Tate High Swim Team Make School History At State
December 1, 2025
The Tate High School swim team made school history recently at the FHSAA 3A State Swim Meet in Ocla.
Lauren Armstrong, Audrey Turner, Jordana Wright, Kiley Menser and alternate Izzy Eden became the first Girls 400 Freestyle Relay team in Tate history to make it to the state swim meet.
Tate High results were as follows:
- Lauren Armstrong – 200 Freestyle
- State Selection – 17th seed
- Preliminaries – 17th place
- Lauren Armstrong – 500 Freestyle
- State Selection – 12th seed
- Preliminaries – 16th place
- Finals – 15th place
- Audrey Turner – 100 Backstroke
- State Selection – 17th seed
- Preliminaries – 20th place
- Alex Witte – 50 Freestyle (DIS)
- State Selection – 7th seed
- Finals – 6th place
- Alex Witte – 100 Freestyle (DIS)
- State Selection – 7th seed
- Finals – 6th place
- Lauren Armstrong, Audrey Turner, Jordana Wright, Kiley Menser – Girls 400 Freestyle Relay
- State Selection – 19th seed
- Preliminaries – 18th place
The team is led by Head Coach Kevin Menser and Assistant Coach Katie Eden.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Arrested For DUI, Drug Possession
December 1, 2025
A Cantonment woman was arrested after an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed her driving erratically recently on West Nine Mile Road.
Tiffany Ann Baisden, 59, was charged with DUI, refusal to submit to DUI testing, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (alprazolam).
According to an arrest report, Baisden was pulled over in the Kohl’s parking lot after being seen driving without tag lights, accelerating and braking without reason, and drifting across traffic lines. The deputy noted Baisden appeared unsteady and unable to focus.
After performing poorly on field sobriety tests, Baisden was taken into custody The report state that the deputy found 10 alprazolam pills in her wallet during a search prior to booking.
At the jail, Baisden reportedly initially agreed to provide a urine sample but then failed to do so in a timely manner, which was taken as a refusal. Deputies said she also spontaneously stated that she had snorted methamphetamine in the past two days.
She was later released on a $2,800 bond.
Wreck Cuts Highway 29, Muscogee Road Traffic Light Sunday Morning
November 30, 2025
The traffic light at Highway 29 and Muscogee Road was out Sunday morning following an early Sunday morning crash, according to thee Florida Highway Patrol.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Sunday morning that the light was out “for the foreseeable future”, and it was repaired by early Sunday afternoon.
The FHP said an SUV collided with a pole shortly after 3 a.m. at the intersection. Troopers said the crash appears to be a hit-and-run.
NorthEscambia com file photo.
Unborn Child Dies Following Early Morning Crash On Highway 29 In Cantonment
November 30, 2025
An unborn child has died following a two-vehicle crash early Sunday morning on Highway 29 in Cantonment, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened about 1:05 a.m. on Highway 29 at Neal Road.
FHP said a white GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by a male 17-year-old Molino teen was traveling southbound on Highway 29 approaching, Neal Road as a black Ford F150 pickup driven by a 21-year-old Cantonment woman was traveling northbound. The teen attempted a left turn onto Neal Road. The vehicles collided, with one of the pickups overturning into a ditch.
FHP confirmed that the teen driver was at-fault in the crash.
Firefighters worked over an hour to free one of the entrapped victims. The two drivers were seriously injured, with one airlifted to the hospital. A passenger in the Sierra, a 21-year-old male from Magnolia, Texas, was also injured.
FHP said the 21-year-old woman was pregnant and lost her child in the crash.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Tag Violation Leads To Arrest Of Cantonment Man On Multiple Drug Charges
November 30, 2025
A routine traffic stop for an obscured license resulted in the arrest of a Cantonment man on multiple drug charges.
Scott Alan Popp Jr., 25, of Pensacola, was pulled over near North W Street and Sam’s Fun City by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The initial stop was for an alleged unlawful alteration of his vehicle tag, which obscured the state designation.
According to an arrest report filed, a K-9 unit was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A subsequent probable cause search uncovered a container allegedly holding crystal substances that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, a white rock-like substance that tested positive for cocaine, and loose marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia.
Popp was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (cocaine), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and issued a citation for unlawful alteration of a tag.
Popp remained in the Escambia County Jail on Sunday with bond set at $6,150.
