Jim Allen Elementary Parade Honors Veterans (With Gallery)
November 6, 2025
Jim Allen Elementary School held their annual Veterans Day Parade.
First grade teachers and students worked hard to recognize and celebrate those who bravely served.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Attend SEC Soccer Tournament
November 6, 2025
This week, local schools took field trips to watch the SEC Soccer Tournament.
McArthur Elementary School students (pictured below) with perfect attendance through the end of October were able to take a walking field trip to nearby Ashton Brosnaham Park to watch as No. 2 Vanderbilt defeated No. 10 Alabama by a score of 2-1.
Fourth and fifth grade students from Lipscomb Elementary (pictured top) also attended the Vanderbilt versus Alabama game.
The tournament continues Thursday with the championship game on Sunday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Breakfast And Lunch: Have Your Say In Choosing Menus For Next Semester
November 6, 2025
What would you like to see on the menu for breakfast and lunch for Escambia County Public Schools?
The Escambia County School District is asking for input into menus for next semester.
Surveys are available the links below, divided by grade level.
Pre-K: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M99W99W
Elementary School: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M9QRVPJ
Middle School: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JZJ2TKM
High School: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M9NHPJW
Pictured: Teriyaki chicken with rice was on the menu earlier this week at Tate High School. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Annual Walnut Hill VFD Fish Fry Is Saturday
November 6, 2025
The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its 56th Annual Fish Fry on this Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fire department. The community event promises delicious food, family fun, and the chance to support a great cause.
For just $12 per plate, attendees can enjoy a meal featuring grilled or fried catfish, grilled chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, homemade bread, and a selection of homemade desserts. Door prize drawings will be held throughout the day.
In addition to the food and festivities, a blood drive will be held in partnership with the One Blood Big Red Bus to encourage attendees to “Save Lives, Donate Blood.”
The Walnut Hill Fire Station is at 7760 Highway 97, just north of Ernest Ward Middle School.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Brutal Second Degree Murder Of His Girlfriend
November 6, 2025
On Wednesday, an Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal second degree murder of his girlfriend.
It took a jury less than 30 minutes to convict Davarius James of the murder of Claudette Robinson.
On February 3, 2025, Robinson was located deceased in her residence. Her injuries included bruises over her body, broken ribs, a broken breastbone, and injuries to her throat. Evidence established that her boyfriend, Davarius James, had attempted to contact friends and family members for help over the course of that day, however, he failed to call 911 or seek medical treatment for the victim. A family member called 911 at 3:29 p.m. and officers and investigators responded to the scene. James was located and apprehended two hours later and taken into custody.
James told investigators that Robinson was injured when she fell twice earlier that morning.
During the trial, polie testified to search terms found in the victim’s phone including google searches asking how to determine if someone was dead, how long someone can live off CPR, and searches about how to tell if someone had been choked by the neck.
Associate Medical Examiner, Dr. Lorraine Lopez-Morell testified that the victim’s cause of death was “multiple blunt force trauma” and that broken cartilage in the victim’s throat and a broken hyoid bone indicated manual strangulation. Robinson’s injuries were described as being similar to injuries seen in a car crash.
Undefeated UWF Football Ranked No. 1 In NCAA Regional Rankings
November 6, 2025
UWF is the No. 1 team in Super Region Two in the Monday’s release of the NCAA Division II regional rankings.
The 9-0 Argos sit atop the list of the top-10 teams in the region. Super Region Two consists of programs competing in the Gulf South Conference (GSC), Conference Carolinas (CC), South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
The Argos, who are also ranked No. 3 in multiple national polls are coming off a 51-38 road win over No. 15 Delta State, setting up a GSC Title shot on Saturday, Nov. 15 when the team hosts Valdosta State at Pen Air Field for the final game of the regular season.
UWF has beaten three nationally ranked opponents this season including No. 14 Lenoir-Rhyne in the season opener, No. 8 West Alabama on the road in October and No. 15 Delta State this past Saturday.
NCAA postseason play will begin on Saturday, Nov. 22.
SUPER REGION TWO RANKINGS (As of Nov. 2)
- West Florida (9-0)
- Albany St. (8-0)
- Benedict (7-1)
- Newberry (7-1)
- Wingate (7-2)
- Kentucky St. (7-1)
- Delta St. (7-2)
- Carson-Newman (6-2)
- UNC Pembroke (8-2)
- Emory & Henry (6-3)
Century Man Facing Felony Charges For Fraudulent Food Orders, Stolen Credit Card
November 5, 2025
A Century man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to alleged fraudulent food orders using stolen credit card information.
Toney Maurice Harrison, 28, was charged with two counts of felony fraudulent use of credit cards, three counts of petit theft, and two felony counts of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $26,000.
