‘Hungry To Read’ Provides Books And Groceries At Century, Tryon And Main Libraries
July 22, 2021
Children and their families were able to receive a bag of groceries and a free book Wednesday at three libraries in Escambia County.
FoodRaising Friends, the Escambia County School District and West Florida Public Libraries hosted “Hungry to Read”.
The books and groceries were distributed to children and families at the Century, Tryon and Main libraries. The books were furnished by Navy Federal Credit Union
Pictured: A book and grocery distribution Wednesday morning at the Century Branch Library. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas In July: Santa Takes Part In Walnut Hill Toy Giveaway
July 18, 2021
Santa Claus made a special visit to Walnut Hill Saturday for a Christmas in July Toy Giveaway.
The event was held at a the Walnut Hill Community Center for children ages 2-17. Preregistered families received a selection of toys and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The toy giveaway was sponsored by Youth and Family Community Outreach, Good 360, Toys for Tots, and Renovot.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mission Outreach: Church Takes VBS To Century Park (With Gallery)
July 16, 2021
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in Bogia took their “Mystery Island’ Vacation Bible School on the road to a park in Century Thursday afternoon as missions outreach.
They invited neighborhood children to take part in music, Bible stories and more while at the Nadine McCaw Park on North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview NJROTC Cadets Clean Two Parks For Community Service Day
July 15, 2021
Wednesday was community service day at the Northview High School NJROTC NS1 camp. The cadets served the community by cleaning the Travis M. Nelson Park in Bratt and the Byrneville Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Just Peachy! Cantonment Couple Named Airbnb’s Most Hospitable Hosts In Florida
July 14, 2021
A Cantonment couple has been named the most hospitable Airbnb hosts in the entire state of Florida.
Kim and Richard Davis have two listings on Airbnb — Quiet Delight! and Just Peachy! A Vintage Airstream. They have over 300 combined reviews on their listings without ever getting less than a 5-star review in the hospitality and safety categories, according to Airbnb. There were only seven hosts in Florida that achieved this standard, but Kim and Richard received the number one ranking across the state with the most reviews.
“We are excited,” Kim Davis told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday afternoon as she walked around their quiet neighborhood near Tate High School. “We were pretty blown away when you consider all of the Airbnbs in the state. Our listings are not something like you think of when you think Florida with all the beaches.”
“Just Peachy! A Vintage Airstream” is a “cool and charming” retro 1973 Airstream Argosy. “Quiet Delight!” is a guest apartment on the same property, and it was their first Airbnb.
The apartment had been used by one of their parents who moved into a facility.
“Our son asked what we were going to do with the apartment, and he said we could do an Airbnb,” Kim said. “My response was an air what-n-what?”
Kim said she and husband Richard thought they would be lucky to book their listings 10 nights a year. Now, they are book most nights and enjoy working together as Airbnb hosts.
‘We are a team. He does the cleaning, and I do the setup. I work hard to make our guests feel like they are special and nobody has ever stayed there.”
She said in the warmer months, most of their guests are looking for a place to stay that does not make a big dent in their vacation budget. The rest of the year, they in town for family events, graduations, or simply traveling through the area looking for a place to stay.
Kim said there most memorable guest was in face their second ever.
“She was a lovely woman and her husband; they were Irish and stayed four nights,” she said. “I was a nervous wreck, afraid something would go wrong. There was an Irish apron in my kitchen, and that really broke the ice. She left the nicest review about the birds singing every morning and how she liked to walk in our nice, safe neighborhood.”
“Some people just want a place to stay. Some come as guests and leave as friends.”
Pictured above and first below: “Just Peachy! A Vintage Airstream”. Pictured bottom two photos: “Quiet Delight!”. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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Three Children Died In An Easter Morning 2001 Fire At Katie Mae Marshall’s Walnut Hill Home. Saturday, A New Park Was Dedicated In Her Honor.
July 11, 2021
Katie Mae Marshall loved the Lord, and she loved children.
She lived on North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill in a modest mobile home, always taking care of children that needed a place to stary on about $800 a month. She provided them love, and raised them by the Bible. Neighborhood children knew they were always welcome.
Always love, always laughter at Miss Katie Mae’s house on that dusty dirt road.
Until about 3 a.m. on Easter morning 2001.
A raging fire swept through that modest mobile home with 10 children inside. Nine-year old Laura Marshall, eight-year old Jason Richardson, and his three-year old brother Floyd Richardson did not survive.
Saturday, 20 years after that horrible fire, the ribbon was cut on a new Escambia County Park dedicated in her honor — the Katie Mae Marshall Memorial Park. Once again, Miss Katie Mae, who passed away a decade ago, is again bringing the laughter of children back to North Cypress Street.
