UWF President Martha Saunders Has Resigned
May 12, 2025
University of West Florida President Martha Saunders has resigned.
Saunders, who has held the position since 2017, announced her resignation to students, faculty and staff.
Her resignation was preceded by attacks on the university by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor made four controversial picks to the University of Board of Trustees. Two of the appointees resigned, and one was never confirmed by the Florida Senate.
“Dr Saunders is an exceptional academic leader and a superb president of the University of West Florida. Under her leadership, UWF has met or exceeded every performance standard set by the state. UWF graduates have the best chance to obtain employment over any other higher education institution in the state. All of that is because of Martha Saunders’ commitment and capability. She leaves the University of West Florida in Triumph,” Florida Sen. Don Gaetz said in a statement Monday afternoon.
Here is the complete text of Saunder’s resignation message:
When I returned to the University of West Florida as president, it felt like coming home. This University gave me my start as an academic, and serving as its leader has been one of the great honors of my life.
In accordance with the terms of my contract, and after thoughtful reflection, I have made the decision to conclude my presidency. This was not an easy choice. I know it may come as a surprise, and for some, a disappointment. Please know I did not make it lightly. I believe this is the right time — for me and for UWF.
Over the past several years, we’ve accomplished extraordinary things together: record enrollments, historic fundraising, national recognition, and a campus culture that puts students first. We’ve met challenges head-on and kept our values intact. I could not be more proud of what we’ve built.
I will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the campus leadership to ensure a smooth transition. My commitment to this University and its people remains strong through my final day in office — and beyond.
Thank you for your trust, your passion, and your belief in what UWF can be.
With gratitude,
Martha
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Cantonment Man Accused Of Burglary Through A Dog Door, Battering His Ex
May 12, 2025
A Cantonment man is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house through a large dog door, battering her, and leaving back through the dog door.
Calelan William Ross, 26, was charged with first degree felony burglary with assault or battery. He remained in the Escambia County Jail Monday morning with bond set at $75,000.
The victim told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she woke up in her room to find Ross lying in the bed next to her. She said she stood up, turned on the light, and told him to leave after a short conversation. Ross refused, grabbed her by the wrist, and threw her on the bed before getting on top of her, an arrest report states.
“Ross then left the residence the same way he had entered, which was through the large dog door at the front of the residence,” the Sheriff’s Office report states. The victim found her mother and called 911.
Deputies searched the area but were initially unable to locate Ross. A white Toyota Tacoma, registered to Ross, was found at the scene. Later, another call was received stating Ross had returned to the area. Deputies responded, but again were unable to locate him. A warrant affidavit was submitted.
Deputies said Ross had never lived at the home. The report also noted that the victim was not injured.
Part Of Old Flomaton Road Near Century To Be Closed Tuesday And Wednesday
May 12, 2025
A portion of road from 8700 and 8701 Old Flomaton Road near Century will be closed to northbound traffic beginning Tuesday while Escambia County Public Works crews replace the crossover pipe under the county road.
The closure area is between Campbell Road and Cedar Street.
Motorists traveling north on Old Flomaton Road near the construction zone should use extra caution and follow road crew instructions and posted signs when traveling through the work zone. The road is expected to reopen on Wednesday, May 14.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic, and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction
Lane Closures Through Thursday On Highway 97 Northbound Near Pilgrim Trail
May 12, 2025
Motorists traveling on Highway 97 near Pilgrim Trail can expect intermittent delays this week due to scheduled tree trimming operations, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
FDOT has announced that northbound lanes of Highway 97 will experience temporary closures between Monday, May 12, and Thursday, May 15 in the area of Pilgrim Trail, about five miles north of the Highway 97 and Highway 29 intersection. The lane closures will take place daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution while traveling through the work zone and to anticipate potential delays. It is recommended to allow extra travel time or seek alternative routes if possible during the specified hours.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Two Ransom Middle Band Students Chosen For State Honor Band
May 12, 2025
Two Ransom Middle School band students have been selected to perform with the Florida Bandmasters Association 2025 7-Star Honor Band this summer.
