Wahoos Win 5th Straight Behind Matheus’ 4-RBI Night
August 26, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won a back and forth game against the Montgomery Biscuits to open up their final road trip of the season.
With two men on and one down in the top of the first, Brandon Compton stepped into the batter’s box with a 14 game hit streak. When he left the batter’s box, he had a 15 game hit streak and the Wahoos had a 3-0 lead. Compton saw one pitch from Biscuits starter Jackson Baumeister (L, 4-5) and crushed it over the right field wall for his 20th blast with the Wahoos and 31st blast of his minor league season.
This early lead gave Jacob Miller, making his first start since July 24th, some wiggle room and a little time to find his footing. Unfortunately, his defense would not offer him the same wiggle room. After allowing a leadoff double to Mac Horvath, Cooper Kinney hit a groundball to second that Cristian Hernández bobbled and then threw past Dylan Jasso to the dugout, allowing Horvath to score. A couple productive groundouts later, Kinney touched home and it was suddenly 3-2.
The lead would not make it past the second inning, as Mac Horvath knocked an RBI single into right field, scoring JT Arruda and knotting the game up. The Biscuits kept adding in the third when Theo Gillen stole second base. Ryan Ignoffo’s throw trickled into center field, and allowed Gillen to score all the way from first. The Wahoos’ 3-0 lead seemed to have vanished into thin air as Montgomery stormed ahead 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, Pensacola loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit. The first three batters reached on an error, walk, and hit by pitch. Juan Matheus followed those at bats with a single down the right field line, plating two and returning the lead to the Blue Wahoos at 5-4. But Mathesu wasn’t done. After Aiva Arquette led off the seventh with a single, Matheus drove a ball out of the yard to left field, his 9th bomb of the year, and extended the Wahoo lead to 7-4.
Miller got through 2.0 innings in his first start of the IL, and after him, Gabe Bierman (W, 6-2) and Holt Jones ate up the following 5.1 innings without allowing a run to cross. Jack Sellinger took over with one out in the 8th and, after surrendering a double, was struck by a line drive that resulted in an out. After a visit from the athletic trainer, Sellinger was pulled from the game and replaced by Nigel Belgrave (S, 9) with two outs and a man on third. An 0-2 wild pitch allowed the runner to score from third, but Belgrave secured the K to send his team to the 9th up 7-5.
After completing his last four save opportunities, Tuesday night was no different for Nigel. It wasn’t easy though, with the Biscuits scoring on a wild pitch and getting the tying run all the way to third. But Belgrave got it done, getting Cooper Kinney to line out to center, finalizing the game at 7-6.
The Wahoos improved to 70-50 overall and 34-17 in the second half while the Biscuits fell to 62-59 and 27-25. Pensacola is the first Southern League team to reach 70 wins, and their magic number is down to just 12 games.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series with Montgomery on Wednesday night.
written by Charlie Hobert
Wilma Walker Gibson
August 26, 2026
Wilma Walker Gibson was born September 4, 1933, and passed away on August 23, 2026. She was 92 years old.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Louise Walker; by her first husband, Edward Baker, who died tragically in a car accident; her second husband, Gladen Gibson; her brother, James (Sonny) Walker; and a grandson, Michael Baker.
She is survived by one sister, Janis O’Farrell; five children and their spouses: Randy Baker (Judy), John Gibson (Janet), Bryan Gibson (Lynn); Laura Gibson, and Melanie Hinds (Marc).
She also survived by 10 grandchildren: Somer Bridges, Valerie Brock, Amanda Smith, Jesse Gibson, Jake Gibson, Kyle Gibson, Alli Roberts, Leah Binder, John Marc Hinds, Ginny Hinds; and 21 great grandchildren: Luke Bridges, Jackson Bridges, Mason Brock, Lyla Brock, Lincoln Brock, Bryant Smith, Sutton Smith, Tiffany Smith, Harper Smith, Walker Gibson, Lilly Gibson, Grace Gibson, Emma Gibson, Jett Gibson, Kyla Gibson, May Roberts, Harvey Roberts, Chapel Roberts, Bennett Binder, Jacob Hinds, and Viki Hinds.
We could also add to this number many special nieces and nephews that survive her.
