Local Schools Say ‘Thanks’ On National Bus Driver Day
April 29, 2026
Tuesday was National Bus Driver Appreciation Day, with local schools taking the time to thank those who safely transport students to and from school each day.
At Ransom Middle School, the PTSA honored school bus drivers with breakfast from Wawa, and Lipscomb Elementary School welcomed bus drivers to school with a large banner.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Midweek Scattered Showers Give Way to Heavier Rain Friday Night
April 29, 2026
Wednesday will see a mix of sun and clouds before potential storms move in later today. An active weather pattern settles in for the second half of the week, bringing high rain chances and cooler temperatures through Saturday. Expect a significant clearing trend by Sunday, leading into a bright and warming start to the workweek.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then showers likely between 1pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 69. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 54. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Escambia River Dropping Closer To Historic Low
April 29, 2026
Rivers in the North Escambia area are dropping closer to historic lows as the area is currently in an extreme drought.
At Century, the Escambia River was at 2.69 feet and falling at 11 p.m. Tuesday; the all-time record low level was 1.30 feet in 1954. The Perdido River at Barrineau Park was at 1.34 feet Tuesday night. Low water records for the Perdido River are not available.
During a 50-to-100-year drought in July 2011, the Escambia and Perdido rivers were at 2.90 and 1.30 feet, respectively.
Rain chances into the weekend, especially upstream in Southern Alabama, may bring the river levels up.
Pictured: The Escambia River at Century on Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Prison Inmate Convicted Of Writing Letter Threatening Pensacola Federal Judge
April 29, 2026
Christopher Summers, 58-year-old Florida Department of Corrections inmate, has been convicted of mailing threatening communications to a federal judge in Pensacola.
Court documents and evidence presented at trial revealed that in October 2024, Summers sent a handwritten letter addressed to a Federal District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the Federal Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. In the letter, Summers wrote in part:
“I am writing this letter to you in hopes that you will know what it feels like to be helpless when you know for fact that you’re going to either be beaten so badly you’ll never function like a normal person again, or be killed. I’m very driven to have you killed, even if I’ve got to do it myself when I get out and back to Pensacola. I thought I’d have to wait until I got out, but now that I’ve thought about it I realize that I can have it done now. As soon as I leave this prison and get back to my perminet [sic] camp I’ll get on one of the many cell-phones there and green light a hit on you … Hell if I have to I’d shoot your head off as you pull in to that gate at the Court house, I can do it from that park next door. I don’t care if I get more time or even killed. As long as I get you first. So how dose [sic] it feel to know who is going to be responsible [sic] for your life, yet not be able to stop it or do anything about it?”
“When threatening statements exceed the legal bounds of constitutional Free Speech, my office will not hesitate to aggressively prosecute those criminal threats to ensure they do not have the opportunity to ripen into acts of violence,” said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. “Criminal threats directed at public officials are becoming alarmingly more common, and this must stop now. We have zero-tolerance for such criminality in the Northern District of Florida and will seek maximum punishments to keep our public officials safe”
At trial, counsel for Summers claimed that Summers wrote the letter as part of his mental health therapy, and that Summers never intended to mail the letter. However, the Government’s case revealed that mental health therapy did not include threatening letters; that the prison takes steps to ensure that inmates do not inadvertently send letters to the courts; and that Summers told another inmate his desire to have the Judge killed. The jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict.
Summers faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2026, before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II, in Pensacola.
Click images to enlarge.
Today: Fresh Produce on Wheels From Millie Mobile Market In Molino
April 29, 2026
The Millie Mobile Market is scheduled to be in Molino on Wednesday with a variety of fresh produce.
Millie will be at the Molino Community Center (Molino Library) at 6450 North Highway 95A from noon until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 272. Future visits are planned for April 29, May 6, and May 20.
During the Molino visits, Millie will offer a menu of fresh produce at discounted prices (see list below).
Millie travels routes throughout Feeding the Gulf Coast’s Florida service area, addressing pockets of low food access (food deserts) where supermarkets are scarce, to provide community members the opportunity to buy affordable fresh produce and other nutritious foods at a significantly discounted rate. Feeding the Gulf Coast collaborates with local farmers to purchase produce when available specifically for the Millie Mobile Market.
Only debit or credit cards (including tap-to-pay) are accepted at Millie; no cash.
Pictured: A previous Millie Mobile Market visit at the Molino Library. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview And Jay Earn Mercy Rule Wins To Advance To Softball District Championship
April 29, 2026
The Northview Lady Chiefs and the Jay Royals both claimed mercy rule wins in the Rural District 1 softball semifinals on Tuesday.
No. 1 Northview and No. 2 Jay will play for the district championship on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Jay.
