NorthEscambia Publisher Named One Of Escambia County’s Most Influential People
February 27, 2025
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2025 Inweekly Power List — their ranking of the most powerful and influential people in Escambia County.
Only one person that works primarily in the North Escambia area was named to the list — NorthEscambia.com publisher William Reynolds for the 13th consecutive year.
Belle Bear, co-founder of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay and champion of numerous nonprofits and causes, tops this year’s list.
To view this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Pictured: Belle Bear was at the top of the 2025 Inweekly Power List. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Elementary Schools Shine In Annual Science Olympiad
February 27, 2025
The 7th Annual Elementary Science Olympiad was held Saturday at Washington High School. Teams of students from 20 Escambia County elementary schools competed in 10 different events.
For a photo gallery of North Escambia area winners, click here.
The winners were:
A is for Anatomy:
- 1st: Bratt
- 2nd: Pine Meadow
- 3rd: Kingsfield
- 4th: Hellen Caro and Scenic Heights
- 6th: Montclair
CodeBusters:
- 1st: Pine Meadow
- 2nd: Hellen Caro
- 3rd: Scenic Heights
- 4th: Kingsfield
- 5th: Molino Park
- 6th: McArthur
Grasp a Graph:
- 1st: Kingsfield
- 2nd: NB Cook
- 3rd: Pleasant Grove
- 4th: Oakcrest
- 5th: Molino Park
- 6th: Sherwood
Mystery Powders:
- 1st: Hellen Caro
- 2nd: NB Cook
- 3rd: Pleasant Grove
- 4th: Kingsfield
- 5th: Scenic Heights
- 6th: Molino Park
Robotics Task:
- 1st: Pine Meadow
- 2nd: Hellen Caro
- 3rd: Bellview
- 4th: Sherwood
- 5th: Scenic Heights
- 6th: Molino Park
Robotics Pathways:
- 1st: Beulah
- 2nd: Bratt
- 3rd: Lipscomb
- 4th: Longleaf
- 5th: Hellen Caro
- 6th: Oakcrest
Rock Hound:
- 1st: Oakcrest
- 2nd: Scenic Heights
- 3rd: Global Learning Academy
- 4th: Beulah
- 5th: Bratt
- 6th: Pine Meadow
Science Bowl:
- 1st: Pine Meadow
- 2nd: McArthur
- 3rd: Jim Allen
- 4th: Hellen Caro
- 5th: Kingsfield
- 6th: Ferry Pass
Tower Challenge:
- 1st: Pine Meadow
- 2nd: Molino Park
- 3rd: Warrington
- 4th: Scenic Heights
- 5th: Bratt
- 6th: McArthur
Write It, Do It:
- 1st: Hellen Caro
- 2nd: Molino Park
- 3rd: Pine Meadow
- 4th: Oakcrest
- 5th: Longleaf
- 6th: Beulah and Scenic Heights
Overall:
- 1st: Pine Meadow
- 2nd: Scenic Heights
- 3rd: Hellen Caro
Spirit Award:
- NB Cook
Pictured top: Pine Meadow Elementary School took first place overall in the 7th Annual Elementary Science Olympiad. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
This Is Who Claimed A $35K Fantasy 5 Ticket Sold In Molino
February 27, 2025
We now know who had a winning $35,000 Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket sold in Molino.
The Quick Pick ticket sold at the Molino First Stop at 6530 North Highway 95A in Molino was one of three winning tickets in the February 24 evening drawing and is worth $35,513.70. The other winning ticket were sold in Oakland Park and Miami.
According to the Florida Lottery, the cash option on the winning ticket was claimed by Todd Bryon Powell of Pace.
The winning numbers were 7-17-28-29-35.
Boil Water Notice For Virecent Road Virecent Drive After System Upgrades
February 26, 2025
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for Cottage Hill Water Works customers located on Virecent Road and Virecent Drive that are south of Eden Lane. The notice was issued after scheduled upgrades Wednesday morning on the south end of Virecent Road that resulted in the disruption of water service.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water in the area that is used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is rescinded.
Suspect Claimed He Fatally Shot Man ‘Out of Fear’ In McDavid Drug Deal
February 26, 2025
The suspect in a fatal shooting last week on Main Street in McDavid claimed that he shot the victim out of fear, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says it was murder.
Investigators charged 25-year-old Antonio Marshone DeSoto with murder for the shooting on Main Street, just east of Highway 29. During a hearing Tuesday, February 25, Judge John Simon ordered DeSoto held in the Escambia County Jail without bond. He has pleaded not guilty.
The victim, according to an arrest report we obtained on Tuesday, was identified at Charles Black.
Black was found lying in Main Street directly in front of the McDavid Post Office about 8:40 p.m. on February 18 suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was just a few feet away from the driver’s door of his Chevrolet SUV that remained in the roadway.
After he was shot, Black was able to call 911 and tell dispatchers that DeSoto was the perpetrator, according to an arrest report. He was no longer able to speak to deputies after they arrived on scene. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to the nearby McDavid Fire Station before being airlifted by Medstar AirCare helicopter to a Pensacola hospital where he later died.
