Toyz For Kidz Bike Ride Provides Christmas For Needy Kids
December 15, 2013
Santa had some very special helpers Saturday as the LA Bikers rolled through Bratt, Flomaton and Atmore making sure that nearly 60 needy kids had presents for Christmas this year.
It was the 13th annual toy ride organized by the LA Bikers.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Dozens of children received new bicycles and helmets, clothes, shoes and lots of toys. About 75 bikers took part in the event with stops at Bratt Elementary,the Flomaton Fire Department and Atmore City Hall.
Pictured: Children receive Christmas gifts Saturday morning in Atmore (top), Flomaton (below) and Bratt (bottom). Pictured inset: A parent thanks Santa Claus and the LA Bikers for providing Christmas presents. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Thousands Attend Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade
December 15, 2013
Thousands attended the annual Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade Saturday night. The parade featured over two dozen lighted floats, twirlers, antique cars, bands, marchers, Santa Claus and more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A lighted float in the annual Atmore Twilight Christmas Parade Saturday night. Pictured inset: Santa waves at parade goers. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders. Pictured: The theme for the parade was “Under the Sea. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Santa Trades Sleigh For Fire Truck To Visit McDavid Area Children
December 15, 2013
Santa Claus traded in his sleigh Saturday for a big red fire truck as he visited boys and girls across the McDavid Fire Department district. The Jolly Old Elf stopped at children’s homes, visiting with children and listening carefully to those last minute Christmas wishes.
The McDavid Volunteer Fire Department has provided the Santa escorts for over 20 years.
Reader submitted photos by Betty Hasty, Sara Knighten and Tammie Brown for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wreaths Across America Honors Veterans
December 15, 2013
More than 3,500 wreaths were placed on graves at Barrancas National Cemetery on NAS Pensacola on Saturday.
The wreaths were placed as part of the national event “Wreaths Across America”, a tradition that began 20 years ago at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington.
“Freedom is not free,” Rear Adminiral (Ret.) Donald P. Quinn, Commander, Naval Education and Technical Training, said. “Thanks for remembering those that made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as their families. This is important. ”
Pictured above and below: The Young Marines of Pensacola were among hundreds of volunteers that place more than 3,500 wreaths Saturday at Cemetery on NAS Pensacola. Pictured left inset: Beckie Nelson of Bratt pauses during the Wreaths Across America event. Photos by Karen Sztuckski for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Creative Gardening Gift Ideas
December 15, 2013
Still don’t have a Christmas present for your favorite gardener? Take heart, there is still plenty of time to find, or make, that perfect “green” gift.
Many gardeners don’t think of their landscapes as just plants in the ground. To the knowledgeable landscape designer, the landscape is a series of rooms; rooms that may require decoration.
Garden art can be anything from the whimsical garden gnomes, functional obelisks or metal sculptures.
Garden obelisks can serve many functions. In addition to providing interest during all four seasons, they can act as beautiful focal points in the garden. They can make your garden look as if it was designed by a professional.
In a flower garden, they provide support for plants such as climbing roses, flowering vines and many other climbers and twiners. In the edible garden, many types of fruits and vegetables, such as various types of beans, can be grown on obelisks.
Obelisks come in many different sizes and shapes. Common shapes include tall, rounded or oblong forms, rectangular forms, and pyramids. Most vining plants will take to any shape. Choose the shape that is pleasing to you and blends in with your garden design. Obelisks can be made from a variety of materials including cedar, copper and wrought iron.
Furthermore, if you are an avid recycler, there are plenty of materials just laying around that can be made into a functional obelisk with a minimum amount of skill and time. Take a look on the internet and you will find plenty of help in fashioning a home-made creation.
A “growing” trend is metal garden art. Metal garden art can be fun, playful or even classical. It can be used to create a focal point in the garden or to brighten up a dull spot. From small garden stakes, to colorful wall art, to sculptures small and large, the possibilities are endless. With so many materials to choose from and so many artists working in the field you will be sure to find at least one piece to add color and character to your yard.
Again, if you are an avid recycler, you will be able to find many pieces made from recycled metal. Recycled steel drums or tanks, discarded bicycle or tricycles, old car parts, these all provide the raw materials for the creative eco-artist.
Copper is widely used in metal garden art because it is beautiful, durable and adds elegance to any garden. If allowed to oxidize it will age gracefully to a natural weather worn green patina. It can also be preserved with a clear coating to maintain its bright, shiny look. Copper sculptures, wall art and garden stakes add a touch of class to any decor.
For a classic look add a bronze garden sculpture. Bronze sculptures have been around for thousands of years. They remain popular today because they are classic, timeless and will last for generations.
Whatever your taste, classic, contemporary or just playful, garden art will warm your heart even on the coldest winter day.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Supreme Court Cancels Hearing On Execution Drug
December 15, 2013
The Florida Supreme Court on Friday canceled oral arguments in a case challenging the state’s use of a new three-drug cocktail in executions. The court issued a terse, one-sentence order calling off a hearing scheduled for Wednesday on the issue. It wasn’t immediately clear what the ruling meant, though it did signal the court was likely to issue a decision based on written briefs.
