UWF Students Partner With Naval Surface Warfare Center On RoboBoat
July 1, 2025
A group of four University of West Florida electrical engineering and computer engineering students worked with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, on a RoboBoat kit to get more high school students interested and engaged in marine robotics.
Dr. Damion Dunlap, STEM Outreach Manager, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, tapped into the knowledge of UWF Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering students in Fort Walton Beach and shared his vision for a kit for high school students, and one that could be used in competitions. Dunlap oversees STEM outreach to support the next generation of engineers.
“We decided that this project would be an amazing way to help high school students become more excited about STEM in an inexpensive and cost-effective way,” said Ashley Schnaible, who is a computer engineering student in her senior year. “This project gave us the opportunity to explore multiple ways of constructing a functioning RoboBoat kit using materials that students could obtain rather easily. It also gave our team the opportunity to be giant kids ourselves, having fun with the build, designing it essentially like a giant Lego set.”
Through the Fall 2024 semester, Schnaible, along with students Heather Sasser, David Laird and Xavier Frank, and under the guidance of Dr. Jeff McGuirk, senior lecturer of electrical and computer engineering who served in the United States Air Force as a developmental engineer, built the platform, while a group of Florida Polytechnic University students focused on the computer pieces.
After multiple trial and error runs with various designs and materials tested, the UWF student team decided to completely 3D print the RoboBoat in pieces using PLA filament and multiple layers of Flex Seal to ensure waterproofing. After the completion of the print and test for buoyancy, they mounted the necessities such as thrusters and a waterproof case that housed the battery, microcontroller and wires. The kit functions as any RoboBoat would, communicating with an RC remote controller.
For the next several weeks during the summer, Dunlap is working with high school students who earned a paid internship with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division on a continuation of the project by taking lessons learned from UWF’s project and building another boat.
Four Escambia Women Facing Federal Charges In Nationwide Drug Diversion Scheme
July 1, 2025
Four Escambia County women have been indicted on federal charges of illegal drug diversion to defraud medical programs by diverting oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine.
Alexandra M. Christensen, 31, Lindsay N. McCray (also known as Lindsay Rogers), 41, Heather T. Bradley (also known as %Heather Thomas), 36, and Jennifer E. Purves, 39, were all charged.
According to court records, Christensen and McCray are charged with conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, McCray, Bradley, and Purves are charged with distribution of controlled substances, and McCray is charged with identity theft in connection with a scheme to unlawfully divert oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine. As alleged in the indictment, between 2015 and 2024, McCray, while employed by a medical practice, forged controlled substance prescriptions using the names, signatures, and Drug Enforcement Administration registration numbers of the practice’s two physicians without their knowledge or authorization. As a result of the conspiracy, McCray, Christensen, and others caused to be unlawfully distributed and dispensed over 300,000 hydrocodone pills and over 30,000 oxycodone pills. McCray is further charged with distributing and aiding and abetting the distribution of amphetamine with Bradley and Purves.
All the cases are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown.
Trial for all defendants is currently set for August 18, 2025, in federal court in Pensacola. McCray faces a maximum of 80 years’ imprisonment, and Christensen, Bradley, and Purves each face up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
File photo.
Does FHP Have America’s Best Looking Cruiser? Cast Your Vote Here.
July 1, 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking for your help to win the 2025 American Association of State Troopers (AAST) ‘Best Looking Cruiser’ competition.
As back-to-back defending champions, FHP is asking Floridians to continue to support us and vote for the FHP cruiser as the best-looking in the nation. Voting will continue through July 11. The cruiser with the most votes will grace the cover of the AAST 2026 calendar.
To vote for your favorite cruiser, click here (scroll to the bottom to choose your favorite and vote).
“FHP is proud to once again take part in the AAST ‘Best-Looking Cruiser’ contest. This year’s photo captures the beauty of a Miami skyline sunset and showcases the strength of Florida law enforcement through our new Corvette, seized from a convicted drug trafficker as part of a joint FHP-DEA criminal investigation,” said Executive Director Dave Kerner. “We encourage everyone to show their support by casting a vote and helping us defend our title as the best-looking cruiser in the nation.”
The FHP submission this year was taken during an iconic Miami sunset with the Florida Highway Patrol’s very own black and tan corvette! The corvette was seized in a joint criminal investigation into a nationwide drug trafficking organization with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is currently being used at various outreach events to help bring attention to various traffic safety campaigns to reduce crashes on Florida’s roadways.
Former Tate Aggies Coach Named Defensive Coordinator For The Flomaton Hurricanes
July 1, 2025
Former Tate Aggies coach Josh Hardy has been named the defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach for the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Hardy has been at Tate High School for the last five years, coaching inside linebackers, outside backers, and safeties, and he served as defensive coordinator for the Aggies for one season. He was also an assistant freshman baseball coach for two years and head girls flag football coach for two years for the Aggies.
Before Tate, the Philadelphia, Mississippi native coached football at Philadelphia High School, along with being the head baseball and soccer coach. He also coached at Calhoun (GA) High School where he won a state championship as an assistant varsity baseball coach
Hardy joins the staff of first-season Flomaton Hurricane head football coach Jace Gandy. Gandy was previously the co-defensive coordinator for Spanish Fort, defensive coordinator for Northview, and had coaching stints at Tate, Jay, and W.S. Neal.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Gilbert Wade Blackwell
July 1, 2025
Mr. Gilbert Wade Blackwell, who was 36-years-old, passed away at his home in Atmore, Alabama, on June 27, 2025. He was born in Mobile, Alabama, but spent his whole life in Atmore. His presence in the community will be greatly missed, as he was known for his kind spirit and dedication to those around him.
He was a kind-hearted man who loved dogs and truly enjoyed being around people. Always ready to lend a helping hand, he made friends easily and brightened the lives of those around him. His passion for cooking brought his family together, as he loved to prepare meals for them. A devoted Christian, he held strong values and always tried to live by them. In his younger days, he played football for Escambia County High School, where he not only showcased his athletic skills but also built lasting friendships on and off the field.
He is preceded in death by father, Gregory Boyd Blackwell; grandparents, Otto and Barbara Blackwell, grandmother Betty Joyce Gibson; special step-father, Lurby J. Denais
He is survived by his mother, Rebecca Walls of Atmore, Alabama; daughter, Baileigh Irene Blackwell of Pensacola, Florida; special friend and mother of his child Ashlyn Patterson of Pensacola, Florida; brother, Brandon Shane Joiner of Atmore, Alabama; two sisters, Hannah Irene Blackwell of Atmore, Alabama and Tawaka Chantel Rolin of Atmore, Alabama; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes with Brother Brandon Tanner officiating.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 3, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. until service time at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes.
Petty Funeral Homes is entrusted with all arrangements