Take A Look: $189 Million Proposal For The Future of The Pensacola Bay Center
January 21, 2026
Friday, Escambia County Commissioners will discuss a $189 million plan for the future of a Pensacola Bay Center, including constructing a new multipurpose event center and building a practice ice rink on the current property with projected regional economic impact of $60 million annually
The current Bay Center, which opened in 1985, has a capacity of 8,050 for hockey and 10,000 with a center stage. It currently averages 123 annual events with and attendance of 352,700.
To see the proposal, click here.
The three-part proposal from Legends Global includes:
Pensacola Bay Center (PBC) Improvements $71 million
Exterior upgrades & façade enhancements.
New club seats (between 400 and 600).
2 new club rooms/areas.
Expanded concourses.
Expansion & improvement of F&B and retail spaces & offerings.
New/expanded LED signage offerings.
Back-of-house & central plant improvements and upgrades.
Seamless connectivity to new Practice Ice Rink and Event Center.
New Practice Ice Rink $29.8 million
Attached or connected via enclosed walkway to PBC and Event Center.
one permanent ice sheet (NHL size, 200’ x 85’) with fixed seating for between 600 and 1,000.
4 locker rooms with toilets and showers.
2 coaches/officials rooms.
2 party rooms/flex rooms.
Pro shop/first aid.
Concessions & vending space.
(Optional) Physical therapy/weight room/fitness space.
Small allotment for dryland training space/other amenities (i.e., esports, golf simulator, stickhandling station, etc.).
350 incremental parking spaces needed.
New Event Center $84.4 million
Attached or connected via enclosed walkway to
PBC & Practice Ice Rink.
55,500 net square feet (185’ x 300’), column free, concrete floor, 2 moveable airwalls allowing for subdivision into 3 halls, minimum of 35-foot ceiling height.
6,000 square feet of breakout meeting space.
Warming/prep kitchen.
Enhanced FF&E:
Portable retractable seating for 2,000.
Rollable carpet for one subdivided hall (approximately 18,500 SF).
Portable SportCourt-type athletic surface.
(Alternate) Portable hardwood courts plus climate-controlled storage on-site.
Athletic netting systems & game equipment.
Approx. 105,000 gross square feet (2.4 acres) for facility footprint.
1,200 incremental parking spaces needed.
McDavid Man Charged With Felony Child Abuse
January 21, 2026
A McDavid man was charged in connection with a child abuse investigation that began last summer after a young boy was found with a black eye.
Eugene Quint Geri, 49, is charged with child abuse without great bodily harm. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies began investigating on August 28, 2025, when the victim’s father noticed the child had a black eye and two additional marks on his face. The child told investigators that Geri hit him in the eye with his hand while wearing a watch because the boy was misbehaving at school, according to an arrest report.
The investigation was marked by shifting stories from the boy’s mother, according to the report. She initially told deputies she witnessed Geri discipline the child in a bedroom and saw the injury immediately after. She later changed her account, claiming she lied to protect Geri and suggested the child might have hit his head on a bed.
Geri also provided inconsistent statements, initially claiming he only disciplined the child verbally over the phone before later stating he had done so in person. Investigators noted that while the adults provided conflicting accounts, the child was the only person to provide a consistent statement throughout the process.
Following a review by the Special Victims Unit, a warrant was issued for Geri’s arrest. A judge ordered that he have no contact with the alleged victim.
Geri has entered a not guilty pleas in Escambia County Circuit Court.
County Considers Land Purchase For Stormwater Pond On Desoto Road In Cantonment
January 21, 2026
The Escambia County Commission will consider the purchase of a property on DeSoto Road in Cantonment for a regional stormwater pond.
If approved at a commission meeting on Friday, the county will purchase 6.7 acres at 176 DeSoto Road from William and Jessica Ruzicka for $200,000.
The regional stormwater pond will be built to help with drainage in the area.
Escambia District 1 Beulah Town Hall To Be Held January 29
January 21, 2026
Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger will hold a town hall meeting Thursday, January 29 to discuss county projects and initiatives in the Beulah community. The town hall will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Beulah Church, located at 7561 Mobile Highway.
During the town hall, Commissioner Stroberger will discuss OLF-8 along with upgrades to Beulah Regional Park, the Beulah Senior Citizen Center, and the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Escambia County staff will be in attendance to address any comments or concerns from residents.
The public is invested to attend.
Pensacola Airport Transformed Into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport
January 21, 2026
Pensacola International Airport has partnered with Pensacon for its annual transformation into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport, assuming the temporary name and stellar decor to commemorate the 2026 Pensacon convention scheduled for February 20-22.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announced the temporary change renaming the airport Pensacola Intergalactic Airport on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The signage throughout the terminal highlights iconic comic and science fiction characters and welcome messages.
