West Florida High Electrathon Racing Team Collaborates With Sheriff’s Office To Build More Than Race Cars
January 22, 2026
West Florida High School is home to a growing, highly motivated Electrathon race car team that provides students with hands-on experience in engineering, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving.
The WFHS Electrathon team’s newest all-electric vehicle is an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office cruiser-themed race car. The car was custom built and designed by the student-members of the team in order to honor the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office has played a key role in shaping the Electrathon program and it has become a strong community partner with West Florida High School.
“What a great looking car! We are proud to partner with students at West Florida High School and their Electrathon Racing Team,” said Escambia County Sheriff Chip W. Simmons. “We feel as though this car will represent West Florida High School, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our community well throughout its journey. Good luck!”
Currently made up of around 25 students, the team is focused on much more than racing. Students learn critical life and technical skills, including working effectively as a team, problem-solving, critical thinking, engineering design, battery management, gear ratios, fabrication, and data analysis. Electrathon racing is not about speed—it is about energy efficiency and endurance, with cars competing in one-hour races to see who can go the farthest on a limited amount of energy.
West Florida’s Electrathon team has traveled across Florida to compete at major tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Five Flags Speedway. These opportunities give students exposure to professional racing environments while applying classroom knowledge in real, high-stakes situations.
The Electrathon team at West Florida High School of Advanced Technology continues to grow, innovate, and push boundaries—preparing students not only for competition, but for future careers in engineering, technology, and skilled trades.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Woman Facing Felony Drug Charge Following Traffic Stop
January 22, 2026
A Molino woman was arrested on a felony drug charge late Monday night following a traffic stop in Pensacola.
Inez Yaminah Lyons, 41, was charged with possession of cocaine after a Pensacola Police officer stopped a vehicle for an expired tag in the area of Davis Highway and Chadwick Street.
According to the arrest report, an officer spotted a black Kia Soul with a Tennessee tag parked at Smart Fill on North Davis Highway. A records check indicated the registration had been expired since November 2024. When the vehicle pulled out of the parking lot, police initiated a traffic stop at Kenneth and Wynnhurst streets.
During the investigation, Lyons, who was a passenger in the rear seat, granted officers consent to search her person. Police reported finding a clear plastic bag containing approximately .5 grams of a white powder in her pants pocket. The substance field-tested positive for cocaine.
A K-9 unit also alerted to the odor of narcotics within the vehicle, though a subsequent search of the car yielded no further contraband.
Lyons was released from jail on a $2,500 bond
Ransom Academic Team Finishes As Top Public School At Invitational Tournament
January 22, 2026
The Ransom Middle School Academic Team recently secured a top-tier finish at the Middle School Invitational in Cottondale, placing third overall out of 12 teams from across the Florida Panhandle and Alabama.
Ransom entered the playoffs as the undefeated top seed in their bracket, eventually finishing as the highest-ranking public school in the competition. The team narrowly missed qualifying for the national tournament.
Individual students also earned top honors among the field of 43 players. Cutter Rhodes took home a medal for second place individual and was the top-ranked public school player. Levi Cox placed seventh overall, and Calleigh Anderson finished in tenth.
The team members who traveled to the competition included Calleigh Anderson, Kyson Beck, Khloe Caldwell, Levi Cox, Sydney Cox, Megan Degan-Dorangricchia, Megan Gray, Madelyn McShane, and Cutter Rhodes.
Ransom’s next tournament is scheduled for Saturday, January 31.
Pictured: (L-R) Coach Jon Walker, Coach Madison Bass, Sydney Cox, Kyson Beck, Madison Degan-Dorangricchia, Khloe Caldwell, Cutter Rhodes, Megan Gray, Madelyn McShane, Levi Cox, Calleigh Anderson, Coach Maggie Brown, and Coach Clarissa Brown. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDLE Arrests Escambia Man On 20 Child Porn Possession Charges
January 22, 2026
An Escambia County man has been arrested for possession of child sexual abuse materials. State law enforcement said he used a cloud storage account to upload files depicting sexual abuse of children.
The Florida Department of law enforcement arrested Devon Corpening, 32, on 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and one count of using a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
The investigation began in June 2025 when FDLE agents received several cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a cell phone service user had uploaded child sexual abuse files to his cloud storage account. Further investigation identified the user as Corpening.
On January 15, FDLE agents served a search warrant at Corpening’s residence and seized several electronic devices for further forensic examination, where additional files were located. Corpening was arrested and transported to Escambia County Jail.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Florida Highway Patrol assisted with the search warrant and arrest.
Take A Look: $189 Million Proposal For The Future of The Pensacola Bay Center
January 21, 2026
Friday, Escambia County Commissioners will discuss a $189 million plan for the future of a Pensacola Bay Center, including constructing a new multipurpose event center and building a practice ice rink on the current property with projected regional economic impact of $60 million annually
The current Bay Center, which opened in 1985, has a capacity of 8,050 for hockey and 10,000 with a center stage. It currently averages 123 annual events with and attendance of 352,700.
To see the proposal, click here.
The three-part proposal from Legends Global includes:
Pensacola Bay Center (PBC) Improvements $71 million
Exterior upgrades & façade enhancements.
New club seats (between 400 and 600).
2 new club rooms/areas.
Expanded concourses.
Expansion & improvement of F&B and retail spaces & offerings.
New/expanded LED signage offerings.
Back-of-house & central plant improvements and upgrades.
Seamless connectivity to new Practice Ice Rink and Event Center.
New Practice Ice Rink $29.8 million
Attached or connected via enclosed walkway to PBC and Event Center.
one permanent ice sheet (NHL size, 200’ x 85’) with fixed seating for between 600 and 1,000.
