Ernest Ward Middle School FFA Holds Annual Banquet
May 17, 2026
The annual Ernest Ward Middle School FFA banquet was held Friday evening at the school.
The FFA recognized outstanding members, incoming and outgoing officers, and presented several recognitions.
Photos courtesy of NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Senior Alyssa Clarke Signs With Coastal Alabama Cheer
May 17, 2026
Tate High School seniorAlyssa Clarke has officially signed to continue her cheerleading career at Coastal Alabama Community College.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Milbrandt Marvelous As Wahoos Return To .500 With 6-2 Win
May 17, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos got another dominant start from top prospect Karson Milbrandt and secured a series win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Saturday night, hitting three homers and cruising to a 6-2 victory.
Milbrandt (W, 3-1) tied a career high with 11 strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless, three-hit innings. He extended his scoreless streak to 17.0 consecutive innings dating back to May 2, and lowered his Southern League-leading ERA to 1.24.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos improved to 19-19 and returned to the .500 mark for the first time since Opening Day. They kept pace with first-place Columbus in the South Division race, and trail by only 0.5 games with 31 games to play in the first half.
Fenwick Trimble gave Milbrandt an early lead, hitting a three-run homer against Lookouts starter Easton Sikorski (L, 0-1) just three batters into the game. Garret Forrester hit a second-inning solo homer in his first at-bat since coming off the injured list, and Brendan Jones followed with an RBI triple for a 5-0 lead through two innings.
Jay Beshears added a solo homer in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-0. The Lookouts threatened with a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the sixth, but Milbrandt fanned Chattanooga’s Cam Collier in a battle of two top prospects to finish 6.0 innings for the fourth start in a row and tie a professional career high of 11 strikeouts previously set in the Midwest League in 2025.
The Lookouts hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh, and Ruben Ibarra hit a solo homer in the ninth, but Pensacola relievers Nigel Belgrave and Kade Bragg recorded the final nine outs to give the Blue Wahoos their fourth win in five games against the team with the Southern League’s best record.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Lookouts on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Tate High School Class of 2026 Celebrates Annual Senior Drive
May 16, 2026
The Tate High School Class of 2026 held its Senior Drive from the now former Winn Dixie parking lot on Highway 29 to the school.
The annual tradition has occurred on the last day of school for years. The seniors drive to campus for Senior Breakfast and to pick up their caps and gowns.
The Tate High School Class of 2026 will graduate on Wednesday, May 27 at 9 a.m. at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Photos/video by Kristi Barbour for NorthEscambia.com. Click to enlarge.
Chiefs Shut Out Chieftains: Northview Dominates Chickasaw 38-0 In Spring Game
May 16, 2026
The Northview Chiefs beat the Chickasaw Chieftains 38-0 on Friday night in a spring game at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Northview Chiefs will open the fall season at home against the Marianna Bulldogs.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Aggies Hold Off Marlins: Tate Claims 28-23 Spring Victory At Panama City Beach
May 16, 2026
The Tate Aggies beat the Arnold Marlins 28-23 in spring football on Friday night at Panama City Beach.
The Aggies were ahead 21-10 at the half and held on for the win.
The fall season begins on August 21 as the Aggies host the Marianna Bulldogs in Pete Gindl Stadium.
Northview Chiefs Power Up For Spring Football Friday At QB Club Breakfast
May 16, 2026
The Northview Chiefs powered up for a spring football Friday with a team breakfast.
The Northview Quarterback Club provided the breakfast at Travis Nelson Park in Bratt, near the school.
Related: Chiefs Shut Out Chieftains: Northview Dominates Chickasaw 38-0 In Spring Game
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
White Goes Seven Innings, Backed By Homers From Lewis And Miller In 9-3 Wahoos Win
May 16, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos took game 4 of their six-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Friday night, securing a 9-3 victory.
The Wahoos got some early offense, putting up three runs in the second inning on an RBI double from Payton Green and a 2-run single from Gage Miller on back-to-back pitches. They would tack on one more when Dillon Lewis would hit his 4th homer of the series, and 9th of the year to extend the Pensacola lead to 4-0.
Chattanooga would get their only run off Wahoos starter Brandon White (W, 2-1) in the fourth, when Austin Hendrick ripped an RBI double into right field, scoring Zavier Warren and getting the Lookouts on the board. Pensacola’s offense would not be phased though, as Ryan Ignoffo brought in two more runs on an RBI single in the top of the fifth. One inning later, Gage Miller would put one over the wall for his fourth homer of the year to bring the lead to 7-1.
Brandon White would match his career high in innings with 7.0 complete, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts, making it his second consecutive quality start. Gabe Bierman would get the 8th and surrender one run via an RBI double off the bat of Cam Collier, scoring former Blue Wahoo Shane Sasaki and cutting the lead to 7-2.
Pensacola would top their offensive night off with two more insurance runs in the 9th. Michael Snyder would bring home Emaarion Boyd on a groundout, and Dillon Lewis would drive home Brendan Jones on a single into center, bringing the score to 9-2.
Livan Reinoso would finish things off in the ninth, after allowing a 2-out home run to Ruben Ibarra, cementing a final score of 9-3. Lookouts starter Kevin Abel (L, 3-2) got hooked with the loss and Wahoos starts Brandon White would notch his second career Double-A win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Saturday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Ernest Ward Middle School Hiring New Agriculture Teacher For Growing Program
May 15, 2026
Dolly the goat was not terribly excited about posing for pictures on Thursday afternoon at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
But agriculture students and FFA members were excited about the future of their program.
“Do we have a teacher yet?”
“Who is it? We can’t wait!” the students pressed Principal Tyvanna Boulanger for hints.
Escambia County Public Schools is hiring an agriculture teacher for the next school year.
The selected candidate will facilitate the Agriculture program at Ernest Ward and sponsor the FFA student organization. They will facilitate several school-based programs each year, including a FFA banquet and an appreciation breakfast, and will travel with students to multiple competitions.
The school’s facilities include an outdoor learning lab that currently has goats and chickens, and a greenhouse.
“Can we get a cow?”
“Or a pig?”
The students are anxious to see the program, which has roots that can be traced back to a one-room log schoolhouse built in 1886, continue to grow and thrive.
Dolly, by the way, and the other goats were happy to pose for a few pictures after a little attention and an afternoon snack.
Pictured: Ag students and FFA members at the school’s agriscience facilities on Thursday afternoon. Dolly is the white goat. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Teacher Facing Narcotics Charges After Being Found Allegedly Unconscious At Burger King
May 15, 2026
A call regarding an unconscious man behind the wheel of a vehicle led to the narcotics arrest of a now-former teacher Wednesday afternoon in Atmore.
Officers with the Atmore Police Department responded to the Burger King on South Main Street at approximately 5:31 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Upon arrival, authorities discovered an individual, later identified as James Clayton Page, slumped over the steering wheel.
Page was formerly a math teacher at Escambia County High School in Atmore, but in an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon, May 13, the Escambia County (AL) School Board accepted Page’s resignation effective the day before, May 12.
The APD stated that officers discovered a variety of illegal substances in Page’s possession.
Page was taken into custody and faces four counts of possession of a controlled substance for cocaine, heroin, a THC vape, amphetamines, and dextroamphetamines, as well as a charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Atmore Police stated that additional charges may be pending as they await further testing results.