New Principal, Assistant Principal Named At Escambia Westgate
August 2, 2026
A new principal and assistant principal have been named at Escambia Westgate Center.
Pamela Cebula was appointed principal this week by the Escambia County School Board, and Tasheba Sheppard was named assistant principal.
“Our mission at Escambia Westgate School is to work as a community to foster the academic, social, and emotional potential of every child,” Cebula said. “I am happy to be a Westgate Wildcat.” Cebula was the district’s subject area specialist for Exceptional Student Education.
“I am truly honored to be chosen to ensure that the most fragile and indeed special children and young adults at Westgate receive the absolute best education and access to the services they deserve,” Sheppard said. She was an assistant principal at Oakcrest Elementary School.
Pictured top: Pamela Cebula, the new principal at Escambia Westgate. Pictured below: Tasheba Sheppard, the new assistant principal at Westgate. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2025 Northview Graduate, NJROTC Commander Flew In Pensacola Beach Air Show
August 2, 2026
If you attended the recent Pensacola Beach Air Show, one of the planes you saw overhead may have been piloted by a 2025 Northview High School graduate.
Kate Stinson flew a TB 30 Epsilon.
“We did aileron rolls, steep turns, barrel rolls, turned upside down, and ‘cloud surfing’,” she said. “We pulled 4-5 G’s.”
Stinson was the Northview High School NJROTC commanding officer for 2024-2025. Stinson, known as ‘Kate the Great,’ completed flying lessons through the NJROTC program.
She attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with plans to become a naval aviator.
Above and below: Kate Stinson flew a TB 30 Epsilon in the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Photo for NorthEscambia.com. Pictures: Stison flying in the air show. NorthEscambia.com, photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Photos: See The Century Library Pollinator Garden
August 2, 2026
In May, the Escambia County Extension Service Horticulture team, installed and planted a Pollinator Garden at the Century Library.
Now, the plants are maturing and have a variety of colorful blooms.
The garden includes a mix of native and Florida-friendly plants for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds grown by Escambia County Master Gardener volunteers. The garden was planted in Bloom Compost from the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.
Pictured top and middle: A Pollinator Garden recently in bloom at the Century Library (NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge). Pictured bottom: The garden was being installed and planted in May by the Escambia County Extension Service Horticulture team.
Florida Weekly Roundup: Judicial Wordsmithing
August 2, 2026
As the primary draws closer without any gubernatorial candidates tossed from the ballot, a far-reaching property tax cut proposal set to go before voters later this year had a day in court this week.
Now the wait is on for Leon County Judge David Frank to decide whether to toss a series of lawsuits or order the state’s attorney general to rewrite what voters will read.
BALLOT ADVOCACY
Three groups of plaintiffs, including former local government elected officials and a former Republican legislator, contend the title and ballot summary for Amendment 3, approved by the GOP-led Legislature in June, uses “emotional and political rhetoric” designed to mislead voters.
“I don’t think there is anybody who can say when this amendment was drafted that it’s not partial and it’s not advocacy,” said former Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, who brought one of the lawsuits against the property tax cut proposal. “All we are asking the court to do is follow the law and follow what the constitution lays out when it relates to advocacy.”
Opponents argue the measure could cost cities and counties as much as $12 billion annually and shift the tax burdens to renters and businesses, which isn’t reflected in the ballot language that is under the amendment’s title of “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes.”
Representing one of the opposition groups, attorney Jamie Cole told Frank the wording voters see “has to be fair and it has to be accurate.”
“It should not be political rhetoric, it should not be emotional language,” Cole said.
Benjamin Gibson, an attorney representing the state, said the onus was on the plaintiffs to prove the ballot summary was defective. Also, the measure’s title wasn’t misleading because it spells out the danger to homesteads: excessive taxes.
He also downplayed arguments that the measure would essentially give the Legislature veto power over how local property taxes are spent because it restricts such spending to infrastructure, education, public safety and other major needs.
“The ballot title and summary does not need to explain unknowns or hypothetical consequences,” Gibson said.
FISHBACK STAYS
Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback remains on the primary ballot.
Judge Frank ruled Monday that Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, another GOP candidate for the governor’s office, didn’t prove Fishback lived outside the state within the last seven years.
Collins alleged Fishback voted in Washington D.C. in 2020 and established a homestead there when he bought an apartment in 2021, making him ineligible due to the state’s seven-year residency requirement for the office.
With Fishback testifying that he never gave up his Florida residency and voted in D.C. to support President Donald Trump, Frank determined the burden of proof was on Collins to show Fishback abandoned his residence in Florida.
“This isn’t just a victory for our campaign. It’s a victory for the constitution and for every Floridian who believes elections should be decided by voters, not politicians trying to rig the system,” Fishback stated after the ruling was released.
DOUBLE EXECUTION
Florida completed a rare day-night execution Tuesday, putting Dominick Anthony Occhicone to death about five hours after James Aren Duckett was pronounced dead.
