Send Us Your Back To School Photos!
August 12, 2026
It’s the first day of school in Escambia County, and we want to share your photos in our annual back to school gallery.
Send us your back to school photos. Submit the photos on the back to school post on our Facebook page or on Twitter @northescambia. You can also email your photos to news@northescambia.com. Please submit your photos before 7 p.m. on Wednsday.
(Teachers, bus drivers and staff can submit their photos too!)
Please limit identifying information in the photos. Be cautious and don’t include house numbers (like may be by your door), or streets signs. Use only first names.
We’ll publish as many photos as we can in our back-to-school photo galleries on Thursday.
Pictured: A few of last year’s back to school photos. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
ALEA Identifies Atmore Man Killed In Baldwin County Crash
August 12, 2026
An Atmore man has died from injuries sustained in a multi-vehicle crash in Baldwin County last week, according to Alabama State Troopers.
James H. Archie, 66, passed away at USA Health University Hospital in Mobile.
According to Troopers, Archie was critically injured around 11:06 a.m. Monday, August 3, when the 2013 Hyundai Sonata he was driving struck a 2005 Honda CR-V driven by Logan B. Holcomb, 26, of Milton, Florida.
Following the initial impact, Archie’s vehicle collided with a 2004 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Katrina M. Brown, 53, of Fairhope.
Archie was transported to the hospital in Mobile, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Brown was also injured in the wreck and was transported to North Baldwin Hospital in Bay Minette for treatment.
The crash occurred on HIghway 31 near the 23-mile marker, approximately one mile north of the Bay Minette city limits.
Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the crash.
File photo.
Alabama Troopers Identify Flomaton Man Killed In Tractor, Semi Crash
August 12, 2026
Alabama State Troopers have identified the Flomaton man killed in a two-vehicle crash involving a tractor last week in Escambia County.
James R. Ward, 72, was fatally injured when the 1977 John Deere 4430 tractor he was operating, which was towing a hay baler, was struck in the rear by a 2014 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Daniel L. Wilson, 43, of Quincy, Florida. Ward was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Wilson was also injured and was transported to D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton for medical treatment.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:50 p.m. Thursday, August 6, on Alabama 113 near the 11 mile marker, approximately 11 miles north of the Flomaton city limits.
Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the crash.
File photo.
Sunny, Hot And Humid For The First Day Of School
August 12, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area back to school forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Slight chance of an afternoon ahower. Heat index values as high as 107. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 107. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 96.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
School Street In Jay Closed For Emergency Water Well Repairs
August 12, 2026
School Street at Highway 89 in Jay will be closed beginning on Tuesday.
The Town of Jay will be conducting emergency repairs on a water well at the intersection. A large crane will be in place on School Street, and both lanes will be closed to traffic.
The roadway is expected to open by Tuesday, August 18 at 5 p.m.
Parents will be able to access student pickup and drop-off from the Springs Street side of School Street.
Tate Lady Aggies Sweep Washington Wildcats In Preseason Volleyball Action
August 12, 2026
The Tate High School Lady Aggies opened their preseason volleyball schedule Tuesday evening in a Preseason Classic at Pensacola Catholic High School, taking on the Washington Wildcats.
he Lady Aggies set a strong tone for the upcoming fall campaign, securing a dominant sweep in two sets, 25-17 and 25-11.
After building an early lead and controlling the pace in the opening set, Tate pulled away decisively in the second to put the match out of reach.
Wahoos Power Past Shuckers In Dominant 12-0 Win
August 12, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began a crucial road series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a decisive win on Tuesday night, hitting three homers and allowing only four hits in a 12-0 victory.
Three key Blue Wahoos returned from the injured list, and all three made meaningful contributions. Shortstop Aiva Arquette was 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk, catcher Ryan Ignoffo was 2-for-5, and reliever Logan Whitaker worked a scoreless inning in his first game action since late May.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios allowed only a hit over 4.0 scoreless innings, and was staked to an early lead when Dylan Jasso’s RBI single in the second inning was followed by a Colby Shade three-run homer for a 4-0 edge. The Blue Wahoos tacked on two more in the third inning on a Cristian Hernández homer, and Arquette’s homer in the fourth inning extended the lead to 7-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Blue Wahoos chased Shuckers starter Jaron DeBerry (L, 7-6) with a single and a walk. Both came in to score, as Jasso lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Juan Matheus drew a bases-loaded walk against reliever Anthony Flores for a three-run inning and a 10-0 lead.
Late RBI singles from Payton Green in the seventh and Matheus in the ninth gave the Pensacola offense a dozen runs on the night.
Holt Jones (W, 3-0), Whitaker, Jaydenn Estanista and Nigel Belgrave picked up where Palacios left off, and each chipped in for a combined four-hit shutout.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos lead the second half South Division race by 3.0 games over both Columbus and Montgomery with 29 games to play in the regular season.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Carrie Miller
August 12, 2026
Carrie Miller, age 79, passed away on August 8, 2026, in Pensacola, FL. She was born on February 16, 1947, in Pensacola, FL, as the fourth child of Russell and Melba Tharp.
