Molino Park Elementary Wins $1,500 In Wellness Challenge; Ransom Middle And Northview High Place Too
March 29, 2021
Molino Park Elementary School claimed the top spot in the Escambia County School District’s Choose Wellness Challenge, and North Escambia schools were also tops in the middle and high school categories.
The challenge was to see which school or major department could achieve the highest level of participation in the challenge by the end of the school year. Participants completed steps to promote health and wellness, potentially reducing the district’s health care and lost work time costs.
At a 68.5% participating level, Molino Park Elementary was the overall winner. Molino Park also won this year’s “Most Improved” award with an increase of 13.3% over last year’s participation. The school received $1,500 in prize money.
Awards of $250 were also presented to the schools and departments with the highest percentage of participation
The highest percentage participation award at the middle school level went to Ransom Middle School at 55.1%, and the highest percentage participation award at the high school/secondary level went to Northview High School at 53.2%. The highest percentage participation at the major department award sent to the McDaniels Administration Center at 66.4%.
The awards are paid from wellness dollars, not taxpayer funds, according to the school district.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Oh Those Glorious Southern Azaleas Put On A Show
March 28, 2021
Azaleas are in full bloom across North Escambia with many bushes absolutely solid in beautiful color.
We took our cameras and found a group of heritage azalea bushes believed to be over 50 years old.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Helping Hand: Food Giveaway Held Saturday In Century
March 28, 2021
Northwest Florida Community Outreach held a food distribution Saturday in Century. The drive-thru event was held at the Century Business Center on Pond Street. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Rotary Donates 1,500 Books To Tate High School Students
March 26, 2021
The Cantonment Rotary Club, in partnership with Dickerson Literacy Initiatives, donated over 1,500 hardback books from Gregory Zuckerman’s Rising Above series students at Tate High School
The series includes motivational stories from some of today’s most successful athletes including Simone Biles, Venus and Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Tim Howard and others.
“Their powerful stories were captured to inspire students to work hard to overcome any obstacles life throws at them and to ‘rise above’ those challenges to be successful adults. Each of our 9th and 10th grade students will receive a free copy of the book and have an opportunity to view a presentation by the author in which he discusses his relationship with these athletes and what motivated him to write the series,” said Tate High School innovation specialist Stefany Tompkins.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Publisher Named One Of Escambia County’s Most Influential People
March 25, 2021
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2021 Inweekly Power List — their ranking of the most powerful and influential people in Escambia County.
Only one person that works primarily in the North Escambia area was named to the list — NorthEscambia.com publisher William Reynolds for the ninth year.
Topping this year’s list was Sue Straughn from our news partners WEAR-TV.
To view this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Kingsfield Elementary Teachers Get Pied In The Face For Relay For Life (With Photo Gallery)
March 22, 2021
Kingsfield Elementary School students recently had a chance to pie their teachers in the face.
It was all part of an annual fundraiser for Relay for Life, and they collected $1,101.37, twice as much as last year.
“We took nominations for teachers who wanted to be pied. Throughout the week students brought in money to add to the jars for the teacher they wanted pied,” said Kenli Rowe, a fundraising project coordinator and proud recipient of a pie plate full of whipped cream.
“We had daily totals and at the end of the event the top 5 teachers would be pied. But. in reality, most of the teachers who had volunteered took a seat and got pied anyway! This has been an annual event for Relay each year since the school opened and the kids, and the teachers, look forward to it,” Rowe said.
The top five classes were
- Hope Tourney, first grade, $202.77, Kenli Rowe, fourth grade $202.77 (tie)
- Whitney Hager, fourth grade, $121.82
- Melissa Venable, kindergarten, $110.43
- Stephanie Harris, kindergarten, $100.77
- Ashley Raia, third grade, $63.59
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino 4-H Member Falls In Love With An Animal. And A Way Of Life.
March 21, 2021
submitted by Scott Angle, UF/IFAS
An 1,100-pound heifer can be a little intimidating even if you’re not a 60-pound fourth-grader. Fear was no match for Tucker Padgett’s fascination, though, when the middle-schooler tending to the animal invited her to jump into the pen to help.
Tucker was at a Santa Rosa County Fair 4-H prep meeting with her goats. UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County 4-H agent Aly Schortinghouse had a hunch that Tucker would find interest in cows, so she had arranged for Tucker’s visit to the pen.
