By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
At one time – about 90 million years ago – a whale-like animal lived in Alabama when the state was covered by a warm sea.
The mosasaur is the state fossil, and Turtle Point Environmental Center is the only place in the state that has a cast of the fossil's skull.
Dr. Doug Phillips presented the cast to Turtle Point Director Shirley West at Celebrate the Environment Day 2001 last Saturday. Phillips is the coordinator for Environmental Information and Education with the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
The presentation was part of a special day at Turtle Point as West and her staff brought a number of speakers, exhibits and programs to the center.
Students across the county were invited to participate in several Celebrate the Environment Day contests. The winners in each category were:
t-shirt – first place, Ryan Brown, Escambia County High School, grade 10; second place, Amanda Konecny, ECHS, grade 10; third place, Lucas Blackwell, W.S. Neal High School, grade 12; honorable mention, Ryan Brown, ECHS, grade 10.
poster – first place, Shelby Hester, Escambia Academy, grade 8; second place, Lauren Smart, Escambia County Enrichment, Escambia County Middle School, grade 6; third place, Camille Thomas, EA, grade 8.
bookmark – first place, Amanda Scott, Huxford Elementary, grade 4; second place, Jansen Henry, W.S. Neal Elementary, grade 4; third place, Olando Jones, Rachel Patterson Elementary, grade 2; honorable mention, Merissa Grimes, Flomaton Elementary, grade 5; honorable mention, Caitlin Hall, Escambia County Enrichment, A.C. Moore Elementary, grade 3.
sculpture – first place, Mandy Konency, ECHS, grade 10; second place, Chad Moye, ECHS, grade 11; third place, Tyeshia Ryley, ECHS, grade 11.
In the recycling contest Flomaton Elementary won overall with 631 pounds. Heather Turner, Flomaton High School, was the individual winner with 286 pounds.