Tate High’s Maryjane Gardner Named Escambia County Librarian of the Year
April 1, 2026
Tate High School librarian Maryjane Gardner has been named school librarian of the year in Escambia County.
The Escambia School Library Association selects one exceptional educator for the prestigious Dr. Paula Gleason Librarian of the Year Award, an honor that celebrates excellence in supporting student learning, promoting literacy, and leading innovative library programs.
The award highlights librarians who go above and beyond in fostering a love of reading, teaching digital citizenship and research skills, building strong collections, supporting staff, and serving as leaders on their campus.
“Gardner’s passion for students, commitment to literacy, and leadership within our school community truly embody what it means to be an Aggie. Her impact is felt across campus every single day,” the school said.
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Bratt Elementary Names Students, Leaders Of The Month
March 30, 2026
Before spring break, Bratt Elementary School honored its February Leaders of the Month and Students of the Month.
February Students of the Month are Zion Lynn and Parker Freeman.
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Blue Jacket Jamboree, Livestock Show, Car Show Held Saturday In Molino (With Gallery)
March 29, 2026
Hundreds of people attended the annual Northview High School FFA Blue Jacket Jamboree in Molino on Saturday.
There was a big Easter Egg Hunt, including an egg drop from an EREC bucket truck. The event also included arts and crafts vendors, a car show and more.
All proceeds from the Blue Jacket Jamboree benefit Northview High School FFA students and their scholarship fund.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree was held in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Agriculture & Natural Resources Youth Organization Annual Spring Livestock Show.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pie In The Mayor’s Face, Egg Hunt, Touch A Truck, As Flomaton Celebrates Spring (Gallery)
March 29, 2026
From a pie in the face for the mayor to an Easter egg hunt, to vendors and a touch-a-truck event, Flomaton celebrated on Saturday with a Downtown Spring Bazaar.
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Ice Flyers Fall To Quad City
March 29, 2026
In front of a sold-out crowd on Military Appreciation Night, the Pensacola Ice Flyers battled until the very end but fell to the Quad City Storm in a shootout to close out the regular season home schedule at the Hangar.
The night was electric from the start, as Pensacola recorded its fifth sellout of the season and officially set a new franchise attendance record of 168,493 fans. A physical opening period set the tone, with both teams exchanging heavy hits and playing with playoff-like intensity. Pensacola broke through late in the first when Andrew Poulias found the back of the net to give the Ice Flyers a 1–0 lead heading into the intermission.
Quad City responded in the second period as Jesper Tarkiainen evened the score at 1–1. Despite Pensacola controlling much of the period and outshooting the Storm 14–7, the game remained tied heading into the final frame.
The third period delivered a tense, back-and-forth battle, with both teams generating chances but unable to capitalize. The physicality ramped up as the Hangar crowd stayed on its feet, but neither side could find the go-ahead goal, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime brought more of the same, with both teams trading opportunities but ultimately unable to break the deadlock, forcing a shootout to decide the outcome.
In the shootout, Quad City converted twice while Pensacola was unable to find the back of the net, resulting in a 2–0 shootout loss for the Ice Flyers.
Despite the result, the night marked a memorable sendoff for the home crowd, highlighted by record-setting attendance and a playoff-like atmosphere inside the Hangar.
The Ice Flyers now turn their attention to the final weekend of the regular season, as they hit the road for Evansville looking to build momentum heading into the postseason.
Tate High Ag Student Completes 54-Hour Custom Fire Pit Build By Hand
March 25, 2026
Tate High School senior Ian Stinnett recently completed a custom hanging fire pit, finishing the 54-hour project entirely by hand in the school’s agricultural mechanics shop.
While many modern shop projects utilize the Torchmate CNC machine for automated precision, this specific design required manual fabrication. Working under the supervision of Ag Mechanics teacher and FFA advisor Travis Ackerson, Stinnett used a plasma cutter, MIG welder, and angle grinder to cut and join every component.
The project required manual measurements and steady-hand cutting for each piece. Stinnett also had to manually level the pit using a chain system to ensure the finished product hung evenly.
