Libby Pugh, Andrea Moorer Named EREC Scholarship Winners
April 25, 2021
Saturday, Escambia River Electric Cooperative awarded two $4,000 scholarships to local high school seniors.
The Escambia County winner was Libby Pugh from Northview High School (pictured left), and the Santa Rosa County winner was Andrea Moorer from Central High School. The Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Award is offered to graduating seniors with a parent or guardian that is a member of the cooperative..
In the past, capital credits issued by EREC that were unclaimed had to be turned over to the state. But state legislation now allows such funds to be deposited into a qualified, educational charity fund. The EREC membership voted to use these funds in the form of scholarships.
Both students will receive $1,000 for each of four years provided they continue to meet the scholarship criteria.
Pictured above: EREC scholarship winners Libby Pugh (left) from Northview High School and Andrea Moorer from Central High School. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia 4-H Meat Judging Teams Place First, Second In Florida; Tate FFA Places Fourth
April 24, 2021
One Escambia County 4-H meat judging team has won a state championship, and another has place second.
The intermediate (ages 11-13) 4-H meat judging team placed first at the state 4-H meat judging contest at the University Of Florida in Gainesville. The team included A.T. Bridgers, Laney Clarke, Tucker Padgett and Hunter Taylor.
The senior (ages 14+) 4-H meat judging team placed second in their division with members Alan B., Gracie Meredith and Lilly Warne. J
Tate High School’s FFA also competed at their meat judging career development event and they placed fourth in the FFA competition.
Last year, both the intermediate and senior Escambia County 4-H meat judging teams place first at the virtual state competition.
Participants identified 40 retail cuts and placed six retail, primal, carcass classes. The 4-H meat judging program develops life skills through activities related to the processing of beef, pork, and lamb, including retail identification, factors relating to meat quality and cooking methods. Participants developed an understanding and appreciation of the basic scientific principles involved in eating and cooking quality, nutritional value and consumer appeal of meat. 4-H members on the team also learned life skills such as effective decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting and teamwork.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Krul Lake Repairs Expected To Be Finished In About Two Weeks
April 20, 2021
Repair work on Krul Lake in the Blackwater State Forest is expected to be completed soon.
The 6.5 acre lake was drained for maintenance.
“We’re looking at two weeks to finish the repairs at Krul according to contractors,” Joe Zwierzchowski, spokesman for the Florida Forest Service, told NorthEscambia.com.
Krul Lake is filled from springs located on the north end of the lake and is popular summer swimming area. The Krul Recreation area, located about a half mile east of Munson, also features restrooms and showers, hiking trails, a gristmill, a suspension bridge over Sweetwater Creek, and a picnic area.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
K-9 Cairo Retires From Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
April 16, 2021
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Cairo retired Thursday after six years on the job.
“This is a ruff letter to write, but I must inform you of my decision to retire,” Cairo “wrote” in his retirement letter to Sheriff Chip Simmons. “Every dog has its day, and today is mine.” You can read the full retirement letter in the photos below.
Cairo’s day started at his daily muster where he was showered with retirement gifts. His day ended with a special pet-friendly treat from Simmons.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cuteness Overload Alert: Goat Gives Birth To Triplets At Beulah Middle School
April 15, 2021
Three new “kids” joined the Beulah Middle School family Tuesday afternoon as a goat in the school’s agriscience program gave birth to triplets.
Beulah Middle agriscience teacher Leanne Jenkins tells the story, in her own words:
Y’allllllllllllll…..
My cheeks hurt so bad and my heart feels like it’s going to explode! Today we experienced the most amazing births at Beulah Middle School! I’m in tears typing this announcement to you.
We thought we had a day or two before the arrival, but we moved Mama to her “birthing suite” to get her comfortable with the area. She was there most of the day and was crying to go back to the field with her buddies.
At the beginning of the last period, I had a student go on the back porch to get a duckling. He casually walked into the classroom with the duckling and said, “That goat out there is having a baby.” I told him she’s not having her baby yet, that she had a day or two before arrival. He then said, “oh, I could have swore I saw something coming out of her bottom.”
I went running, and sure enough, there was a hoof coming out of sweet mama!!
