Mayor Gives Key To The Town Of Century To God At Prayer Service For Town
May 4, 2008
Over 100 Century residents came gathered Saturday morning to pray as the mayor turned the key to the town over to God.
“It is time to take the key away from man and give it to the King of Righteousness,” event organizer Laura Nelson told the crowd gathered at Carver/Century K-8 School.
Mayor Freddie McCall stood before the crown with a key to the town, which he presented to the Lord.
“This may be symbolic, but we are doing it from the heart,” McCall said. “Continue to pray for me; that He will give me His wisdom to do what is right for Century. I beg each and every one of you to open up your heart and back this man. The power is in prayer.”
Much of the prayer Saturday morning centered around saving Carver/Century School, and on saving the town. Pastor Jeff Dwenger from Abundant Life Assembly of God stood and prayed over the mayor and Carver/Century K-8 School Principal Jeff Garthwaite.
“This could be a crown jewel in our county school system,” the mayor said. “Pray for the parents and grandparents, that they would bring the kids back that have gone to greener grass (to another school).”
“We are getting ready in one accord to lock up some things in this town, and unlock some things in the town,” Nelson said. “We decree the righteousness of God over Century. We plead the blood of Jesus over Century.”
“The people walking in darkness have seen the light, a new dawning in Century,” she continued as a chorus of amens echoed through the Carver/Century cafeteria. “We decree that our businesses and schools are the head and not the tail.”
For many years, Century enjoyed the economic prosperity brought by a thriving sawmill and timber businesses. But in the last few years, Century has declined, the Rev. Willie Carter of the 130 year old Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church said. But he said now is the time for change with God in control.
“I am calling on Century; it is time for us to come together,” Carter said. “It is time for us to realize that we have one God.”
“If we’d just do like the football player, we could do a whole lot better,” he said. “It does not matter who is going to be blocking, tackling or carrying the ball. They just want to get the job done.”
“We are on the fourth down,” Carter continued. “It is time for to come together. I plead with you…let’s do the best we can to keep our community together.”
Don Sales from the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society outlined a plan underway to improve Century’s economic plight. He said that plan were underway to potentially build a park at the site of the old Alger-Sullivan mill where the group’s Old 100 steam engine would once again run on a circular track for tourists.
That would lead to jobs, and increased property values, he said. “But for that to happen, we need this school to stay right here,” he added.
“It is because of the kids; that is what we are all about,” Carver/Century Principal Jeff Garthwaite said.
“I am here because I believe that this is where God wants me,” Garthwaite said of Carver/Century, a school rated as an “F” school by the state.
“I have every reason to believe that we will come out of being an “F” school,” he said, “with the help of the parents and grandparents.”
“We can praise God, and we can invite God into our classrooms. The future of the school, our future, is good. But it needs to be better.”
Pastor Irvin Stallworth from New Life Baptist Church led the group of young and old to hold hands and sing “Reach and touch someboy’s hand. Make this world a better place, if you can.”
“Out best is not behind us; our best is yet to come,” Stallworth said before leading the group in fervent prayer for Century.
Nelson organized the event after hearing of a similar event in Montgomery, Alabama.
“I went to the mayor’s office and told him of my idea to give the key to the city to the King of Righteousness,” she said. “He began to weep as he said ‘yes’.”
“There is no one like God,” Nelson said. “That is why we are here.”
For more photos from the prayer service Saturday in Century, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church Holds Mother-Daughter Banquet
May 4, 2008
Rays Chapel Baptist Church held a mother-daughter banquet over the weekend.
Ladies from the church brought their favorite dinner ware to decorate the tables. Themes consisted of frogs, teapots, butterflies, patriotic themes and more.
Ladies who attended the banquet were asked to vote on their favorite table, and the winner was awarded a prize.
There were also prizes awarded to the mothers who had the oldest and the youngest daughters with them.
The speaker, Jeanna Lankford, talked about how precious a thing to make good memories with our families. A video of favorite family pictures set to music was presented by Lisa Weaver of Memories-N-Motion. Mary Enfinger entertained everyone with song. The overall theme of this years event was Making Memories. Some of the men from church were on hand to help serve fried chicken and the fixins. A wonderful time was had by all.
The event was planned and organized by Teresa and Adrea Watford.
Click here for a complete photo gallery from the Ray’s Chapel Mother-Daughter Lunch.
Story and photos submitted by Ramona Preston for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Pat Still, Local Ambulance Company Owner, Laid To Rest Sunday
May 4, 2008
Patricia Still of Atmore passed away Friday morning following a brief illness. Still owned Atmore Appliances, formerly Western Auto, and Atmore Ambulance. Atmore Ambulance provides ambulance service for the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Oak Grove, Davisville and nearby areas in the 327 phone exchange in North Escambia.
Still’s husband Merrill passed away in early January of this year.
A black wreath hung on the door of the businesses in Atmore Friday afternoon.
Visitation was held Saturday night at the McCullough Christian Center north of Atmore. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the McCullough Christian Center, the Rev. Cornelius Phillips officiating.
Pictured above: Pat and Merrill Still. Photos courtesy AtmoreNews.com.
Molino Park Holds Field Day
May 3, 2008
Thursday was a big day at Molino Park Elementary School as the students played hard at the school’s annual Field Day.
NorthEscambia.com was there, and we have a complete photo gallery that you can view by clicking here.
The students ended the day with a Relay for Life Wagon Parade. NorthEscambia.com will have that story and those photos posted on Friday morning.
