tuesday was National Book Lover’s Day, and the West Florida Public Libraries celebrated with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
ECSO representatives read their favorite books to the public at libraries across Escambia County.
Pictured: National Book Lover’s Day at the Century Branch Library with deputy P. Frazier reading “The Tortoise & the Hare” and “Fox in Socks”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
IP Shift Safety Calendar Created By Jim Allen Elementary Students
August 7, 2022
This shift safety calendar being used this year at International Paper in Cantonment was created by students at Jim Allen Elementary School.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our team members, and the shift calendar serves as a reminder for all of us to keep an active safety mindset,” said Whitney Fike, IP communications manager. “We asked the students of Jim Allen Elementary to help us create safety messages for each month of our shift calendar. The students were very creative in their safety messages and drawings and we were excited to be able to have them participate.”
International Paper thanked the students earlier this year with a pizza party and copies of the finished calendar.
For more photos, including each photo in the calendar, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Serves On USS Ronald Reagan In Philippine Sea
August 5, 2022
Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Devante Bonham of Cantonment is serving on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in the Philippine Sea.
He is pictured on Thursday, August 4, operating on a receiver processor in the avionics shop aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier. Ronald Reagan’s avionics shop troubleshoots aviation equipment, ensuring the squadrons aboard are equipped with properly functioning gear.
Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Photos by USN Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eric Stanton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
IP Employees Scholarship Foundation Awards Four College Scholarships
August 1, 2022
The International Paper Pensacola Employees Scholarship Foundation has awarded four college scholarships.
The scholarships of $1,000 each were presented to:
- Tyler Daw, University of West Florida
- Emma Goldberg, University of West Florida
- Chase Horton, Florida State University
- Rachel Thomas, University of Central Florida
“We are proud to be able to award scholarships to these deserving young students. We wish them the very best in their educational journey,” said Laura Osborne, president of the I.P. Employees Scholarship Foundation.
Awarded annually to high school seniors, the scholarships were established more than 40 years ago. To be eligible, students must be a child of an active or retired employee of International Paper Pensacola Mill, be accepted by an institution of higher learning and submit an application with a qualifying ACT score.
Pictured: Scholarship winners (above) Tyler Daw, Emma Goldberg, (below) Chase Horton and Rachel Thomas. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
30,000 Pounds Of Food, School Supplies Distributed In Molino (With Photo Gallery)
July 31, 2022
Hundreds of local families received a back to school boost Saturday during an event at the Molino Community Center.
There were 473 families that received boxes of food as over 300 vehicles passed through the line. Volunteers also distributed 290 backpacks containing school supplies, 300 energy saving LED light bulbs, and 150 gift cards worth $10 each to Walmart.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The event was hosted by Rep. Michelle Salzman, Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry, Sheriff Chip Simmons, ECUA board member Kevin Stephens, Senator Marco Rubio, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Jubilee Church, Florida Power & Light, International Paper, State Farm and other community partners.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Christmas In July Toy Giveaway Held In Walnut Hill
July 31, 2022
A Christmas in July Toy Giveaway was held Saturday at the Walnut Hill Community Center.
Children ages 2-17 received early Christmas gifts during the toy giveaway sponsored by Youth and Family Community Outreach, Good 360, Toys for Tots, and Renovot.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
1943 L&N Railroad Coaling Tower On State Line Is Demolished (With Photo Gallery)
July 28, 2022
A bit of railroad history on the Alabama-Florida line is no more.
A former L&N Railroad coaling tower along the CSX tracks in Flomaton was demolished this week by CSX. The concrete tower was built in 1943 and was located on the eastern side of the railyard in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery of the Flomaton L&N coaling tower, click here.
Elevated coaling towers were large bunkers that stood above the tracks to load coal into steam locomotives.
NorthEscambia.com reached out to the CSX media team to find out why the tower was brought down, but we received no response.
Pictured: A 1943 L&N Railroad coaling tower on the Alabama-Florida line in Flomaton, Alabama, as seen July 16, 2022. The top photo shows the size of the structure as CSX engines pass underneath. The bottom photo shows electric wind turbines passing under the coal tower. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
