IMPACT 100 Names 15 Finalists For Grants Of $103,500 Each
September 18, 2025
IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has announced the 15 grant finalists selected for 2025. Twelve of the nonprofit finalists will each receive a grant of $103,500 at the IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area Annual Meeting on October 19.
This is the 22nd year that IMPACT 100 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has awarded 165 impactful grants totaling $17,492,000 to nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The 15 finalists selected by IMPACT 100’s Focus Area Committees are:
ARTS, CULTURE & HISTORY
- Greater Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Inc. — Project: Drumroll, Please: The Sound of a New Century
- Pace Band Boosters, Inc. — Project: Every Note Matters: Powering the Next Generation of Musicians
- West Florida Railroad Museum, Inc. — Project: Embracing the Future
EDUCATION
- Children’s Home Society of Florida — Project: W.A.V.E.-Warriors Achieving, Valuing, and Exploring
- Escambia County School Readiness Coalition, Inc. (dba Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County) — Project: Classroom on Wheels
- Girls Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. — Project: Wheels of Possibility: A Gateway to Learning
ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION
- Greater Pensacola Junior Golf Association, Inc. (dba First Tee Gulf Coast) — Project: Truly Impacting Warrington Youth
- PYC Satori Foundation, Inc. — Project: Bridging the Gap in Youth Sailing
- Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, Inc. — Project: Moveable Habitats, Meaningful Messages
FAMILY
- Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. — Project: Equal Access Express
- Wesley Haven Villa, Inc. (dba Methodist Homes of Alabama & Northwest Florida — Project: Rolling with a Purpose: Connecting Seniors to Care and Community
- Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, Inc. — Project: Veteran Family Homelessness Prevention
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Community Organizations Active in Disaster, Inc. (dba Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE)) — Project: BRACE Mobile Support and Resiliency Unit
- Feeding the Gulf Coast — Project: Nutrition Equals Seniors Thriving
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Inc. — Project: Healing House and Garden
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names 2025 Homecoming Court
September 18, 2025
Tate High School has named their 2025 Homecourt Court.
The homecoming queen will be crowned during Friday night’ game, and the homecoming king will be crowned at Saturday night’s dance.
The court members are:
9th Grade Girls
- Kelsey Austin
- Brynn Donado
- Emma Dubuc
- Kelly McCabe
- Yaretzy Sandoval-Bocanegra
- Jordan Suarez
10th Grade Girls
- Gracyn Campbell
- Ella Frank
- India Jackson
- Nadia Mitchell
- Kinsley Powell
- Andrea Yalch
11th Grade Girls
- Zaria Cannon
- Livi Cherry
- Victoria Friedman
- Bristol Guy
- Brooklyn Ray
- Lillian Vige
- Kingsley Wann
12th Grade Girls
- Lillian Abner
- Mya Beane
- Caridyn Davis
- Sera Dillie
- Taylor Dyer
- Olivia Liv Gammon
- Kati Ingram
- Macy Jensen
- McKenna Lister
- Destiny Moorer
- Riley Phelps
- Emma Touchstone
12th Grade Boys
- Connor Clemmons
- Luke Estes
- Gene Ham
- Carson Hindsman
- Lawson Killingsworth
- Nicholas Kontek
- Trace Madden
- Khalil Moftaqir
- Kaven Powell
- Evan Robinson
- Brodie Smith
- Lawson Theisen
Pictured top: 2024 Tate High School Homecoming Queen Hailey Locke. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Homecoming Parades Friday For Northview And Tate (‘Biggest In Years’)
September 18, 2025
Northview and Tate high schools will hold homecoming parades on Friday, and Tate says their parade will be the biggest in years.
Tate High School
The Tate Homecoming Parade will being a night full of energy, Aggie pride and family fun at 6 p.m. in Pete Gindl Stadium.
“With a lineup of almost 20 entries, including Tate’s AJROTC, Cheer program, FFA program, the Showband of the South, and many others, this family-friendly parade is one you don’t want to miss,” organizers said.
Northview High School
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade will take place Friday afternoon in Bratt.
The parade will line up at noon and roll at 12:30 p.m. from Northview High School. It will travel east on Highway 4 before turning on Bratt Road by the Travis Nelson Park, around the park to Ashcraft Road to Highway 99, travel north past Bratt Elementary School, turn back onto Highway 4 and end at Northview. (Note that Ashcraft Road has a very narrow shoulder with no place to park.)
The parade and throws officially begin when it reaches Bratt Elementary School.
Pictured: The 2024 Tate High School Homecoming Parade in Pete Gindl Stadium. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A Clean Sweep: Tate Volleyball Defeats Pine Forest In Straight Sets
September 18, 2025
On a successful Wednesday evening at home, both the Tate varsity and JV volleyball teams secured dominant victories over the Pine Forest Eagles.
Tate 3, Pine Forest 0
The Tate Aggies varsity volleyball team swept the Pine Forest Eagles in three straight sets Wednesday evening at home. The final scores were 25-7, 25-9, and 25-8.
