FCA Game Changer Awards Presented To Local Athletes
April 26, 2026
This week, the Northwest Florida Fellowship of Christian Athletes presented their “Game Changer” awards to local high school athletes.
The awards honored their participation in flag football, lacrosse, and tennis. The winners were chosen by their teammates based upon their integrity, dedication, character, and FCA values.
Lacrosse:
- Abigayle Keever- Tate
- Ashley Saiter- Gulf Breeze
- Graham Pennington- Gulf Breeze
- Maisy Archangel- Milton
- Gavin Archangel- Milton
- Gretchen Lamar- Pensacola
- Ella Adams- Pensacola Catholic
- Dade Cutter- Pensacola Catholic
Tennis:
- Manera Lampe- Escambia
- Christian Villarreal- Escambia
- Lilly Dye- Milton
- Winston Ward- Milton
- Zella Trahan- Pensacola
- Cash Schweigert- Pensacola
- Mayan Chavan- Pensacola Catholic
- Gavin Tubban- Pensacola Catholic
- Syndey Grace Hudspeth- Washington
- Linxi Niedbala- West Florida HS
- Jack Cavnar- West Florida HS
Girls Flag Football:
- Makenzie Levins- Northview
- Rivers Gurney- Gulf Breeze
- Aurianna Luckett- Pine Forest
- Dani Slattery- Washington
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Extra-Inning Thriller in Montgomery
April 26, 2026
Brendan Jones led the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to their first extra-inning win of the season on Saturday night, driving in a pair of crucial runs in a 3-1, 10-inning victory over the Montgomery Biscuits.
Jones opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run, and delivered the eventual game-winning hit with an RBI single to lead off the top of the 10th inning.
In between, the Blue Wahoos and Biscuits played a crisp, competitive pitchers’ duel. Karson Milbrandt became the first Pensacola pitcher this season to complete 6.0 innings, allowing just a run on two hits while striking out six, and Montgomery’s Garrett Edwards completed 7.0 innings by retiring 16 men in a row after a second-inning Cristian Hernández double.
The Biscuits tied the game 1-1 on a fifth-inning solo homer from Xavier Isaac, his third of the series. As the Blue Wahoos turned the game over to the bullpen, Justin King and Logan Whitaker (W, 2-0) kept the game tied to force extras.
In the 10th, Jones greeted Biscuits reliever Alexander Alberto (L, 0-1) with a quick RBI single to bring home placed runner Fenwick Trimble for a 2-1 Blue Wahoos lead. Dillon Lewis followed with an opposite-field RBI triple off the top of the right field wall for added insurance.
Whitaker returned for the bottom of the 10th and retired the Biscuits in order to preserve the 3-1 win.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Biscuits on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Cantonment Murder Suspect Extradited From Arizona; Shooting Linked To Winning $20K Sports Bet
April 25, 2026
The suspect in a March Cantonment homicide who was later arrested in Arizona had been extradited and is now in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
Devaughn Kentrell Williamson, 29, is accused of shooting Tyshawn McDowell in the chest during an incident at a residence on Booker Lane. He was located on April 17 at a bus stop in Phoenix with a bus ticket in his pocket for El Paso, Texas, according to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. The sheriff said he had cut off his dreads, which were in a bag in his possession (pictured bottom), and he also had a handgun (pictured below).
He was captured with the assistance of a U.S. Marshals Task Force. He is being held in the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona, before being extradited back to Escambia County.
First Report
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies responding to a deadly missiles call on Booker Lane on March 4, 2026, discovered blood and shell casings at the scene, along with a bloody firearm discarded in a nearby wooded area.
After deputies spoke with the reporting person, they first developed Williamson as the possible victim and were unable to locate him. On March 6 at 8:30 a.m., Williamson was located at Carver Park on Webb Street and he told deputies that he was fine and elected to leave after a fight with his girlfriend, according to the report. He also told deputies that he had no knowledge of anything occurring, and that it had nothing to do with him.
Victim Reported Missing
At 1 p.m on March 6, Tyshawn McDowell was reported missing by his mother who told deputies that family members had attempted unsuccessfully to contact him. She told deputies that McDowell was last know to be going to meet with Williamson because Williamson’s twin brother owned him approximately $20,000 from a winning sports bet.
McDowell’s brother received a Facebook call from someone wishing to remain anonymous and stating that McDowell had been shot and was dead, the report continues.
GPS Tracker and Bloody Palmprint
A GPS tracker place by an automotive company was used to locate McDowell’s 2016 Nissan Altima on Greek Cemetery Road east of Robertsdale, Alabama. Investigators located the vehicle on the side of the road and observed blood inside and outside the car. Florida deputies learned the vehicle had previously been stopped by a Baldwin County deputy, and Williamson was the driver and sole occupant. The Alabama deputy noted money scattered around the floorboard in the car.
Also on March 6, investigators determined that palm prints on the bloody weapon’s magazine belonged to Williamson.
Victim’s Phone Data Leads To His Body
ECSO obtained geolocation records for McDowell’s phone, tracing its path from Booker Lane in Cantonment, along Highway 112 in Baldwin County where the phone was stationary for 15 minutes before moving back to Pensacola. Based upon the cellular data from the victim’s phone, investigators conducted a search and located McDowell’s body in a secluded wooded area just north of Highway 112 near Goodlander Road. He had a single gunshot wound to the chest.