Convicted murderer Askari Abdullah Muhammad, who was set to die Dec. 3, won a temporary reprieve from the justices last month. Muhammad’s attorneys have argued that William Frederick Happ, who was executed in October using the new drug mix, was conscious for an unusually long time while being put to death and moved his head — showing that Muhammad might experience pain while being executed if the new combination is used.
Happ was executed using a combination of chemicals including midazolam hydrochloride — instead of the previously used pentobarbital sodium — as part of the cocktail. The drug, the first of three injections, renders the inmate unconscious.
But Bradford County Circuit Judge Phyllis Rosier, tasked with holding a hearing on the drugs, ruled that there was no evidence that the use of midazolam hydrochloride would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Muhammad, 62, was slated to be executed for stabbing corrections Officer Richard James Burke to death with a sharpened spoon in October 1980, while Muhammad was already on Death Row. Muhammad, who was known at the time as Thomas Knight, was initially convicted of kidnapping and killing Sydney and Lillian Gans in 1974. He also escaped from the Dade County Jail while awaiting trial and was involved in a liquor store robbery in Cordele, Ga., where two clerks were shot, with one killed.
Birth: Trace Levi Lambeth
December 15, 2013
Jeremy and Kristin (Simmons) Lambeth are proud to announce the birth of their son, Trace Levi Lambeth, born October 17, 2013, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Trace Levi weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
Grandparents are Johnny and Monica Lambeth of Brewton, Kenny and Kathy White of Atmore, and the late Henny and Tracey Simmons of Jacksonville. Great grandparents are Ronnie and Nancy Darby, the late Katherine (Kat) and Henderson Simmons, the late Everett and Katherine Welch and the late Thomas and Mildred (Boutwell) Bethea.
Northview FFA Honored
December 14, 2013
The Town of Century issued a proclamation Friday honoring the numerous state and national accomplishments of the FFA program at Northview High School.
Northview’s FFA received the Three Star Chapter award — the highest awarded by the National FFA — on live national television during the National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, KY, in October.
The program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters from throughout the county that successfully complete an annual set of required activities that encourage members to grow individually, work as a team and serve others in their community.
In addition to the national honors presented Thursday, the Northview High FFA chapter was recently honored for having the top Fresh From Florida Food Advocacy Program, formerly known as the Food for America Program, in the entire state.
The Fresh From Florida Advocacy Program is an educational program focusing on agricultural literacy in elementary schools and communities. It is a program developed to assist FFA members and all agricultural education students in leadership skill development as they reach out to youth, peers and their entire communities by sharing the world of agriculture.
Planning began in the fall of 2012 with FFA members setting goals and establishing working committees for the spring 2013 event. Through the efforts of 100 FFA members and community support, approximately 1,000 mostly elementary level students participated in agriculture awareness through hands-on exhibits and activities.
In addition, members of the Northview High School FFA officer team visited several area elementary schools to read agriculture-related books to students.
The Florida FFA Organization has honored Northview High School FFA Food for America program at the state level multiple years.
Pictured top: Century council member Gary Riley (at podium) presents a Town of Century Proclamation on behalf of Mayor Freddie McCall to Northview Assistant Principal Gerry Pippins as the NHS FFA officer team looks on. Pictured inset: Pippins accepts the proclamation Friday morning from Riley. Pictured below: On behalf of the Northview FFA, President Courtney Solari (left) and Secretary Bethany Reynolds (middle) receive the Three Star Chapter award on live national television during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY, in October. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
All-Star Football: West Beats East
December 14, 2013
The West beat the East 28-18 Friday night in the 10th Annual Subway High School All-Star Football Game in Pace.
The West Team was comprised of the top seniors from Escambia County under the leadership of Pensacola High School coach Mike Bennett. The East Team included players from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Numerous North Escambia area seniors were on the West team, including Neino Robinson, Dalton Tullis, Brannon Freeman, Jeffrey Taylor and LaQuon Thomas from Northview; and Lavontia Samuel, Rashan Johnson, Luke Nunley and Dylan Mancuso from Tate; and Tate Upton, Ashton Dennington and Brandon Boutwell from Jay.
Two touchdowns and 117 yards from Tate’s Samuel earned him the title of West MVP. West Florida’s Joey Baker was 7 of 12 in the air for 117 yards, Catholic’s Cody Henry went 5 of 6 for 107 yards, and Northview Tullis was 6 for 10 for 51 yards.
Pictured top: Northview seniors on the winning Subway West All-Star Team Friday night were (L-R) LaQuon Thomas, Neino Robinson, Jeffrey Taylor, Brannon Freeman and Dalton Tullis. Photo by Jennifer Colbert for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DEP Grants To Help With Pensacola Bay Watershed, Other Projects
December 14, 2013
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is using $6 million in grant money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for water projects across the state.
The City of Pensacola will receive $200,000 for projects that improve stormwater treatment in the area of Gaberonne Swamp as well as expand citizen education about their personal impact on stormwater.
Other projects will be in the Wakulla Springs watersheds in northwest Florida, Lake Gwyn in Polk County, Lake Dora in Tavares, the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, the Tampa Bay watershed, and the Myakka River watershed, according to the DEP.
The grants help fund important projects that specifically address nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution comes from oil, pet waste, pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer, sediment and other contaminants that end up on the ground naturally or from human activity. Rainwater picks up these contaminants as it washes over yards, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, roads and fields and deposits them into our surface waters as nonpoint source pollution.