“Neighborhood children knew they were always welcomed to Miss Marshall’s home. She had a compassion for children that cannot be explained. Without hesitation the community thought it would be befitting to name the park in her honor,” said Chandra Fountain, who helped bring the park to reality.
“Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others, and she treated people with love and respect no matter who you were,” Marshall’s son Jerry Russell told NorthEscambia.com in an email.
“She was well known in and outside of the community from a helping hand to simply a sweet inspiring conversation. It didn’t take much to make her happy — a phone call, a card, a visit, or a kiss before saying good night. She lived to make our lives better and was proud to do so,” Russell continued. “She raised a lot of kids and touched a lot of hearts … this memorial park will continue to carry on her love that she had for the community.”
The Katie Mae Marshall Memorial Park is located at 39 North Cypress Street in Walnut Hill, just north of Arthur Brown Road (click to map). Escambia County constructed the park on a small parcel of land owned by the county.
“It’s the first step. Over the next couple of years, we think we can continue adding,” Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry told a small crowd at Saturday morning’s ribbon cutting. “Your community was in need of one (a park), and we are glad to be able to put that on the ground.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Angels Pilots Give NorthEscambia.com Readers A Behind The Scenes Look At New Jets, New Fat Albert
July 9, 2021
The Blue Angels will celebrate their 75th anniversary at the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show Friday and Saturday in their new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, and the new “Fat Albert” C-130J Super Hercules.
NorthEsambia.com had a close look at the new planes and a chance to learn what makes the Pensacola show extra special and exciting for the pilots.
“Almost can’t describe it,” Blue Angels pilot Cdr. Brian Kesselring said. He’s the “boss” as flight leader and pilot of the Number 1 aircraft.
“To be able to come back and be able to link to both Santa Rosa and Escambia County, the greater Pensacola area is super special to us. This truly is our family back here in this small community,” Kesselring said. “To be able to come out here and go to the beach … for the local community is going to be something that is just super special for us this year.
For a photo gallery, click here.
During a dress rehearsal Thursday, the new Fat Albert did not fly. The public will have to wait until Saturday’s show to see the new C-130 take to the skies over Pensacola Beach. (It was scheduled to fly Friday but did not due to a minor mechanical issue.)
But we had close look at Fat Albert Thursday at NAS Pensacola.
Fat Albert pilot Capt. Rick Rose will open the show Saturday. Here’s how Rose describes flying Fat Albert for NorthEscambia.com readers:
Give us some background on bringing in the new C-130 last year.
“Awesome experience, we had to get pretty creative in acquiring this aircraft. We got it from the United Kingdom from the Royal Air Force. We picked it up last year — the team out there Marshall Air Space, the contracted company did a fantastic job getting this aircraft prepped and ready for us. It’s kind of like buying a used car. We did a test flight in it to make sure all the systems work appropriately as advertised. It worked flawlessly — got to fly it back through a couple fuel stops in Iceland as well as Maine and Ft Worth Texas where we did some final maintenance checks before we brought it back home where it belongs in Pensacola, Florida. It’s a new J Model super Hercules very exciting. Coupling that with the 75th anniversary, and the new super hornet. As a pilot flying this aircraft it’s pretty exciting and I’m pretty lucky.
What is this plane’s role in the show?
We are the main logistical support asset for the team so we haul all the maintenance pack up to include extra parts, tools, equip and most importantly the main. personnel that travel with us to ensure the jets are up for each show. It’s about a 49 person team that we can fit.
How many shows a year do you do?
We do around 30-35 show sites a year. Two to three airshows at each show site. Since we transitioned to the new super hornet, its little bit of a short air show schedule due to the fact to help us prepare for the transition rolling into it. We have a great support team that we gear up and ready to go.
Tell us about the hometown show
“Very exciting. It feels like a hometown to me. I have lived here for a while, went to flight school here so it really is like another hometown for me. I am from Northern California but Pensacola Florida will always be another hometown to me. Extremely exciting, especially having a year off last year, it’s a whole special feeling. Going back into especially flying over the water here at the beach. The people here are awesome. The community definitely deserves it and we are happy to help.”
How much maintenance do these planes require to consistently perform?
It does require a lot of maintenance. These planes are not brand-new, we are not given new jets off the assembly line. There is a lot of love and care you have to put into these jets to make them work right and well. It’s a no fail mission — the show must go on and we have a mission to do and there is a lot of pressure there to make it happen and they do an outstanding job.
Is there one part of the show that you are looking to the most?
