Ribbon Cutting Held At Little River State Forest North of Atmore
April 15, 2026
A ribbon cutting was held on Tuesday at the Little River State Forest and Claude D. Kelley Recreational Area on Highway 21 north of Atmore, at the Escambia and Monroe county line, to celebrate improvements ahead of an official opening that is still to come.
Little River has been closed for several years. Improvements are still ongoing, and an official opening for the public is still to come.
Those improvements include a new bridge, RV and primitive campsites, water and septic lines, a new fishing pier, and building renovations. The central attraction is the 25-acre lake.
“All of your hard work is much appreciated by so many, and we are all looking forward to making many more new memories,” Albritton said. “Everyone there today had a story to tell, a special memory, and a desire to come again to this beautiful site.”
Originally privately owned land, Little River State Forest was deeded to the Alabama Forestry Commission in the early 1930s. During this time, the Great Depression was taking its toll on America. President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented several ideas to help pull people out of the Depression and back to work. One of these programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), designed to help rebuild natural resources by planting trees and constructing park facilities.
In 1934, the CCC was sent to the Atmore, Alabama, area to build a public park that would eventually become known as Little River State Forest. Many of the facilities located on the grounds of the park remain from the original construction by the CCC, including the office building, a cabin, and pavilions. The Gazebo Trail was also built by the CCC, as well as the 25-acre lake. The soil that was removed from the lake bed was used to construct the dam and levee. Ironstone was collected from the area to create the spillway.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Shut Down Crestview In Semis, Head To District Championship
April 15, 2026
The Tate Aggies are headed to the 6A District 1 championship game on Thursday after a decisive 12-1 semifinal win over No. 3 Crestview on Tuesday afternoon.
Griffin Cook went 3-4 with three RBIs for the Aggies, including a sixth-inning home run to left field. Evan Taylor and Connor Dethlefs had two hits each.
Bryton McLellan earned the win for the Aggies in six innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run, striking out seven and walking none.
On Tuesday, Pace got past No. 4 Navarre 6-3.
No. 1 Pace (22-4, 4-1) will host No. 2 Tate (20-6, 2-2) at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The teams split their two regular season meetings.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wallop Smokies With Three Homers In 5-1 Win
April 15, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned their first home win of the season on Tuesday night, beating the Knoxville Smokies 5-1 on the strength of a season-high three home runs.
Dillon Lewis opened up the scoring in the first inning, following a pair of walks with a three-run homer to center field off Knoxville starter Tyler Schlaffer (L, 0-1). Payton Green added on in the second inning, hitting a solo homer.
Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller turned in a solid performance, allowing only one run on three hits over 4.0 innings. A Jordan Nwogu RBI single in the third inning got Knoxville on the board, but Miller struck out Haydn McGeary to strand two in scoring position and end the threat.
Dylan Jasso tacked on a run for the Blue Wahoos in the fourth inning with a solo homer, his first in the Marlins organization after being acquired via trade from the Yankees in January.
Green, a triple shy of the cycle entering his eighth-inning at-bat, sent a liner into the left field corner but had to settle for a stand-up double and a 4-for-4 night as Nwogu quickly played the carom off the wall.
Stephen Jones, Brandon White, Nigel Belgrave and Justin King combined for 5.0 scoreless innings of relief to lock down the 5-1 win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Wednesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Dorothy Rae Sellers
April 15, 2026
Dorothy Rae Sellers went to be with her Lord and Savior March 26, 2026. She was born November 20, 1947 to William “Sam” and Callie Patrick. Dorothy was kind, loving and fun. She loved life, laughing and talking. She loved to go fishing, shopping and singing. Before she got sick, she loved playing softball and volleyball and she loved going to church She wanted to make everyone feel special. She desired greatly to know that people knew Jesus as their Lord and Savior. She studied her Bible and after she got really sick she would have us read to her and pray with her. She was a great prayer warrior and she prayed for everyone. Should loved so many people and they loved her too.
She is preceded in death by her parents William and Callie Patrick, her mother and father-in-law Ernest and Fannie Sellers, her brothers Melvin (Josie), Lamar and Leon (Thelma) Patrick, her sisters Bessie (Gene) Bondurant and Anita Upton, her sisters and brother-in-law‘s, Margeret (Ralph) Thames, Marlene (William) Moore, Martha Lee (Johnny) Hodge, Louise (Ty) Cobb (Rob) Sanford, Marie (Frank) Frankowski, her grandson Ernest Brown, her son-in-law Mitchell Dunn, and her special aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins that she dearly loved!
She is survived by her loving, devoted husband and best friend Ernest “Junie” Sellers. Her loving daughter’s Renee (Gene) Brown, Lisa Dunn and Sherry Sellers. Her grandchildren, Ryan McIlwain, Tres Pena, Eli Woodruff, Gabe Milstid, Jeff Brown, Justin (Stephanie) Brown, Preston (Dani) Eddings, Annie (Zack) McLemore and Chris (Emma) Green. Her great grandchildren Christopher, Aaliyah, Everett, and Adaline. Her loving sister Geneva (Durwood) Edmonson, her sister-in-law‘s Marianne Patrick, Lela (John) Davis and brother-in-law, Leo Upton. Her special nieces, nephews aunts and uncles and cousins and her friends all of which she loved deeply, and that held a special place in her heart. She is greatly missed and so deeply loved! We are so grateful for everyone who loved on her cared for her spent time with her
Her celebration of life will be held at Petty’s funeral home in Atmore, Alabama at 1:00 with Pastor Grant Norris officiating. Family will be welcome at 11:30 and everyone else welcome at 12:00.