She was a long-time faithful member of the Oak Grove Church of Christ in Oak Grove, FL, and in more recent years, the Jones Road Church of Christ in Athens, AL, and the Prattmont Church of Christ in Prattville, Alabama.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 2:15 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Billy Randolph, who works with the Fourth Street Church of Christ in Cullman, AL, officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Grove, FL.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:15 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jake Eskew, Philip McKee, Luke Bridges, Jackson Bridges, Mason Brock, Bryant Smith, Sutton Smith, and Jesse Gibson.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Showers And Thunderstorm Again This Afternoon, Hot And Humid
August 25, 2026
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms can be expected each afternoon this week. Storms will be capable of producing gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Hot conditions continue, with heat indices topping out at around 102-107 degrees each day.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely between 1pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday Night: A chance of thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Century Teen Accused In Fatal Showalter Park Shooting Will Be Tried As Adult, Arrest Report Reveals New Details
August 25, 2026
A 16-year-old Century teen charged with first-degree murder for a deadly shooting at Showalter Park will be tried as an adult, authorities confirmed Monday.
Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Keyunta Iveon Ewing of Mayo Street will be transferred to adult court, with formal charges to be determined at that time. A timetable for the court transfer is not yet known.
Ewing, known locally as “Baby K,” surrendered to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on Friday night, August 21, at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Pensacola. He was booked on an active warrant for first-degree felony murder without premeditation in connection with the August 13 shooting that left 20-something Adarius Da’Shun Odom dead and another young man injured.
Newly released arrest warrant affidavits obtained by NorthEscambia.com reveal extensive details about what investigators say happened leading up to and during the fatal encounter.
The Incident and Scene
At approximately 6:53 p.m. on August 13, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office patrol units were dispatched to Showalter Park at 7890 Kelly Field Road in Century following reports of a shots-fired disturbance.
Arriving deputies located Odom, known as “Daily,” lying on his back behind a white four-door Kia sedan in the parking area between the ball field and playground. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and neck. Escambia County EMS responded to perform life-saving measures, but Odom was pronounced deceased at the scene. Spent shell casings were discovered near his body.
Shortly afterward, a second victim, Da’Quan “Money” Johnson, arrived at Jay Hospital suffering from a through-and-through gunshot wound to his leg. Both Odom and Johnson were members of the 2018 Flomaton High School state championship Hurricanes football team.
While there were no organized activities taking place at Showalter Park at the time, youth football and cheerleading practices were underway nearby at Anthony Pleasant Park, which is connected to Showalter by a wooded trail and footbridge. The sound of multiple gunshots prompted coaches and Century Blackcats Youth Football and Cheerleading organizers to halt practice and clear the park.
Conflicting Statements and Video Evidence
About an hour and a half after the shooting, ECSO investigators interviewed Ewing at the Century Precinct. According to the report, Ewing claimed he had gone to the park to watch a prearranged fistfight between two individuals.
Last week, Sheriff Chip Simmons said a group of seven to eight people, some from Alabama and some from Florida, had gathered at Showalter Park to reportedly fight over a girl.
Ewing told investigators that after the fight, Odom reached into his waistband and stated, “You ain’t going to do that to my boy,” prompting Ewing to run toward the woods. Ewing claimed he heard three gunshots as he ran, followed by approximately four more once he entered the tree line.
During that initial interview, Ewing was wearing a red and gray hoodie and black shorts.
However, investigators executed a search warrant on the cellphone of another witness who had been at the park. Video recovered from the phone showed two males engaging in a fistfight, with Ewing walking around near the end of the recording wearing a pink hoodie and dark-colored shorts.
Witness Accounts Describe Ambush and Robbery
Witness statements provided to investigators contradicted Ewing’s initial claims.
A witness at Jay Hospital told deputies that he had gone to Showalter Park with four of his cousins to settle an argument through a fistfight, stating nobody intended to use a firearm. He reported that after the fight, a shorter male in a hoodie approached one of his cousins with a handgun and attempted to rob him before opening fire the evening of August 13.
On August 15, another witness provided a sworn statement at the ECSO 6th Precinct in Century. The witness stated that after the fistfight ended, the group was standing around talking about playing video games. At that point, the witness said Ewing pulled a handgun from his shorts, pointed it at Odom, and demanded, “Give it up, give it up,” before shouting, “Get the drake, get the drake” — street slang referring to a Draco AK-47 style pistol, according to the report.
The witness told deputies that Odom raised both hands and said, “Hold on bro, you got it,” before Ewing shot Odom four to five times in the chest. The witness stated Johnson was also hit in the leg during the gunfire before they rushed him to Jay Hospital. The witness subsequently identified Ewing from a photo lineup.