Chase Redman and Braylen Barton were selected for the prestigious FBA band this July at SeaWorld in Orlando.
The selection is a recognition of their musical excellence, commitment, and hard work.
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Atmore Police Arrest Second Suspect For Attempted Murder
May 12, 2025
The Atmore Police Department on Sunday arrested another suspect in connection with a May 7 shooting at an intersection during which a vehicle and a nearby restaurant were hit by gunfire.
Dexter Adams, 18, was taken into custody after a foot chase. Police said that during the chase, he reached for a weapon before hiding it under a nearby shed.
He was charged with attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, shooting into an unoccupied building, attempting to elude, and receiving stolen property second degree.
APD said additional arrests are forthcoming in the case.
About 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, Atmore officers responded to the area of North Main and Howard Street following reports of shots fired into a passing vehicle. The Wing & Burger Box restaurant on the northeast corner of the intersection was also hit by gunfire. No injuries were reported.
Responding officers recovered a significant amount of evidence at the scene, collecting 47 spent shell casings believed to be from two different caliber firearms.
During the course of their investigation into the May 7 shooting, investigators were able to identify four suspects.
A 17-year-old juvenile was subsequently arrested and has been charged as an adult with attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, and discharging a firearm into an unoccupied building. Due to his age and in accordance with Alabama state statutes, his name is not being released at this time. Following his arrest, he was transported to the Escambia County (Alabama) Detention Center.
Further investigation by Atmore Police linked the same 17-year-old juvenile to a separate shooting incident that occurred on April 26. In that event, multiple shots were fired into a residence located in the 300 block of East School Street. In relation to this shooting, the juvenile has been charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.
Investigators have also signed arrest warrants for two additional juvenile suspects allegedly involved in the East School Street shooting.
The Atmore Police Department continues to investigate both incidents and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating the outstanding suspects. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Atmore Police at (251) 368-9141.
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Wahoos Drop Finale in Biloxi To End Road Trip
May 12, 2025
written by Carter Bainbridge
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (19-14) were defeated in Sunday’s series finale at Keesler Federal Park against the Biloxi Shuckers (20-13) by a final score of 5-1. The loss marks Pensacola’s fifth consecutive setback and ends a two-week road trip.
Neither team scored in Sunday’s contest until the bottom of the third inning when the Shuckers struck first. Biloxi’s league-leading scoring offense tagged Pensacola starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (L, 2-2) for two runs – one via wild pitch, the other via an RBI single from third baseman Brock Wilken.
Pensacola answered back in the top of the fourth inning. After back-to-back one-out singles against Biloxi lefthander Tate Kuehner (W, 2-4), right fielder Kemp Alderman hit a ground ball to Shuckers shortstop Cooper Pratt. After recording one out at second base, second baseman Zavier Warren’s throw to first glanced off first baseman Luke Adams’ glove and rolled into foul territory, allowing Wahoo second baseman Jared Serna to score from third base on an E3.
The unearned run was all the offense the Wahoos would manufacture on the day against Kuehner and quartet of Biloxi relievers. The Shuckers added insurance in the bottom of the seventh against Pensacola lefthander Luis Palacios, who allowed an RBI double to Cooper Pratt and a two-run home run to Brock Wilken that extended the Biloxi lead to 5-1. The Wahoos put baserunners aboard in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could not mount a rally en route to a 5-1 defeat.
With the loss, the Wahoos drop to second place in the Southern League South Division, marking the first time all season Pensacola has not had at least a share of first place.
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday, May 13 when they begin a six-game series with the Rocket City Trash Pandas. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
File photo.
Florida’s Average Gas Price Falls Below $3, Lower Locally
May 12, 2025
The average Florida gas price fell below $3 a gallon last week, according to AAA.
