Pensacola Airport Transformed Into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport
January 21, 2026
Pensacola International Airport has partnered with Pensacon for its annual transformation into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport, assuming the temporary name and stellar decor to commemorate the 2026 Pensacon convention scheduled for February 20-22.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announced the temporary change renaming the airport Pensacola Intergalactic Airport on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The signage throughout the terminal highlights iconic comic and science fiction characters and welcome messages.
“Our relationship with the Pensacola Intergalactic Airport has been such a wonderful way to not only promote Pensacon, but also show travelers how great our city is in supporting events like ours. Each year, our celebrity guests are impressed when they come off the plane and feel like they are already immersed in Pensacon,” Pensacon CEO Mike Ensley said.
Pensacon attracts tens of thousands of fans to downtown Pensacola each year. Now entering its 13th year, Pensacon has had a cumulative economic impact of more than $31 million since its first convention in 2014, according to Visit Pensacola research.
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Tate High School Named To Advanced Placement School Honor Roll
January 21, 2026
Tate High School has been recognized for student success in the Advanced Placement program while broadening participation.
The College Board announced that J.M. Tate High School has been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement Program (AP) School Honor Roll, earning Bronze distinction.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
Tate High School had 45% of seniors who took at least one AP Exam during high school, 28% of seniors scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 11% of seniors who took five or more AP Exams.
Tatel offers a robust Advanced Placement program that provides students with meaningful access to college-level coursework. The school currently offers 19 AP courses, taught across 34 sections by 16 highly qualified AP teachers, allowing students to pursue rigorous academic opportunities across multiple subject areas.
“This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and instructional leaders,” said Principal Laura Touchstone. “Being named to the AP School Honor Roll shows that Tate is committed to expanding access to rigorous coursework while ensuring our students are supported to succeed. We are proud of our students for challenging themselves and of our teachers for creating a culture of high expectations, encouragement, and academic excellence.”
“AP gives students an opportunity to engage with college-level work, earn college credit and placement, and build professional career skills they can use no matter what path they choose after high school,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “Congratulations to this year’s AP School Honor Roll recipients for proving it’s possible to expand participation in these rigorous courses and still drive strong performance.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) enables students to pursue college level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both while still in high school. Through AP courses, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue, skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
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Ernest Ward Middle Names Students Of The Month
January 21, 2026
Ernest Ward Middle School named their November and December students and employee of the month.
November award winners were: Ella Grace Diller, Sanora Martin, Greyson Diz and teacher Kaylee Gibson (pictured above).
December award winners were: Rylan Johnson, Wayne Golson, Hayden Hollingsworth, and employee Courtney Barrow (pictured below).
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Two Injured In Gang-Related Shooting Following Atmore MLK Block Party
January 20, 2026
A day of celebration ended in gunfire Monday night as a shooting following an MLK Day block party in atmore left two people injured and investigators searching for those responsible.
According to the Atmore Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Carver Avenue and Ashley Street at approximately 9:06 p.m. on January 19. The shooting occurred shortly after a day-long “MLK Car Meet and Block Party” had concluded. The event had been widely advertised on social media and drew a large crowd to the area.
Patrol officers arrived on the scene in less than one minute to find that over 30 rounds had been fired.
Victims in Stable Condition
Police confirmed two victims suffered gunshot wounds. One of the victims, a male subject, was reportedly shot while attempting to assist another person to safety. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital and are currently listed in stable condition.
Gang Activity Suspected
APD Major Charles Thompson stated that preliminary information suggests the incident is gang-related, a conclusion reached based on evidence gathered by the department’s Narcotics/Vice Unit.
Multiple divisions have been assigned to the case. The department’s Special Response Team is also on standby to execute search or arrest warrants as the investigation progresse, Thompson said.
“This type of senseless violence and complete disregard for human life and public safety will not be tolerated in our community,” Thompson said in a statement.
The Investigation
Detectives are currently reviewing both city-owned and private surveillance footage from the neighborhood. Ballistics experts are also working to trace the more than 30 shell casings recovered from the scene.
The Atmore Police Department is urging anyone with information about the shooting or those involved to contact investigators immediately at (251) 368-9141.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
State, Local Officials Tackle Traffic Woes At Jim Allen Elementary School
January 20, 2026
Local and state officials recently held a meeting to discuss how to improve the arrival and dismissal time traffic delays at Jim Allen Elementary School in Cantonment.
