Ernest Ward To Hold Orientation, Registration Event
February 6, 2013
Ernest Ward Middle School will hold an orientation and registration for all students who plan to attend EWMS next school year. The event will be held Thursday, February 21 from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. in the school gym.
Invitations have already been sent home with sixth and seventh grade EWMS students, along with students from Byrneville, Bratt and Molino Park elementary schools.
The invitation includes a free meal catered by Archie’s Catering Smokehouse for the immediate family of each student who returns the completed form to their homeroom teacher, guidance counselor or the school office by Tuesday, February 12.
During the program, EWMS and staff will be available to answer questions and explain middle school programs, extracurricular activities, and middle school academies. Parents are encouraged to attend the event to complete their child’s registration process for the next school year.
Century’s ‘Illegal’ Nativity Scene Named Community Pride Award Winner
February 6, 2013
Those behind displaying a nativity scene that once belonged to the Town of Century until it came under attack by an atheist group’s attorney as being illegal, are the February recipients of the Century Chamber of Commerce’s Community Pride Award.
The nativity scene was displayed in December on property across Highway 29 from the Century Town Hall. The town declared the nativity scene as surplus property to be sold to the highest bidder after an attorney for the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation sent letters to the town claiming that a nativity scene on public property is illegal.
The nativity display was purchased by the Faith Bible Baptist Church. It was erected and lit by church volunteers in front of an abandoned building directly across Highway 29 from the Century Town Hall. The use of the property was donated by owner Don Grant of Century Marine. Electricity for the display was donated by the neighboring Abundant Life Assembly of God, while Tabernacle Baptist Church donated the wiring necessary to light the display.
The three churches and Century Marine will receive the Community Pride Award for their efforts. The award is set to be presented on Thursday.
For more about the nativity scene and the atheist group’s claims, click here for December NorthEscambia.com story.
Pictured top and below: The Town of Century’s nativity scene was sold as surplus property to a local church and put on display in December across the street from town hall. Pictured inset; The Century Town Hall (with Christmas lights) is just across Highway 29 from the nativity scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, Jay Advance In District Basketball Tourney
February 6, 2013
Northview and Jay both advanced in the District 2-1A basketball tournament at Jay Tuesday.
The No. 3 seed Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 61-43, and the No. 4 seed Jay beat the Baker Gators 53-47 in overtime.
Northview will take on No. 2 Bonifay Friday at 6 p.m., and Jay will face No. 1 Chipley at 7:30 p.m. Friday night’s winners will advance to the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday in Jay.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Reader Photos: DirecTV Blimp Passes Over North Escambia
February 6, 2013
The DirecTV blimp was spotted over North Escambia Tuesday. These photos from readers Ben and Rachel Gilmore show the blimp over Molino, as seen from Rolling Oaks Drive and Schaag Road. Submitted photos for Northescambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Man Passes Away After Wreck
February 5, 2013
A Jay man passed away Monday afternoon from injuries he received in a Monday night wreck.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 40-year old David Willis Bell of Jay was traveling north on Hazel Godwin Road north of County Road 184 in the Brownsdale community about 9:45 p.m. when he lost control. Bell’s 2008 Dodge truck struck several trees, ejecting him onto the roadway.
Bell was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola were he was pronounced deceased at 12:49 Tuesday afternoon.
Bell’s passenger, 22-year old Cheyanne Coty Bishop of Milton, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries.
The crash is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit.
Four Tate Students Receive Minor Injuries When School Bus Rear-Ended
February 5, 2013
Four Tate High School students were injured when their school bus was rear-ended by a SUV driver this morning.
The accident occurred about 8 a.m. on Guidy Lane. The Florida Highway Patrol said the school bus, driven by 50-year old Therese Bridget Drexler of Pensacola, was traveling north on Guidy Lane when it stopped to pick up passengers.
The driver of a Ford Expedition, 32-year old Michael Wayne Jernigan, failed to stop his Ford Expedition and rear-ended the bus as it began to pull foward, the FHP said. He was cited with failure to use due care and failure to display a driver’s license.
Of the 32 passengers on the school bus, four were transported with minor injuries to Sacred Heart and Baptist hospitals.
Trooper’s Patrol Car Rear-Ended
February 5, 2013
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper is recovering after his cruiser was rear-ended this morning on an interstate on ramp.
The FHP said trooper Charles L. Mitchell, 56, was property parked on the I-110 ramp to I-10 in the paved median with his emergency lights activated on his unmarked patrol car as he completed a crash report from a previous accident. A 2008 Dodge driven by 33-year old Faith A. Williams left roadway and rear-ended the trooper.
Both drivers received minor injuries.
Williams was charged with failure to use due care.
Mayor: Recent Copper Thefts Costing Century ‘Megabucks’
February 5, 2013
Recent copper thefts are hitting the Town of Century hard — to the tune of an estimated $30,000 in insurance deductibles.
During recent days, copper thieves hit all eight commercial air conditioning units outside the former town owned Van Nevel Helicopters building on Industrial Boulevard, and 10 of 14 units at the town’s Habitat Building on Pond Street.
According to Mayor Freddie McCall, the town’s insurance deductible is $5,000 per building. While the complex on Pond Street is commonly referred to a the “Habitat Building”, it is actually five different buildings that comprised the old Carver Middle School.