The state average dipped to $2.93 per gallon on Sunday. That’s the lowest daily average price since December 2023.
Sunday’s state average is 17 cents less than a week ago, 22 cents less than a month ago, and 54 cents less than this time last year.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.83 on Sunday. Several stations in Pensacola were at $2.66, while a low price of $2.68 was available at one Cantonment station.
“Florida drivers are seeing the lowest gas prices in 17 months,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices dipped due to fears that the trade war could trigger a recession and reduce fuel demand. However, reports of easing tensions pushed oil prices higher last week, which could result in rising prices at the pump.”
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A Mother’s Journey: Finding Hope, Recovery And Purpose Through Unimaginable Loss
May 11, 2025
There’s nothing like a mother’s love for a child.
And nothing like a mother’s grief when a child is taken away.
On this Mother’s Day, a local author is sharing the courageous story of her son’s battle with cancer and her own path toward healing, offering a beacon of hope for anyone navigating grief.
Janet Little Cooper recently published her book, What Every Grieving Mother Wishes You Knew: How to Support, Heal, & Remember Together.
Life has a way of etching some dates into our hearts forever. For Janet , a former editor at The Atmore Advance and managing editor of the Tri-City Ledger, October 27, 2014, is one such day. It began like any other, until her 17-year-old son, Bryant, walked into her office, his body wracked with an unfamiliar and alarming pain. What started as a mother’s concern for what she thought was a pulled muscle or perhaps kidney stones, soon spiraled into a reality that would alter their worlds forever.
“He showed up two hours early [for his doctor's appointment] telling me he couldn’t wait,” Janet recounted, the memory still vivid. “So I called his pediatrician on her cell and we both agreed it sounded like kidney stones so she told me to get him to the ER. In hindsight, I’m thankful it played out that way because he would have gone to the appointment on his own, but because of how much pain he was in, I drove him to the ER.”
Within a few short hours, the words every parent dreads shattered their hope. “The ER doctor came out with news that turned our world upside down,” Janet shared, her voice thick with emotion. “She told us there were no kidney stones, but instead they saw four tumors in his liver that appeared to be cancer.”
After nine days in the hospital and extensive testing, the diagnosis was Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, a rare, aggressive, and incurable cancer.
“His was already at Stage 4 with tumors located from head to toe,” Janet said.
“On the 11th day, we were flown to MD Anderson in Houston by Pilots for Christ out of Monroeville. The oncologist there told us he had only seen three cases of this cancer in adolescence and they all three died. Bryant would be the fourth. The doctor said, ‘we can start him on chemo to give him maybe two more years to kick the can down the road’.”
“The days that followed were a blur of fear, new medical terms, and a desperate search for hope. From Dr. Marian Stewart, Bryant’s pediatrician, to Nemours at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, and then a flight by the compassionate Pilots for Christ to the renowned MD Anderson in Houston, the family chased every possibility. Yet, the prognosis from a leading oncologist there was heart-wrenching: he had only encountered three such cases in adolescents, and all had been fatal. Bryant, he said, would be the fourth. “We can start him on chemo to give him maybe two more years to kick the can down the road,” the doctor offered.
But Bryant, wise beyond his years and anchored by a profound faith, responded with a strength that would become his hallmark. That night, he told his mother, “Mom, that doctor can’t number my days. Only God can.”
And so began Bryant’s valiant 25-month battle. He started his first round of chemotherapy in Pensacola on his mother’s birthday, November 18, 2014, a bittersweet irony that forever links a day of celebration with the onset of their fight. Through it all, Bryant’s spirit, his unwavering faith, and his radiant smile became a source of astonishing strength for everyone around him. “He literally smiled his way through it!” Janet said, a mix of pride and sorrow in her voice.
Even as the cancer progressed, Bryant exuded a remarkable peace. “He began telling me in the first year of diagnosis that he was going to die,” Janet revealed. “He was confident and assured me each time he said it that he was at peace because he knew he was going to heaven.” His mom felt it was as if Bryant had “set down with God and planned out every detail.”