After a flurry of emergency applications and petitions were turned down the past few days at the federal level, including the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Occhicone, 80, became the oldest inmate executed by the state since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty described the twin executions as an “unprecedented escalation” of the state’s use of the death penalty.
“These are two profoundly different cases, but they point to the same troubling reality: Florida continues to expand the use of capital punishment, despite mounting evidence that it is not what Floridians want,” said Grace Hanna, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.
Occhicone and Duckett were put to death by lethal injection at Florida State Prison, bringing the number of inmates executed this year to 12.
DeSantis signed his 14th death warrant of the year Thursday, for Harold Gene Lucas to be executed Sept. 1. Lucas received the death sentence for the murder of his 16-year-old former girlfriend in Bonita Springs almost 50 years ago.
On Tuesday, DeSantis said he didn’t “take joy” in presiding over the double execution or take “pride” in signing the warrants even though it will be “more than any administration in the history of the state.” But DeSantis said capital punishment is needed to “bring justice,” as “some of the victims’ families have been waiting a long time.”
“We do owe it to them to do it,” DeSantis said Tuesday night at the Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Conference at Trump National Doral.
STORY OF THE WEEK:
Opponents of a Florida property tax-cutting ballot measure, Amendment 3, get their day in court, but must wait on a ruling.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“You shouldn’t be going for 20 years. You should be able to try and maybe appeal, but then at some point, we’ve got to get cracking here.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis on the death sentence appeal process while at the Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Conference on Tuesday.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Blue Wahoos Hold On For Extra-Inning Win Over Smokies
August 2, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued their winning ways on Saturday night, outlasting the Knoxville Smokies 3-2 in 10 innings.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos have now won 9 of their past 11 games and 4 of their first 5 during their series in Knoxville to move to a season-high 10 games above .500.
Brendan Jones opened the scoring for Pensacola with a two-run homer in the top of the third inning against Smokies starter Brooks Caple. It was the 10th homer of the season for Jones, with four coming during the Blue Wahoos’ road trips to his home state of Tennessee.
After 3.0 scoreless innings from Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, the Smokies evened the score 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer from Ariel Armas against reliever Josh Hejka. That would be all the damage done against the Pensacola bullpen, however, as Hejka got through 3.0 innings for his longest appearance in more than two seasons to keep the game tied into the late innings.
The Blue Wahoos left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings, but effective relief from Nigel Belgrave and Colby Martin (W, 4-4) sent the game to extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Juan Matheus singled against Tyler Schlaffer (L, 1-7) to advance placed runner Cristian Hernández to third base. Brandon Compton, who had collected three singles already in the game, then sent a scorching grounder to second base that turned into a double play but also brought home the go-ahead run.
Handed a 3-2 lead, Martin returned for the bottom of the 10th and worked around a leadoff single to Drew Bowser to retire the next three batters and end the game. For the fourth time in five games in the series, the losing team left the potential tying run at third base when making the final out.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday.
written by Erik Bremer
Complaints Of Unsafe Heat At Century Prison Trigger Surprise Lawmaker Inspection
August 1, 2026
On Friday, State Representative Michelle Salzman conducted an unannounced inspection of Century Correctional Institution following mounting complaints from family members regarding severe heat and poor living conditions inside the prison.
The surprise visit followed a wave of concern reaching both elected officials and local media.
Florida law allows members of the Florida Legislature to make unannounced visits to state prisons “at their pleasure”, meaning at any time.
“My office, along with other elected representatives, have received several reports from family members of incarcerated individuals with concerns related to heat, ventilation, access to water and ice as well as other concerns,” Salzman said.
Upon receiving the complaints, Salzman toured the facility with Warden Robert Flores, specifically targeting the Building H housing area and the solitary confinement wing. During the inspection, she spoke directly with inmates and staff, tested the cell water infrastructure, and evaluated the physical environment.
“I would estimate it to be in the mid-80s,” she said of the temperature inside Building H. “It was obviously not the 70s like your house.” Friday’s high temperature at a nearby calibrated weather station was 97.4 degrees.
“They’ve got fans everywhere. I entered several cells and shook hands with the inmates,” she said. “I literally turned on the water faucets, hot and cold, and flushed toilets. I saw the ice being made.”
“I wasn’t just in and out; I stayed there a long time,” she added. “I intentionally wore jeans, and didn’t dress cool. I didn’t see a reason for alarm, and I talked to guards and a visitor.”
“Based on my observations and conversations, I found that the housing areas were ventilated, running water was available in each cell, and inmates had access to both drinking water and ice,” Salzman reported, adding that she felt confident the warden and prison leadership had implemented appropriate heat-mitigation measures. However, she emphasized that oversight remains an ongoing responsibility. “If conditions change or credible evidence arises that inmates are being denied access to water, ice, ventilation, or necessary medical care, I would expect those concerns to be investigated immediately.”
Identical Complaints Sent to NorthEscambia.com
The lawmaker’s office was not the only entity receiving urgent alerts. NorthEscambia.com received near-identical complaints from a family member of an inmate, identifying herself as Kelli Cooper.
