These Are Escambia County’s Top 5 Teacher Of The Year Finalists
December 9, 2024
Escambia County Public Schools has released the names of the top five finalists for ECPS Teacher of the Year.
The five finalists are as follows, listed in alphabetical order:
- Brooke Ferrarra – Beulah Elementary
- Stacey Hammer– Ransom Middle
- LeAnne Jenkins — Beulah Middle
- Kristin Maum – J.M. Tate High School
- Kelly Reed — Global Learning Academy
“We are proud to honor these outstanding educators,” Superintendent Keith Leonard said. “They are a great representation of all of our employees, and we would like to take time to thank them, as well as all of our employees, for all of the hard work and dedication they demonstrate for our students each and every day.”
The overall Teacher of the Year for Escambia County Public Schools will be announced in late January at a special event honoring all of the nominees.
Atmore Man Charged With Friday Night Murder
December 9, 2024
An Atmore man has been charged in connection with a shooting death of a local man Friday night.
Gelonté Giles, 31, was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center for attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied building.
Giles allegedly shot 32-year-old Rakeem Phillips just before 11 p.m. Friday at the Point Escambia Apartments. The victim was transported to Atmore Community Hospital before being airlifted to a trauma center where he later passed away.
The investigation revealed that Giles and Phillips were involved in an altercation when Giles produced a firearm and fired between three to five rounds striking Phillips multiple times,” Atmore Police Sgt. Darrell McMann said.
Related: Atmore Police Investigating Sunday Night Double Homicide
Hundreds Attend Annual Molino Christmas Parade (With Gallery)
December 8, 2024
Hundreds of people lined Crabtree Church Road for the annual Molino Christmas Parade on Saturday morning.
Proceeds from parade entry fees will be used by the Molino Ballpark to help a local family in need this Christmas season.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Employee Charged With Attempting To Smuggle Drugs Into Atmore Prison
December 8, 2024
An Atmore man has been charged with attempting to smuggle drugs and contraband into Fountain Correctional Facility.
Vincent Bishop, an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) employee, was charged with trafficking flakka, first-degree possession of marijuana, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime, prohibited activities (cell phones in a correctional facility), possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree attempt to promote prison contraband. Flakka, according to the DEA, is a street drug commonly called bath salts.
ADOC K-9 personnel, following an ongoing investigation, observed suspicious activity involving inmates attempting to access a parking lot near Bishop’s vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted with K-9 personnel and local law enforcement, and a K-9 made a positive alert for narcotics. A subsequent search revealed marijuana, flakka, tobacco, cell phones, and charging cables concealed under the truck, according to ADOC.
The state said Bishop refused to resign from his position as a drug treatment counselor at the prison as and is now on mandatory leave. He was arrested and transported to the Escambia County Detention Facility where he was being held without bond.
Photo Gallery: Beulah Christmas Parade
December 8, 2024
Crowds lined miles of roadways around Beulah Saturday afternoon for the annual Beulah Christmas Parade.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Parade goers enjoyed plenty of throws and entries that included the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Beulah Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Rep. Michelle Salzman, several churches and community organizations, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Celebrity Kitten ‘Pipes’ Among Several Adopted at Molino Library Event
December 8, 2024
Several kittens — including one that recently became a local celebrity of sorts — found new homes Saturday during a a Cat Cafe Adoption Event at the Molino Branch Library.
A little black and white kitten named Pipes (pictured above) was among those that were adopted. Late last month, Pipes made local news after being rescued from inside a drainage pipe by Escambia County Animal Welfare.
The adoption event was held in conjunction with the Escambia County animal shelter.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Senior Class To Host ‘Breakfast With Santa’ Monday Evening
December 8, 2024
The Northview High School Class of 2025 will host a Breakfast with Santa & Friends event on Monday, December 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at David’s Catfish House in Atmore.
Admission is $10 per plate, for a delicious breakfast.
Additional activities available for purchase include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, visits from The Grinch and Cindy Lou, holiday cookie decorating, light-up accessory sales, hot chocolate, cappuccino, fresh popcorn, sweets, treats and more.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the NHS Senior Grad Bash trip next spring.
