Blue Angels Announce Commanding Officer For The 2027 And 2028 Show Seasons
April 16, 2026
The Blue Angels announced the commanding officer for the 2027 and 2028 seasons at a press conference at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Cmdr. Logan R. Peck will succeed Capt. Adam Bryan and assume command following the end of the 2026 show season in November. Applicants are required to have a minimum number of flight hours and be in current command, or have had past command, of a tactical jet squadron.
“It’s an incredible honor to take on this role and represent the men and women of this team,” said Cmdr. Peck. “Every day, I’m focused on leading in a way that reflects that responsibility, and making sure we continue to perform at the highest level.”
Peck, a native of San Diego, California joins the Blue Angels after serving as the commanding officer of the “Fighting Checkmates” of VFA-211 His previous assignments include multiple squadron tours, where he deployed aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
Peck holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and Baker University. Peck has more than 2,400 flight hours and more than 500 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include multiple unit and personal awards.
“This year’s selection process reflected the high level of talent and professionalism within our ranks,” said Capt. Adam Bryan, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels. “Cmdr. Peck embodies those qualities, and I am confident he will lead the team with pride and professionalism in the seasons ahead.”
Peck will serve as Commanding Officer and Flight Leader for the 2027 and 2028 Blue Angels airshow seasons. He will report for initial training in Pensacola, Florida in September and officially take command of the squadron at the end of the air show season in November. The change-of-command ceremony is slated for November 8, 2026 at the National Naval Aviation Museum.
As the Blue Angels’ commanding officer, Peck will lead a squadron of 140 personnel and serve as the demonstration flight leader, flying the #1 jet. The Blue Angels perform for 11 million people annually across the United States, and are scheduled to perform 64 shows in 32 locations during the 2027 season.
Photos: Crayton B. Peck and Crayton B. Agnew/USN for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola ‘Sky Jockeys’ Stay Grounded In Loss To Smokies
April 16, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell behind early and couldn’t keep up on Wednesday night, falling 8-0 to the Knoxville Smokies.
Playing their first game as the Pensacola Sky Jockeys, their aviation-themed alternate identity, the Blue Wahoos couldn’t get off the ground. They managed just three hits, and left 10 men on base despite putting at least one on in every inning.
Pensacola starter Alex Williams (L, 0-2) breezed through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second. Ethan Hearn opened the scoring with a two-run double, and two more came in on an Alex Ramirez infield single compounded by a throwing error from shortstop Cristian Hernández.
After Williams departed, the Smokies capitalized on command issues from the Pensacola bullpen. Edgar Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk facing Livan Reinoso in the fifth inning, extending the Knoxville lead to 5-0. Jake Smith issued a walk and three hit batsmen in the seventh, stretching the margin to 7-0.
Miguel Useche, a little-used catcher in the Cubs organization, had an opportunity to pinch-hit in the ninth inning and launched a solo homer, the first of his professional career, to bring the score to its 8-0 final.
Jace Beck (W, 2-0) earned the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for the Smokies, entering in the fourth when starting pitcher Yenrri Rojas departed with an apparent injury.
Dillon Lewis was a bright spot for the Blue Wahoos, reaching three times with a single, a pair of walks and two stolen bases.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Thursday.
written by Erik Bremer
Cantonment Woman Charged With Aggravated Battery At Downtown Restaurant
April 15, 2026
A Saturday afternoon lunch at Nick’s Boathouse turned violent in the parking lot after an argument led to a woman allegedly using a firearm to pistol-whip a victim.
According to arrest reports, Martaina Conner, 47, was charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after witnesses told Pensacola Police she brandished a handgun during a fight at the West Main Street restaurant.
The altercation reportedly began as a verbal dispute involving Conner’s son and another group. Investigators say Conner retrieved a Ruger LCP from her vehicle and waved it in the air before using the bottom of the firearm to strike a victim multiple times in the head and face.
While Conner claimed she acted in self-defense, police noted that witness accounts and social media video appeared to show her initiating the physical attack with the weapon. Officers later recovered the handgun from Conner’s purse.
Conner was released from jail on $12,000 bond.
EREC Awards Four Scholarships To Northview And Jay Seniors
April 15, 2026
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced four scholarship awards to students in the utility’s service area.
Four-year Herman D. Johnson Scholarships are being awarded to Savannah Hudson from Northview High School and Brea Lyle from Jay High School. Savannah plans to pursue a law degree, and Brea plans to earn her master’s in nursing.
EREC Trade/Votech Scholarships are being awarded to Tyler Carach from Northview High School and Nicholas Baxley from Jay High School. Tyler will be heading to the Southeast Lineman Training Center in August, and Nicholas plans to attend Locklin Technical College to study HVAC.
The students will be recognized at the EREC Annual Meeting on April 25 at Ernest Ward Middle School.
