Northview Baseball: Gold Beats The Garnet (With Gallery)
January 31, 2026
The Gold team beat the Garnet 10-3 on a cold Friday night during a Northview Chiefs intrasquad baseball game in Bratt.
The game gave the Chiefs a chance to sharpen their skills before preseason play begins next week.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
80’s Night: Ice Flyers Fall 8-6 To Fayetteville
January 31, 2026
The Ice Flyers hosted the Fayetteville Marksmen on Friday night for 80’s Night, but despite a thrilling comeback attempt, fell short in a high-scoring affair, losing 8-6 to the visiting Marksmen.
The game got off to a fiery start with former Ice Flyer Sam Dabrowski and Samson Mouland dropping the gloves, energizing the crowd at the Hangar. Fayetteville wasted no time getting on the board, with Trey Fechko scoring early. Marcus Fechko extended the Marksmen’s lead to 2-0 at the 9-minute mark. Tyler Burnie cut the deficit to one for the Ice Flyers, but Marcus Fechko notched his second of the night, giving Fayetteville a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Ice Flyers came out firing in the second period, with Captain Ethan Price scoring just seconds in. Ryan Leith answered back for Fayetteville, but the remainder of the frame belonged to Pensacola. Sam Rhodes tallied two goals, Tyrone Bronte found the back of the net, and Captain Price closed out the period with his second of the night, giving the Ice Flyers a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame.
Despite their comeback, the Marksmen seized control in the third period. Matt Wiesner scored twice, while Shane Murphy and Sam Dabrowski each added goals, propelling Fayetteville to an 8-6 victory.
The Ice Flyers are back in action Saturday night for Mardi Gras Night.
Charles Van Deese
January 31, 2026
Charles Van Deese, 62, of Shellman, GA, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be conducted and announced when complete.
Van was born on July 14, 1963, in Pensacola, FL the son of Charles Eustace Deese, Jr. and Jo Ann Cotton Deese. He was a graduate of Tate High School in Pensacola, FL, was a member of the Shellman First Baptist Church and made a career as a general contractor.
Survivors include his parents, Charles and Jo Ann Deese, wife Delena Denham, daughter, Bailee (Autumn) Copeland, 2 sons, Joseph Eli (Elizabeth) Deese and Charles Tanner (Taylor) Deese, sister, Suzanne Williams and 4 grandchildren, Macey Rayne Deese, Olivia Sage Deese, Jaxon Kash Deese and Violet Cove Copeland, nephew, Daniel (Whitney) Cook, 2 nieces, Sarah S. Cook and Elyse McKenna, 2 great nephews, Landon Cook and Dax Cook and a great niece, Emerson Gates.
Escambia Man Arrested For Animal Cruelty For Abandoning Dogs On Cantonment Road
January 30, 2026
A man was arrested Thursday on animal cruelty charges after he allegedly dumped two dogs with no food or water on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment.
Bryan Wayne Mott, 60, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on two counts of animal cruelty — abandonment of an animal.
The incident occured on January 21 when an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a red Chevy Silverado traveling on Becks Lake Road with two dogs in the bed of the truck. A short time later, the same truck passed the deputy again, this time without the dogs.
Moments later, a concerned citizen flagged the deputy down and reported that a red truck had just dumped two dogs and fled the area. The deputy immediately responded, located the dogs on a dead-end portion of Becks Lake Road, and safely placed them in the back of his patrol vehicle.
After running the vehicle tag and reviewing surveillance footage, the deputy identified Mott as the driver and owner of the red Silverado.
When contacted, Mott initially denied any knowledge of the dogs, then provided several conflicting explanations about how the dogs ended up abandoned without food or water and the end of Beck’s Lake Road. Surveillance video later confirmed his truck traveling north with the dogs at Old Chemstrand Road and Highway 29.
Animal Control responded, and the dogs were safely turned over to their care.
FHSAA Merges Rural Class With Class 1A For Football
January 30, 2026
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Board of Directors voted in emergency session on Thursday to combine Rural Class and Class 1A into a single classification for two years, beginning with the upcoming season.
FHSAA policy requires at least 24 schools for there to be a rural classification. With only 16 schools meeting the criteria, the board voted to merge the classifications to ensure a consistent competitive structure.
FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon called the emergency meeting after after many rural schools moved to the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA).
“The rural schools that want to be part of the state series can now do so,” said FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon.
The Board also voted to allow the creation of an independent league under FHSAA authority, giving independent schools the option to participate with the potential for postseason play.
The FHSAA will provide updated classification details to schools in the coming weeks.
In the Northwest Florida area, Northview, Jay, Baker, Blountstown, Central, Chipley were in the Rural Class for football. There are no Northwest Florida schools in 1A football.
According to the SSAA website, the only members school in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties is Lighthouse Private Christian Academy in Gulf Breeze.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs lost to the Jay Royals 28-20 on October 10, 2025. Both teams were in the Rural Class. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Sentenced On Federal Firearm Charge
January 30, 2026
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearm offense.
