New Educational Born Learning Trail For Kids Is Now Open In Century
April 11, 2026
Over two dozen volunteers gathered Friday morning in Century to refresh a Born Learning STEAM Trail.
The Born Learning Trail, a United Way Worldwide initiative since 2005, first opened in Century in late 2020, but the trail’s paint had since faded away. The trail is a series of the signs with activities painted on a park trail that offer fun, interactive learning activities for young children and their families. It was designed to help parents, caregivers, and communities create quality engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or while playing at the park.
The Born Learning Trail in Century was the second in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The Century Born Learning Trail is a partnership between International Paper, the Town of Century, and United Way of West Florida.
To visit the Born Learning Trail in Century, head to Showalter Park off East Hecker Road. Drive north around the baseball and softball fields and follow the road past the cemetery. The trail begins in portion of the paved trail that is under the trees. For a Google map, click here. The park is open daily from sunrise until sunset.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northiew Lady Chiefs Walk Off With Senior Night Win
April 11, 2026
The Northview Lady Chiefs walked off with a 15-0 shutout of Destin on Senior Night in Bratt.
Kylee Langham had a two-run inside-the-park home run for the Chiefs.
Senior Peyton Womack pitched a complete mercy-rule-shortened four innings, allowing just three hits and no runs while striking out six and walking two.
For a photo gallery, click here. (Look for Senior Night photos at the end of the gallery.)
Before the game, Northview honored seniors Riley Brooks, Amanda Fernandez, and Peyton Womack.
Next week, the Lady Chiefs will travel to Jay on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Dry, Highs In The Middle 80s Through The Weekend
April 11, 2026
High pressure will dominate the region through the upcoming week, delivering a consistent stretch of bright and warm spring weather. Residents can expect ample sunshine from Saturday through Friday, with afternoon highs climbing steadily from the low 80s into the mid-80s by midweek. Overnight conditions will remain comfortable, with lows generally hovering in the upper 50s and low 60s under mostly clear skies.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light east wind becoming southeast 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Seniors Spice Up Healthy Living With Fresh Herb Workshop
April 11, 2026
Local seniors are adding a little flavor to their kitchens thanks to a recent collaboration between Escambia Extension Horticulture in Cantonment and Feeding the Gulf Coast.
The educational program focused on using fresh herbs to “spice up” meals. Master Gardener Volunteer Debbie led the session, providing expert insights into growing basil and the benefits of companion planting.
To help participants put their new knowledge into practice, every senior took home a custom container garden featuring a selection of fresh vegetables and herbs.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lacrosse Falls To Gulf Breeze In District Semifinals
April 11, 2026
The Tate Aggies fell in the 2A District 1 Lacrosse tournament on Friday at No. 1 Gulf Breeze 20-3.
Wednesday’s Tate 12-0 win over Milton in the quarterfinals was a first in program history.
The Aggies finished the season at 8-12, 2-5 in the district.
Gulf Breeze will host Navarre on Tuesday in the district championship.
Just before districts, the Aggies recognized four seniors on Senior Night:
- Taelyn Hubbard
- Reagan Schoonover
- Tori Sappington
- Emily Walson
For more senior night photos, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Golfer Jack Boutwell Signs With Reid State
April 11, 2026
Friday afternoon, Northview High School golfer Jack Boutwell signed to continue his education and play golf at the next level.
Boutwell will be attending Reid State Community College on scholarship.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Win Game Two Of Playoff Series (With Gallery)
April 11, 2026
In front of a Whiteout crowd at the Hangar, the Pensacola Ice Flyers delivered when it mattered most, defeating the Evansville Thunderbolts to even their best-of-three playoff series at one game apiece.
Facing elimination following a 4–1 loss in Game 1, the Ice Flyers came out with urgency and energy from the opening puck drop. Tyler Burnie ignited the crowd in the first period, netting the game’s opening goal and sending the Ice Flyers Faithful to their feet. The early strike proved to be the lone goal of the period, giving Pensacola a 1–0 lead heading into the intermission.
Evansville answered early in the second period, evening the score and briefly shifting momentum. But Pensacola responded late in the frame, as Laudon Poellinger found the back of the net to restore the lead. The Ice Flyers carried that 2–1 advantage into the second intermission, fueled by a strong forecheck and consistent offensive pressure.
The Ice Flyers continued to push in the third period, refusing to let up. Midway through the frame, Matt Allen extended the lead to 3–1, giving Pensacola breathing room and sending the Hangar into a frenzy. From there, the Ice Flyers locked things down defensively and closed out the win to force a decisive Game 3.
