Navy Officer Recognized for His USS Indianapolis Ransom Middle History Project
March 12, 2025
Hunter Scott was a 12-year-old Ransom Middle School student whose National History Day project changed U.S. Navy history.
Scott gained national attention for his research into the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. As a 12-year-old Ransom student, Scott embarked on a National History Day project after being inspired by a scene from the movie Jaws. His dedication to uncovering the truth led him to interview nearly 150 survivors of the sinking and review over 800 documents. Scott’s findings exonerated Indianapolis Captain McVay, who had long been blamed for the tragedy, and played a crucial role in the United States Congress reopening the case and ultimately exonerating him posthumously.
Then-Pensacola Congressman Joe Scarborough introduced legislation in October 2000, successfully lobbying Congress to award the Naval Unit Commendation to the ships final crew.
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis CA-35 fell prey to a Japanese submarine and was sunk after delivering the first operational atomic bomb to the island of Tinnian. Of the 1,196 men aboard only 317 were pulled from the water after the sinking. It was greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
Tuesday, now Cmdr. Hunter Scott, executive officer of Consolidated Brig Miramar, was the guest speaker on Tuesday during a special ceremony honoring the legacy of the USS Indianapolis at the National Aviation Museum.
Pictured top: Cmdr. Hunter Scott, speaks at a National Naval Aviation Museum-sponsored USS Indianapolis observance on Tuesday at museum. Pictured below: A museum visitor looks at the project Scott made while a student at Ransom Middle School. Pictured second below: A photograph of USS Indianapolis taken 20 days before sinking. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Softball: Northview Beats Miller, Tate Slips To Niceville
March 12, 2025
Northview 8, T.R. Miller 1
The Northview Lady Chiefs defeated the T.R. Miller Tigers 8-1 Tuesday evening in Bratt.
Jamison Gilman went 3-3 at the plate for Northview, while Addysen Bolen and Mikayla McAnally both tallied two RBIs.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Gilman opened in the circle for the Chiefs, allowing one run and four hits in four innings while walking none and striking one two. Mikayla McAnally threw three scoreless innings in relief, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out three.
The Lady Chiefs stole five bases during the game, with two.
Northview will hit Highway 4 Thursday with road game against the Baker Gators.
NorthviewEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Niceville 9, Tate 2
The Tate Lady Aggies fell 9-2 on the road at Niceville Tuesday evening with the Raiders Racking up six runs in the third inning.
Mykamia Padgett took the loss for Tate in two-and two-thirds innings, giving up eight unearned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out five. Jordan Smith was in the circle for three and one-third innings in relief for Tate, giving up six hits and one run as she recorded three strikeouts and one walk.
Kara Wine wen 1-2 with one RBI for the Aggies.
Tate will travel to Navarre on Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Baseball: Tate Earn Walk-Off Win; Northview Suffers Walk-Off Loss
March 12, 2025
In baseball action, the Tate Aggies earned a walk-off win Tuesday night, while the Northview Chiefs suffered a walk-off loss.
Tate 7, Crestview 6
The Tate Aggies beat Crestview 7-6 in a walk-off.
The matchup at Tate was tied at six in the bottom of the seventh when Griffin Cook singled.
The first score for Tate came in the first on a two-run homer to center field by Nathan Ozuna.
Kaleb Posta earned the win for Tate, giving up three hits and one run in three innings while striking out two and walking one. Sheppard Edgar was first up on the hill for Tate, surrendered six hits and five runs (one unearned) in four innings, recording six strikeouts and one walk.
First baseman Ozuna led the Aggies at the plate with two RBIs as he went 2-4 on the night. Tate had two hits each from Griffin Cook, Lance Brady, Ozuna and Kaden Posta.
Tate will host Escambia on Wednesday and Fort Walton Beach on Thursday. Both games are at 7 p.m.
Tate 8, Crestview 1 (JV)
In JV action Tuesday, Tate handily beat Crestview 8-1.
Tate’s Chandler St.Aman gave up six hits and one run in five and one-third innings, striking out four and walking none.
Bryant went 2-for-3 at bat with three RBIs for the Aggies.
Walton 3, Northview 2
The Walton Braves earned a home walk-off win over Northview Tuesday night 3-2.
Starting pitcher Jackson Bridges surrendered three hits and no runs in five innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Northivew’s Grayden Sheffield took the loss in one inning, allowing three runs on three hits, walking two and striking oout none.
Luke Chavers led the Chiefs with one RBI. Cole Davis and Brady Smith each had one hit.
Northview will host Flomaton on Thursday and T.R. Miller on Friday, with both games at 6:30 p.m.
Former Santa Rosa County School Administrator Charged With Grand Theft
March 12, 2025
A former Santa Rosa County School Administrator has been charged with grand theft by state authorities.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 57-year-old Kelly Rae Short of Milton. She is the former treasurer of the Santa Rosa County Association of School Administrators (SRCACA) and the former director of in-service and instructional technology for the Santa Rosa County school district.
The investigation began on Aug. 14, 2024, after the Santa Rosa County school district contacted FDLE with the results of an independent financial audit of the SRCASA’s account which indicated that Short may have committed criminal activities during her tenure as SRCASA treasurer. Short’s responsibilities as the SRCASA treasurer included collecting members’ dues, purchasing awards and gifts, writing checks for SRCASA payments and reimbursements, and maintaining the annual SRCASA account reports.