It went way beyond interest. Tucker, who’s now a seventh-grader who lives in Molino, says she fell in love that day, with an animal and a way of life. The Black Angus named Blake Shelton kissed her. Tucker reciprocated with a fistful of Jolly Ranchers. That night she went home and told her parents she wanted a calf.
The next test was faith. Tucker sold 40 goats and many of her chicks to raise the money to buy a calf from Barnes Feed Store. For a 10-year-old, that’s betting the farm.
She named the heifer Baby and worked for months to grow her. She brushed, cleaned, halter-trained and arranged for veterinary checkups. Tucker and Baby went to 14 competitions in Florida and Alabama—county fairs and jackpot shows. Baby herself turned out to be a jackpot, as she and Tucker earned nearly $5,000 in premiums
Tucker is now a 13-year-old with eight cows and intends to breed them to grow the herd. While she’s still fond of Baby, she’s not sentimental. Baby’s not a pet, she’s a producer. Tucker is learning about artificial insemination, selecting the bulls to breed her heifers, and arranging for professional techs to impregnate the animals.
The growing herd got the attention of neighbors who moved into Tucker’s neighborhood in Molino a year ago. Hunter, 14, started asking questions and developing an interest in beef cattle. His sister Morgan, 12, wants to know more about dairy cows.
Hunter and Morgan haven’t committed to an animal yet, but they’re learning from a young master, showing up at the barn at 6 p.m. every night where Tucker is teaching them to wash, brush, treat for hair growth, clip, tie and walk the animals.
Tucker is a member of the JFCA and the Northwest Florida Cattlemen’s Association. She has addressed meetings of both associations to share her story.
It’s a classic UF/IFAS Extension 4-H story. It’s how a 4-H agent put opportunity in front of a kid, changed her life, and set her on a course to become a leader. The early signs are there in the hours Tucker now spends daily not only tending to her animals but extending that opportunity to others of her generation.
Pictured top: Tucker Padgett with J. Scott Angle, the University of Florida’s vice president for agriculture and natural resources, during the UF/IFAS leader’s visit to the area in December 2020. Pictured inset: Tucker Padgett with her calf, Baby. The pair has gone to 14 competitions in Florida and Alabama, earning nearly $5,000 in premiums. Photos UF?IFAS for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
Escambia County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit Earns Awards
March 20, 2021
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit competed with multiple agencies during the K-9 Trials held by the Pensacola Police Department this week. Friday, they were presented with the following awards:
2020 Cases in Quarter Award:
- Deputy Matt Beaty and K-9 Maddox
- Deputy Corey Smith and K-9 Cairo
- Deputy Casey Bowling and K-9 Nero
- Deputy Larry Richardson and K-9 Eso
- Deputy Thomas Bortner and K-9 Zeek
- Deputy Matt Howell and K-9 Tebow
4th in Overall (Patrol Dog):
- Deputy James Freeman and K-9 Shane
5th Overall (Patrol Dog):
- Deputy Wayne Gulsby and K-9 Enzo
13th in Overall (Patrol Dog):
- Deputy Matthew Housam and K-9 Axel
17th in Overall (Patrol Dog):
- Deputy Corey Smith and K-9 Cairo
4th in Agility:
- Deputy James Freeman and K-9 Shane
3rd in Two-Man Narcotics:
- Deputy James Freeman and K-9 Shane
- Deputy Matthew Housam and K-9 Axel
4th in Narcotics Indoor Detection:
- Deputy Larry Richardson and K-9 Eso
4th in Two-Man Narcotics Detection:
- Deputy Larry Richardson and K-9 Eso
- Deputy Matt Beaty and K-9 Maddox
Two-Man Intra-department:
- Deputy Thomas Bortner and K-9 Zeek
- Deputy T. White (Gulf Breeze Police Department)
Top Dual Dog:
- Deputy Matthew Housam and K-9 Axel
Celebrating The Incredible Kids Of Camp Fire Century (And A Big Birthday)
March 20, 2021
The children a the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center recently celebrated Camp Fire’s 111th Birthday and Absolutely Incredible Kids Day.
Parents and staff wrote a letter to each child telling them how they are an absolutely incredible kid. They also celebrated with ice cream, ice cream sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High School Names Students Of The Month
March 18, 2021
Northview High School has named their February Students of the Month. They are Briar Weaver (pictured left) and Kinzey Powell (pictured right). Also pictured is Northview Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.