Tate’s strong offense and solid defense controlled the match from the start. The team’s powerful serves and consistent attacks kept Pine Forest on the defensive, preventing them from mounting a comeback.
Tate 2, Pine Forest 0 (JV)
The Tate Aggies JV volleyball team defeated the Pine Forest Eagles in two straight sets on their home court Wednesday evening, with final scores of 25-8 and 25-7.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Runaway 13-Year-Old Girl From Mobile Crashes Grandparents’ Vehicle On Pine Forest Road
September 18, 2025
A 13-year-old girl who took her grandparents’ vehicle in Mobile crashed on Pine Forest Road in Escambia County on Wednesday morning.
The teen had been reported to the Mobile Police Department as a runaway juvenile. The missing 13-year-old’s grandparents reported her missing after waking up Wednesday morning and discovering that their vehicle and granddaughter were gone, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
An FHP trooper located the missing girl after she crashed her grandparents’ vehicle into a ditch on Pine Forest Road about 9 a.m. She was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries before being released to her grandparents.
The FHP said the teen will be facing criminal charges.
Molino Man Charged With Grand Theft, Dealing In Stolen Property For Alleged Wire Theft
September 17, 2025
A Molino man is facing felony charges after he allegedly stole copper wire from a neighbor and sold it for cash.
Nicholas Allen Jones, 32, was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property.
The investigation began in August when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report of stolen scrap copper wire from a residence on Pine Circle Drive. The victim reported that a large pile of copper wire, valued at approximately $4,000, had been taken from behind a shed. The victim also noted that a fence near the pile had been pushed down and a piece of wire was found in the neighbor’s yard on Highway 97.
According to an arrest report, the a relative of the suspect, who lives on Highway 97, told the victim that the likely perpetrator was Nicholas Jones, who had a known drug problem. A follow-up investigation by law enforcement included speaking with the victim’s wife, who provided recordings of phone calls from Jones. In the recordings, Jones allegedly admitted to making an “extremely stupid decision” and wanted to make restitution for the stolen wire, stating he stole it because of his drug addiction and need for money, the report states.
Jones also allegedly gave his relative $240 to begin paying the victim back. This money was collected by deputies and submitted as evidence.
When deputies made contact with Jones, they said he was cooperative and remorseful, stating, “Yes, I made a stupid mistake”. Jones confessed to deputies that due to a money shortage and his drug addiction, he had stolen the copper wire over a two-week period, selling it to two different recycling companies. Jones provided deputies with five receipts from a recycling company, totaling $1,940.54, and stated he also received about $8.00 from a recycling company in Atmore.
According to the ECSO, the total estimated value of the stolen wire was $4,000.
He was released from jail on a $22,500 bond.
Hot Days And Mild Nights Continue
September 17, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tate High’s Morgan Landreneau Named Beyond START Mentor of the Month
September 17, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools’ Professional Learning Department had recognized Morgan Landreneau of Tate High School as the September Beyond START Mentor of the Month.
“Morgan exemplifies the spirit of mentorship by providing consistent guidance, encouragement, and instructional support to the teachers she serves. Her dedication ensures that our alternative certification pathway educators feel welcomed, prepared, and empowered to succeed in the classroom,” Principal Laura Touchstone said.
“Through her commitment to building strong relationships and modeling best practices, Morgan is making a lasting impact on both her colleagues and the students of Tate High School. We are grateful for her leadership, positivity, and willingness to go above and beyond in supporting our mission of excellence in education,” Touchstone added.
Beyond START provides school-based mentors for alternatively certified teachers in their second year and beyond. The mentors serve as support for those teachers and help them to complete their requirements towards a professional certification.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Interstate Drug Trafficking Operation
September 17, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for an interstate drug trafficking operation.
Jafari J. Williams, 48, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents reflect that Williams was identified during a federal wiretap investigation conspiring with others regarding shipments of cocaine coming from Texas. During execution of a search warrant of a building where Williams maintained his contraband in Pensacola, law enforcement seized approximately seven and a half kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of methamphetamine, drug distribution paraphernalia, an AR-15-style rifle, and approximately $10,000 in United States currency.
“I am incredibly proud of the excellent collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that dismantled this drug trafficking operation, and this successful prosecution ensures this offender will be removed from our community for a long time. My office will not hesitate to target those who flood our streets with deadly drugs for aggressive prosecution and sentencing, and will deploy the full force of the law to keep our communities safe,” said John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Pensacola Police Department; the Gulf Breeze Police Department; and the Florida Highway Patrol.
MILO The Mobile ID And Licensing Office Will Be In Walnut Hill On Thursday
September 17, 2025
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be to Walnut Hill on Thursday, September 18, from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
MILO, a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, has the following schedule:
- September 18 – Walnut Hill Community Center
- October 16 – Billy G Ward Courthouse (Century)
- November 20 – Billy G Ward Courthouse (Century)
- December 18 – Walnut Hill Community Center
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
This initiative aims to bring services to areas of Escambia County that may have limited access to traditional tax collector offices, particularly during disaster recovery or for residents in assisted living facilities, community centers, and correctional facilities.
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.