On August 19, investigators conducted an interview with another witness at the West Fraser Timber Company sawmill in McDavid. That witness corroborated the account, stating he heard Odom say, “You got it, you got it,” looked over to see Odom with his hands up and Ewing pointing a gun, and watched Ewing open fire before everyone fled. That witness also positively identified Ewing in a photo lineup.
Retaliatory Gunfire and Ongoing Case
The same evening as the homicide, deputies responded around 8:00 p.m. to a separate shots-fired call on Mayo Street, just blocks from the park, where multiple bullet holes were found in a home. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons previously stated investigators believe that home is connected to Ewing and that the gunfire was retaliatory.
Ewing remains held pending his formal transfer and proceedings in adult circuit court.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview FFA Students Take Top Three In Farm Bureau Speech Contest
August 25, 2026
Northview High School FFA took the top spots at the recent Escambia County Farm Bureau Speech Contest.
Grace Oliver (pictured top) earned first place honors, followed by Nathan Gilmore in second place and Payton Coon in third place, all representing the Northview FFA chapter.
Participants delivered a five-minute speech before a panel of agricultural community judges on the topic: “What are some of the proactive, collaborative steps that farmers, ranchers, local communities, and organizations like Farm Bureau can take to help guard against invasive species threatening Florida agriculture?”
As the first-place winner, Oliver will advance to represent Escambia County at the district-level contest on September 18.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Department Of Health Seeks To Drop Four Required School Vaccines
August 25, 2026
The state of Florida wants to remove four immunizations from entry requirements for PreK-12 public and private schools.
The Florida Department of Health is proposing a rule to remove Hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for public school attendance, a move that has been in play for almost a year after Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced his intent to get rid of all vaccine mandates in the state.
The rule, which was approved by Ladapo on Aug. 20, has a 21-day period for public input before final approval. DOH did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
The proposed rule also expands religious vaccine exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs and lets parents and college students opt out of having their records included in the state vaccine database.
Florida currently allows religious exemptions “if immunizations are in conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the child’s parent or guardian,” according to DOH.
Without an exemption, Florida law requires students to receive vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria, rubeola and tetanus to attend K-12 public schools. But the immunizations considered for repeal by DOH are only an agency rule, not in state law, and can be repealed by the agency itself.
Last September, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ladapo called on the Legislature to roll back all vaccine mandates in the state.
“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Ladapo said in Valrico, Hillsborough County, at the time.
“Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I don’t have that right. Your body is a gift from God,” he added.
In response, American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Susan Kressly said the move will put children at risk of getting sick.
“The AAP believes every family should have access to immunizations to keep their community healthy,” Kressly said in a released statement. “Schools are an important part of that community. For many kids, the best part of school is being with friends — sharing space, playing on the playground and trading germs. Close contact makes it easy for contagious diseases to spread quickly.”
Even though the move to repeal all vaccine mandates was supported by DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and then-Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, no legislator filed a bill in any of the multiple legislative sessions in 2026 to remove those requirements from Florida law.
Multiple attempts at a “Medical Freedom” bill that would have expanded vaccine exemptions and mandated doctors to provide an alternate vaccine schedule passed the state Senate but failed to pass the state House.
In December 2025, DOH held an open meeting in Panama City to discuss changing the vaccination requirements for public schools, which Emma Spencer, a director within DOH, said was “grounded in policy based on considerations that favor parental rights and medical freedom.”
Parents’ rights advocates praised the state and also repeated false claims, such as vaccines cause autism, while doctors from around the state pleaded with DOH to reconsider and said it would turn back the clock on medical advancements.
Eehab Kenawy, a Panama City pediatrician, said religious exemptions already exist to allow parents and guardians to opt out of vaccinations for their children.
“You’re not forced. But sending a message to the general public that vaccines are not important, vaccines are not needed, is not the way to do it,” Kenawy said.
by The News Service of Florida
Cantonment Man Who Fled Traffic Stop And Hid In Air Duct Sentenced To Jail
August 25, 2026
A Cantonment man arrested earlier this year after hiding in an air duct following a traffic stop has been sentenced to jail time.
Kevin Jacob Moore, 36, entered a plea of no contest in Escambia County Circuit Court to possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, operating while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and a lesser offense of failure to obey a law enforcement officer.
Moore was originally charged with felony fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with active lights and sirens, but prosecutors amended the charge down to the lesser offense of failure to obey.
Judge Amy P. Brodersen adjudicated Moore guilty on all three counts and sentenced him to 11 months and 15 days in the county jail on each count, to run concurrently, with credit for five days already served. His driver’s license was also revoked.