Tate High Cheerleaders Shine At Red Nose Raider Competition
December 8, 2024
The Tate High School cheerleaders delivered outstanding performances Saturday at the Navarre High School Red Nose Raider Cheerleader Competition, bringing home top placements across divisions.
The Aggie cheerleaders placed as follows:
Varsity
- 1st Place: Traditional Routine
- 2nd Place: Gameday Routine
- Overall High Point Champions: Traditional Division
JV
- 1st Place: Traditional Routine
- 1st Place: Gameday Routine
Freshmen (competing in a all JV division)
- 2nd Place: Traditional Routine
- 3rd Place: Gameday Routine
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Christmas Miracle: The Miracle League’s Annual Christmas Party (With Gallery)
December 7, 2024
Santa visited with Miracle League of Pensacola players during their annual Christmas party Friday night at Tate High School.
For the past seven years, Tate Beta Club, sponsored by Stacye Litton, has hosted the Christmas Party for the athlete’s and the families. Numerous other Tate High student organizations and volunteers came together to put on the party including Tate Theatre with the entertainment, Diamond Girls with the games, Early Childhood Education, Student2Student, STUCO.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Miracle League players were able to visit Santa and share their wish lists, enjoy a pizza dinner, watch a special performances on stage, take part in numerous activities.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Field Of 16 Candidates Set In Special Election To Replace Matt Gaetz. Here’s THe List.
December 7, 2024
A total of 16 candidates, including 10 Republicans, have qualified for the Florida’s 1st Congressional District special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz in Congress.
The complete field includes 10 Republicans, a Democrat, one candidate without party affiliation and four write-in candidates.
Republican Candidates
Aaron Dimmock was the Republican challenger that was supported by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy against Matt Gaetz. He is former fighter pilot that began his military career at Naval Air Station Pensacola. In the primary last August, Gaetz beat Dimmock with 71% of the vote.
Kevin Gaffney of Freeport that worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Unit in Chicago and for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Enforcement Division in Washington. He currently teaches American government and economics at Rocky Bayou Christian School in Niceville.
Jeff Macey is from Fort Walton Beach. A campaign website could not be easily located on Friday.
Greg Merk of Pensacola ran for the Florida House in 2018 and lost to now-state Rep. Alex Andrade.
John Mills is a retired Navy pilot that ran unsuccessfully against then-Florida Sen. Doug Broxson on 2022.
Jimmy Patronis was Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and resigned to seek the Congressional seat. The Panama City Republican will vacate his statewide seat on March 31, and can’t return if he loses the Congressional seat. Patronis has been endorsed by president-elect Donald Trump.
Jeff Peacock, a native of Century, served as a senior campaign advisor to Congressman Lee Zeldin, President-Elect Trump’s nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. A resident of Pace, he now teaches math at Navarre High School. He has founded several businesses, including a video production company in Pensacola and a printing company in Pace.
Joel Rudman has resigned from his Florida House seat to run for Congress and calls himself the “heir apparent” to the seat. He is a physician.
Michael Dylan Thompson of Pensacola was valedictorian at Washington High School. He is 25 and a win would make him the youngest member of Congress.
Gene Valentino is a former Escambia County Commissioner that lost in 2024 to Doug Underhill. He is now a local businessman and podcaster.
Democratic Candidate
Gay Valimont, a Democrat, who unsuccessfully ran against Gaetz in the primary, losing by a 2 to 1 margin.
No-Party Candidate
Stephen Broden was the Constitution Party’s vice-presidential nominee in 2024. He lives in Texas where is founder and senior pastor of Fair Park Bible Fellowship in the Dallas area.
Write-in Candidate
Richard Paul Dembinsky of Port Orange is a frequent candidate. He ran for Florida’s 6th Congressional District this year, in Senate District 7 in 2008, for Governor in 2006 and in House District 28 in 2004.
Stanley Gray originally filed a Democrat but qualified as a write-in. He is reportedly campaigning roadside with handmade signs.
Jonathan Green is the senior project manager and lead humanity mediator at J. Garrett Green & Associates in Pensacola.
Stan McDaniels filed as a Libertarian but qualified as a write-in. He ran unsuccessfully for Escambia County Commission in the 2022 Republican primary against Robert Bender.