Former Lowe’s Worker Recently Arrested For 2025 Battery Of 73-Year Old Customer
May 13, 2026
A Cantonment man was recently taken into custody on an outstanding felony battery warrant issued following a physical confrontation that occurred last year at a local Lowes.
Joseph William Spencer, 66, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
The arrest follows an investigation into an encounter on September 13, 2025, at the Lowe’s at 777 West Nine Mile Road. According to reports from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the customer service area to handle a disturbance involving two men.
Witnesses stated the altercation began when Spencer allegedly cut in line. When the 73-year-old victim confronted him, Spencer reportedly pushed the man backward and pinned him against a counter while throwing multiple punches. A bystander eventually intervened to break up the fight.
Spencer fled the scene in a red four-door pickup truck with a camper top before law enforcement arrived, according to an arrest report. While he was initially unidentified, an assistant manager recognized Spencer on surveillance footage as a former employee of the store.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reported also noted that Spencer had previously been involved in a fight with a customer at the same location in 2017. The victim later positively identified Spencer during a photo lineup conducted by investigators.
Tate High Drama Celebrates Successful Year With Final Curtain Call For Seniors
May 13, 2026
The Tate High School Theatre program recently celebrated a successful year with a final curtain call for seniors.
This year, the program inducted 29 new Thespians into the troupe — the largest induction class in program history. The highest number of students ever involved in the club prior to this year was twenty-seven, meaning that this season the program more than doubled in size.
The final curtain call provided an opportunity to celebrate seniors as they took the Tate stage one final time, while recognizing several outstanding students with Legacy Awards for their leadership, service, and commitment to the performing arts.
Legacy Award Recipients were:
- Dorothy Lister “En Pointe” Award: Izzy Killebrew and Micah Frazier
- Neil Cobb “In The Wings” Award: Drew Crutchfield
- Ricky Still “Rising Star” Award: Gabriella Hardy
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rotary Academic All-Stars Named From Northview, ECHS, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian
May 13, 2026
The Atmore Rotary Club has named 175 area high school students as Academic All-Stars during their 41st annual program on Tuesday night.
Over $30,000 in scholarships was awarded to high school seniors based on the number of years they have been an Academic All-Star.
The program recognized outstanding students from Northview High School, Escambia Academy, Escambia County High School, and Atmore Christian School.
In addition, the Rotary Club presented Merit Scholarships to two seniors:
Little John Memorial Scholarship ($2,000): Luke Chavers, Northview High School
William and Mary Grissett Memorial Scholarship ($2,000): Tyler Carach, Northview High School
Those honored as Atmore Rotary Club Academic All-Stars were:
(Four-Year Academic All-Stars are denoted with asterisks.)
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Northview High School
Freshmen
Alexa Beasley
Brooklynn Bowen
Hartlie Bowman
Forester Bryan
Mazie Burkett
Presley Davey
Nathan Davis
Lillyth Dekker
Maggie DeVries
Aubrey Flowers
Olivia Garrett
Nathan Gilmore
Kyndal Hadley
Kaylee Harris
Sophia Ikner
Olivia Levins
Jeremy Lisenby
Annabelle Lynd
Jacob Marcum
Ava McCann
Camden Miller
Ryan Reynolds
Natalie Rogers
Curtis Smith
Kaden Smith
Summer Weaver
Kinley White
Bryce Yoder
Bailey Yuhasz
Sophomores
Aadan Adams
Jaxon Anderson
Kayde Boettger
Addysen Bolen
Kyleigh Brinkman
Madelyn Calloway
Hailey Carrillo
Kenley Clayton
Logan Diller
Santiago Espinoza Jr.