“About eight months before he died, Bryant made the decision to stop all treatments,” Janet said. “At that time, his Pensacola doctor, among others, met with Bryant in his hospital room, where he carefully laid out every detail of how he wanted to die, down to signing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form. So when the time came on November 17, all I had to do was call the nurses stationand his plan was set into motion.”
The inspiration for Janet to share their sacred story? “Bryant and God,” she stated without hesitation. The desire to honor her son’s courageous spirit and unwavering faith, and a deep-seated love for writing that had been a part of her since childhood, converged. “I’ve always loved writing and miss my days at the Ledger,” Janet said. “Actually, my dad, Rev. Thomas Little, Jr., always wanted us to write a book together, so when God led me to begin writing this book Dec. 23, 2024, it was only fitting that I use some of my dad’s handwritten sermons in the book.” What began as a whisper of an idea blossomed quickly; within four short days, she had penned 16 chapters, a number that soon grew to 29 chapters and 160 pages of raw, heartfelt truth.
What does she hope readers will take from this intimate chronicle of love, loss, and faith? “That there is hope even after such a great loss,” Janet affirmed. “Bryant was a Christian and he knew where he was going for eternity. He wanted everyone to know the same assurance and comfort he had.” As a testament to his faith, small wooden crosses were passed out at his funeral, a symbol of what the cross meant to him and the peace he wished for others. “He has been gone for eight years, and it has been an experience unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. I’m slowly healing and learning how to live with Bryant’s absence in my life by taking my son’s advice by trusting God to carry me through.”
Janet emphasizes that her book, though deeply personal, speaks to a universal experience. “It’s not just for mothers who have lost children, even though the title suggests that. This book is for anyone who has ever experienced loss – a spouse, sibling, cousin, or friend. Grief is universal, but each has a different story.” It also serves as a gentle guide for those who want to support grieving loved ones but are unsure how, offering chapters on “Practical Ways to Help Someone Grieving” and, crucially, “What Not to Say to Someone Grieving.”
Her powerful narrative has resonated widely, earning endorsements from New York Times Best Selling Author Andy Andrews and Rev. Ted Traylor from Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.
Janet’s creative spirit continues to flourish. She has immediate plans to publish four children’s books she penned over two decades ago, a charming series titled “The Adventures of Super Austin and His Sidekick, Baby Boy,” inspired by the real-life escapades of her sons when they were small. The first delightful tale involves a six-year-old Austin feeding his one-year-old brother Bryant leftover giraffe food from a zoo trip, leading to a panicked but ultimately amusing call to poison control and a zoo veterinarian who playfully warned Bryant might start swinging from ceiling fans! She even has plans for a book chronicling her own “mishaps and broken bones and close calls!”
In addition, she has already published three faith-based coloring/storybooks for children and intends to release more monthly. All of her published works are available on Amazon.
“My hope is that through every book, I can share healing, faith, and joy,” Janet expressed.
This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate the incredible bond between mothers and their children, Janet Little Cooper’s story shines with a particular poignancy. It is a narrative of a love that knows no end, a faith that sustains through the deepest valleys, and a mother’s unwavering journey to find purpose and share her son’s enduring light with a world in need of hope.
NorthEscambia.com photo (top) and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Police Nab Two For Overnight Vehicle Burglaries, Recover Stolen Car
May 11, 2025
Atmore Police arrested two suspects on Saturday in connection with multiple overnight vehicle burglaries.
According to police, the suspects were responsible for five vehicle burglaries. Police said they fled on foot, but officers were able to capture them. Police also recovered a vehicle that was reported stolen in Mobile.
Police charged 19-year-old Ronald Isaac of Mobile with four counts of attempted theft of property first degree, along with theft of property first degree, receiving property first degree, possession of burglary tools, and attempting to elude. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
The second suspect is a juvenile whose name was not released.
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