The initial complaint, which triggered the investigation, centered on transactions made at Flounders Chowder House in late August. According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, staff noticed a pattern of to-go orders placed with stolen credit card information, resulting in the restaurant losing payment after the transactions were flagged as fraudulent. Video evidence reportedly showed Harrison retrieving multiple food orders totaling $150.95 on separate dates in August.
The investigation escalated when Harrison was identified by restaurant management while allegedly attempting to collect another alleged fraudulently purchased order. When he was detained, a deputy collected Harrison’s Pink Apple iPhone from the scene as evidence.
A subsequent search warrant executed on the phone revealed evidence. The report states that screenshots found on the device showed receipts for online orders from both Flounders Chowder House and McGuire’s Irish Pub. These receipts were cross-referenced with transaction logs, confirming two additional incidents of fraudulently purchased food totaling $130.06, and linking Harrison to the use of stolen credit card information across both businesses.
The report states that additional orders may be verified as fraudulent.
SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament Semifinals Set In North Escambia On Thursday
November 5, 2025
Here are scores from Tuesday action in the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament continues in North Escambia at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
- Vanderbilt 2, Alabama 1
- Georgia 1(5), Kentucky 1(4)
- Mississippi State 2, Arkansas 1
- LSU 2, Tennessee 0
SEMIFINALS
In semifinal action on Thursday:
- Mississippi State vs. LSU
- Vanderbilt vs. Georgia
The championship will be Sunday.
Pictured: LSU in the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Atmore-Based Manufacturer Alto Products Corp. Has Sold To International Company
November 5, 2025
Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (FNST), together with its aftermarket division Corteco, has signed an agreement to acquire Atmore-based Alto Products Corp., the world’s oldest and largest independently owned manufacturer of clutch plates and automatic transmission parts. This acquisition strengthens Freudenberg’s position in the North American and global aftermarket, expanding their product and service offerings for customers worldwide.
Founded and family-owned for two generations, Alto Products Corp. operates a 270,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Atmore with additional sales and distribution locations in Mexico, the Netherlands, and China. The company employs approximately 240 people, with 230 based in the United States. Alto is renowned for its friction plates, steel reaction plates, and comprehensive kits for automatic transmissions, serving automotive, heavy-duty, performance, and marine segments.
“With the acquisition of Alto Products Corp., we are not only expanding our product portfolio but also reinforcing our commitment to delivering comprehensive, high-quality solutions to our customers. Alto’s legacy, technical expertise, and strong brand presence in the aftermarket align perfectly with our strategic vision,” said Dr. Christian Dickopf, senior vice president of Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies’ Corteco Division.
The company said the acquisition enables FNST to offer complete transmission rebuild solutions by integrating Alto’s friction and steel plates into new product offerings for the market. This unlocks growth in performance and recreational vehicle segments, enhances vertical integration, improves risk management, and strengthens supply chain resilience through Alto’s U.S.-centric manufacturing. It also expands FNST’s reach into international markets by leveraging Alto’s established presence in Latin America and Asia, while creating opportunities to consolidate product lines and operations across FNST’s global footprint.
Judy Love, North American vice president of the Corteco division, said, “This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver comprehensive solutions to customers across North America and globally. We are excited to welcome Alto’s skilled team into the Freudenberg organization.”
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies said the company is a long-standing technology expert and global market leader for sophisticated and innovative applications in sealing technology and electromobility. With its unique materials and technology expertise, the company is a proven supplier of sophisticated products and applications as well as a development and service partner for customers in the automotive industry and general industry. In the 2024 financial year, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies generated sales of around €2.5 billion (approximately $2.872 billon USD) and employed around 13,000 people.
The company is part of the global Freudenberg Group, which generated sales of almost 12 billion euros (almost $13.8 billion USD) in the 2024 financial year with its seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens and filtration, household products and specialties divisions and employed around 52,000 people in some 60 countries.
Escambia (FL) Man Faces Drug Charges After Alabama Traffic Stop
November 5, 2025
An Escambia County, Florida, man was arrested in Atmore after a traffic stop led to the discovery of illegal narcotics, according to the Atmore Police Department.
Thames Stone, 45, was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The incident began when an Atmore Police Officer responded to a citizen complaint about a reckless driver on North Main Street. The officer located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop after observing the driver fail to maintain his lane of travel.
During the interaction, the officer identified the driver as Stone and noted suspicious behavior, leading to suspicion that Stone may have been driving under the influence.
Following a consent to search the vehicle, officers discovered over two grams of cocaine, more than two dozen Xanax pills, and items associated with packaging narcotics, according to Atmore Police.
Stone was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center.