The project highlighted the technical problem-solving and manual craftsmanship taught within the Tate agricultural program, particularly when automated equipment is not an option for a specific build.
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Escambia Sheriff Faces Tough Questioning In Molino
March 25, 2026
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons faced some really tough questioning in Tuesday evening in Molino.
“Do you have to eat a specific meal?”
“Do you have other sheriff friends?”
“Do villains name themselves or do you name them?”
Those were just a few of the questions Simmons said he was asked by BSA Troop and Pack 430 at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Molino. Simmons helped the scouts earn their Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, which required them to interview an elected official. The sheriff said the questions were among the most interesting he’s received.
“It is always refreshing to spend some time with a group of future leaders that are this engaged and eager to learn,” Simmons said.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
March 23, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their February Students and Employee of the Month.
Pictured (L-R) with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger, they are: Baylee-Ann Barcinas, eighth grade; Michael Flowers, seventh grade; Leila Statam, sixth grade; and Lindsay Merritt, Civics teacher.
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Bratt Elementary Student Honored For Essay ‘Snow House Memories’
March 22, 2026
A Bratt Elementary student is being honored by a state educators group for her essay. Maggie Lee wrote an essay entitled “Snow House Memories”, sharing how her Gammaw and Pop impacted her life.
The essay was entered in the Florida Retired Educators Association fifth grade writing contest and was selected as the winning essay for the district. She will be recognized at the FREA banquet and will receive a monetary award.
The essay is below, along with photos from the “Snow House.”
Ah, the frantic packing of Christmas morning! On Christmas morning, after everyone wakes up, we open presents. Then we go to Pop’s house and eat breakfast, and also open presents there. After all that, we hop on the road and go straight to the snow house. Spending time with my grandparents is always fun, but my favorite experience with them is the week after Christmas. Every year my whole family leaves on Christmas morning, and it is always the craziest day of the year! My grandmother, Gammaw, would search for the perfect house to sleep 20 people. It had to have a hot tub, game room, plenty of yard, and way more! The snow house is a huge part of my family’s life. It has been going on for more than twenty-five years! Pop and Gammaw have been running the snow house since it started. They are the reason the snow house is a thing.
Pop always had a favorite thing about the snow house. Every year we visit a park. The morning before, he would make sandwiches and put our names on them. At the park there was a volleyball net, and our whole family would play the most intense game of volleyball I’ve ever seen! Pop’s main reason for wanting to do this is spending time in nature. He wanted everyone to enjoy the creek and see who could skip the rock farthest. Pop is the absolute biggest role model you would want as a grandfather.
Gammaw always made sure we did one particular thing every year at the snow house. We would take a big group picture. The place we took the picture was beside a huge tractor. Every year the tractor picture was so important to her. She would always look back to see how much everyone grew throughout the years. She also loved the apple orchard. We would always get a whole bag of apples of any kind we wanted. We would also get apple pies and take them home. When I grow up, I want to be as good as a grandma as Gammaw was. She always valued family, and has taught us that, throughout the years.
The snow house is amazing to me because I get to stay with family for a week straight. My favorite part of the snow house is the new adventures we have every year. One year we did a polar plunge and another year we did zip lining. One of my ultimate favorite memories is game night. My family is very competitive, so it is extra fun!
Gammaw has been gone for a couple of years now. Pop has not let the snow house tradition die, and I promise I will not either. The snow house is the highlight of my whole family’s year thanks to Pop and Gammaw. They have taught me to cherish every single second with family, and to be grateful for everything in life. The snow house is more than just a house to us. It represents family.
Spring Into Reading: Kingsfield Elementary Hosts Literacy Celebration (Gallery)
March 20, 2026
Kingsfield Elementary recently held its Spring Into Reading Literacy night.
It was a fun evening celebrating reading and creativity. Families enjoyed a spud book character contest, a lively recorder music program, a Reader’s Theatre with Tate Drama Club, and exciting reading games for all ages.
Organizers said it was a great time for families to come together, share stories, and spark a love of reading this spring.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
