Softball District Tournament Schedules Announced
April 24, 2026
Softball district tournament pairings were announced on Thursday, with Northview and Jay earning byes in the first round and Tate set to take on the top team in the district.
Rural District 1
In the Rural District 1 quarterfinals on Monday, Northview and Jay will each have a bye in the tournament.
On Tuesday, April 28 at 5 p.m. No. 1 Northview will play the winner of Monday’s Central and Baker game, while at 7 p.m. No. 2 Jay will play the winner of Monday’s Paxton and Laurel Hill game. The district championship will be Thursday, April 30.
All games will be played at Jay.
Region 1-6A
In the 6A District 1 semifinals, the No. 4 Tate Aggies (10-13, 1-4) will travel to No. 1 Pace (20-4, 4-0) next Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Simultaneously, No. 3 Crestview (18-7, 2-3) will travel to No. 2 Navarre (13-9, 3-3).
The district championship will be Thursday, April 30 at the higher seed.
Pictured: The Tate Lay Aggies score back-to-back runs on Wednesday night in their win over Choctaw. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Split Twin Bill With Biscuits In Montgomery
April 24, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos split their doubleheader against the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday night, winning game one by a score of 8-7 and falling in game two by a 4-2 final.
In game one, the Blue Wahoos overcame an early deficit and withstood a late Montgomery charge to win their first game in five tries against the Biscuits this season. Austin Overn opened the scoring for the Biscuits with a safety squeeze bunt in the bottom of the third inning, but the Blue Wahoos exploded in a four-run fourth. Ryan Ignoffo hit a solo homer to tie the game, Payton Green smoked a two-run double, and Dylan Jasso added a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead.
The Biscuits wasted no time answering back against Pensacola starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, as Xavier Isaac hit a solo homer and Mac Horvath tacked on an RBI single before Gregory Barrios scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 4-4.
The Blue Wahoos took the lead for good against reliever Jackson Lancaster (L, 0-1) in the fifth, as Dillon Lewis brought home a run on a double play grounder and Cristian Hernández blasted a double, his second of the game, to score Michael Snyder from first base and put Pensacola ahead 6-4. They added two more in the sixth on a Gage Miller sacrifice fly and Brendan Jones solo homer for an 8-4 advantage.
Justin King (W, 1-0) worked 2.0 innings of effective relief, and Logan Whitaker (S, 1) survived an anxious bottom of the seventh to earn his first save. After loading the bases with nobody out, the righty worked around a bases-loaded walk to Isaac and an RBI groundout from Brayden Taylor to strike out Barrios, ending the game with the tying run at third and the winning run at second.
In game two, the Blue Wahoos played as the home team to make up a postponement in Pensacola from the opening weekend of the season. Montgomery’s Ryan Spikes and Pensacola’s Garret Forrester traded solo homers in the third inning for an early 1-1 tie game.
Emaarion Boyd put the Blue Wahoos ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly against Kyle Whitten (W, 2-0), but the Biscuits rallied back in the top of the sixth against Stephen Jones (L, 1-1). With two outs, Kenny Piper hit a game-tying RBI single before Barrios dropped a bloop double down the left field line, taking the lead when Boyd’s return throw deflected into foul territory. Horvath capped the rally with an RBI triple for a 4-2 Montgomery lead.
Pensacola threatened in the bottom of the seventh against Owen Wild (S, 2), as Green doubled and Forrester walked, before Boyd and Ian Lewis Jr. flied out to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday.
written by Erik Bremer
Highland Baptist Jambalaya Fundraiser and Bake Auction Is Saturday In Molino
April 24, 2026
Highland Baptist Church will host a jambalaya fundraiser and bake auction this Saturday, April 25, from 5:- 7 p.m. to benefit Operation Christmas Child.
Plates are $10 and include jambalaya, rice, cornbread, dessert, and a drink. Meals will be available to eat on the lawn at the church or as take-out plates. The event will also feature a bake auction, with all proceeds going toward bringing Christmas presents and the gospel to children worldwide through the Samaritan’s Purse project.
Tickets are available by calling the church office at 850-587-5174. Highland Baptist Church is located at 6240 Highway 95A North in Molino.
