Sunny Days, Clear Nights In The Low 60s
September 25, 2026
A cooler and drier air mass moves into the area through the weekend, bringing slightly below normal temperatures and plenty of sunshine.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Calm wind.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Calm wind.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Tate High School Student Abigail Lynch Named National Merit Commended Scholar
September 25, 2026
Tate High School student Abigail Lynch has been recognized as a Commended Student in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.
The designation places Lynch among the highest-scoring students in the nation based on performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which she took during her junior year.
More than 1.2 million high school students across the country enter the program annually. Commended status is reserved exclusively for high performers who finish in roughly the top three to four percent of all test-takers nationwide.
Commended Students receive formal Letters of Commendation presented by their schools in honor of their exceptional academic promise. The national honor serves as a key distinction on college applications and can open the door to specialized corporate and institutional scholarships.
Ransom Middle School Names Students of The Month
September 25, 2026
Ransom Middle School named Carter Jarman and Calleigh Anderson as Students of the Month for August. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Education Chief to Districts: Remove Sexually Explicit Books Before Parents Complain
September 25, 2026
Florida’s education commissioner is directing school districts to set stricter rules for reviewing library and classroom books or face “corrective measures.”
In a seven-page memo sent Wednesday evening, Commissioner Henry Mack told superintendents and charter school leaders to continuously audit books, review their collections and remove instructional materials that contain sexually explicit material, even if a parent or county resident has not submitted a complaint in that district.
“Reactive review,” is insufficient, wrote.
“Make no mistake, the Department will hold districts, and the superintendents who lead them, accountable for failing to protect students from inappropriate content and material,” Mack added.
The Department of Education followed up with its own social media post: “SEXUALLY EXPLICIT and INAPPROPRIATE content has NO PLACE in Florida schools. Florida school districts will be held ACCOUNTABLE for failing to protect our children from this type of content. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
Mack cited a recent school board meeting in Hillsborough County where parents spoke during public comment and recited passages from books in circulation they deemed inappropriate for students, including “Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out” by Susan Kuklin, “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas, and “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison.
“A review that remains incomplete, or that leaves parents to locate the next title, does not meet the duty required of you by statute,” Mack wrote. “Parents should not be required to place this material on the public record for district leadership to examine what is already in circulation.”
Mack wants school districts to cross-check the DOE’s official list of removed books with their own list of instructional materials and library books for review. In his memo, Mack said if a book is included on that list and was removed in another county, a district that has the same book is “required” to review it.
“Several districts, including Clay, Escambia, and Nassau, have already removed or discontinued substantial numbers of titles following review. Delaying until a district becomes the subject of the next public controversy is not an acceptable approach,” Mack wrote.
Current Florida law says a school district can review and remove a book after a complaint has been made that a book is pornographic, obscene or isn’t age appropriate. Books can also be removed as part of a regular selection process in which a media specialist can decide to remove them if they are outdated, rarely circulated or no longer relevant to the curriculum.
School librarians and media specialists are required to go through training to distinguish which books are age appropriate and to “err on the side of caution.” The training instructs librarians and media specialists that if they would not be comfortable reading the passage from the book in a public meeting, to “lean towards” not placing it in a school library.
The law does not explicitly require district personnel to immediately remove the book or to double check the list of already removed books in other districts for preemptive review.
Mack outlined a nine-point plan for the next 90 days for school districts to follow to improve their removals of age-inappropriate books from school shelves.
If a district does not comply, it risks losing state funds, grants, Florida Lottery money or any other funds appropriated by the Legislature.
“A process that depends on a parent discovering explicit material, reading it in a public meeting, and then forcing a district response is not only severely flawed; it is administrative neglect masquerading as either ignorance or ineptitude,” he wrote. “Whatever it may be, it is unacceptable and must end.”
by Ana Goñi-Lessan, The News Service of Florida
Lady Royals Hold Off Hard-Fought Northview Rally in Opening Set, Roll to 3-0 Win
September 25, 2026
The Jay Lady Royals tightened their grip on the top spot in the district Thursday night, sweeping the Northview Lady Chiefs 3-0 in Bratt.
The home-standing Lady Chiefs pushed the district leaders to the limit in a thrilling opening set, trading points down to the wire before Jay edged out a 27-25 victory. From there, the Lady Royals seized control of the momentum, taking the final two sets 25-13 and 25-16 to complete the sweep.
With the win, first-place Jay improved to an impressive 18-1 on the season while Northview slipped to 3-10 overall.
Up next, Northview will travel to Pensacola to take on Escambia on Monday, while Jay will host Pensacola High.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Volleyball Improves To 14-6 With Four-Set Win Over Fort Walton Beach
September 25, 2026
The Tate Lady Aggies picked up an away non-conference victory on September 24, defeating Fort Walton Beach 3-1.