I am a little bias — but Fat Albert for sure. It is awesome getting that plane back in the mix in front of people and being the Marine Corps representation on the team is a very special thing for me. I’m looking forward to the Fat Albert part and starting off the show and showing what this plane can do.
What is the most exhilarating move that you do?
The high performance climb to a pushover. It is a negative G pushover at the top. There is a few seconds there where you are weightless. That is the most fun because you are weightless for a few minutes in time. I look forward to it every time.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Blue Angels Thursday Practice
July 9, 2021
The Blue Angels took to the skies over Pensacola Beach Thursday for a practice show ahead of this weekend’s full Pensacola Beach Air Show.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a behind the scenes look with the pilots of the new jets and new Fat Albert, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Cox Recognizes Inspirational Student Heroes
July 8, 2021
Cox Communications honored a special group of Escambia and Okaloosa County students this past school year as Cox Inspirational Student Heroes. Combined, a record 85 students were celebrated for having overcome extreme hardships in their lives.
The students were chosen by a committee of leaders at their school, due to their resilience in the face of adversity. Whether they have overcome a loss of a family member, medical issue, difficult family situation or other hardship, they did so with a smile on their face and continued to encourage and inspire others around them.
“Recognizing these Cox Inspirational Student Heroes is always one of our favorite ways to give back to the community,” said David Deliman, market vice president for Cox Gulf Coast. “These students remind us that even as we face challenges in our lives, we still have an influence on those around us. They deserve to be celebrated and honored for being an inspiration to others. We salute all of this year’s heroes.”
In the mail, students received a personalized engraved medallion and certificates of honor from Cox, Florida State Senators Doug Broxson and George Gainer and state representatives Michelle Salzman, Alex Andrade, Jayer Williamson and Patt Maney.
This year’s award recipients in Escambia County were:
- AK Suter Elementary School – Lincoln Williams
- Bellview Elementary School – Madison “Madi” Garrick
- Beulah Academy of Science – McKenzie Fuqua
- Beulah Elementary School – Jayden Lewis
- Beulah Middle School – Lenita Floyd
- Blue Angels Elementary School – Kendyl Wynne
- Bratt Elementary School – Kendal Ard
- Brentwood Elementary School – Casin Wooten
- Brown Barge Middle School – Riley Valdez
- Byrneville Elementary School – Jordan Mullally
- CA Weis Elementary School – Maverick Knapp
- Cordova Park Elementary School – Ryan Tjung
- Ensley Elementary School – Scarlet Funez
- Ernest Ward Middle School – Ja’mya Thomas
- Escambia High School – Jason Sauceda
- Ferry Pass Elementary School – Breanna Rice
- Ferry Pass Middle School – Zy’mirrea Norris
- Global Learning Academy – Andrea Webster
- Hellen Caro Elementary School – Gracelyn “Gracie” Eubanks
- Holm Elementary School – Javarious Toler
- Jim Allen Elementary School – Akeem Dobbins
- Jim Bailey Middle School – Hannah Villarreal
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Aiden Griffin
- Laurel Hill School – Hayden Fryday
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Zavion Dennis-Thomas
- Lipscomb Elementary School – Ja’liah Spurlock
- Longleaf Elementary School – Brianna Smith
- McArthur Elementary School – Joshua “Josh” Johanson
- Molino Park Elementary – Randy Jackson
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Shamlia Bentham
- N.B. Cook Elementary School – Emma Rathburn
- Navy Point Elementary School – Braeden Francis
- Northview High School – Payton Gilchrist
- Oakcrest Elementary School – Faheem Maddox
- OJ Semmes Elementary School – Cory Tepole
- PACE Center for Girls – Breiana Hendley
- Pensacola High School – Noah Anderson
- Pine Forest High School – Emilio Gonzalez
- Pine Meadow Elementary School – Raylan Rice
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Tyrus Richardson
- Ransom Middle School – Noah Jacobs
- Sherwood Elementary School – Nya Jackson
- Success Academy – Sanclaria Dumas
- Warrington Elementary School – Janiah Rolle
- Warrington Middle School – Lilly Moore
- Washington High School – Yasmin English
- West Florida High School – Kyla Bradford
- West Pensacola Elementary School – Jeremiah Slocum
- Workman Middle School – Antawn Wanliss
The Cox Inspirational Student Hero Awards program began 28 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. The program has spread to other Cox markets in the Southeast Region. To date, Cox has recognized over 4,500 students from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Gainesville, Florida.
Pictured: Some of the Cox Inspirational Student Heroes from North Escambia.com. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders Hold Lil Aggie Summer Cheer Camp (With Photo Gallery)
July 6, 2021
The Tate High School Aggie cheerleaders held their Lil Aggie Summer Cheer Camp over three days last week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