Earl Vincent Hudgins III, 32, as sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“Thanks to the outstanding work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another dangerous felon was stopped before he could continue terrorizing our community with violence, and with this successful prosecution by my office he will be kept off our streets for several years,” said John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Court documents reflect that on February 16, 2025, the Hudgins’ vehicle was stopped for a traffic infraction. A subsequent search uncovered an AR-style firearm loaded with 15 rounds of .300-caliber ammunition, which he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon. Later, law enforcement identified multiple posts on the Hudgins’ social media showing him in possession of the same firearm located during the traffic stop. Hudgins also posted a video during the traffic stop captioned, “Bout to go to jail.”
This case was a joint investigation by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Extreme Cold Warning For The Weekend
January 30, 2026
There is an extreme cold weather warning in effect from midnight Friday until noon Sunday with dangerous wind chills in the single digits possible. A wind advisory is also in effect for Saturday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Wind chill values between 5 and 15. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Manny Diaz Jr. Confirmed As UWF President
January 30, 2026
Manny Diaz Jr. is now officially president of the University of West Florida.
On Thursday, the Florida Board of Governors confirmed Manny Diaz Jr. as the seventh president of the University of West Florida .Diaz was named sole finalist for the position by the UWF Presidential Search Committee in November and was approved by the UWF Board of Trustees earlier in January. He will assume the permanent position on Feb. 1, 2026.
“I am honored by the confidence of the Florida Board of Governors and thankful for the opportunity to continue serving the University of West Florida,” Diaz said. “Education has been the foundation of every endeavor I’ve undertaken, and it remains central to UWF’s mission of excellence and service. The University’s momentum is undeniable, and I look forward to working with our talented students, faculty, administrative staff and community partners to strengthen academic distinction, expand access, and ensure UWF continues to advance the economic and civic vitality of Northwest Florida and beyond.”
Diaz has served as UWF’s interim president since July 2025, bringing more than 30 years of educational leadership and policy experience to the role. His background includes time as an educator, as a college administrator, as Florida’s Commissioner of Education, as a member of the Florida Board of Governors, and in the Florida Legislature, where he championed policies supporting students, families and educators.
“With strong leadership and governance, Manny Diaz Jr. will lead the University of West Florida to new heights,” said Florida Board of Governors Chair Alan Levine, who also served on the UWF Presidential Search Committee. “UWF’s recognition as a top 10 regional public university in the South by U.S. News and World Report and its drive of a more than $1 billion annual economic impact on Northwest Florida demonstrates the dedication of faculty and staff to providing a high-quality education for students and serving Florida communities. Diaz will build upon this momentum through his strategic vision and deep education expertise.”
Throughout his interview and public remarks to the UWF Board of Trustees, Diaz outlined priorities focused on advancing the University’s academic profile, strengthening enrollment and retention, expanding research and innovation, and deepening partnerships across Northwest Florida and the state. He emphasized building on UWF’s existing strengths while positioning the University for long-term growth and increased impact.
“President Diaz is the catalyst the University of West Florida needs to accelerate its growth and elevate its national profile,” said UWF Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Matthews. “Since his arrival, President Diaz has demonstrated steady leadership, a deep understanding of higher education, and a clear, unwavering commitment to the University’s mission and future.”
During Thursday’s meeting, members of the Florida Board of Governors expressed confidence in Diaz’s leadership as UWF’s next president.
“It’s with some emotion that I am involved today in recognizing President Diaz,” said BOG member Doug Broxson. “Universities lift the spirit of an area, and for Northwest Florida, the University of West Florida represents a community that loves the university.”
Addressing Diaz, Broxson added, “You will do a great job because you are a hard worker and you take any challenge and make it successful.”
“There is no one that is harder working, there is no one more humble… making sure that we’re prioritizing student safety, academic achievement, ensuring that we’re fighting for teacher pay, ensuring that our system as a whole’s moving in the right direction,” said BOG member and Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “His legacy will be felt in this state for years to come.”
Diaz’s annual compensation package will be $946,040, up from $742,200 he received as interim president. The university’s last president, Martha Saunders, had an annual compensation package of $742,200.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High FFA’s Maegan Coleman Places First In District Public Speaking
January 30, 2026
Tate High School FFA member Maegan Coleman placed first at the District Prepared Public Speaking contest.
She will advance to the state finals at the Florida FFA Convention and Expo in Orlando in June.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball To Hold Garnet Vs. Gold Intrasquad Game Today
January 30, 2026
The Northview High School Chiefs will hit the diamond today for an Garnet vs. Gold intrasquad game.
Fans looking to get a first look at the 2026 squad should note a time change for the event; the first pitch is now scheduled for 4:15 p.m. in Bratt.
The game serves as a critical preseason evaluation for new Head Coach Justin Raley and his staff. It will offer a “live” game environment for the Chiefs to sharpen their skills before the regular season officially begins.
While there is no set ticket price, cash donations will be accepted at the gate to support the baseball program. The concession stand will also be open for attendees.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.