Pictured: (top, L-R) Savannah Hudson, Brea Lyle, (bottom, L-R) Tyler Carach, and Nicholas Baxley. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Book Fair Continuing At Lipscomb Elementary
April 15, 2026
The Scholastic Book Fair is continuing at Lipscomb Elementary School through Thursday. The book fair opened on Monday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview High NJROTC Disaster Training Sets Stage For Community Support
April 15, 2026
Cadets in the Northview High School NJROTC underwent disaster training on Monday to prepare them to help the community.
Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) held the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training at the school. CERT, in partnership with FEMA and Escambia County Emergency Management, is a training program that prepares Floridians to help their communities in the event of a disaster.
CERT participants learn about disaster preparedness and receives training in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. With this training, CERT volunteers can provide critical support in their communities by giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on the scene. CERT volunteers also support the community year-round by participating in community preparedness outreach activities and distributing materials on disaster preparedness and education.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ribbon Cutting Held At Little River State Forest North of Atmore
April 15, 2026
A ribbon cutting was held on Tuesday at the Little River State Forest and Claude D. Kelley Recreational Area on Highway 21 north of Atmore, at the Escambia and Monroe county line, to celebrate improvements ahead of an official opening that is still to come.
Little River has been closed for several years. Improvements are still ongoing, and an official opening for the public is still to come.
Those improvements include a new bridge, RV and primitive campsites, water and septic lines, a new fishing pier, and building renovations. The central attraction is the 25-acre lake.
“All of your hard work is much appreciated by so many, and we are all looking forward to making many more new memories,” Albritton said. “Everyone there today had a story to tell, a special memory, and a desire to come again to this beautiful site.”
Originally privately owned land, Little River State Forest was deeded to the Alabama Forestry Commission in the early 1930s. During this time, the Great Depression was taking its toll on America. President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented several ideas to help pull people out of the Depression and back to work. One of these programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), designed to help rebuild natural resources by planting trees and constructing park facilities.
In 1934, the CCC was sent to the Atmore, Alabama, area to build a public park that would eventually become known as Little River State Forest. Many of the facilities located on the grounds of the park remain from the original construction by the CCC, including the office building, a cabin, and pavilions. The Gazebo Trail was also built by the CCC, as well as the 25-acre lake. The soil that was removed from the lake bed was used to construct the dam and levee. Ironstone was collected from the area to create the spillway.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Shut Down Crestview In Semis, Head To District Championship
April 15, 2026
The Tate Aggies are headed to the 6A District 1 championship game on Thursday after a decisive 12-1 semifinal win over No. 3 Crestview on Tuesday afternoon.
Griffin Cook went 3-4 with three RBIs for the Aggies, including a sixth-inning home run to left field. Evan Taylor and Connor Dethlefs had two hits each.
Bryton McLellan earned the win for the Aggies in six innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run, striking out seven and walking none.
On Tuesday, Pace got past No. 4 Navarre 6-3.
No. 1 Pace (22-4, 4-1) will host No. 2 Tate (20-6, 2-2) at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The teams split their two regular season meetings.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Wallop Smokies With Three Homers In 5-1 Win
April 15, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned their first home win of the season on Tuesday night, beating the Knoxville Smokies 5-1 on the strength of a season-high three home runs.
Dillon Lewis opened up the scoring in the first inning, following a pair of walks with a three-run homer to center field off Knoxville starter Tyler Schlaffer (L, 0-1). Payton Green added on in the second inning, hitting a solo homer.
Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller turned in a solid performance, allowing only one run on three hits over 4.0 innings. A Jordan Nwogu RBI single in the third inning got Knoxville on the board, but Miller struck out Haydn McGeary to strand two in scoring position and end the threat.
Dylan Jasso tacked on a run for the Blue Wahoos in the fourth inning with a solo homer, his first in the Marlins organization after being acquired via trade from the Yankees in January.
Green, a triple shy of the cycle entering his eighth-inning at-bat, sent a liner into the left field corner but had to settle for a stand-up double and a 4-for-4 night as Nwogu quickly played the carom off the wall.
Stephen Jones, Brandon White, Nigel Belgrave and Justin King combined for 5.0 scoreless innings of relief to lock down the 5-1 win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Wednesday.
written by Erik Bremer
Amber Alert Canceled, Santa Rosa Teen Found Safe
April 15, 2026
UPDATE: The amber alert for Santa Rosa County teen Adriana Hernandez was canceled just before midnight Tuesday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said she was safe, but provided no other details.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office says Hernandez returned home.
Previous story:
On Monday, a Florida Amber Alert was issued for a Santa Rosa County teen who was last seen on April 7.
Adriana Hernandez is a White-Hispanic female, 15 years old, 5 feet 1 inch tall, and 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in the area of the 6400 block of Bruce Lane in Milton.
She may have a reddish-brown tint in her hair. Officials said she may have traveled to Georgia.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of this child, contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 983-1190 or call 911.