Dedria’s Gift Awards Annual Scholarships To Three High School Graduates
May 17, 2026
Dedria’s Gift recently presented 3 Flomaton High School graduates with scholarships.
The recipients were Ja-Ni’Yah Thomas, Ava Flores, and Noah Flores.
Dedria’s Gift honors the memory of 11-year-old Dedria Robinson, who was killed in a 2005 automobile accident. Her parents, Reginald and Rita Robinson, established Dedria’s Gift to keep her memory alive.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Expands School Guardian Program To Colleges, Universities
May 17, 2026
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a school safety bill allowing armed, trained guardians on college and university campuses in Florida.
The bill was sponsored by members of the local Northwest Florida delegation, Rep. Michelle Salzman and Sen. Don Gaetz.
“We’ve made historic strides to implement school safety measures that are working to protect our schools. Today, I was proud to build on these efforts by signing HB 757, which enhances campus security requirements and best practices at our colleges and universities throughout Florida,” DeSantis said Friday. “We can have the highest academic standards, the strongest workforce programs, and the most innovative pathways for students, but must also continue our focus on the safety of our students and educators.”
“Sadly but undeniably, institutions of learning have become targets of violence in our state and other states,” Gaetz said. “As parents and grandparents, we want our students to be safe and secure when they are on campus. This legislation ensures our institutions will use common sense safeguards as well as high-tech systems to prevent violence where possible and respond quickly and effectively when needed.”
“I’m very grateful for Representative Salzman’s sponsorship of the House companion and for her effective advocacy of the bill,” Gaetz added.
The bill:
- Expands participation in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to include Florida’s public postsecondary institutions.
- Strengthens protections near schools by creating a second-degree felony charge for discharging a weapon or firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
- Requires public postsecondary institutions to develop active assailant response plans, threat management teams to identify and address potential safety risks, and family reunification procedures in the event of an emergency.
- The Guardian Program was created in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The program allows trained individuals to serve as armed guardians on school campuses to deter and respond to active assailant incidents. Under the program, guardians must undergo extensive screening and training requirements provided by local sheriffs’ offices, including psychological evaluations, drug screenings, and at least 144 hours of rigorous training.
“Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has set the national standard for school safety, and House Bill 757 builds on that strong foundation by extending critical protections to our state colleges and universities,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “By extending the Guardian Program to higher education institutions, we are equipping campuses with additional tools to help safeguard students and professors. Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment, and this legislation reinforces Florida’s unwavering commitment to protect our schools.”
Pictured: Guardians train for positions in Escambia County Public Schools prior to the start of the 2025-26 school year. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County 4-H Senior And Intermediate Teams Win State Meat Judging Contest
May 17, 2026
Escambia County 4-H brought home a double victory from the 2026 Florida State 4-H Meat Judging Contest, securing first place finishes in both the intermediate and senior divisions.
The state competition, held at the University of Florida in Gainesville, challenged participants across several rigorous categories. Competitors were required to identify forty retail meat cuts, evaluate and place retail, primal, and carcass classes, deliver oral reasons, and complete a comprehensive written test.
In addition to the team victories, Escambia County members dominated the individual standings. Charli McClendon earned the title of Senior High Individual, while Rhett Harcourt was named the Intermediate High Individual, making them the top-ranked meat judging 4-H members in the state of Florida.
Other notable individual performances in the senior division included Tucker Padgett in second place, A.T. Bridgers in fourth place, and Andrew Wiggins in fifth place. In the intermediate division, Mallory Mahoney secured second place and Ella Gilmore took third place, while Rahlina Dodson finished in sixth place.
The senior team—comprising Bridgers, McClendon, Padgett, and Wiggins—previously competed at the Western National Roundup in Denver in January 2026. Following their state success, they have now qualified to represent Florida at the National 4-H Meat Judging Contest this coming October. This national event will take place at Kansas State University, with the formal awards ceremony hosted at the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri.
