Holmes County Takes Jay Out Of Regional Hunt
May 3, 2026
The Holmes County Blue Devils defeated the Jay Royals in two close contests on Saturday in the Rural regional semifinals.
Holmes County won 2-1 and 4-2 in the best-of-three series.
The Blue Devils advance to the regional finals on Friday, May 8 against the winner of Sunday’s game three between Northview and Chipley.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Seeks Volunteer for Planning Board Appointment
May 3, 2026
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than noon; however, occasionally may go beyond noon depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board are asked to submit a resume indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Monday, May 11. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Rachel Whitmire; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, FL 32505; or emailed to rwhitmire@myescambia.com.
All submittals are subject to public records requests.
Lewis Jr., Blue Wahoos Sweep Doubleheader Over Shuckers
May 3, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept the Biloxi Shuckers in a doubleheader on Saturday night, extending their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 7-4 win in game one and a 6-3 win in game two.
Ian Lewis Jr. was the offensive star, hitting a go-ahead, two-run triple in the opener and giving the Blue Wahoos the lead for good in the nightcap with a three-run homer.
In game one, a makeup after Friday night’s rainout, the Shuckers jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning on a two-run homer from Damon Keith. The Blue Wahoos answered back in the home half of the inning thanks to a Brendan Jones leadoff walk and an RBI groundout from Ryan Ignoffo.
Pensacola starter Brandon White (W, 1-1) allowed a solo homer to Mike Boeve in the fourth, but completed 5.0 innings with a season-high seven strikeouts to keep the Blue Wahoos within striking distance and ultimately earn his first Double-A win.
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, the Blue Wahoos finally broke through against Shuckers starter Brett Wichrowski (L, 2-2). Ignoffo hit a two-run triple to tie the game, and Lewis Jr. hit another two-run triple two batters later for a 5-3 edge. Michael Snyder added insurance by scoring Lewis Jr. with a sacrifice fly, and Jones circled the bases an inning later with a single, stolen base and wild pitch to give Pensacola a 7-3 lead.
Nigel Belgrave (S, 3) surrendered a solo homer to Darrien Miller in the seventh, but kept the Shuckers at arm’s length to earn the six-out save in a 7-4 final.
In game two, Pensacola’s top prospect Karson Milbrandt (W, 1-1) surrendered a run in the first inning without allowing a hit. Blake Burke walked, stole second, took third on a throwing error, and scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Biloxi lead.
Milbrandt would settle down, ultimately striking out eight over 6.0 two-hit innings, and got a lead to protect in the bottom of the second when Lewis Jr. launched a three-run homer off Biloxi’s Manuel Rodriguez (L, 1-2) for a 3-1 advantage.
Dillon Lewis launched his team-leading fifth homer of the season, an opposite-field shot to right field, in the fifth inning to extend Pensacola’s lead to 6-1.
The Shuckers scored twice in the top of the seventh and loaded the bases with the top of their order due up, but Logan Whitaker (S, 3) retired Dylan O’Rae and Jesús Made with the tying run at first to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Mother Of Cantonment Murder Suspect Charged With Helping Him Flee
May 2, 2026
An Alabama woman is being charged with helping her son flee following a mid-April murder in Cantonment.
Sonya Nicole Cross-McAdoo is charged with accessory to murder after the fact. She’s currently in the Montgomery County (AL) Jail on a parole violation charge and awaiting extradition back to Escambia County.
Her son, 29-year old Devaughn Kentrell Williamson is accused of shooting Tyshawn McDowell in the chest during an incident at a residence on Booker Lane. He was located on April 17 at a bus stop in Phoenix with a bus ticket in his pocket for El Paso, Texas. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond charged with homicide.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said she traveled to Escambia County after the shooting, picked up Williamson and drove him back to Montgomery. He then traveled to Houston and then Arizona and had a bus ticket in his possession when he was arrested in Phoenix with the assistance of a U.S. Marshals Task Force.
“We believe that she knew what had occurred,” Simmons said. “She knew that her son was wanted. She knew what her son had done, and she obviously was accessory to murder after the fact.”
First Report
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies responding to a deadly missiles call on Booker Lane on March 4, 2026, discovered blood and shell casings at the scene, along with a bloody firearm discarded in a nearby wooded area.
After deputies spoke with the reporting person, they first developed Williamson as the possible victim and were unable to locate him. On March 6 at 8:30 a.m., Williamson was located at Carver Park on Webb Street and he told deputies that he was fine and elected to leave after a fight with his girlfriend, according to the report. He also told deputies that he had no knowledge of anything occurring, and that it had nothing to do with him.
Victim Reported Missing
At 1 p.m on March 6, Tyshawn McDowell was reported missing by his mother who told deputies that family members had attempted unsuccessfully to contact him. She told deputies that McDowell was last known to be going to meet with Williamson because Williamson’s twin brother owed him approximately $20,000 from a winning sports bet.
McDowell’s brother received a Facebook call from someone wishing to remain anonymous and stating that McDowell had been shot and was dead, the report continues.
GPS Tracker and Bloody Palmprint
A GPS tracker placed by an automotive company was used to locate McDowell’s 2016 Nissan Altima on Greek Cemetery Road east of Robertsdale, Alabama. Investigators located the vehicle on the side of the road and observed blood inside and outside the car. Florida deputies learned the vehicle had previously been stopped by a Baldwin County deputy, and Williamson was the driver and sole occupant. The Alabama deputy noted money scattered around the floorboard in the car.
Also on March 6, investigators determined that palm prints on the bloody weapon’s magazine belonged to Williamson.