Carrie grew up in the Warrington area of Pensacola, FL. She was the daughter of Naval Master Chief Russell Tharp. She obtained her LPN medical license in 1965 and continued nursing for 37 years. She worked at Baptist and West Florida Hospitals and several nursing homes across the Gulf Coast area. She loved her family dearly and witnessed to others about her profound faith in Jesus. She loved crafting, sewing, playing softball, knitting, cooking, and singing. She was 100% an extrovert who never met a stranger without a smile.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Caroline Ognibene, and her brother, Herbert Tharp.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jerry Miller; her brother, Calvin Tharp; her sister, Joyce (Mike) Ungerman; and her daughters: Petressa (Scott) Wynn, Michelle (Greg) Owen, and Christine Holden. Carrie had 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Many family members and friends will sadly miss her. She was dearly loved by all!
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery. A procession from Olive Baptist Church Warrington Campus will leave promptly at 1:45 p.m.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until noon prior to services.
Back To School: Escambia District Aiming To Hold Onto Historic ‘A’ Rating
August 11, 2026
Wednesday is the first day of school in Escambia County, and this year school is starting with a loftier goal — maintain the school district’s first A grade in recent memory.
In the school grades released by the state on July 1, 83% of ECPS schools upheld or exceeded past years’ performances. Overall, 19 ECPS schools earned an “A”, 16 schools earned a “B”, or 17 schools earned a “C”. No Escambia County schools earned a grade of D or F. This marked a third year of increases in the number of A and B schools in the district.
Tate High School reached a historic milestone, earning its first-ever “A” school grade. The achievement marked the first time a traditional high school in Escambia County Public Schools has earned the state’s highest accountability rating.
Blue Angels Elementary, Lipscomb Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Beulah Middle, Ernest Ward Middle and Tate High each raised their grades from “B”s last year to “A”s. Scenic Heights Elementary increased from a C to an A. Montclair Elementary has increased its grade from an F to an A in three years. Lincoln Park Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, Ferry Pass Middle and Workman Middle all raised their grades from Cs to Bs, while Navy Point Elementary had the greatest increase in points, with its school grade increasing from a D to a B.
Mathematics scores increased at rates surpassing the recently announced state increases, with the middle school Algebra pass rate now leading the state average increases by 6% and the 9th grade Algebra pass rate matching the state average for the first time.
Escambia County Public Schools’ middle school acceleration rate was again among the highest in the state, increasing from 87% to 89%. The middle school acceleration rate measures proficiency on high-school-level courses taken by middle school students, such as Algebra and Biology, as well as high-school-level industry certifications earned by middle school students. For the first time, the middle school Algebra EOC pass rate exceeds the state average.
Here are the individual school grades:
Elementary Schools
- A. K. Suter Elementary School — A
- Bellview Elementary School — A
- Beulah Elementary School — B
- Blue Angels Elementary School — A
- Bratt Elementary School — B
- Brentwood Elementary School — C
- Byrneville Elementary School — C
- C. A. Weis Elementary School — C
- Cordova Park Elementary School — B
- Ensley Elementary School — C
- Ferry Pass Elementary School — B
- Global Learning Academy — C
- Hellen Caro Elementary School — B
- Jim Allen Elementary School — B
- Kingsfield Elementary School — B
- L. D. McArthur Elementary School — B
- Lincoln Park Elementary School — B
- Longleaf Elementary School — B
- Molino Park Elementary — A
- Montclair Elementary School — A
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School — C
- N. B. Cook Elementary School — A
- Navy Point Elementary School — B
- O. J. Semmes Elementary School — C
- Oakcrest Elementary School — C
- Pensacola Beach Elementary School — A
- Pine Meadow Elementary School — A
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School — A
- R. C. Lipscomb Elementary School — A
- Reinhardt Holm Elementary School — B
- Scenic Heights Elementary School — A
- Sherwood Elementary School — C
- Warrington Elementary School — C
- West Pensacola Elementary School — C
Middle Schools
- Bellview Middle School — C
- Beulah Middle School — A
- Brown Barge Middle School — A
- Ernest Ward Middle School — A
- Ferry Pass Middle School — B
- J. H. Workman Middle School — B
- Jim C. Bailey Middle School — B
- Ransom Middle School — A
High Schools
- Escambia High School — C
- J. M. Tate Senior High School — A
- Northview High School — C
- Pensacola High School — C
- Pine Forest High School — C
- Washington Senior High School — C
- West Florida High School/Technical — A
Other
- Beulah Academy Of Science — A
- Escambia Virtual Academy Franchise — B
- Pensacola State College Charter Academy — A
- Warrington Preparatory Academy — C
Escambia Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera Submits Resignation
August 11, 2026
Escambia County Library Director Christal Bell-Rivera submitted her resignation on Monday without explanation.
Bell-Rivera’s last day on the job will be September 9.
In early March, the Escambia County Commission affirmed County Administrator Wes Moreno’s decision to hire Bell-Rivera as library services director, rejecting recommendations from the West Florida Library Board of Governance (BOG) that ranked two other candidates higher.
The administrator’s decision came under fire because Bell-Rivera did not meet minimum qualifications at the time because she lacked a master’s degree in library science. She has since received the degree.
She had been appointed interim director by Moreno after the retirement of Todd Humble in November 2025.