“It’s sad for this world to be in this shape it is in,” McCall said of the thefts. “They didn’t get $200 worth of copper on the market….it’s going to cost us megabucks.”
Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician dusts a broken window for fingerprints at the former Van Nevel Helicopters building in Century. Pictured inset: The crime scene tech photographs damage to an air conditioning unit. Pictured below: The vacant town owned building was burglarized and copper was stripped from outside air conditioning units. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dadrien Washington Spells Her Way To Third In Annual Spelling Bee
February 5, 2013
Dadrien Washington was a third place winner in the Sandy Sansing 37th Annual Spelling Bee Monday in Pensacola. Washington competed against fifth grade students from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Washington attends Longleaf Elementary School and is a former student at Byrneville Elementary. She is the granddaughter of Sandra McMurray Jackson of Century, and David and Kim Washington of Molino.
First place was earned by Thomas Colangelo of West Navarre Intermediate School, and second went to Morgan Kelley of Redeemer Lutheran School.
Pictured: Sandy Sansing presents a check to Dadrien Washington along with Escambia County Superintendent Malcolm Thomas (left) and Santa Rosa Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick (far right). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Releases Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
February 5, 2013
The following students were named to the second nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
All A’s and B’s
Rabekah Abbott
Raegan Abbott
Anna Adams
Erich Amerson
Maggie Amerson
Sara Amerson
Sarah Bailey
John Bashore
Brody Black
Olivia Boatwright
Malachi Bolen
Sarah Branch
Luke Bridges
Aiden Broadhead
Keaton Brown
Abbie Buford
Paris Burt
Conner Byrne
Emilee Cabral
Kadence Calvert
Shelby Cotita
Sophie Cotita
Cassie Davis
Savannah Doremus
Carsyn Dortch
Kaden Dove
Ryan Dove
Mayson Edwards
Ahmad Elliott
Scotty Elliott
Alexis Evans
Jason Fayard
Jamyla Feagin
Zykuria Fountain
Amanda Franklin
Gabby Franklin
Makayla Garrett
Caitlyn Gibson
David Gilley
Amber Gilman
J.P.Gilman
Emma Gilmore
Maggie Godwin
Ava Gurganus
Zane Gurganus
Berklee Hall
Bryce Hall
Tucker Hall
Ashlan Harigel
Kara Hawkins
Leah Hetrick
Sarah Margaret Hetrick
Hannah Hughes
Jacob Hughes
April Johnson
Hunter Johnson
Ally Jones
Anna King
Gage Lambert
Kennedy Long
Bailie Merchant
Landon Mooney
Jaquez Moorer
Colby Morris
Mary Paige Nassar
Madison Peterson
Libby Pugh
Angel Schoonover
Carter Sigafoose
Mckenna Simmons
Mia Starns
Aubrey Stuckey
Bailey Van Pelt
Bentley Van Pelt
Addie White
Autumn Williams
Clay Wilson
Kendall Wise
Connor Wolfe
All A’s and B’s
Sophia Bailey
Ryleigh Barnes
Zoe Bergfield
Leah Berry
Riley Blackwell
Kyle Blanton
Tanner Boone
Cassidy Boutlwell
Allie Brantley
Lexi Broadhead
Juliana Bryan
Gracie Buckhault
Macie Buford
Terasia Burt
Anyis cabral
Kayla Campbell
Cadynce Chason
Landon Chavers
Ashton Cloud
Cameron Cloud
Tyler Cloud
Karlee Criswell
Miyhanna Davidson
Franki Daw
Andrew Denton
Irmani Dixon
Shakyria Dixon
Colton Dockens
Tyteanna Dubose
JT Dunson
Cody Edwards
Jackson Edwards
Gage Eicher
Cameron Findley
Jacob Findley
Neionni Findley
Tatyanna Findley
Daelyn Fine
Breyden Freeman
Jonathan Gibbs
Paige Gibbs
Jakob Gibson
Olivia Gibson
Raleigh Gibson
Gracie Godwin
Shelby Godwin
Ah’zavion Gregory
Tony Hall
Shane Hardin
Kohle Harigel
Summer Harrell
Tatum Hasting
Joshlynn Helton
Gabe Henderson
Kerry Hicks
Ji’Keir Hudson
Alaysha Huff
Trent Knighten
Anna Lee
Sarah Long
Houston Lowry
Blake Macks
Tobias Madison
Ansleigh Maholovich
Reid McCall
Braeden McGhee
Megan McGhee
Angel Merchant
Michael Merchant
Abigail Nelson
Travis Nelson
Jaylon North
Audrey Odom
Taviana Parker
Blaize Parrish
Adam Peterson
Caden Peterson
Dennis Pittman
Matthew Pruitt
Dallon Rackard
Kinzie Rackard
Kenna Redmond
Teriana Redmond
Shelby Rice
Torian Richardson
Savannah Roley
Paige Ross
Bryson Sanders
Nicholi Sanderson
Kasen Sawyer
Travis Scott
Adrianne Shanks
Arquavian Smith
Mandell Smith
Vivyan Smith
Anna Spence
Jacob Spence
Savannah Spence
Alyssa Stabler
Jaimee Taylor
Cody Thomas
So’lae Trotter
Summer Waters
Raycer Watson
Da’Mius Wesley
Kiara Wesley
T’ahna Wesley
Cassidy White
Benjamin Wilson
Lane Wilson
Wyatt Windham
Ty Wise