Jack Mitchell
April 24, 2026
Jack Mitchell, 86, of Walnut Hill, FL., passed away on April 22, 2026. He was born on December 13, 1939, to John Mitchell and Mary Graham Mitchell.
He was a printer with Smurfit-Stone and a member and deacon with Liberty Church of Atmore, AL. Jack enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening, and was also a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Jack is survived by his wife, Hazel Flowers Mitchell; his daughters, Pam (Randy) Johnson of Stockton, AL., and Tammy (Danny) Sightler of Andalusia, AL.; 4 grandchildren, Kevin (Rebecca) Johnson, Ryan (Sarah Jane) Johnson, Danielle (Walt) Meeks, and Travis Sightler, and 5 great-grandchildren, Brook, Madison, Macey, Kaylee, and Hudson Tate.
He is also survived by his brothers, John C. Mitchell of Atmore, AL., Joe Wayne (Sue) Mitchell of Germany; his sisters, Helen Bell of Flomaton, AL., and Linda Johnson
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tim Wetzel and Pastor Greg Burns officiating. Interment will follow at Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Walnut Hill, FL.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. until service time at 3:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Travis Sightler, Willie Fountain, James English, and Kenny English.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Shirley Louise (Dimond) Jones
April 24, 2026
Shirley Louise (Dimond) Jones, age 81, of Pensacola, Florida, met her Savior on April 23, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Schenectady, New York, on July 6, 1944, to Herbert and Opal Dimond, Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, nana and great-grandmother. She was known for her kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and devotion to her family. Shirley attended Gordon College, graduating in 1965 with a degree in Elementary Education. She was an educator from 1965-2011, teaching every grade including preschool and infants.
In 1965, she married Herbert Jones, III. They built a beautiful family, raising four children: Kathy, Steve, Pete, and Amy. Shirley loved sewing, making homemade blankets for babies and others. She loved swimming, serving as a lifeguard at camp in her teen years. She loved baking, caning chairs, and most of all, ice cream!
Shirley committed her life to Christ in July, 1951, at Camp Pattersonville in New York. She faithfully served Him in her church for the remainder of her life. She founded and directed a church preschool, taught Sunday School, organized missionary closets, interpreted for deaf ministries, and served in the Dei Gratia ministry encouraging cancer patients.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Herb; four children, Kathleen (Bruce) Cournoyer, Stephen (Tammy) Jones, Peter (Bethany) Jones, and Amy (Ryan) Hegreness; ten grandchildren, Brittany (Aaron) Oberholtzer, Brett (Jenelle) Cournoyer, Abbey Jones, Julianna (Ian) DeBoer, Micah Jones, Sara Jones, Katelyn Hegreness, Noah Hegreness, Xander Hegreness, Eliana Hegreness; five great-grandchildren, Elliana, Andrew, Caden Oberholtzer; Beckham, Delaney Cournoyer. She is preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Opal Dimond and her brother, Lyman Dimond.
A celebration of life will be held at Northstone Baptist Church (2550 W Nine Mile Rd. Pensacola, FL) on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Visitation will begin at 9 AM followed by the service at 10 AM.
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026 will be a burial at Barrancas National Cemetery, with a procession meeting at 10:30 am at Olive Baptist Church-Warrington.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Hope Has a Name at hopehasaname.org.
Dale Harrison
April 24, 2026
Dale Harrison, 65, of Atmore, AL., passed away on April 17, 2026. He was born on May 9, 1960, to James Leonard and Marion Lorraine Galloway Harrison.
Dale was a graduate of Escambia County High School in Atmore, AL., and was a farmer most of his life.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jimmy Harrison.
Dale is survived by his brother, Wayne (Barbara) Harrison of Atmore, AL. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Jim Harrison, Chris Harrison, Glendon Harrison, Travis Harrison, Dustin Harrison, Michael Harrison, Lynn Thurber, Lesley Ann Harrison, extended family, and friends.
Graveside Services will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL., with Bro. Don Melton officiating.
Pallbearers will be all of Dale’s nephews.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Century Borrowing $7 Million For Water System, But Will Only Pay Back $700K
April 23, 2026
The Town of Century will borrow just over $7.06 million for drinking water projects, but they will never be required to pay back most of the loan.