The charges stem from a February 15, 2026, incident when an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop at Palafox Road and East Roberts Road after pacing Moore’s vehicle at 56 mph in a 45 mph zone. Moore refused to provide his identification and documentation before telling the deputy, “I’m out,” and speeding away through a red light at East Kingsfield Road.
Deputies tracked the vehicle to a residence on Turnberry Road in Cantonment. After receiving consent to search the home, deputies discovered Moore hiding inside an air duct in the hallway. A K9 search of the vehicle later alerted to narcotics, uncovering crack cocaine near the driver’s seat. A records check also revealed Moore had multiple previous convictions for driving with a suspended license.
DeSantis Announces New Restrictions On ‘Inappropriate’ Temporary Cash Assistance Purchases
August 25, 2026
Florida is set to become the first state in the nation to restrict how recipients spend state cash welfare benefits, banning the purchase of luxury, entertainment, and non-essential goods and services.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the state will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan to prohibit Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) funds from being used directly on items such as tobacco, video games, theme park tickets, and tattoos.
“Florida has become the first in the nation to set guardrails on our TANF State Plan to stop these taxpayer-funded benefits from being used to purchase inappropriate, luxury, and non-essential goods and services,” DeSantis said. “Taxpayer-funded assistance should help families put food on the table, keep the lights on, purchase clothing, provide for their children and overcome barriers on the path toward independence. We will continue supporting Floridians who genuinely need assistance, while working to improve accountability and transparency so that these programs operate as intended.”
- Under the revised state plan, TCA benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
- Drugs and intoxicants
- Pornography
- Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admissions, and streaming or entertainment subscriptions
- Tattoos, spa services, tanning, and other luxury personal care
- Psychic and fortune-telling services
TCA benefits are distributed via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to help low-income families cover basic necessities, including food, housing, utilities, clothing, and household essentials. The average household enrolled in the program receives about $250 per month. Florida also directs TANF funding to its Relative Caregiver Program, which supports caregivers for more than 4,000 children statewide.
“Temporary Cash Assistance is designed to provide families with flexibility during times of need, and these commonsense changes preserve that flexibility while strengthening the integrity of the program,” said Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary Kate Williams. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to ensure government assistance serves as a bridge to greater stability and independence while safeguarding taxpayer resources.”
Florida law already restricts EBT cards from being used for alcohol or processed at casinos, gaming facilities, adult entertainment venues, pari-mutuel betting sites, and bingo halls, with point-of-sale and ATM blocks managed by the state’s EBT vendor. The new policy broadens item- and category-level restrictions at authorized retailers.
State officials noted the policy also aligns with the state’s broader self-sufficiency and public assistance initiatives.
The changes follow recent nutritional restrictions under Florida’s Healthy SNAP initiative, which took effect in April 2026 to ban the use of SNAP benefits for soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed prepared desserts.
State officials said the new TCA spending restrictions will roll out in phases, starting with SNAP-authorized retailers before expanding item-level transaction controls across additional merchants and service providers.
Learn To Do Business With Escambia County At Upcoming Event
August 25, 2026
The Escambia County Office of Purchasing is hosting a free open house for current vendors and anyone interested in learning more about doing business with Escambia County on Wednesday, Septempber 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The open house will take place in the Escambia County Purchasing Office, located on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place.
Representatives from Escambia County, Apex Accelerator, and the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce will be in attendance to meet with vendors and discuss services and upcoming projects. Purchasing staff will be available to answer questions about the procurement process, registering as a vendor, and more.
Attendees are encouraged to register prior to the event. Register here via Eventbrite.
For questions or more information, please contact the Office of Purchasing at 850-595-4980 or purchasing@myescambia.com.
Martha Lynn (Mimi) Davis
August 25, 2026
Martha Lynn (Mimi) Davis, 74, of Davisville, FL, passed away on August 24, 2026. She was born on October 12, 1951, to A.D. Beasley and Rosie Dortch in Atmore, AL.
Lynn was employed in the nursing field and was of the Baptist faith.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Mimi is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, John Calvin Davis Jr; and her son, John Calvin “Little John” (Sandy) Davis III of Davisville, FL. She is also survived by two brothers, Jerry (Ruth) Beasley of Middlebury, IN; Larry (Janet) Beasley of Destin, FL; two grandchildren, Cassie Lynn Davis of Atmore, AL, Callie Rose Davis (Dylan Wall) of Atmore, AL, and a great-granddaughter, AvaLaine Rose Wall; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
The family requests colorful clothing and no black.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. James Boyd officiating.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Inurnment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.