State Rep. Michelle Salzman, Escambia County School Superintendent Keith Leonard, District 5 School Board Member Tom Harrell and key school district staff met with the Florida Department of Transportation to begin discussing potential solutions. The meeting came about following citizen concerns during a District 5 Q & A Session in Molino on January 6.
“The discussion centered on traffic management challenges affecting school bus safety, student drop-off and pick-up times, and the broader impact on daily commuters in the north end of the district,” Salzman said.
“We want to do those things that we can do to make it safer,” Harrell said. “We are laser-focused on it and ways to improve, but there are so many variables there. It’s to the point we need extra extra assistance; we want to make sure that we have done all the things that we can.”
The school board member said Jim Allen is “landlocked” all the way around with no room to grow or expand in order to get cars off of Highway 95A. There is an apartment complex to the south of the school, and wetlands and a cemetery to the north. In front of the school on Highway 95A, there is limited or no right of way for turn lanes due to railroad tracks.
Harrell said an FDOT traffic study could determine options, such as perhaps encouraging drivers to use Neal Road with a traffic light at Neal Road and Highway 29. But a final plan would come from FDOT.
“I do believe FDOT will assist us with doing studies in that thoroughfare in front of the school and do what we can to assist them to help us to help the students and families,” Leonard said.
“As a result of the meeting, a clear plan of action was established,” Salzman said. “The Florida Department of Transportation will work with the school district to conduct targeted traffic studies to identify immediate and long-term solutions. One of the primary objectives moving forward is the installation of at least one additional traffic light along Highway 29 while aimed at improving safety during school hours.”
“The proposed improvements are intended to enhance traffic flow and driving safety for the entire community on a daily basis,” Salzman added.
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Curiosity Caught The Cat Owner: Atmore Man Searching For Pet Arrested On Meth Charge
January 20, 2026
An Atmore man who was looking for his missing cat was arrested on drug charges, according to the Atmore Police Department.
An Atmore Police Department officer on routine patrol found a vehicle parked at the gate of a locked business on Robinsonville Road. That’s where they found a woman lying down in the backseat. She informed the officer that her boyfriend, 46-year-old Dennis Sothman, had climbed over the gate looking for their cat.
APD deployed a drone, locating Sothman hiding behind some bushes. He was detained, and officers found “several” grams of methamphetamine on his person along with items used to package narcotics, police said.
Sothman was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to elude an officer.
Three Injured In Highway 168 Rollover Crash
January 20, 2026
Three people were injured in a single-vehicle crash Monday afternoon near Byrneville.
A Ford Expedition was westbound on Highway 168 between the two intersections with Wawbeek Road when the vehicle left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck a ditch and culvert, and became airborne. The vehicle came to rest on its side on the shoulder of the road.
One person wasapped in the vehicle for an extended period of time while firefighters worked to extricate her, removing the windshield and cutting off the roof. The woman and a 17-year-old female were transported to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS. Another passenger, also a 17-year-old female, was airlifted to the hospital in serious condition.
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The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
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Two Convicted Felons Charged With Trafficking Fentanyl
January 20, 2026
Two Escambia County convicted felons have been indicted on federal fentanyl trafficking charges.
Ke Anthony Javon Blackmon, 29, and Averee Kathryn Savage, 27, were indicted by a federal grand jury. Each was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
If convicted, as charged, they each face a minimum mandatory of 10 years up to life imprisonment on the drug charges and a maximum of 15 years imprisonment on the gun charge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Giant Xylophone, Wind Chimes: Ascend Cares Volunteers Complete Work On New Roy Hyatt Sensory Trail
January 20, 2026
Volunteers from Ascend Cares returned for another work day on Friday at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment to complete work on the new Roy Hyatt Sensory Trail.
They include “Windows to the Wind,” a “Whirling Wind Station,” a “Crunch Trail,” a huge xylophone, a human-sized bamboo wind chime, and a natural wood binocular station.
The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is owned by the Escambia County School District and utilized for school field trips. RHEC is not open to the public; however, there are several annual special events that are open to the public. Those events are usually posted in advance on NorthEscambia.com.
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Water Leak Causes Traffic Delays On North Century Boulevard
January 20, 2026
A water leak under North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) in Century caused traffic delays on Tuesday.
The leak was in the northbound 8800 block of North Highway 29, just south of the Mexican restaurant.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic control.
Contractors assisted the Town of Century with the repair. A town official said the line never lost enough pressure to require a boil water notice.
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