Cantonment Lodge Donates Food Boxes To Families In Need
November 30, 2025
For Thanksgiving, Cantonment Masonic Lodge No. 322 partnered with Manna Food Pantries to donate 37 food boxes to local schools for families in need.
The food boxes, including turkeys, were donated to Ernest Ward Middle and Jim Allen Elementary schools.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Parades: Here’s The Big Local List
November 30, 2025
He’s a big list of NorthEscambia.com area Christmas parades coming up in December.
Have a church or nonprofit Christmas event to share? Email news@northescambia.com.
Jacky Cunningham, Champion For Local Youth And Agriculture, Passes Away At Age 79
November 30, 2025
Jacky Cunningham, a champion for local agriculture and youth, has passed away. He was 79.
Jacky was one of the founding members of the GCA-NRYO (Gulf Coast Agriculture and Natural Resources Youth Organization), which still presents a youth livestock show each spring in Molino.
“He helped many children develop a love for cattle, a skill set of leadership and the art of showing cattle for competition,” according to his obituary. “His joy was witnessing a steer raised by young hands being paraded through an arena showing the result of hard work and perseverance that ends at success.”
Jacky attended Molino Elementary School through the ninth grade, and he was a 1964 graduate of Tate High School. At Tate, he was a member of the Tate High School FFA program where he raised and showed steers for FFA and the Pensacola Interstate Fair. He was also an avid baseball player and was a member of the 1962 Aggies state championship team.
He is survived by sons Gregory James (Sabrena) and Leslie Andrew (Christina).
Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Faith Chapel North. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 3 at 11 a.m. at Highland Baptist Church in Molino, with visitation prior at 10 a.m.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Ashton Brosnaham To Host NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship
November 30, 2025
Sixteen of the nation’s top National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) women’s soccer programs are set to compete for the Red Banner as the 2025 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship returns to the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in North Escambia next week.
From December 1-8, they will bring lite collegiate play and a week of championship-level excitement to the Escambia County Park off 10 Mile Road.
In the 42nd annual competition, the top 16 women’s soccer teams will compete for the championship title:
- Marian (Ind.)
- Taylor (Ind.)
- MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
- Oklahoma Wesleyan
- College of Idaho
- Cumberlands (Ky.)
- Life (Ga.)
- John Brown (Ark.)
- William Carey (Miss.)
- Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
- Truett McConnell (Ga.)
- Grace (Ind.)
- Indiana Wesleyan
- Keiser (Fla.)
- Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
- Missouri Valley
Tickets are on sale at here. All-tournament passes are $32 for adults and $17 for military, students, seniors, and children. Individual game tickets are $11.60 for adults and $6.60 for students, children, military, and seniors. Free admission for kids ages five and younger. Kids wearing jerseys with a paying adult get free entry for the entire tournament!
Game Times (bracket at top, click to enlarge)
- Monday, Dec. 1 – 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 2 – 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 4 (Quarterfinals) – 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 6 (Semifinals) – 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 8 (Finals) – 12:00 p.m.
Argos Season Comes To An End After Second Round Loss to Newberry
November 30, 2025
A season of special moments and championship aspirations with UWF’s football team ended Saturday in a difficult way.
As fate proved, it was Newberry College returning five years later to pull off another playoff upset.
After overcoming a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter, tying the game early in the third quarter the Argos lost their starting quarterback and Newberry scored a late fourth-quarter touchdown for a 24-17 victory in their NCAA Division II Super Region 2 semifinal game at PenAir Field.
It created a stunned, silent home crowd as the Argos players fought back emotions while exiting the field.
“Obviously, overall it’s a locker room that’s hurting pretty bad,” said UWF coach Kaleb Nobles. “They put a lot of hard work into this, coaches and players, trainers and equipment managers…. everybody is hurting.”
“Because you put a lot of hard work into the season and for it to end like that is not easy. Very frustrated. Myself, I didn’t do enough personally to get this one done for us and I take all the responsibility for it.”
The Argos (10-2) were in position for a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Marcus Stokes sustained an apparent head injury on a head-on collision while trying to score during a third-down run inside the 5-yard-line. A field goal was then missed and Stokes never returned.
“As soon as I got out there, I heard the conversation and I kind of knew where it was trending towards.” Nobles said. “He’s a great player. We’re not in this game without him. I’m very proud of his journey and what he’s done.
“I know he’s hurting right now in that locker room, because it’s not fair – that game ends like that. But life isn’t fair and he’s learned that over the years.”