In an initial email sent to NorthEscambia.com two days prior to the representative’s visit, Cooper detailed grueling firsthand accounts allegedly sent by men housed in H Dorm. The messages described “extreme heat, little to no ventilation, no meaningful airflow, and inadequate heat-mitigation measures,” alleging that the exhaust systems were non-functional.
The correspondence claimed inmates were continuously drenched in sweat, causing severe skin irritation, rashes, exhaustion, and an inability to sleep. The email even alleged that an officer told the inmates the ventilation had been intentionally turned off because it was tied to the building’s heating system. Most alarming were reports of serious heat-related medical emergencies, including a claim that a helicopter had previously landed at the facility to transport a distressed inmate.
Cooper provided screenshots of messages she purported to have received from a family member that is an inmate in H Dorm. NorthEscambia.com was unable to independently verify the validity of the messages. It was not known if the inmate used a contraband cell phone, or a tablet to send the messages, but one of the messages did make reference to a tablet. The Florida Department of Corrections allows inmates access to tablets that allow monitored outside communications.
The messages that accompany this story have been redacted to remove vulgarities and specific inmate cell locations. To read all of the messages, click here.
Concerns of Temporary Fixes Raised After Visit
Following Representative Salzman’s unannounced visit and subsequent statement, Cooper responded to a NorthEscambia.com inquiry again on Friday evening, expressing deep skepticism about the state of the facility during the inspection.
While expressing gratitude that the lawmaker took action, Cooper raised concerns that the facility may have anticipated the scrutiny.
“We genuinely believe that because of the amount of attention this situation has received, the facility knew—or strongly suspected—that someone would be showing up soon and took steps to temporarily change or cover up the conditions being reported,” Cooper wrote.
Family members are continuing to call for fully independent, private interviews with the incarcerated individuals without prison staff present, fearing potential retaliation against inmates who speak out about the summer conditions.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, and screenshots for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlage.
Dirt Portion Of North Barth Road To Close Monday
August 1, 2026
The dirt portion of North Barth Road, on the east side of the railroad tracks, will be closed on Monday.
Escambia County Public works will be replacing a drainage pipe that crosses under the roadway. The closure is expected to last for a few days.
File photo.
Two 17-Year-Olds Hospitalized In Critical Condition After Friday Crash
August 1, 2026
Two 17-year-old girls are in critical condition following a three-vehicle collision Friday afternoon in Escambia County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred just after 4 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Cove Avenue.
State troopers reported that a sport utility vehicle driven by a 17-year-old Pensacola girl attempted to cross the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 90 from Cove Avenue. The SUV collided with the left side of a westbound pickup truck driven by a 49-year-old Pensacola man, propelling his truck off the right side of the roadway.
Immediately following the initial impact, a second westbound pickup truck, driven by a 54-year-old Pensacola man traveling directly behind the first truck, struck the passenger side of the SUV. The force of the second collision sent the SUV back across the eastbound lanes before it ran off the roadway.
The teenage driver and her 17-year-old female passenger, also from Pensacola, sustained critical injuries and were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital. Both girls were wearing seatbelts.
The driver of the first pickup truck suffered minor injuries, while the driver of the second pickup truck was unhurt. The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
File photo.
240 Pounds Of Little Tabs, Big Impact: Molino Park Elementary Helps Families At Ronald McDonald House
August 1, 2026
Last school year, the students, faculty, and families at Molino Park Elementary School collected 240 pounds of pop tabs—those little pull tabs off the tops of aluminum drink cans—to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida.
The charity recycles the aluminum tabs, with the proceeds contributing to their mission of keeping families close to their children receiving medical treatment. The local Ronald McDonalds House serves nearly 1,100 families per year.
Just how many pop tabs is that? With an estimated 1,267 tabs per pound, Molino Park’s donation is estimated at over 300,000 pop tabs.
“Although the whole aluminum can is valuable, the tab is cleaner and smaller, making it easier to collect in large quantities than whole cans. The tab of a standard soda can is made of high quality, high-grade aluminum. By itself, it doesn’t mean much, but when you pull together, pop-tabs add up and become a valuable donation,” RMHC said.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Riders Seriously Injured When Their Motorcycles Collide on I-110
August 1, 2026
Two motorcyclists were seriously injured Thursday night after colliding with each other on I-110.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 9:32 p.m. in the northbound lanes near Brent Lane.
Witnesses told troopers that both motorcycles were traveling in the inside lane when they collided. The impact threw both riders from their bikes into the roadway.
Following the collision, one motorcycle veered to the right and struck the guardrail on the Brent Lane exit ramp. The second motorcycle continued moving north before coming to a stop in the inside emergency lane on top of the overpass.
The riders, a 27-year-old Pensacola man and a 47-year-old Pensacola man, were both wearing helmets. Both individuals were trauma-alerted to a local hospital with serious injuries.
File photo.