FHP I-110 Operation Leads To 8 DUI, 3 Super Speed Arrests, Citations
December 3, 2025
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Florida Highway Patrol conducted an enforcement operation on I-110.
Troopers from the Pensacola District targeted DUI offenses and aggressive driving. The operation resulted in eight DUI arrests, five criminal arrests, three “super speeder” arrests, and 10 traffic citations.
Photo courtesy FHP for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Santa Claus Is Coming To A Library Near You
December 3, 2025
Santa Claus is coming to a library near you.
Santa will hear Christmas wishes, and parents are invited to use their phone or bring a camera for photos.
Century Library
- Thursday, December 4, 4:30 p.m.
Molino Library
- Wednesday, December 10, 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday, December 18, 4:30 p.m.
Bellview Library
- Tuesday, December 9, 10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, December 10, 4:30 p.m.
Tryon Library
- Thursday, December 4, 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 16, 3:00 p.m.
Pensacola Library
- Wednesday, December 3, 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, December 20, 10:30 a.m.
Westside Library
- Thursday, December 11, 4:30 p.m.
Brownsville Library
- Saturday, December 6, 10:30 a.m.
Southwest Library
- Wednesday, December 17, 4:30 p.m.
Pictured: Santa’s visit to the Century Library last year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies To Play For FHSAA FIT Championship: How To Go, What To Know
December 3, 2025
The Tate Aggies will take on Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School from Lake Worth Thursday night at 6 p.m. CST for the FHSAA FIT 4A-7A State Tournament Championship.
The Aggies will travel on Wednesday in advance of the Thursday championship game.
Where, Clear Bag Policy
The game will take place at H.G. Morse Stadium with tickets available on GoFan. Click here for a map. The address is 2210 Dr Randy McDaniel Wy, Sumterville, FL 33585.
The stadium is about 415 miles, or just over six hours from Tate High School. There is a clear bag policy, and it is posted at the bottom of this story (click to enlarge).
Rooms And Tickets
If you need a room, click here for information from Sumter County Tourism.
Advance purchase tickets are $17, and a day-of price of $20. A convenience fee will also apply. There is no re-entry and no refunds. For tickets, click here.
Where To Park?
Parking fees will not be charged onsite and instead are already included in the cost of admission. Fan parking lots will open 90 minutes prior to the scheduled games, with gates opening 60 minutes prior to each contest. A parking map is below, click to enlarge. Tate will be on the visitor sideline (east side of the stadium).
How To Stream The Game?
The game is scheduled to stream on the NFHS Network — the only official steam. A subscription is required, and the cheapest option is $13.99 for one month.
What’s The Weather?
Here is the weather forecast for the game location in Sumterville, FL:
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. Calm wind.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Light northeast wind.
- Thursday Night (Game Night): Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East northeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Hits High Note With Four Students On Florida All-State Band
December 3, 2025
Ransom Middle School’s music program has hit a high note, setting a new school record with four students successfully auditioning and earning a coveted spot in the prestigious Florida All-State Band this year.
The students are :
- Chase Redman (trombone)
- Aiden Harris (trombone)
- Braylen Barton (alto saxophone)
- Cooper Boddy (baritone saxophone)
The unprecedented achievement marks the first time in Ransom Middle School’s history that such a high number of students have been selected for this elite honor.
The students demonstrated exceptional musical skill and dedication in a rigorous audition process, competing against the best young musicians across the state of Florida. Being selected for the All-State Band is a prestigious accomplishment, showcasing their hard work, passion for music, and excellence in performance.
The Florida All-State Band will perform at the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) Annual Professional Development Conference in January, where students will have the opportunity to perform alongside other top young musicians from around the state.
School administration and faculty have expressed immense pride in the students for their musical accomplishment.
Escambia County Felon Sentenced On Federal Drug And Firearm Charges
December 3, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison on drug and firearm charges.
John Cody Hawthorne, 32, previously pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a short-barreled rifle, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Court documents show that Hawthorne, who was on state probation at the time, was in possession of multiple firearms, as well as illegal narcotics. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hawthorne’s residence and located seven firearms in his bedroom, one of which was a short-barreled rifle, as well as over 400 live rounds of ammunition, marijuana, methamphetamine, ballistic body armor, and several thousand dollars.
“I applaud the outstanding work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners to remove this violent felon from our streets,” U.S. Attorney John P. Heeking said. “Keeping our communities safe is our top priority, and my office will aggressively prosecute repeat offenders like this defendant with the full force of the law.”
“Hawthorne’s seven and a half year sentence reflects both the seriousness of his actions and our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable,” said Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons. “We are proud of our partnerships and the effect they have on making our community safer.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Tate Softball To Host Winter Wonderland Little Aggies Camp
December 3, 2025
Tate Aggies Softball will host the Winter Wonderland Little Aggies Camp on Tuesday, December 9 from 6-8 p.m at the Tate softball complex. It was rescheduled from December 4 due to a rainy forecast.
The cost is $75 per player for 6U through eighth grade with a Santa hat and shirt included. Food and drink for players are included, and limited concessions will be available.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. To register online, click here.
Escambia County Kicks Off The ‘Keep The Wreath Green’ Fire Safety Campaign
December 2, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue, in collaboration with the Pensacola Fire Department, launched its annual “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign on Monday, Dec. 1. While a joyous time of year, cold weather, holiday decorations and festivities can create serious fire dangers. Firefighters hope to reduce the number of fires by promoting simple, life-saving holiday safety tips each day in December.
During the month-long campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, as well as Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall. Each time firefighters respond to a residential or commercial fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential and commercial buildings. In 2024, 14 bulbs were changed to red on county wreaths, while three bulbs were changed in the city.
“We encourage all of our residents to practice fire safety throughout the holiday season and join us as we ‘keep the wreath green,’” Fire Chief Adam Harrison said. “While fire safety needs to be practiced year-round, we tend to see an increase in fires during the colder months. Let’s keep this season full of cheer and do our part in keeping the wreath green.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Christmas Parade Is Saturday; Still Time To Register
December 2, 2025
This year’s Molino Christmas Parade will be held this Saturday, December 6 at 11 a.m.
Watch the parade The parade will travel Crabtree Church Road from Molino Road to the Don Sutton Ballpark. Family fun activities, inflatables, food trucks and pictures with Santa at noon in the ballpark, following the parade.
All proceeds from the parade, which is coordinated by Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Molino, will go to families in need in the North Escambia area.
Enter the Parade Line up will be in a field at 4325 Crabtree Church Road at 10 a.m. Vehicles are $50, UTVs are $30, and horses are $20 each. No dirt bikes or ATVs are allowed. For more information, contact Kimberly King at Marcus Pointe, (850) 479-8337 ext. 136. To register online, click here.
Pictured: The 2024 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School Names Students Of The Month
December 2, 2025
Ransom Middle School recently named its October Students of the Month. They are Journi Jackson and Boonsita Sangpinich, both sixth graders. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Anna Kunkel Signs With D-1 UAB Golf
December 2, 2025
Northview High School senior Anna Kunkel signed Monday afternoon to continue her golf career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The UAB Blazers are a NCAA Division 1 school.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