An arrest warrant for second degree murder was obtained for Williamson.
Library Winter Book Sale Is Saturday And Sunday
April 25, 2026
The Friends of the West Florida Public Library 2026 Spring Big Book Sale is continuing on Saturday and Sunday at the Downtown Library.
The big book sale is for readers of all ages with books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs. Selections cover a wide variety of genres including plenty of family-friendly options.
Sale Highlights:
- Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, April 26, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – $7.00 for a bag of books
- Location: Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola
- Admission: Saturday and Sunday’s admission is FREE for all shoppers.
- Items for Sale: Hardback and softback Books (Fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, biographies, Young Adult, children’s), Paperbacks, Religious, Foreign Language, Travel, Crafts, Holidays and Cooking. The Collectors’ Corner features books by local authors, books about our area/history and specialty books (all individually priced). Multimedia includes CDs, DVDs, Vinyl and Audio Books.
- Cash or Credit Cards accepted.
The Big Sink: Cat Excavator Nearly Disappears Into Soft Ground Along Highway 29
April 25, 2026
Recovery crews spent the better part of Friday night extricating a Caterpillar excavator that was swallowed by the earth alongside Highway 29 in Cantonment.
Authorities stated the machinery was unoccupied when it began to disappear into the unyielding mud for an unknown reason.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
The incident occurred adjacent to the southbound lanes of Highway 29, just north of Power Road.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Patchy Fog Tonight, Slight Chance Of Showers Again Sunday Afternoon
April 25, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A slightt chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Hundreds Go ‘Casual for Kids’ To Benefit Ronald McDonald House
April 25, 2026
On Friday, hundreds took part in “Casual for Kids,” an annual event to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
On Friday, thousands along the Gulf Coast wore their t-shirts to help continue the RMHC mission of keeping families close.
In North Escambia, teachers and staff at Tate High School and Ernest Ward Middle School took part and went casual to support RMH, as did employees at International Paper in Cantonment. The Tate High Senior Executive Board created a hallway display seen here for the event.
Pictured top and bottom, Tate High School teachers and staff took part in “Casual for Kids” on Friday. Pictured first below: Ernest Ward Middle School also took part. Pictured second below: International Paper in Cantonment participated. Pictured third below: The Tate High Senior Executive Board created a hallway display for the event. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Season Ends For Tate Aggies With Heartbreaking Regional Loss To Tocoi Creek
April 25, 2026
The season came to an end on Friday night for the Tate Aggies as they lost 2-1 at home to the Tocoi Creek Toros of St. Augustine in the 6A Regional quarterfinals.
Bryton McLellan was first up on the hill for the Aggies, surrendering seven hits and two runs in four and one-third innings, walking one and striking out four. Lance Brady pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and no runs, striking out three and walking one.
Connor Dethlefs went 1-2 with one RBI for Tate. Cooper Halfacre and Aydan Nigam each added one hit.
Tate ended the season at 20-8.
Tocoi Creek advances to face Pace in the best-of-three regional semifinals on May 1-2.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Beshears, Blue Wahoos Beat Biscuits 7-2
April 25, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos tied a season high with 10 hits and beat the Montgomery Biscuits 7-2 on Friday night.
Dillon Lewis opened the scoring for the Blue Wahoos with a solo homer in the second inning, his team-leading fourth of the season.
Jay Beshears delivered the biggest hit of the night, a two-run triple in the fourth inning, to extend the Pensacola lead to 3-0. Jackson Baumeister (L, 0-1) would surrender another run in the fifth inning on a Fenwick Trimble double play grounder before departing with 4.2 innings of four-run ball.
Pensacola starter Brandon White was one out away from qualifying for his first Double-A win, but gave up a two-out, two-run single to Will Simpson in the bottom of the fifth inning. Colby Martin (W, 1-0) entered to escape the jam, and ultimately worked 2.1 hitless innings of relief to earn the win for himself.
The Blue Wahoos tacked on three more runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Ryan Ignoffo to cap a three-hit night, to make things easier for Nigel Belgrave (S, 2). The Pensacola reliever, who entered with a two-run lead in the eighth, closed out the 7-2 win with a perfect ninth.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer
New Escambia Schools Web Page To Help Parents And Students With Middle School Transition
April 25, 2026
A new page one the Escambia County Public Schools website provides a centralized hub or parents and students making the transition to middle school.
“Your Middle School Journey,” is accessible on the ECPS website and centralizes critical information, resources, and timelines related to the middle school experience.
The new page serves as a comprehensive hub for topics including:
- Academic Programs: An overview of middle school curricula, elective course options, and academic planning resources.
- School Information: Links to individual middle school websites, contact information, and details on school-specific orientation events.
- Support Services: Information on student counseling, academic support, and extracurricular activities available to 6th-grade students.
- Timeline and Key Dates: A clear schedule of important dates, such as open houses, transition workshops, and registration deadlines.
“The shift to middle school is a significant milestone for our students and their families. We understand that navigating new schools, courses, and schedules can be challenging,” said Superintendent Keith Leonard. “This new web page is part of our commitment to smoothing that transition by providing clear, reliable, and accessible information exactly when our families need it. It is designed to empower parents and students to feel confident and fully prepared for the exciting opportunities that middle school offers.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.