Tate set the pace early by claiming the opening two sets 25-17 and 25-18. Fort Walton Beach answered in a tight third set, edging the Aggies 25-23, before Tate locked down the match with a 25-18 win in set four.
With the win, Tate improved to 14-6 on the season.
The Aggies return home on Monday to host the Milton Panthers at 6:30 p.m. Senior Night festivities will proceed the match.
Friday Night High School Football Schedule
September 25, 2026
Here is the Friday night North Escambia area football schedule, along with one Thursday night score.
FLORIDA
Friday
- Tate At Niceville
- Northview at Holmes County
- Bozeman at Jay
- Escambia at Washington
- Pine Forest at South Walton
- Bay at Pensacola High
- Samson (AL) at Central
- Crestview at Pace
- Fort Walton Beach at Gulf Breeze
- Choctawhatchee at Milton
Thursday
- Pensacola Catholic 45, Destin 8
ALABAMA
- Southern Choctaw at Flomaton
- Rain at W.S. Neal
- Hillcrest (Evergreen) at T.R. Miller
- Escambia Academy at Heritage Christian (Hoover, (AL)
- Escambia County (Atmore) — OPEN
Marilyn Sue Byrd
September 25, 2026
Marilyn Sue Byrd, age 80, of Cantonment, FL, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Marilyn was born on May 3, 1946, in Mobile, AL, to William Casey and Katie Patrick Casey. She lived most her life in Cantonment and Century are, where she was a devoted Christian and attended Atmore First Assembly.
Throughout her life, Marilyn was a hardworking and dedicated woman who served as Vice President of Human Resources at Sacred Heart Hospital for 30 years. She was known for her love of family and her willingness to help others. She enjoyed reading, refinishing furniture, sewing, and doing things for those around her. Marilyn especially treasured spending time with her family and creating lasting memories with those she loved.
Marilyn had a love for the mountains and enjoyed traveling, cooking, especially seafood gumbo. She was also a talented singer and a longtime member of the Brownsville Assembly of God choir. Her faith, love for music, and devotion to her family were important parts of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald J. Byrd; and her brother-in-law, Charles Ray Everett.
She is survived by her two sons, Randy (Brianne) Blackwell of Gulf Breeze, FL, and Brian (Candice) Byrd of Cantonment, FL; her daughter, Casey (Richard) Podeyn of Bend, OR; her brother, Brent Casey of West Sinton, TX; her sister, Renee (Dan) Mack of Cantonment, FL; six grandchildren, Lindsey, Chad, Brandon, Dustin, Aidan, and Katie; six great-grandchildren; special friends, Pippa Nicholson Kuehn, Wanda Peebles, Carol Whittington, and Leann Kimbro; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC on Monday, September 28, 2026, with Reverend Brian Calhoun officiating.
Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Monday, September 28, 2026.
Burial will follow at Serenity Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Ross Everett, Reese Everett, Chad Blackwell, Ben Everett, Jonathan Everett, Dustin Moerler, Brandon Moerler, & Aidan Byrd.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the compassionate staff of Gentiva Hospice and Pruitt Health Care for the loving care, kindness, and support shown to Sue during her final days. Your dedication and compassion will always be remembered and deeply appreciated by her family.
Petty Funeral Homes, LLC of Atmore, AL, is in charge of arrangements.
ECFR Responds To Fire At Chili’s On Nine Mile Road
September 24, 2026
Firefighters responded to a fire at the Chili’s on Nine Mile Road on Thursday morning.
Multiple stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the incident just after 9 a.m. at the restaurant at 529 West Nine Mile Road. Smoke was seen coming from the building.
There were no injuries reported and no word on the cause of the fire.
The restaurant was temporarily closed by the fire.
Additional details have not been released.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Arrested After Alabama Police Chase Ends In Florida
September 24, 2026
A 41-year-old Escambia County man is facing multiple charges after leading law enforcement on an interstate pursuit across the Alabama-Florida state line on Wednesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident began on September 23 when the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office alerted Florida troopers that deputies were pursuing a silver Hyundai Tucson traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 into Escambia County. Alabama authorities reported that the driver had fled a traffic stop and tossed items from the vehicle before crossing state lines.
Troopers responded to I-10 near mile marker 1 around 10:10 a.m. to assist. The pursuit was initially terminated when law enforcement lost sight of the speeding vehicle.
A short time later, officers located the abandoned Tucson at a park off Concordia Boulevard. The driver had fled the scene on foot, but authorities quickly tracked him to a residence on nearby Chimes Way, where he was taken into custody without incident.
FHP identified the driver as Terell Cargill of Pensacola.
A subsequent search of the abandoned vehicle uncovered suspected narcotics. Cargill was arrested by FHP and faces charges in Florida, along with additional pending charges originating from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
No injuries were reported during the pursuit or subsequent arrest.