Northview 14, Baker 1
Junior Kylee Langham had a big day Tuesday as the Northview Chiefs won their district semifinal 14-1 in five innings over the Baker Gators in Jay.
Langham went a perfect 4-4 with a home run, four runs, and five runs batted in. Her three-run home run to center field came in the bottom of the fourth. Daviona Randolph also went an incredible 4-4 for the Lady Chiefs, with three RBIs, two runs, and a stolen base.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Mikayla McAnally opened in the circle for the Lady Chiefs, giving up just one hit and no runs in three innings, walking none and striking out eight. In relief, Peyton Womack allowed no hits and one unearned run, and recorded two strikeouts while walking two.
Womack also went 2-4 at the plate.
Northview heads into the district championship at 17-5, while Baker’s season ended at 9-12.
Jay 14, Paxton 0
The Jay Royals shut out the Paxton Bobcats 14-0 in five innings.
Mylee Frazier hit a grand slam to center field in the second inning as she went 2-2 for the Royals. Emery Vaughn went 3-for-4 for the Lady Royals, while Kaylee Gilbreath, Cadee Carroll, and Kylei Martinez each added multiple hits.
Ella Samford earned the win for Jay, giving up one hit and no runs in a complete game five innings, walking two and striking out seven.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Fall To Pace In District Semis
April 29, 2026
The Tate Aggies fell 7-1 to the No. 1 Pace Patriots on Tuesday in the 6A District 1 semifinals at Pace.
Kaylyn Relstab went for three innings in the circle for the Lady Aggies, allowing six runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out one and walking two. Faith Middleton pitched three, allowing three hits and one run, striking out one and walking one.
Taylor Robinson went 1-for-3 at the plate with one RBI, and Breylyn Morris went 2-for-3 to lead the Aggies in hits.
The season ended at 10-14 for the Lady Aggies, while Pace (21-4) advances to the district championship on Thursday against No. 2 Navarre (13-9).
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
U.S. Postal Employee In Escambia County Indicted For Mail Theft
April 29, 2026
An Escambia County mail handler has been indicted on federal charges.
Divincent M. Madison, Jr., 25, was indicted for one count of delay or destruction of U.S. Mail, one count of theft of U.S. Mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
He faces up to five years in federal prison on each count and is set for trial on May 18, in Pensacola.
Additional details on the allegations were not provided by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin as he announced the indictment.
Lewis Jr. Homers, But Bullpen Falters In Loss To Shuckers
April 29, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos twice came back from early deficits in their homestand opener against the Biloxi Shuckers on Tuesday night, but surrendered five late runs in a 7-2 loss.
Jacob Miller turned in his best start of the season, allowing one earned run over 5.2 innings for the Blue Wahoos. The Shuckers scored an unearned run in the second inning on a Brendan Jones fielding error and Blake Burke RBI groundout, but the Blue Wahoos answered in the home half on a Fenwick Trimble RBI single.
Burke homered off Miller in the top of the sixth to put Biloxi ahead 2-1. It was the league-leading eighth of the season for Burke, with four coming against the Blue Wahoos.
Ian Lewis Jr. answered in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the seventh, lacing a game-tying home run to left field off Shuckers reliever Jesús Broca (W, 1-1). It was the first at the Double-A level for Lewis Jr., who homered six times in 2025.
The Shuckers took the lead for good in the top of the eighth against Blue Wahoos reliever Colby Martin (L, 1-1). Damon Keith hit the first pitch of the inning for a solo homer, the first allowed by Martin in his professional career. Two walks, two singles and two wild pitches followed as the Shuckers scored four runs for a 6-2 lead.
Eduardo Garcia capped the night with an RBI single in the ninth inning for a 7-2 Shuckers win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Charles Wade Stanton
April 29, 2026
Charles Wade Stanton, 61, of Robinsonville, AL., passed away on April 26, 2026. He was born in Atmore, AL., to Jesse Sewell Stanton and Gladys Moye Stanton.
Charles was a farmer most of his life and later worked at West Florida Cotton Gin. He enjoyed going to the creek with friends and family.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa Hudson Stanton; his son, Jesse Stanton of Milton, FL; his daughter, Amy (Johnny) Lacy of Bratt, FL; and a step-son, Trey (Cierra) Hudson of Theodore, AL. He is also survived by a brother, Dennis (LeeAnn) Stanton of Robinsonville, AL, his sister Judy (Steve) Lambert of Robertsdale, AL, 11 grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Johnson- Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Don Sanks officiating. Charles will be laid to rest beside his great-great-grandfather, W. W. Stanton, at Canoe Methodist Cemetery in Robinsonville, AL.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 10:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Tracy Edwards, Tony Hadley, David Coleman, Ben Lindsey, Rodney Helton, Chad McMurphy, Jake Godwin, and Blake Young.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.