Burial to follow at new Beginnings cemetery in Molino, Florida and food to follow at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church in McDavid, FL.
Pallbearers will be Justin Brown, Ryan McIlwain, Michael Patrick, Keith Edmonson, Joey Diamond and Christopher Green.
Honorary Pallbearers are Bradley Edmonson, Clinton Edmonson and Gene Brown.
Amber Alert Canceled, Santa Rosa Teen Found Safe
April 15, 2026
UPDATE: The amber alert for Santa Rosa County teen Adriana Hernandez was canceled just before midnight Tuesday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said she was safe, but provided no other details.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office says Hernandez returned home.
Previous story:
On Monday, a Florida Amber Alert was issued for a Santa Rosa County teen who was last seen on April 7.
Adriana Hernandez is a White-Hispanic female, 15 years old, 5 feet 1 inch tall, and 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in the area of the 6400 block of Bruce Lane in Milton.
She may have a reddish-brown tint in her hair. Officials said she may have traveled to Georgia.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of this child, contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1190 or call 911.
Photos: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds Perform Super Delta Over Pensacola Beach
April 14, 2026
The hometown United States Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed a rare super delta formation over Pensacola Beach on Tuesday.
With NAS Pensacola closed to the public to see practices, the flyover provided a special view for beachgoers.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Alleged Battery Of Escambia County Jail Inmate Leads To Arrest Of Two Corrections Officers
April 14, 2026
Two Escambia County corrections officers have been arrested following an investigation into the battery of an inmate that occurred at the Escambia County Jail.
Sharif Dawud Hale, age 42 of Cantonment was arrested on charges of felony battery with great bodily harm and tampering with physical evidence. Larry Ken Martin, age 32 of Flomaton, was charged with providing false information to law enforcement regarding a felony.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation after an inmate was found on March 15, 2026, with a severe hand laceration requiring surgery and a rod insertion, a cracked rear molar, and head injuries. According to the reports, investigators determined the injuries occurred during an overnight shift between 03:53 a.m. and 03:55 a.m. after two officers entered the inmate’s cell for an unsanctioned encounter.
According to internal records and witness statements detailed in the reports, the officers failed to notify supervisors before entering the cell, which is required protocol during “lights out” hours. One witness told investigators she heard an officer state he “had to teach [the inmate] a lesson” because the inmate was “talking smack”.
Investigators said the inmate alleged that Hale “stomped” on him while he was on his bunk and intentionally twisted his finger. According to the reports, investigators observed security footage showing the Hale and Martin re-entering the cell approximately 10 minutes later. Investigators stated it appeared this second entry was an attempt to remove physical evidence, specifically beads that had broken off a bracelet during the struggle and a fragment of the inmate’s tooth.
While investigators noted that Martin appeared to attempt to calm Hale down after the initial encounter, the reports state he maintained a false account of the events during multiple interviews. According to the reports, Martin claimed the inmate was already bleeding and suggested the injuries were self-inflicted by “hitting the walls” or using a metal table, a theory investigators said was inconsistent with medical evidence and intake records.
Both men were booked into the Escambia County Jail and each released within minutes on bond — $50,000 for Hale, and Martin on a $5,000 bond.
According to the arrest reports, medical staff at the Escambia County Jail concluded that the victim needed further care and he was ultimately transported to Baptist Hospital. Hospital records indicated that he was admitted and required surgery for his injuries, which included the surgical implantation of a rod and pins in his hand, the reports state.
According to jail records, the inmate victim, a 35-year-old Pensacola man, remains in jail without bond on an unrelated charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a probation violation.
Mugshot for Hale and Martin were not released.Under Florida’s public records laws, the identities and photographs of correctional officers are often protected from disclosure.
Pictured: A cell in the Escambia County Jail. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
‘Agriculture Security Is National Security’ — Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Meets With Local Farmers
April 14, 2026
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins met with farmers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on Monday in Jay.
“Having grown up on a family farm, touring Diamond Farm in Santa Rosa County today and spending time with those on the front lines of Florida agriculture was personal for me,” Collins said. “We had critical conversations about the current state of the ag industry, the challenges producers are facing, and the opportunities ahead.”
Collins visited several farms in the Jay area to discuss the challenges that farmers are facing from the economy and climate.
“Supporting our farmers isn’t optional; it’s essential to keeping Florida and America strong,” Collins said. “Agriculture security is national security.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Easter ‘Fields Of Faith’ Is Wednesday Evening At Northview
April 14, 2026
Community members are invited to gather for an evening of worship and celebration as “Fields of Faith” comes to the Northview High School’ Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium stadium on Wednesday.
The event, hosted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), will run from 6 to 8 pm and features a special message from Walnut Hill Baptist Church Pastor Ted Bridges. Attendees will also enjoy live music performed by a band from Walnut Hill Baptist.
Organizers are encouraging children to bring their Easter baskets to join in festivities following the service. The event is free and open to all members of the public.
Pictured: The 2025 Fields of Faith at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Warm And Sunny Days Continue
April 14, 2026
Highs will stay steady in the mid-80s through the work week with plenty of sunshine and light winds. Patchy fog will be a recurring theme during the early morning commutes, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. A slight cooling trend arrives by Sunday as cloud cover increases.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Areas of fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Areas of fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.