Newberry (11-1), which reached a region final for the first time in school history, pulled off their final big-play pass of this game when quarterback Reed Charpia connected with Keith Desaussare on a 22-yard scoring pass with 4:55 left in the game.
UWF’s chance to tie was thwarted when backup quarterback Tony Bartalo’s fourth-down pass from the Newberry 28 to Trevon Dirden was knocked down by a Newberry defender inside the 5 with 1:16 remaining. It concluded a nine-play drive by Bartalo.
“Very proud of Tony Bartalo coming in and giving us a chance to win it,” Nobles said. “We just couldn’t do enough at the end.”
Newberry has only faced UWF twice. Both in the post-season and both resulting in upset wins.
The Wolves stunned the Argos in 2021 with an overtime win that became the final time the Argos played in Blue Wahoos Stadium before moving to their campus venue.
“Coming into the game, I felt like West Florida was the best team we’ve seen since the last time we handled them,” said Newberry coach Todd Knight, in his 17th year with the Wolves. “An excellent football team. They do it right. It’s a first-class program. I felt really fortunate to come away with the win.”
It was Newberry’s ninth straight win and seventh time this season the Wolves have won a game by a touchdown or less. Four wins occurred by a field goal or less.
“I kind of felt if it came down to the end, we have been there many times and found a way to pull it out,” Knight said. “I felt if we could get it to the last couple of minutes on the clock and we had a chance, I like our odds, because they have been there and done that and always found a way to win.”
Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded:
FIRST HALF
An explosive start for Newberry. The Wolves scored on the game’s first snap following the kickoff. Charpia connected with running back Quez Spells, who broke free on a route coming from the backfield and was wide open for an 82-yard touchdown play that stunned the crowd.
It also set a tone for how this game would evolve.
Later in the quarter, Newberry completed an 11-play, 65-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead. Ironically, the Wolves did the same thing in their 2021 victory, scoring in the first minute of the game and then taking a 14-0 lead.
“They have good coaches and they prepared to get to an unbalanced set,” said Nobles, describing the first touchdown. “Not an easy play to defend and they did a good job scheming it up. Really that was a big play, but after that I felt we weathered the storm. We came back and tied it up.”
The Argos got their first touchdown with 6:40 left in the half when Stokes powered his way into the end zone on a designed run from the 7 yard line. The drive began with a 22-yard completion to tight end Jake Robinette.
The Wolves then kicked a field goal to take a 17-7 lead, but UWF answered with Tyler Patterson’s field goal as 1:15 remained. That ended the half with Newberry up 17-10.
“I said hey, we’ve done a good job,” said Nobles, relaying his message to players. ”We took every punch. We took a lot of haymakers and we’re still standing. We’ve done this all year. We’ve done a great job coming out of the half all year.
“Our guys answered the challenge like I talked about at halftime, we just didn’t make enough players down the stretch.”
SECOND HALF
The Argos got the third quarter kickoff. They drove 81 yards in seven plays, finished by Robinette’s 22-yard scoring pass from Stokes. The drive included a great diving catch by Corey Scott at the Newberry 22.
But from this point, UWF’s offense stalled. Stokes had a pass interception later in the quarter.
UWF drove to a first down at the Newberry 5 to start the fourth quarter. On second down, TJ Lane broke free into the end zone. But UWF was whistled for an illegal shift, which infuriated UWF coaches.
Two plays later, on a designed run Stokes was hurt and the fans, along with UWF’s entire sideline went silent. Patterson’s field goal missed to the right and the game remained tied.
UWF’s defense forced a stop, but the next time the Wolves got the ball, it resulted in the game-winning score with 4:55 left.
“Other than that big play at end of game where we had a miscommunication, I thought our defense played really well in the second half,” Nobles said. “Very proud of those guys. We’re not in this game without our defense. They had a phenomenal year.
“Credit Newberry for good plays and the quarterback (Charpia) is what he is… a very good player and we knew that.”
COACH NOBLES:
“There are lot of hours put in. The players have done a lot of good things. I love this team. It hurts that we don’t get to keep playing because this is a very good team and a team I feel should still be playing. But very proud of this team, very proud of the coaches and the work they put in to get our guys ready. Proud of the senior class because it’s not easy to do what they have done and get that many wins in the regular season and go 10-1. Hard to reflect right now, but I love this team and I love UWF.”
by Bill Vilon, UWF Argos.