Parker Ganey
Carmen Garcia
Nicole Garcia
Sawyer Gilmore
William Gilmore
Emma Godwin
Michael Greenwell
Brody Hall
Camden Jacobson
Richard Maxwell
John McAnally
Hunter Parker
Allison Penton
Riley Phillips
Madalynn Pittman
Emma Reynolds
Makinzi Roley
Jackson Salter
Katelyn Sanchez
Avery Trawick
Eli Wiggins
Kaylee Wilson
Juniors
Jayden Arredonda
Camden Borelli
Alvia Brinkman
Asher Creighton
Caley Daharsh
Crimson Davis
Annberly Dunn
Hallie Emmons
Kobi Fiorenti
Amy Floyd
Maria Franco
Brielle Garcia
Hayden Gipson
Ashley Gleason
Lori Hall
Olivia Hall
Presley Johnson
Wesley Lambeth
Kylee Langham
Kaylee Long
Mikayla McAnally
Grace Oliver
Makayla Plato
Daviona Randolph
Dakota Richardson
Lexi Smallwood
Alexis Strength
Raleigh Warr
Allison Yoder
Seniors
Lauren Abbott
Claire Amerson *
Wade Bailey *
Kathryn Beasley
Cameron Bodiford
Jackson Bridges *
Alyssa Brooks
Leah Brooks
Tyler Carach *
Luke Chavers
Kenslee Chavira
Elizabeth Coleman *
Ayden Crabtree
Talaysha Curry *
Aakira Davis
Olivia Doyle
Shelby Greenwell
Kaiden Hall
Keeli Knighten *
Anna Kunkel *
Makenzie Levins
Bryant Mason
Samantha Minchew
Andrew Plant
Braylan Shelly *
Jackson Simmons *
Liam Simonson
Ona Spinks
Maggie Stewart *
Amie Weaver
Peyton Womack
Atmore Christian School
Freshmen
Kendall Harper
Riley Tate
Sophomores
Jenna Kennell
Elizabeth Landis
Juniors
Jordan Overton
Jordan Salter
Senior
Tyson Kennell*
Escambia Academy
Freshmen
Ensley Boykin
Bella Covington
Megan Harter
Marshall Lassiter
Camille Nichols
Athena Wilson
Sophomores
Leah Baggett
Poarcha Bailey
Mara Camp
Kimorah Goldsmith
Izabella Hadley
Cleria McCants
Cameron Perkins
Jackson Sellers
Jett Tillery
Asher Covington
Mary Davis
Marshall Gandy
Traegan James
Aleah Livingston
Lillian Manac
Courtney Richardson
Clinton Sasser
Seniors
Raelynn Manac
Kyler Williams
Escambia County High School
Freshmen
Jayleigh Brown
Diana Garcia
Laya George
Heaven Hartley
Aryanna Jones
Nicholas Sasser
Sophomores
Jyshaviah Knight
LaRodshia Lee
Di’Shaye Richardson
Gabriel Richardson
Ezekiel Riley
Juniors
Janae Dillard
Xamiria English
Khloe Sanders
Seniors
Shaleah Bright
Jalayah Bright-Alexander
Kydajah Brown
Trinity Gray
Amarion Lemon *
Imari Lemon *
Demyia Munlyn
Robert Smith
Pictured: Four-year Atmore Rotary Academic All-Stars. Photo by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Round To The Nearest Nickel: DeSantis Signs Gaetz Bill As Pennies Go Away
May 13, 2026
On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that allows businesses to round up or down to the nearest nickel when people are paying with cash because pennies are no longer being made by the U.S. Mint. The bill was sponsored in the Florida Senate by Sen. Don Gaetz of Northwest Florida.
The new law took effect immediately and states that cash purchases will be rounded to the nearest nickel — those that end in 1 or 2 cents will be rounded down to zero, those ending in 3 or 4 cents will be rounded up to 5 cents. Those transactions that end in 6 or 7 cents will be rounded down to 5 cents, and those that end in 8 or 9 cents will be rounded up to 10 cents.
The rounding does not impact sales tax; it is applied to the final, after-tax, total. The legislation does not have any impact on people who are paying with debit or credit cards.
File photo.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Honors Fallen Officers And K-9s
May 13, 2026
Thursday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office held a Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony to honor deputies and K-9s killed in the line of duty. The families and friends of the fallen gathered to place a rose on the agency’s memorial.
Roll Call of Heroes:
- Town Hall Marshall Daniel Douglas – End of Watch 1893
- Sheriff A. Cary Ellis – End of Watch 1923
- Constable Mallory Williams – End of Watch 1941
- Deputy Joseph Elmer Whitworth – End of Watch 1954
- Constable William “Clint” Rigby – End of Watch 1955
- Patrolman Roland Davis, Sr. – End of Watch 1955
- Deputy Len B. Adams – End of Watch 1958
- Deputy Joseph Mallory Gassman – End of Watch 1966
- Deputy Charles Leroy Wilkerson – End of Watch 1974
- Deputy Morley “Buddy” Ray – End of Watch 1978
- Deputy Floyd “Doug” Heist – End of Watch 1980
- Corporal Eric Byron Streeter – End of Watch 1984
- Deputy Donald Ray Cook – End of Watch 1988
- Sergeant Dennis Mathis – End of Watch 1989
- Sergeant Roosevelt Walker, Jr. – End of Watch 1998
- Lieutenant George Hura, Jr. – End of Watch 2004
- Deputy Jeremy Cassady – End of Watch 2025
- K-9 Wolf – End of Watch 2000
- K-9 Erny – End of Watch 2000
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Miller Masterful As Wahoos Beat Lookouts 4-1
May 13, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos christened Chattanooga’s new Erlanger Park with a 4-1 win over the Lookouts on Tuesday night, riding a pair of homers and a quality start to victory over the team with the Southern League’s best record.
