Tate High, Beulah Middle, Beulah Academy Place In District 1 FFA Forestry Event
October 16, 2025
More than 100 students from 17 schools competed for the District 1 FFA Forestry Career Development Event recently, with teams from Tate High School and Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy taking home the overall top team honors and will advance to the state competition.
The competition was held at the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center Training Center in Holt and tested students on their skills in diagnosing forest disorders, managing forests and forest inventory and applying approved silviculture practices. Participating students were from Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington counties.
Participants competed in tree measurement, map interpretation, identifying trees and equipment as well as a general forestry knowledge. Luke Graham from Tate High won the top spot in the high school division while Nate Abbott of Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy in DeFuniak Springs took first in the middle school individual competition.
The first-place team for the high school division was Tate High School Team A, and Tate’s second team, Team B, took second place. (Both Tate teams are pictured as a group above.)
Pleasant Ridge Team A won first place for the middle school division. Beulah Middle School’s Team A finished second, and the Beulah Academy of Science Team A.
Full results are as follows:
High School Team Competition
- 1st place: Tate High School- Team A
- 2nd place: Tate High School- Team B
- 3rd place: Milton High School- Team A
Middle School Team Competition
- 1st place: Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy Team A
- 2nd place: Beulah Middle Team A
- 3rd place: Beulah Academy of Science Team A
High School Individual Winners
- Luke Graham, Tate High School Team A
- General Knowledge
- Dendrology
- Map Interpretation
- Equipment ID
- Emma Posey, Central High School Team A
- Timber Cruising
- Alex Apperson, Tate High School, Team A
- Tree/Forest Disorders
Middle School Individual Winners
- Nate Abbott, Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy
- General Knowledge
- Equipment ID
- Map Interpretation
- Giselle Rodriguez, Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy
- Dendrology
- Tree/Forest Disorders
- Payton Coon, Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy
- Timber Cruising
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: Tate Team A — first place
Above: Tate Team B — second place
Above: Belah Academy of Science — third place
Shelly Helton Named Jim Allen Elementary Teacher Of The Year
October 15, 2025
Kindergarten teacher Shelly Helton has been name the Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher of the year.
Helton’s career in education has spanned 30 years, including 25 years at Jim Allen.
From the school:
Mrs. Helton has dedicated her career to shaping the lives of our students and families.
A true mentor, Mrs. Helton has guided many along the way as 4 of our current teachers were once her mentees. In a beautiful full-circle moment, she is now teaching kindergarten in the very same classroom where she herself was a kindergartener.
We are so proud to honor Mrs. Helton and celebrate her incredible impact on generations of students.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Showband Of the South Earns Straight Superiors For 54th Consecutive Year
October 14, 2025
The Tate High School Showband of the South earned straight superior ratings in the Florida Bandmasters Association District 1 Marching MPA on Saturday. This marked the 54th consecutive year that the showband has earned straight superiors.
The Showband spent five months preparing for the competition.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Tate Friday Night Students, Fans, Cheerleaders
October 13, 2025
The Tate Aggies hosted the Pace Patriots Friday night.
For a bonus photo gallery with fans, cheerleaders and more, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘A Night When Heaven Rejoiced’ — Community Baptism Service Held In Park In Molino
October 13, 2025
About 100 people gathered Saturday night in the park behind the Molino Community Center for an open community baptism service.
As the sun set behind the community center, the sound of laughter from children on the playground filled the air along with worship music and a message from Unashamed Fire Ministries President Morgan Hiebert.
After an altar call, 16 people embraced their faith and were baptized in a tub of water. Water baptism is identifying with the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is symbolic of washed away sins in the Christian faith.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
It was the fourth public baptism service in recent weeks for the Atmore ministry, with dozens more baptized in Atmore and Uriah in Alabama.
“People who had walked away from Him, People who had never known Him before,” were baptized as believers, according to Hiebert. “It was a night of freedom. A night of redemption. A night where heaven rejoiced.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bonus Gallery: Northview Cheerleaders, Fans, And More
October 13, 2025
The Northview Chiefs hosted the Jay Royals Friday night.
For a bonus photo gallery with fans, cheerleaders and more, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Heritage Festival Celebrates The Community’s History (With Photo Gallery)
October 12, 2025
Under beautiful blue skies with an 1880’s log schoolhouse as a backdrop, the fifth annual Walnut Hill Heritage Festival on Saturday celebrated the community’s history Saturday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The day, sponsored by the Walnut Hill Ruritan Club, featured vendors, live music, food, hay rides, antique vendors, arts and crafts, bounce houses, face painting, a family magic show and much more.
The one-room log schoolhouse was built around 1880 at a cost of $40. It was flattened by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and rebuilt at its current home next to the Walnut Hill Community Center on Highway 97.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview High Holds Parent College and Career Night
October 9, 2025
Northview High School held a Junior/Senior Parent College and Career Night on Tuesday.
Students and their parents learned about graduation requirements, scholarship opportunities, searching for colleges, college applications, and admission requirements.
Several colleges and universities were took part, along with armed forces branches and others.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lipscomb Elementary Names Students Of The Month
October 8, 2025
Lipscomb Elementary School recently named their September Students of the Month. They are Elijah Brown and Paris Pittman. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Coleman Named Tate High School Teacher Of The Year
October 7, 2025
Chip Coleman has been named the Tate High School Teacher of the Year.
Coleman currently serves as an Agricultural Educator and FFA Advisor, where he inspires students to embrace leadership, innovation, and community through Agricultural Education.
According to the school:
A proud Tate High School alumnus (Class of 1996), Coleman’s journey reflects a deep commitment to education and service. After earning his Associate of Arts degree from Pensacola Junior College, he went on to receive a BSBA in Marketing with a minor in Management from the University of West Florida, along with certificates in Sales Management and Internet Marketing. He later pursued his passion for teaching, completing a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of West Florida in 2018.
Coleman began his teaching career in 2012 as a substitute teacher with Escambia County School District, before moving into the classroom at Jim Allen Elementary, where he taught first and fifth grades for nearly a decade and served as RTI Coordinator. In 2022, he returned to his roots at Tate High School to teach agriculture and serve the FFA chapter, blending his background with hands-on agricultural education.
Guided by the three words that define him Faith, Family, and Outdoors Coleman brings authenticity and heart into the classroom. His leadership has strengthened Tate’s Agricultural Programs while instilling responsibility, work ethic, and pride in his students.
He is also guided by one of his favorite principles, a quote from Dale Carnegie: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
“Chip represents the very best of what it means to be an Aggie,” said Laura Touchstone, Principal of Tate High School. “He not only invests in his students’ education but also in their personal growth, preparing them to be leaders in agriculture and in life. We are thrilled to celebrate his dedication as our Teacher of the Year.”
Coleman’s recognition as Tate High School Teacher of the Year reflects his unwavering commitment to student success, his innovative teaching style, and his embodiment of the Tate Traditions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