Total project costs come in at nearly $8.95 million, and the town has received over $1.88 million in grants, leaving a total loan balance of just over $7.06 million.
Due to Century’s state economic designation by FloridaCommerce as a Rural Community, Century will receive 90% principal forgiveness, requiring total payments of about $706,000 on the State Revolving Fund loan.
With principal forgiveness and grants, the $8.95 million in drinking water system improvements will only cost the town approximately $706,000 over time.
A vote by the town council this week authorizes Mayor Ben Boutwell to execute the loan paperwork.
The drinking water system improvements include:
Well Improvement Projects
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Well No. 1 Improvements Constructed in 1963, this facility has not seen significant upgrades since its original build. The planned rehabilitation focuses on modernizing the wellhouse structure, replacing the electrical system, piping, and treatment equipment, and installing a SCADA system to improve overall reliability.
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Well No. 2 Improvements Built in 1983, Well No. 2 requires similar structural and technical modernization. While the town is currently using a Legislative Appropriation and a Pilot grant for specific needs like lime equipment and electrical work, they intend to use SRF funding to supplement these grants as bid pricing dictates.
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Well No. 3 Improvements This well, which exclusively serves the Century Correctional Institute, has been out of service since failing in 2023. The project involves drilling a new well and rehabilitating the existing structure and equipment to ensure the 1,350 inmates have a reliable primary water source.
System-Wide Infrastructure Projects
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Tedder Road Booster Pump Station Intended as a backup for the prison, the existing station failed in late 2023 and the current replacement is undersized. The town proposes installing a new, sufficiently sized duplex skid-mounted system equipped with SCADA to properly coordinate operations with Well No. 3.
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Water Service Renewals The town’s system is plagued by significant water loss due to old copper, galvanized, and polybutylene service lines that frequently leak. This project aims to replace these aged services throughout the entire system with new tubing and modern connections to the water mains.
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Utility Billing Software Century’s current billing software is obsolete and unable to track water production or reconcile non-revenue water. Replacing this system is considered critical for meeting SRF program goals, enhancing fiscal accountability, and improving asset management reporting.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
A Few Areas Receive Wednesday Rain; Sunny And Warm Thursday Before Rain Chances Return
April 23, 2026
A small portion of the North Escambia area received some much-needed rain on Wednesday afternoon. Isolated showers brought up to about three-tenths of an inch of rain in area from Bratt to McDavid (pictured above), according to radar estimates.
The North Escambia area is looking at a warm and increasingly active weather pattern as we head into the weekend. While Thursday offers plenty of sunshine and highs in the low 80s, humidity and rain chances begin to climb by Friday afternoon. The most significant weather arrives Saturday, with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the afternoon hours. Conditions remain warm throughout the outlook, with daytime highs peaking near 87 degrees by early next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 3 a.m. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Pictured top: Water ponds on Highway 164 at at Highway 29 in McDavid on Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Prom Promise Demonstration Shows High Schoolers The Reality Of Drunk Driving
April 23, 2026
A realistic DUI crash demonstration involving students gave Flomaton High School students a dose of reality on Wednesday morning.
One student, the DUI driver, was arrested. Two were transported to the hospital — one by helicopter in critical condition and one by ambulance.
One student did not survive. A mother screamed in agony.
The demonstration was all part of the school’s Prom Promise program, encouraging the students to not drink and drive.
Multiple agencies took part in the student demonstration Wednesday, including the Flomaton Fire Department, Flomaton Police Department, Century Station of Escambia County (FL) Fire Rescue, Newman’s Ambulance, MedStar Aircare 2, Brewton Fire Department, Williams Funeral Home, and others.
Photos by Katie Fowler and others for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hands-On Earth Day: Local Students Tackle Environmental Issues
April 23, 2026
Wednesday, students across North Escambia were busy on taking part in Earth Day hands-on projects designed to protect the environment.
At Jim Allen Elementary School, Ms. Cole’s class worked hard to keep the school — and the planet– clean.
At Tate High School, Stephanie Gzybowski’s class brought learning to life with a hands-on oil spill simulation. Students explored real-world environmental challenges by using floating oil booms, skimmers, absorbents, and dispersants to clean up a simulated spill.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
The activity gave students the opportunity to think critically, problem solve, and better understand how science is used to protect our oceans and environment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