Jacob Miller (W, 1-2) turned in his best start of the season, scattering five hits and one run over 6.0 innings to earn his first win.
Dillon Lewis gave the Blue Wahoos an early 1-0 lead with a solo homer, his team-leading sixth of the season, in the second inning. Payton Green added a two-run shot in the fifth inning, and Fenwick Trimble singled home Brendan Jones in the sixth inning for a 4-0 advantage.
Miller surrendered a solo homer to Carlos Jorge in the sixth, but neither team could capitalize on ample opportunities in the late innings. Lookouts starter Johnathan Harmon (L, 3-1) worked around a leadoff Michael Snyder triple in the seventh, and Blue Wahoos relievers Kade Bragg and Logan Whitaker left the bases loaded with Lookouts runners in both the seventh and eighth. Luis Palacios (S, 1) inherited two baserunners in the ninth, but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Leo Balcazar to end the game.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Wednesday morning.
written by Erik Bremer
Case Continued For Homicide Suspect That Claimed Self Defense In McDavid Main Street Drug Deal
May 12, 2026
During a court appearance on Monday, a court case was continued for the suspect in a February 2025 fatal shooting on Main Street in McDavid. The suspect claims he shot the victim out of fear, but the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says it was murder.
Investigators charged Antonio Marshone DeSoto, now 26, with homicide for the shooting on Main Street, just east of Highway 29. During a hearing on Monday, Judge John Simon continued the case until July 22 at the request of the State Attorney’s Office.
DeSoto has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond in the Escambia County Jail.
The victim, identified as Charles Black, was found lying in Main Street directly in front of the McDavid Post Office about 8:40 p.m. on February 18, who was suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was just a few feet away from the driver’s door of his Chevrolet SUV, which remained in the roadway.
The arrest report make no mention of any weapon being recovered from Black or his vehicle.
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 received 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 was allowing DeSoto to stay in a camper inside the house, but she had not seen him since earlier that afternoon. 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.
DeSoto was taken into custody outside the home, and a 9mm Taurus G2C handgun was recovered under the camper.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Once An Aggie, Always An Aggie: Keyla Richardson Was A 2015 Tate Graduate
May 12, 2026
Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie!
American Idol Top 3 finalist Keyla Richardson is a 2015 Tate High School graduate.
Keyla Deanna Richardson graduated from Tate High on Tuesday night, June 2, 2015, at the Pensacola Bay Center. She received generous applause as her name was called and she was handed her diploma by then Principal Rick Shackle. There was a big smile across her face as she moved across the stage and shook hands with then Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
During her whirlwind hometown visit and concert last week in Pensacola, she was celebrated by the community.
The Tate High School Showband of the South played a big role in last Wednesday’s Keyla Fest, performing a custom arrangement for her at Life Shifting Learning Academy on Highway 29 in Ensley, and marching in the downtown parade.
She also made a surprise appearance at Education Day at Blue Wahoos Stadium, pausing for a photo with members of the Tate High School Yearbook staff.
She also autographed her photo in a school copy of the 2015 Tate yearbook.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Image above courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambai.com
Northview Chiefs, Jay Royals To Battle For Regional Title Tonight
May 12, 2026
The Northview Chiefs will host the Jay Royals at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the Region 1 Rural championship.
The Chiefs (19-5) will be looking to continue their current eight-game winning streak, while the Royals (12-12) will be looking to upset the region’s top team.
Northview defeated Jay 7-0 for the district title.
Photos: Northview Blanks Jay for District championship.
Northview is coming off a 15-0 mercy rule shutout of Holmes County in just 2.5 innings, and Jay held on for a 3-2 win over Chipley in their regional semifinal.
Last season, Northview won the regional championship 4-1 over Jay. The Chiefs advanced to the state final, finishing as state runners-up to Trenton.
Tickets are available on GoFan; no cash at the gate.
Escambia Felon Indicted On Federal Gun, Drug Charges
May 12, 2026
An Escambia County felon has been indicted on federal drug and gun charges.
Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, was indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Trial is set for June 22.
If convicted, Likely-McWilliams faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.