Tate FFA Alumni Rodeo Continues Tonight
May 2, 2026
There’s one more chance to see real rodeo action this weekend.
The second night of the 35th Annual Tate FFA Alumni Foundation Rodeo will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway.
Tickets can now be purchased on GoFan. General admission tickets are $15 at the gate, $7 for children. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Regional Class Rural Softball Brackets Set
May 2, 2026
FHSAA Rural Division softball brackets have been released with the schedule for Northview and Jay.
Ranked No. 1, Northview (18-5) will host No. 4 Holmes County (8-16) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Meanwhile, No. 2 Chipley (19-4) will host No. 3 Jay (11-12), also at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 7.
The regional championship will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. If Northview wins, the Lady Chiefs will host, potentially setting up a rematch with Jay.
Regional games are single-elimination.
The state Rural semifinal is May 19, followed by the state championship on May 20, at Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Here’s The Northview Baseball Regional Schedule For Saturday, Possibly Sunday
May 2, 2026
Friday’s game was canceled, leaving the Northview Chiefs with Saturday, and possibly a Sunday game in their quest for a Rural Division semifinal win.
The No. 1 seeded Chiefs (18-8) will host No. 4 Chipley (15-10) at 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. Saturday. If the teams split, a third game will be played at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
A separate ticket will be required for each of Saturday’s games, and the park will be cleared after the first game in accordance with FHSAA rules.
Northview and Chipley met once early in the regular season, with Northview winning 17-3 on February 24.
The Chiefs beat Jay 2-1 on April 17 to claim the district title. Jay will travel to Holmes County for their semifinal game.
Pictured: Northview won the district championship on April 17. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Splash Pad And Pickleball: Ribbon Cut On Upgraded Beulah Park
May 2, 2026
A ribbon cutting was held on Friday for an upgraded Beulah Regional Park.
Park improvements include a new splash pad, four new pickleball courts, new basketball goals, new picnic table pavilions and grills, new fencing, and more. Several ADA upgrades were also made throughout the park, including the addition of two new ADA-compliant parking spaces, sidewalks to and from the parking lot, and improved connectivity to the existing amenities.
“I’m excited to finally reopen Beulah Regional Park and celebrate the completion of long-awaited improvements to the park,” said District 1 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Stroberger said. “Parks are an incredibly important amenity for our community, and I’d like to express my sincere thanks to our county staff for their hard work completing these upgrades for our residents. This park is for everyone in Escambia County, and I look forward to seeing our residents and visitors enjoy it for generations to come.”
Drainage enhancements were also completed throughout the park to minimize areas with standing water and improve overall park aesthetics.
Beulah Regional Park is located at 7820 Mobile Highway. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the splash pad is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gradual Clearing, Windy And Cooler
May 2, 2026
Conditions will rapidly improve on Saturday as a cool breeze from the north brings in drier air. Expect a beautiful Sunday and Monday with plenty of sunshine and a steady warming trend. High pressure will dominate through the early part of the week before moisture returns by Wednesday afternoon, ushering in several days of unsettled weather and potential thunderstorms.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Slight chance of morning showers. Gradual clearing, with a high near 69. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 47. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 73. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Thursday: A 50 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 57.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Create a Special Card For Mom Today At The Molino Library
May 2, 2026
Stop by the Molino Library between 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and make a special card for mom to show just how much you care.
Use the free Mother’s Day Card Creation Station to design a one-of-a-kind card using color paper, stickers, and more.
File image.
Blue Wahoos Rained Out Friday; Double Header On Saturday
May 2, 2026
Friday’s game at Blue Wahoos Stadium between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 4:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Fans planning to attend Friday’s postponed game can exchange their tickets for a future 2026 regular season home game of equal or lesser value at the Blue Wahoos Stadium ticket office. As stated on tickets, no refunds will be given.
Fans with tickets to Saturday’s regularly scheduled game will gain admittance to both games in the doubleheader, in the seats they have been assigned. Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
The Blue Wahoos play the Shuckers again on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m., and continue their homestand on Tuesday as they begin a six-game series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels.
Update: ECSO Says Reported School Bus Incident In Bratt Was A TicTok Challenge
May 1, 2026
A reported suspicious incident involving a 10-year-old student in Bratt that occurred Thursday afternoon has been determined to have been teenagers participating in a TikTok challenge, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said mid-afternoon on Friday.
The Bratt Elementary School student had just gotten off his school bus on North Highway 99 near Highway 168. The incident involved a white vehicle, possibly a Hyundai Santa Fe, occupied by two white males.
According to deputies, the vehicle came to a halt as he exited the school bus, and the passenger reportedly attempted to offer candy to the student. The child immediately notified his parents, who then contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
The parents of both teens and the two teens have been identified and contacted by the ECSO. They are not being charged.
“While this situation did not involve an actual abduction attempt, we want to stress that these types of “pranks” can be extremely dangerous and are taken very seriously. Actions like this can cause fear, prompt emergency responses, and potentially put individuals at risk,” the ECSO said. “We encourage parents to speak with their children about the real-world consequences of participating in social media challenges, especially those involving strangers or minors.”
The child’s mom told NorthEscambia.com on Friday morning that she was terrified by the incident and deeply concerned.
“It scared the hell out of me. It made me feel like someone is targeting children by following buses and getting these kids’ routines and what they do when they get off the bus so they know who to target,” the child’s mother said. “It scared me that something like this could happen in our small little town. Now he has to be back in after school care because some sicko is prowling for children.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the agency appreciates the community’s vigilance and continues to encourage reports of suspicious activity.
Photos and video for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Felon Facing Federal Firearms Indictments
May 1, 2026
A Cantonment felon has been indicted on federal gun charges.
Jesse Allen Hudson, 43, was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
In January, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance on Winston Street in Cantonment. The victim reported that a rifle and pistol had been removed from the home.
Deputies first discovered a loaded AR-style magazine and an empty one on the ground near the back door, positioned next to a pile of Hudson’s clothing, according to an arrest report. A subsequent search of the property revealed a loaded AR-style rifle with a round chambered, hidden inside a white laundry basket within a black trailer parked near the garage. A third loaded magazine was later recovered from another laundry basket inside the living room.
According to the report, Hudson was convicted in Florida of felony battery in 2012.
Hudson appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola. He is set for trial on June 15.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
Northview Lady Chiefs Blank Jay For District Title (With Gallery)
May 1, 2026
The Northview Lady Chiefs shut out the Jay Royals 7-0 on Thursday night to win the Rural District 1 championship — the Lady Chiefs’ second district championship since 2019.
Northview took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and held steady to earn the win in Jay.
Junior Mikayla McAnally was a force in the circle for NHS, allowing only one hit, walking two and striking out 11. Cadee Carroll took the loss for Jay, surrendering seven hits and seven runs (four earned) while walking two and striking out three.
Daviona Randolph went 2-3 at bat with two RBIs to lead the Chiefs at the plate. Riley Brooks also had two RBIs. Emery Vaughn went 1-3 for the Royals.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Thursday night was the seventh consecutive victory for Northview, now 18-5, while Jay dropped to 11-12.
Northview will be at home in Bratt next Thursday for the regional semifinals. The game is currently set for 7 p.m., but coaches are looking to change to a 6 p.m. start. Jay will likely also receive a regional bid that will put them on the road for May 7.
The regional finals for the Rural class will be on May 12, and it’s possible the Royals and Chiefs could meet again. Last season, Northview beat Jay 4-1 for the regional title before finishing as state runners-up.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