Deputies receive a tip that DeSoto had fled following the shooting to a residence in the 100 block of Highway 164, just west of Highway 29 and Driver Road, about a half mile from the shooting scene. Deputies searched the home and found nothing. ECSO said the homeowner said she had been allowing DeSoto to stay in a room inside the house, but she had not seen him since earlier in the afternoon, according to an arrest report. She told deputies that she had been advised by her daughter that she heard gunshots from down the road, but she did not see DeSoto after that.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Another resident told deputies that he was driving when he saw DeSoto at the intersection of Highway 164 and Highway 29, and he offered him a ride home. He said DeSoto declined, stating that he would come home later, the report states. He said he arrived back at his residence and saw ECSO vehicles with their emergency activated as they responded to the scene, and then he observed DeSoto running into the woods behind their house.
DeSoto was later taken into custody after he walked out of the woods behind the home on Highway 164 where he was taken into custody without incident.
According to deputies, DeSoto said he met Black to buy a quarter pound of marijuana for $400.
“He (DeSoto) stated that he walked up to the vehicle and met with Black. He stated Black told him to get in the passenger seat,” the arrest report states. “He walked over to the passenger side and got in the vehicle but stated that he really didn’t want to get in the car and this made him nervous. He stated that he asked to see the marijuana and when he reached out to grab it, Black became aggressive with him. He stated that at this point, Black grabbed his shirt. He stated that by Black doing this he felt scared that something was going to happen to him. He then stated that at this point he pulled his gun from his waistband and shot Black twice.”
DeSoto told deputies that he did not plan to rob Black, later adding that one of his “home boys” was going to send him money using Apple Pay, but that he did not have any money on his person at the time he met Black, according to the report. He also told deputies that he threw the firearm in the woods before stating that he threw it under a camper in the front yard of the home on Highway 164. He also provided conflicting details about where he put the marijuana, saying it was the woods then that maybe he put in the house, the report continues.
A 9mm handgun was located under the camper, and two 9mm casing were recovered from Black’s vehicle, investigators said. Deputies found a plastic gallon bag containing marijuana in a trash can a short distance from the fire arm.
In their report, the ECSO summarized the reasons why DeSoto was charged with murder:
“Desoto met up with Black to purchase narcotics, later met with Black with a firearm in his waistband and no money to pay for the narcotics. He then shoots and kills Black and takes the narcotics from Black’s possession and flees the area and later flees from law enforcement. Desoto did not render any aid to Black and passed multiple residences on the way back to his home and did not notify anyone that he had just shot someone and ask for medical assistance. He had a cellphone in his possession and did not attempt to call 911 to get medical help for Black. He disposed of the narcotics that he took from Black and disposed of the firearm that he used to shoot Black. He also arrived to meet with Black wearing a mask on his head. These facts show that Desoto did not shoot Black out of fear.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Defeat Northview In Flag Football (With Photo Gallery)
February 26, 2025
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 34-7 Tuesday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Up next, the Aggies will host Pine Forest on Thursday. Northview’s next schedule game in March 11 against Pensacola High School.
Northview and Tate will meet again on March 12 at Tate.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Canceled: Controlled Burn Today On Pate Street Near UWF, FPL
February 26, 2025
The Florida Forest Service has canceled the 45-acre prescribed burn on University of West Florida property along Pate Street, which was originally scheduled for today, Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The Florida Forest Service plans to reschedule the prescribed burn at a later date
Offices said the burn will only be initiated under proper weather conditions including a south or southwest wind component to steer smoke toward the Escambia River. Forest Service firefighters will be executing the burn and will have equipment such as brush trucks and bulldozers on hand. Crews also will monitor and patrol the area keeping a close eye on any potential smoke impacts during the burn.
The burn is part of an ongoing plan and partnership between the university and Forest Service to not only reduce hazardous vegetative fuels and the wildfire risk in the area but also help restore the property to its native state officials said. Prescribed fire mimics the natural fire regime that once was part of Florida’s landscape. Local plants and animals thrive in prescribed burn areas thanks to the new growth and additional nutrients left behind post burn.
Tate Tennis Boys And Girls Defeated Escambia 7-0
February 26, 2025
The Tate High Aggies boys and girls tennis teams defeated Escambia High 7-0 Tuesday. Next up, Tate will take on Crestview on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mystic Springs Road Railroad Crossing Closing For Two Days
February 26, 2025
The Mystic Spring Road railroad crossing will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, according to signage that was posted at the crossing near McDavid.
The closure will block the only way in and out for a few residences along Mystic Springs, Gunner and Worley Roads, along with campgrounds and the Mystic Springs Boat Ramp.
CSX has not provided any information about the closure. We made Escambia County officials aware of the closure Tuesday night.
Pictured: A closure sign at the Mystic Springs Road railroad crossing. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle JV Volleyball Advances To County Championship
February 26, 2025
The Ernest Ward Middle School JV volleyball team had advanced to the county middle school volleyball JV championship Thursday.
Ernest Ward will face the Beulah Academy of Science at 5:30 p.m. in Fryman Gym at Tate High School. That game will be followed by the county varsity middle school championship game.
Pictured: The EWMS JV volleyball Tuesday evening. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.