Victim’s Phone Data Leads To His Body
ECSO obtained geolocation records for McDowell’s phone, tracing its path from Booker Lane in Cantonment, along Highway 112 in Baldwin County where the phone was stationary for 15 minutes before moving back to Pensacola. Based upon the cellular data from the victim’s phone, investigators conducted a search and located McDowell’s body in a secluded wooded area just north of Highway 112 near Goodlander Road. He had a single gunshot wound to the chest.
An arrest warrant for second degree murder was obtained for Williamson.
NAS Pensacola Reopens Areas Of Public Interest Seven Days A Week
May 2, 2026
After being closed to the general public for over a month, NAS Pensacola has reopened areas of public interest seven days a week.
Areas of public interest on the air station include the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). Other areas on NAS Pensacola can only be accessed by individuals with a Department of War (DoW) identification card.
The installation’s West Gate is open daily from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. for visitor access to the air station’s areas of public interest.
The only authorized area onboard NAS Pensacola to view the Blue Angels practice is at the National Naval Aviation Museum flightline.
Access to Barrancas National Cemetery – located onboard the air station – is always available through the Visitor Control Center (VCC) to individuals with family interred at the cemetery. Visitors to Barrancas National Cemetery must enter the installation through the Main Gate at the south end of Navy Blvd.
All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 and older must have a Real identification card or passport and enter NAS Pensacola through the installation’s West Gate at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway.
Foreign Nationals are authorized access to NAS Pensacola but must be escorted by a U.S. citizen with proper identification.
The following restrictions will apply to visitors:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include Concealed Weapon Permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Individuals with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- No visitors with boats and boat trailers
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
Splash Pad And Pickleball: Ribbon Cut On Upgraded Beulah Park
May 2, 2026
A ribbon cutting was held on Friday for an upgraded Beulah Regional Park.
Park improvements include a new splash pad, four new pickleball courts, new basketball goals, new picnic table pavilions and grills, new fencing, and more. Several ADA upgrades were also made throughout the park, including the addition of two new ADA-compliant parking spaces, sidewalks to and from the parking lot, and improved connectivity to the existing amenities.
“I’m excited to finally reopen Beulah Regional Park and celebrate the completion of long-awaited improvements to the park,” said District 1 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Stroberger said. “Parks are an incredibly important amenity for our community, and I’d like to express my sincere thanks to our county staff for their hard work completing these upgrades for our residents. This park is for everyone in Escambia County, and I look forward to seeing our residents and visitors enjoy it for generations to come.”
Drainage enhancements were also completed throughout the park to minimize areas with standing water and improve overall park aesthetics.
Beulah Regional Park is located at 7820 Mobile Highway. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the splash pad is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Create a Special Card For Mom Today At The Molino Library
May 2, 2026
Stop by the Molino Library between 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and make a special card for mom to show just how much you care.
Use the free Mother’s Day Card Creation Station to design a one-of-a-kind card using color paper, stickers, and more.
File image.
Blue Wahoos Rained Out Friday; Double Header On Saturday
May 2, 2026
Friday’s game at Blue Wahoos Stadium between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 4:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Fans planning to attend Friday’s postponed game can exchange their tickets for a future 2026 regular season home game of equal or lesser value at the Blue Wahoos Stadium ticket office. As stated on tickets, no refunds will be given.
Fans with tickets to Saturday’s regularly scheduled game will gain admittance to both games in the doubleheader, in the seats they have been assigned. Gates open at 3:00 p.m.
The Blue Wahoos play the Shuckers again on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m., and continue their homestand on Tuesday as they begin a six-game series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels.
Update: ECSO Says Reported School Bus Incident In Bratt Was A TicTok Challenge
May 1, 2026
A reported suspicious incident involving a 10-year-old student in Bratt that occurred Thursday afternoon has been determined to have been teenagers participating in a TikTok challenge, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said mid-afternoon on Friday.
The Bratt Elementary School student had just gotten off his school bus on North Highway 99 near Highway 168. The incident involved a white vehicle, possibly a Hyundai Santa Fe, occupied by two white males.
According to deputies, the vehicle came to a halt as he exited the school bus, and the passenger reportedly attempted to offer candy to the student. The child immediately notified his parents, who then contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
The parents of both teens and the two teens have been identified and contacted by the ECSO. They are not being charged.
“While this situation did not involve an actual abduction attempt, we want to stress that these types of “pranks” can be extremely dangerous and are taken very seriously. Actions like this can cause fear, prompt emergency responses, and potentially put individuals at risk,” the ECSO said. “We encourage parents to speak with their children about the real-world consequences of participating in social media challenges, especially those involving strangers or minors.”
The child’s mom told NorthEscambia.com on Friday morning that she was terrified by the incident and deeply concerned.
“It scared the hell out of me. It made me feel like someone is targeting children by following buses and getting these kids’ routines and what they do when they get off the bus so they know who to target,” the child’s mother said. “It scared me that something like this could happen in our small little town. Now he has to be back in after school care because some sicko is prowling for children.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the agency appreciates the community’s vigilance and continues to encourage reports of suspicious activity.
Photos and video for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Felon Facing Federal Firearms Indictments
May 1, 2026
A Cantonment felon has been indicted on federal gun charges.
Jesse Allen Hudson, 43, was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
In January, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance on Winston Street in Cantonment. The victim reported that a rifle and pistol had been removed from the home.
Deputies first discovered a loaded AR-style magazine and an empty one on the ground near the back door, positioned next to a pile of Hudson’s clothing, according to an arrest report. A subsequent search of the property revealed a loaded AR-style rifle with a round chambered, hidden inside a white laundry basket within a black trailer parked near the garage. A third loaded magazine was later recovered from another laundry basket inside the living room.
According to the report, Hudson was convicted in Florida of felony battery in 2012.
Hudson appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola. He is set for trial on June 15.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.