Sponsored locally by the UF/IFAS Extension, the 4-H meat judging program is designed to develop critical life skills through activities related to the processing of beef, pork, and lamb. Participants learn to evaluate retail identification, factors affecting meat quality, and various cooking methods, gaining a deeper understanding of the scientific principles behind nutritional value and consumer appeal.
According to organizers, the program also emphasizes foundational life skills, including effective decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting, and teamwork.
Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Holds Annual Banquet
May 17, 2026
The annual Ernest Ward Middle School FFA banquet was held Friday evening at the school.
The FFA recognized outstanding members, incoming and outgoing officers, and presented several recognitions.
Photos courtesy of NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Senior Alyssa Clarke Signs With Coastal Alabama Cheer
May 17, 2026
Tate High School seniorAlyssa Clarke has officially signed to continue her cheerleading career at Coastal Alabama Community College.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Milbrandt Marvelous As Wahoos Return To .500 With 6-2 Win
May 17, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got another dominant start from top prospect Karson Milbrandt and secured a series win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Saturday night, hitting three homers and cruising to a 6-2 victory.
Milbrandt (W, 3-1) tied a career high with 11 strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless, three-hit innings. He extended his scoreless streak to 17.0 consecutive innings dating back to May 2, and lowered his Southern League-leading ERA to 1.24.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos improved to 19-19 and returned to the .500 mark for the first time since Opening Day. They kept pace with first-place Columbus in the South Division race, and trail by only 0.5 games with 31 games to play in the first half.
Fenwick Trimble gave Milbrandt an early lead, hitting a three-run homer against Lookouts starter Easton Sikorski (L, 0-1) just three batters into the game. Garret Forrester hit a second-inning solo homer in his first at-bat since coming off the injured list, and Brendan Jones followed with an RBI triple for a 5-0 lead through two innings.
Jay Beshears added a solo homer in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-0. The Lookouts threatened with a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the sixth, but Milbrandt fanned Chattanooga’s Cam Collier in a battle of two top prospects to finish 6.0 innings for the fourth start in a row and tie a professional career high of 11 strikeouts previously set in the Midwest League in 2025.
The Lookouts hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh, and Ruben Ibarra hit a solo homer in the ninth, but Pensacola relievers Nigel Belgrave and Kade Bragg recorded the final nine outs to give the Blue Wahoos their fourth win in five games against the team with the Southern League’s best record.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Lookouts on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Tate High School Class of 2026 Celebrates Annual Senior Drive
May 16, 2026
The Tate High School Class of 2026 held its Senior Drive from the now former Winn Dixie parking lot on Highway 29 to the school.
The annual tradition has occurred on the last day of school for years. The seniors drive to campus for Senior Breakfast and to pick up their caps and gowns.
The Tate High School Class of 2026 will graduate on Wednesday, May 27 at 9 a.m. at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Photos/video by Kristi Barbour for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Chiefs Shut Out Chieftains: Northview Dominates Chickasaw 38-0 In Spring Game
May 16, 2026
The Northview Chiefs beat the Chickasaw Chieftains 38-0 on Friday night in a spring game at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Northview Chiefs will open the fall season at home against the Marianna Bulldogs.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aggies Hold Off Marlins: Tate Claims 28-23 Spring Victory At Panama City Beach
May 16, 2026
The Tate Aggies beat the Arnold Marlins 28-23 in spring football on Friday night at Panama City Beach.
The Aggies were ahead 21-10 at the half and held on for the win.
The fall season begins on August 21 as the Aggies host the Marianna Bulldogs in Pete Gindl Stadium.
Northview Chiefs Power Up For Spring Football Friday At QB Club Breakfast
May 16, 2026
The Northview Chiefs powered up for a spring football Friday with a team breakfast.
The Northview Quarterback Club provided the breakfast at Travis Nelson Park in Bratt, near the school.
Related: Chiefs Shut Out Chieftains: Northview Dominates Chickasaw 38-0 In Spring Game
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