About 40 minutes later, with 60 students and staff members quietly watching, we have healthy, thriving, triplets!!!
It was beautiful and amazing and we are all on cloud nine.
Welcome to the world sweet babies ❤️. Brace yourselves for the hundreds of students that are thrilled to have you join our farm ❤️.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
West Florida Library Patrons Can Now Browse The Shelves At All Branches
April 15, 2021
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, patrons can now browse the shelves at West Florida Public Libraries.
Online order pickup is still available. Requests for library materials placed prior to arrival will be retrieved and ready for pickup at your vehicle. Designated online order pickup spaces will be marked. Drive-thru services are closed.
West Florida Public Libraries also increased eBook, eAudiobook and eMagazine titles for electronic access during COVID-19.
Pictured: The Century Branch Library. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
April 14, 2021
Ransom Middle School has named students of the month for March. They are Bryce Joachimi and Terra Sprung. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECSD Names School Library Principal Advocate And Librarian Of The Year
April 13, 2021
The Escambia County School District has announced this year’s School Library Principal Advocate of the Year and School Librarian of the Year.
The ECSD School Library Principal Advocate of the Year is Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry. The ECSD School Library Principal Advocate of the Year is Lincoln Park Elementary School Media Specialist Laura Hobbs. They both received a plaque to display in their office or their school’s library.
Nancy Gindl-Perry
“Principals such as Mrs. Perry are important to the success of libraries because they control the factors that determine the quality of the school library program,” EWMS librarian Sherri Stallworth said in her nomination submission.
“As we know, effective library programs require budgeting, support, and promotion. For example, it takes money to staff and build a current and adequate collection size. Mrs. Perry continues to consider the needs of her library every year as she generously appropriates funds to provide qualified staff and grow the size of our collection. Last summer, Mrs. Perry participated in a major overhaul of my library. She physically worked with a team including the assistant principal, two teachers, a paraprofessional, and myself to revamp the library. We worked together for two weeks to weed books, rearrange bookcases, and genrefy books,” Stallworth aid. (Genrefy books is to organize them by genre, or subject, to help students find interesting books.)
Perry allowed over $4,500 in district and Title I funds to purchase new library books, and she found a way for students to visit the library during the pandemic.
“Mrs. Perry graciously approved a schedule that allowed teachers of elective courses to work within Covid guidelines to bring their students to the library twice a month. Finally, Mrs. Perry provided student assistants to aid in the duties that are required to keep the library accessible throughout the day,” Stallworth said.
Laura Hobbs
“My focus has always been to create lifelong readers. I believe children should develop as readers for both information and pleasure. In developing our curriculum, I target Library Media standards in five areas under a general theme: Library Skills, Literature, Digital Citizenship, Research and Makerspaces. As the year progresses, students develop literacy skills, face literacy challenges, and earn rewards,” Hobbs said.
“I’ve worked to transform Lincoln Park Elementary School’s library from a book and technology poor site to a well-stocked library with an updated collection and accessible technology. We currently have twelve desktops, a self-check-in station and two catalog search stations. Through grants, we obtained nine iPads, green screen technology for projects and our morning news program, extra seating, hundreds of books by level or topics, as well as Makerspace materials like Ozobot coding robots, engineering kits, and more. Materials that didn’t support our curriculum were weeded and replaced with more appropriate books. Our collection increased and is more relevant to our population’s needs, and the physical library is more usable and modern. To promote at-home literacy, I host an annual book fair, and normally maintain a “free books” shelf. This year the book fair was digital, and MyOn was promoted for at-home reading. I also coordinated a book giveaway for students through the Studer Group,” she continued.
Pictured top: School Library Principal Advocate of the Year Award winner Nancy Gindl-Perry (left), principal of Ernest Ward Middle School with EWMS librarian Sherri Stallworth. Pictured below: School Librarian of the Year Award winner, Laura Hobbs (left), and Lincoln Park Elementary School’s Principal Cassandra Smith.
Spring Livestock Show Winners Announced (With Photo Galleries)
April 5, 2021
Recently, 4-H and FFA youth competed at the Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization’s spring livestock show and auction at the 4-H property in Molino.
Youth exhibited chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, sheep, goats and cows. In addition to showing their animals in the show ring, youth were quizzed on their knowledge of their projects.