The investigation found that the Short doctored bank statements and stole approximately $3,498.07 from the account. Short wrote eight checks to herself from the SRCASA account and she added the SRCASA bank account to her personal Venmo to divert monies from the business account to her personal bank account.
The case is being investigated by the FDLE Pensacola office, and the investigation remains active.
Short was released from Santa Rosa County Jail Monday on $5,000 bond.
She was a finalist for the 2016 Florida Innovative Principal of the Year during her tenure as Jay Elementary School principal.
McArthur Elementary Custodian Celebrated For Saving A Student’s Life
March 11, 2025
It’s no secret that Mr. Anterio at McArthur Elementary School is an angel.
And last week, custodian Anterio Minor was truly an angel for a student that was choking. Anterio is credited with saving the student’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver.
On Monday, the entire McArthur Elementary family came together to celebrate Anterio as a hero.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Legislative Auditing Committee Seeks Answers About Town of Century Finances
March 11, 2025
The Florida Legislature’s Joint Legislative Auditing Committee (JLAC) has voted to direct the Town of Century to provide answers regarding findings from its last three years of audits.
The committee is established under rules of the Florida Legislature with a membership that includes members from the House and Senate. It has responsibilities that are designed to provide continuous oversight of government operations, in part, through the auditing and review activities of the Auditor General.
“The Committee adopted a motion to direct the Town of Century (Town) to provide a written explanation of the status of corrective action that has been taken (Response) to the Committee,” Sen. Jay Collins, chair of JLAC, wrote in a letter to Century interim Mayor Alicia Johnson.
The letter directs the town to respond to the state committee by April 4 with an explanation for each audit finding reported in the town’s last three years of audits. The town must detail what full corrective action has been taken or explain how and when corrective action will be implemented.
Specifically, the JLAC requested a response regarding audit findings that identified issues with cash management, account reconciliation, capital asset tracking, and the town’s overall financial condition.
Previous audits have found that Century’s financial condition “demonstrated signs of a deteriorating financial condition,” as defined by Florida statutes.
Members of the JLAC are:
- Sen. Jason Brodeur
- Sen. Tracie Davis
- Sen. Stan McClain
- Sen. Jason W. B. Pizzo
- Sen. Corey Simon
- Sen. Tom A. Wright
- Rep. Kimberly Davis
- Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman
- Rep. Sam Greco
- Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson
- Rep. Rachel Saunders Plakon
- Rep. Taylor Michael Yarkosky
Editor’s note: This vote by the JLAC and the letter to the Town of Century were initiated prior to the town alleging employee theft and is unrelated to the criminal investigation.
Project Provides Free Dictionaries For All Jim Allen Third Graders
March 11, 2025
Members of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Cantonment recently presented new dictionaries to students at Jim Allen Elementary School. Each third grader received their own copy of “A Student’s Dictionary.” The goal of The Dictionary Project is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Recycling Pickup Affected For Some As ECUA Awaits New Trucks
March 11, 2025
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is facing challenges in replacing its aging fleet, and that is leading to recyclables being sent to the landfill for some residents.
ECUA said there has been a problem replacing some of their smaller trucks as they age out with mechanical issues.These smaller trucks are essential for navigating tight roads and dead-end areas where larger vehicles cannot operate.
ECUA ordered replacements in 2022, expecting delivery in 2023, but global supply chain delays have pushed arrival to June 2025. In the meantime, when a smaller truck is out of service, ECUA may need to collect both garbage and recycling using a single vehicle in select areas.
Officials stress that this is a temporary measure and that efforts are underway to minimize disruptions.
“We encourage you to continue practicing good recycling habits whenever possible. Your efforts will be essential in keeping contamination rates low once the new trucks arrive,” ECUA said in a statement.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Special Olympics Torch Run Begins In Century (With Photo Gallery)
March 11, 2025
The 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Florida Special Olympics began in Century Monday morning before continuing to Pensacola.
The torch run started at the Florida/Alabama state line in a misty morning rain. Runners from Century Correctional Institution carried the torch from south on Highway 29 from the state line to the Century Town Hall with an escort from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Additional legs of the run took place later in the day in southern half of the county with the ECSO and other law enforcement agencies.
Each year, over 5,000 law enforcement officers from around the state carry the flame to the Special Olympics State Summer Games. The torch will travel over 1,500 miles, through Florida’s 67 counties to the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Games with the law enforcement “Guardians of the Flame.”
Pictured: The 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Florida Special Olympics started at the Florida/Alabama state line in Century Monday morning and continued south in Escambia County. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Ladder Truck Arrives For ECFR’s Ensley Fire Station
March 11, 2025
A new Ladder 6 is coming soon to the Ensley Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue (Station 6).
Crews have spent the last several days undergoing orientation training on the new 100-foot aerial.
The ladder truck is not yet in operation but will go into service upon completion renovations of Stations 6, which is known as “The Big House”. It is estimated that the renovations will be complete by the second week of April.
Station 6 was the busiest fire company in Escambia County last year, running about 2,500 calls including over 100 fires. The 24/7 station is also home to Engine 6 and Hazmat 6, and every firefighter assigned to the station is a certified hazardous material technician.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