4 locker rooms with toilets and showers.
2 coaches/officials rooms.
2 party rooms/flex rooms.
Pro shop/first aid.
Concessions & vending space.
(Optional) Physical therapy/weight room/fitness space.
Small allotment for dryland training space/other amenities (i.e., esports, golf simulator, stickhandling station, etc.).
350 incremental parking spaces needed.
New Event Center $84.4 million
Attached or connected via enclosed walkway to
PBC & Practice Ice Rink.
55,500 net square feet (185’ x 300’), column free, concrete floor, 2 moveable airwalls allowing for subdivision into 3 halls, minimum of 35-foot ceiling height.
6,000 square feet of breakout meeting space.
Warming/prep kitchen.
Enhanced FF&E:
Portable retractable seating for 2,000.
Rollable carpet for one subdivided hall (approximately 18,500 SF).
Portable SportCourt-type athletic surface.
(Alternate) Portable hardwood courts plus climate-controlled storage on-site.
Athletic netting systems & game equipment.
Approx. 105,000 gross square feet (2.4 acres) for facility footprint.
1,200 incremental parking spaces needed.
McDavid Man Charged With Felony Child Abuse
January 21, 2026
A McDavid man was charged in connection with a child abuse investigation that began last summer after a young boy was found with a black eye.
Eugene Quint Geri, 49, is charged with child abuse without great bodily harm. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies began investigating on August 28, 2025, when the victim’s father noticed the child had a black eye and two additional marks on his face. The child told investigators that Geri hit him in the eye with his hand while wearing a watch because the boy was misbehaving at school, according to an arrest report.
The investigation was marked by shifting stories from the boy’s mother, according to the report. She initially told deputies she witnessed Geri discipline the child in a bedroom and saw the injury immediately after. She later changed her account, claiming she lied to protect Geri and suggested the child might have hit his head on a bed.
Geri also provided inconsistent statements, initially claiming he only disciplined the child verbally over the phone before later stating he had done so in person. Investigators noted that while the adults provided conflicting accounts, the child was the only person to provide a consistent statement throughout the process.
Following a review by the Special Victims Unit, a warrant was issued for Geri’s arrest. A judge ordered that he have no contact with the alleged victim.
Geri has entered a not guilty pleas in Escambia County Circuit Court.
County Considers Land Purchase For Stormwater Pond On Desoto Road In Cantonment
January 21, 2026
The Escambia County Commission will consider the purchase of a property on DeSoto Road in Cantonment for a regional stormwater pond.
If approved at a commission meeting on Friday, the county will purchase 6.7 acres at 176 DeSoto Road from William and Jessica Ruzicka for $200,000.
The regional stormwater pond will be built to help with drainage in the area.
Escambia District 1 Beulah Town Hall To Be Held January 29
January 21, 2026
Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger will hold a town hall meeting Thursday, January 29 to discuss county projects and initiatives in the Beulah community. The town hall will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Beulah Church, located at 7561 Mobile Highway.
During the town hall, Commissioner Stroberger will discuss OLF-8 along with upgrades to Beulah Regional Park, the Beulah Senior Citizen Center, and the Escambia County Equestrian Center. Escambia County staff will be in attendance to address any comments or concerns from residents.
The public is invested to attend.
Pensacola Airport Transformed Into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport
January 21, 2026
Pensacola International Airport has partnered with Pensacon for its annual transformation into Pensacola Intergalactic Airport, assuming the temporary name and stellar decor to commemorate the 2026 Pensacon convention scheduled for February 20-22.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announced the temporary change renaming the airport Pensacola Intergalactic Airport on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The signage throughout the terminal highlights iconic comic and science fiction characters and welcome messages.
“Our relationship with the Pensacola Intergalactic Airport has been such a wonderful way to not only promote Pensacon, but also show travelers how great our city is in supporting events like ours. Each year, our celebrity guests are impressed when they come off the plane and feel like they are already immersed in Pensacon,” Pensacon CEO Mike Ensley said.
Pensacon attracts tens of thousands of fans to downtown Pensacola each year. Now entering its 13th year, Pensacon has had a cumulative economic impact of more than $31 million since its first convention in 2014, according to Visit Pensacola research.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Named To Advanced Placement School Honor Roll
January 21, 2026
Tate High School has been recognized for student success in the Advanced Placement program while broadening participation.
The College Board announced that J.M. Tate High School has been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement Program (AP) School Honor Roll, earning Bronze distinction.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
Tate High School had 45% of seniors who took at least one AP Exam during high school, 28% of seniors scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, and 11% of seniors who took five or more AP Exams.
Tatel offers a robust Advanced Placement program that provides students with meaningful access to college-level coursework. The school currently offers 19 AP courses, taught across 34 sections by 16 highly qualified AP teachers, allowing students to pursue rigorous academic opportunities across multiple subject areas.
“This recognition is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and instructional leaders,” said Principal Laura Touchstone. “Being named to the AP School Honor Roll shows that Tate is committed to expanding access to rigorous coursework while ensuring our students are supported to succeed. We are proud of our students for challenging themselves and of our teachers for creating a culture of high expectations, encouragement, and academic excellence.”
“AP gives students an opportunity to engage with college-level work, earn college credit and placement, and build professional career skills they can use no matter what path they choose after high school,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “Congratulations to this year’s AP School Honor Roll recipients for proving it’s possible to expand participation in these rigorous courses and still drive strong performance.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) enables students to pursue college level studies with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both while still in high school. Through AP courses, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue, skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.