In the show ring youth could compete in two classes — one focused on the youth which is known as showmanship, and the other focused on the animal in either a breed or weight class. Over the past few months, and even years, the youth have poured countless hours into working and preparing their animals.
For a gallery of photos by Madison Fendley, click here.
For a gallery of reader submitted photos, click here.
Results were as follows:
Beef Breeding Supreme Champion- Leah Rutherford
- Beef Breeding Reserve Champion- Tucker Padgett
Grand Champion Preview Steer- Allen Thomas Bridgers
- Reserve Champion Preview Steer- Leah Rutherford
Grand Champion Market Steer- Jessica Conti
- Reserve Champion Market Steer- Ally Oliver
Grand Champion Dairy Cow- Tucker Padgett
- Reserve Champion Dairy Cow- Maliya Porter
Grand Champion Market Swine- Ella Gilmore
- Reserve Champion Market Swine- Josh Nichols
Grand Champion Market Meat Goat- Maliya Porter
Grand Champion Breeding Meat Goat- Andrew Fendley
- Reserve Champion Breeding Meat Goat- Maliya Porter
Grand Champion Dairy Goat- Andrew Fendley
- Reserve Champion Dairy Goat- Maliya Porter
Grand Champion Market Lam- Maliya Porter
Grand Champion Breeding Lamb- Austin Manning
Open Poultry Grand Champion Bird- Skylah Miles
- Open Poultry Reserve Champion Bird- Jessica Conti
Chick Chain Grand Champion Pen- Cade Weaver
- Chick Chain Reserve Champion Pen- Brooke Hoomes
Chick Chain Grand Champion Bird- Brooke Hoomes
- Chick Chain Reserve Champion Bird- Madison Behrends
Grand Champion Rabbit- Emerson Walters
- Reserve Champion Rabbit- Maliya Porter
————
Beef Breeding Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Malarie Cooper
- Sydney Gilmore
- Ella Gilmore
Intermediates
- Tucker Padgett
- Allen Bridgers
Seniors
- Haylie Nelson
- Leah Rutherford
- James McElhaney
Preview Steer Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Sydney Gilmore
- Ella Gilmore
Intermediates
- Tucker Padgett
- A.T. Bridgers
- Brooke Hoomes
Seniors
- Leah Rutherford
- James McElhaney
- Jessica Conti
Dairy Cow Showmanship Winners
Intermediates
- Tucker Padgett
Seniors
- Maliya Porter
Market Steer Showmanship Winners
Intermediates
- John Parker Miller
Seniors
- Laura Alexander
- Jessica Conti
- Lane Booker
Market Swine Showmanship Winners
Intermediates
- John Parker Miller
Seniors
- Laura Alexander
- Jessica Conti
- Lane Booker
Market Swine Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Ella Gilmore
- Sydney Gilmore
- Malarie Cooper
Intermediates
- A.T. Bridgers
- Tucker Padgett
- John Parker Miller
Seniors
- Jessica Conti
- Hannah Thorne
- Madison Behrends
Dairy Goat Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Riley Gibbs
Seniors
- Andrew Fendley
- Maliya Porter
Meat Goat Breeding Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Riley Gibbs
Seniors
- Andrew Fendley
- Maliya Porter
Sheep Breeding Showmanship Winners
Seniors
- Maliya Porter
- Austin Manning
Open Poultry Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Elizabeth Penullar
Intermediates
- Skylah Miles
- Phoenix Myrick
- Abby Vernier
Seniors
- Jessica Conti
- Maliya Porter
Chick Chain Poultry Showmanship Winners
Juniors
- Cade Weaver
Intermediates
- Brooke Hoomes
- Kennedy Ard
- Tucker Padgett
Seniors
- Amber Gilman
- Jamie Gruenwald
- Jessica Conti
Rabbit Showmanship Winners
Intermediates
- Tucker Padgett
- Ryan Clarke
- Laney Clarke
Seniors
- Maliya Porter
- Emerson Walters
Photos by Madison Fendley and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
April 1, 2021
Ransom Middle School named Kaytlin Robertson and David Jackson as February students of the month. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.




