Hammer Heads Win 19-5 Over Fidelis
May 3, 2008
The Northwest Escambia Hammer Heads celebrated a big win over Fidelis 19-5. Scroll down for more pictures.
A little advice from friends.
Hammer Heads pose.
Zach Payne slides into home, and he’s safe.
Cameron Armentor happy to be in the lead.
Devin shows how to hold the bat for this base hit.
Brandon Peebles ready for his turn at bat.
Ramona Preston photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
North Pensacola Relay For Life Beats Goal
May 3, 2008
The North Pensacola Relay for Life was held this weekend at Tate High School. The goal for the annual relay event was $97,000, but it actually brought in $111,000.
There are about three dozen teams in the event, including several from the NorthEscambia.com coverage area.
Molino Park Elementary School and Aldersgate Methodist Church from Molino participated in the American Cancer Society fund raiser.
The North Pensacola Relay goal for this year was $97,000. About $85,000 of that had been raised before the relay kicked off. This year’s three dozen teams was about a dozen more than last year.
The theme for this year’s relay was “Cure Cancer…Live Happily Every After”.
Late Friday night, there was a Mz. Relay Contest — a woman-less beauty and talent competition.
At 9:00 Friday night, the Tate High stadium lights were cut and the stadium was lit with the glow of Luminaria bags, representing cancer survivors and victims alike.
For a complete photo gallery from Friday night at the North Pensacola Relay for Life at Tate High School, click here.
Pictured above and below: Members of the Molino Park Elementary School Relay for Life team, with their “Kick Cancer” theme. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries When Pickup, Crane Collide; Crane Overturns On Hwy. 29
May 2, 2008
A large crane overturned across the southbound lanes of Highway 29 in Molino Thursday morning following a collision with a pickup truck.
The accident happened about 9:25 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Molino Road. State troopers say Kenneth Perry 34, of Molino was southbound on Highway 29. Road construction was underway at the time, with the outer lane of Highway 29 southbound closed to traffic with traffic cones.
Perry told troopers he left a business parking lot and did not know which lane was closed. Hewas driving his older model Ford F250 in the outer closed lane of traffic as he approached Molino Road and turned left into the path of the crane in the open lane of the highway. That collision caused the large crane to overturn across the southbound side of Highway 29, about 80 feet from the point of impact. The pickup truck landed in the ditch near the crane.
The crane was driven by Keith Lewis Strawbridge, 42, of Atmore, according to the FHP.
Neither driver was injured, according to officials on the scene. A 14 year old passenger in Perry’s pickup was not injured.
Traffic on Highway 29 remained delayed in the area for at least two hours.
Perry will be charged with making an improper turn and other charges are pending, according to the FHP.
All three people involved in the accident were wearing their seatbelts. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Click here for more photos from the scene.
Pictured top of page: This pickup pulled into the path of a crane on Highway 29 in Molino Thursday morning. The crane is overturned in the background. Pictured below: The crane across Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Three Days, Two New Candidates In School Board Race
May 2, 2008
The second candidate in three days qualified Thursday in the race for the Escambia County School Board seat held by Peter R. Gindl, Sr.
Rick Lambert of Deerfoot Lane in Cantonment qualified for the seat Thursday, following Robert Tegenkamp of Pensacola who qualified Tuesday.
Others in the District 5 school board race for incumbent Gindl’s seat are Tom Harrell and Bill Slayton.
School board races are nonpartisan.
Molino Students Hold Relay For Life Wagon Parade
May 2, 2008
Molino Park Elementary School held a storybook character wagon parade to celebrate after a successful Relay for Life fund raiser.
Each grade created a wagon float. They paraded around the school’s back parking lot Thursday afternoon, one grade at a time, to lots of clapping and cheering.
The kindergarten’s orange pumpkin Cinderella wagon (pictured above) was named the day’s first place wagon.
Other character wagons were: The Three Billy Goats Gruff, first grade; The Elves and the Shoemaker, second grade; The Princess and the Pea, third grade; Snow White, fourth grade; and Rumpelstiltskin, fifth grade.
The students raised money for the school’s Relay for Life team by taking home donation envelopes. The Molino Park Relay for Life team will compete in the Relay for Life at Tate High School beginning Friday night.
For a complete photo gallery from the Molino Park parade, click here.
Local Girl Named Rodeo Queen
May 2, 2008
Julia “Nikki” Kelly of Molino has been crowned Queen of this weekend’s 17th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo.Five young ladies from around Escambia County competed for the chance to be the rodeo’s queen.
Nikki was crowned Qunne after four “challenges” were completed. Those challenges included an interview, grooming and tacking, horsemanship (riding pattern) and Queen’s Salute. Each rider had to be enrolled or home schooled in Escambia County in grades 6-12 with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Nikki, a freshman at Northview High School, will ride Friday and Saturday night in the grand entry of the rodeo. The other participants in the court will ride behind her during the grand entry.
The horse named Miss Will Impress You gained a bit of local fame back in December when its rider was the second to fall off a horse during the Molino Christmas parade. Nikki has spent the last two months training Miss Will Impress You for the competition.
The other contestants were T.J. Martin, Catherine Steck, Victoria Benson and Amber William.
The Seventeenth Annual Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo will be continue at 7:30 aturday night at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. The Equestrian Center is located at 7750 Mobile Highway in Pensacola.
Pictured top: Nikki Kelly and her horse Miss Will Impress You. Submitted photos.