With the series now tied, Pensacola will turn its focus to Evansville, where the winner-take-all Game 3 is set for Sunday at 3 p.m
Wahoos Win A Thriller For First Win Of The Season
April 11, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos notched their first win of the season in thrilling fashion Friday night, edging out a 5-4 win over the Biloxi Shuckers. Pensacola improved their record to 1-5 while Biloxi fell to 4-3.
Catcher Ryan Ignoffo had an eventful first inning, catching Dylan O’Rae trying to steal second base, and then making an athletic play to nab Jesús Made at first base on a groundball in front of the plate.
The Wahoos followed that up with three runs in the top of the second inning while sending 9 batters to the plate. The scoring came on an error by the shortstop, Eric Brown Jr., on a batted ball by Emaarion Boyd, and a two-run single from Gage Miller.
The offense output continued into the third inning, when Michael Snyder brought Ian Lewis Jr. home on an RBI groundout. And the fourth was no different, as the good guys tacked on one more run, courtesy of a Fenwick Trimble sacrifice fly.
The Shuckers did make it interesting though. They scored twice in the fourth inning on RBIs from Mike Boeve and Matthew Wood, and twice more in the fifth inning on a throwing error from Cristian Hernández, and a bases-loaded walk from Wood again.
From then on, both bullpens would go scoreless. Pensacola would lean on Luis Polacios (W, 1-0), Justin King, and Samuel Vásquez to go the final 4.2 innings, while Biloxi went to Tanner Gillis and Mark Manfredi Sr. to finish the final 6.0 innings.
Wahoos starter, Brandon White, went 3.2 innings and allowed two runs in a no-decision. Shuckers starter, Bishop Letson (L, 0-2), went 1.1 innings and allowed 3 runs in his second loss of the season.
Ian Lewis Jr. left the game in the seventh inning with an apparent leg injury after grounding out to second-base.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Walnut Hill Man With Manifesto Sentenced To Federal Prison
April 10, 2026
Thursday afternoon, a Walnut Hill man who accidentally shot himself in July 2025 was sentenced to federal prison.
Joshua Dean Hardy, 26, pleaded guilty last year in federal court to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA), specifically two unregistered and unserialized silencers and a destructive device, and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Local charges against Hardy were dropped after the federal charges were filed.
He was sentenced to 48 months on each count to be served concurrently. After release, he will be on federal supervised release for three years on each count.
He entered the guilty plea to all federal charges before his scheduled trial began.
Hardy’s attorney, Randall Lockhart, asked for at least a 30-day delay on grounds that details were scarce in a draft pre-sentencing report, and he was seeking mental health records and results of a psychological evaluation. The prosecution did not oppose the motion.
Sentencing has now been set for early April. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Federal court documents state that investigators found documents including a multipage document titled ‘Manifesto’ on his laptop.
“This is it, this is my final words of this whole ordeal,” are how the document begins, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, along with a list of names, some of which are known family members.
The document then says, “All of these [expletive] pukes seek to destroy my ass in my prime then i’ll give them what they want, it isn’t the so called hidden names like they want but a tombstone like i told them,” according to investigators.
“Later in the document, it goes on to explain that he is going to begin his killing spree and identifies the ‘targets,’” court records state.
He had been charged locally with three counts of making and/or possession of a destructive device, use of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm with the serial number removed.
Hardy accidentally shot himself shortly after 3 a.m. on July 23 while walking in the woods on family property at 5000 Sandy Hollow Road, just off West Highway 4. His grandmother told deputies that she received a call about 3:15 a.m. from Hardy, stating he had tripped while walking on their property with his rifle and he had shot himself in the leg. She picked him up and drove him to Atmore Community Hospital.
At the emergency room in Atmore, Hardy told deputies that he often walks their 22-acre property because he does not like people there, the report states. He said he stepped in a hole and dropped his rifle, accidentally grabbing it as it fell by the trigger and shot himself. He was adamant that he was not shooting at anyone and had no intent of harming himself.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Hardy suffered a serious gunshot wound that shattered his tibia and fibula and nearly took his left big toe.
Jazz By The Books Fills Century Library; Molino Performance Is Next Week
April 10, 2026
Attendees at the Century enjoyed a mid-day musical treat with Jazz By The Books on Thursday, and those in Molino have their own performance to look forward to next week.
The live jazz performances by the Jazzabouts, presented by Jazz Pensacola and the West Florida Public Libraries, were held Thursday at the Century Branch Library.
The music continues next week on Wednesday, April 15, from 1-3 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library. The event is free.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