“Our relationship with the Pensacola Intergalactic Airport has been such a wonderful way to not only promote Pensacon, but also show travelers how great our city is in supporting events like ours. Each year, our celebrity guests are impressed when they come off the plane and feel like they are already immersed in Pensacon,” Pensacon CEO Mike Ensley said.
Pensacon attracts tens of thousands of fans to downtown Pensacola each year. Now entering its 13th year, Pensacon has had a cumulative economic impact of more than $31 million since its first convention in 2014, according to Visit Pensacola research.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Named To Advanced Placement School Honor Roll
January 21, 2026
Tate High School has been recognized for student success in the Advanced Placement program while broadening participation.
The College Board announced that J.M. Tate High School has been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement Program (AP) School Honor Roll, earning Bronze distinction.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
Tate High School had 45% of seniors who took at least one AP Exam during high school, 28% of seniors scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 11% of seniors who took five or more AP Exams.
Tatel offers a robust Advanced Placement program that provides students with meaningful access to college-level coursework. The school currently offers 19 AP courses, taught across 34 sections by 16 highly qualified AP teachers, allowing students to pursue rigorous academic opportunities across multiple subject areas.
“This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and instructional leaders,” said Principal Laura Touchstone. “Being named to the AP School Honor Roll shows that Tate is committed to expanding access to rigorous coursework while ensuring our students are supported to succeed. We are proud of our students for challenging themselves and of our teachers for creating a culture of high expectations, encouragement, and academic excellence.”
“AP gives students an opportunity to engage with college-level work, earn college credit and placement, and build professional career skills they can use no matter what path they choose after high school,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “Congratulations to this year’s AP School Honor Roll recipients for proving it’s possible to expand participation in these rigorous courses and still drive strong performance.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) enables students to pursue college level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both while still in high school. Through AP courses, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue, skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names Students Of The Month
January 21, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School named their November and December students and employee of the month.
November award winners were: Ella Grace Diller, Sanora Martin, Greyson Diz and teacher Kaylee Gibson (pictured above).
December award winners were: Rylan Johnson, Wayne Golson, Hayden Hollingsworth, and employee Courtney Barrow (pictured below).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scattered Showers Persist Through Friday; Strong Cold Front Over The Weekend
January 21, 2026
Clouds will linger over the next few days as multiple rounds of light showers move through the North Escambia area. While Thursday and Friday remain warm with highs near 70, a stronger system arrives Saturday night into Sunday, bringing widespread rain and a few thunderstorms. A sharp cold front follows, plunging temperatures into the 20s by Monday night under clear skies.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Northeast wind around 10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Showers. Low around 51. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 61. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind around 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 46.
Lillian Mayson Laue
January 21, 2026
Lillian Mayson Laue, of Atmore, AL, passed away on January 16, 2026. Lillian was born on February 12, 1928, to the late C. Clifford Mayson and Kathryn F. Bremer. She was a homemaker who enjoyed puzzles, knitting, especially Christmas socks, and was a member of Saint Andrew’s Atmore Anglican Church in Atmore, AL.
Lillian is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles Wheeler Laue; and her sister, June Frances Crawford.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda Bumann, of Atmore, AL; granddaughter, Terri Laue; and great-grandson, Logan Wheeler Roberts.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel in Atmore, AL, with Chaplain Joe Stevens officiating.
Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Active Pallbearers will be Charlie Crawford, Mark Crawford, Cody Crawford, Bob Laue, Richard Booth and David Todd. Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry Houck and Dan Martin.
Two Injured In Gang-Related Shooting Following Atmore MLK Block Party
January 20, 2026
A day of celebration ended in gunfire Monday night as a shooting following an MLK Day block party in atmore left two people injured and investigators searching for those responsible.
According to the Atmore Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Carver Avenue and Ashley Street at approximately 9:06 p.m. on January 19. The shooting occurred shortly after a day-long “MLK Car Meet and Block Party” had concluded. The event had been widely advertised on social media and drew a large crowd to the area.
Patrol officers arrived on the scene in less than one minute to find that over 30 rounds had been fired.
Victims in Stable Condition
Police confirmed two victims suffered gunshot wounds. One of the victims, a male subject, was reportedly shot while attempting to assist another person to safety. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital and are currently listed in stable condition.
Gang Activity Suspected
APD Major Charles Thompson stated that preliminary information suggests the incident is gang-related, a conclusion reached based on evidence gathered by the department’s Narcotics/Vice Unit.
Multiple divisions have been assigned to the case. The department’s Special Response Team is also on standby to execute search or arrest warrants as the investigation progresse, Thompson said.
“This type of senseless violence and complete disregard for human life and public safety will not be tolerated in our community,” Thompson said in a statement.
The Investigation
Detectives are currently reviewing both city-owned and private surveillance footage from the neighborhood. Ballistics experts are also working to trace the more than 30 shell casings recovered from the scene.
The Atmore Police Department is urging anyone with information about the shooting or those involved to contact investigators immediately at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.