Early Sunday Morning Highway 29 Crash Claims Life
September 28, 2025
An early morning crash claimed the life of a 35-year-old Pensacola man early Sunday morning in Molino.
The crash happened about 2:25 a.m. on Highway 29 at Highway 196.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man failed to stop his pickup truck at a stop sign on eastbound Highway 196 and pulled into the path of a southbound semi truck.
The man was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The truck driver, a 54-year-old man from a Pensacola, suffered minor injuries.
File photo.
Wrong-Way Crash Leads To Felony DUI Charge: Cantonment Man Faces Third Offense in Four Years
September 28, 2025
A Cantonment man is facing a felony DUI charge — his third — following a head-on collision last week where his blood alcohol content (BAC) was found to be nearly four times the legal limit.
James Reber Holder, 59, was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol after a crash on East Olive Road near North Old Palafox Road. According to the FHP arrest report, Holder was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes when his white Honda CR-V struck a white Honda Pilot driven by 40-year-old woman.
Witnesses at the scene identified Holder as the driver of the wrong-way vehicle.
While in the ambulance, the trooper noted a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Holder, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an open container of 4 Loko (13.9% alcohol) in the center console.
Holder’s blood alcohol content measured 0.310 at Sacred Heart Hospital— nearly four times higher than Florida’s legal limit of 0.08, according to FHP.
Holder was charged with felony driving under the influence third violation within 10 years, driving on the wrong side the road, tampering with an interlock device, and an open container violation.
The felony charge stemmed directly from Holder’s history of intoxicated driving. An FHP check of his driving record revealed two prior DUI convictions, one in June 2021 and another in August 2022. Under Florida law, a third DUI conviction within 10 years is classified as a third degree felony.
Holder’s driver’s license was already restricted to “business purposes only” and required a court-ordered ignition interlock device due to his previous offenses. The arrest report confirms that the Honda CR-V he was operating did not have the mandated interlock device installed.
Upon being informed that the crash investigation was transitioning to a criminal DUI investigation, Holder reportedly attempted to evade questioning by pretending not to understand English. The officer, a native Spanish speaker and certified in the language for law enforcement, offered to read the rights in Spanish, to which Holder immediately responded in “perfect English,” asking, “what was that.” FHP said he then refused a lawful request for a blood test.
Holder was released on a $5,000 bond.
The traffic crash victim’s injuries and condition were not detailed in the report.
Registration Is Underway For The Tri-City Children’s Choir
September 28, 2025
Registration is now open for the Tri-City Children’s Choir’s fall season.
The program is for children in grades 2–7 and is led by choir director and piano instructor Holley Driver. Rehearsals begin October 9 at First Pentecostal Church at 8451 North Century Boulevard in Century.
To register online, click here.
Financial assistance is available for families who apply, funded through a donor-supported scholarship program. To help keep this opportunity open to every child, contributions can be made anytime at www.TriCityChoir.org, or interested donors, supporters, and businesses can contact the office to learn more about supporting the scholarship fund at (850) 434-7760.
Pictured: The Tri-City Children’s Choir during a March 2025 practice. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
38 New Students Selected For Take Stock in Children Scholarship Program
September 28, 2025
Take Stock in Children of Escambia County recently welcomed 38 new scholars. There are now 192 students in grades 7-12 in Escambia County’s program.
When Take Stock Scholars maintain the program standards, including good grades, attendance, and citizenship, and attend weekly meetings with their volunteer community mentors, they are awarded a four-year tuition and fees scholarship to a state college in Florida.
Students selected in 2025 to be Take Stock Scholars are:
- Ernest Ward Middle – Brantley Laborde
- Ransom Middle – Darwin Franco-Gonzalez, Micah Hrabak
- ailey Middle – Olivia Cipriano, Nevaeh Hadder, Aria Hungerford, Semaiah Nitzke-Jenkins, Ashton McMahan, Mary Soper, Zachary Soper, Ramon Spann, Jr., Malachi Williamson, and Killian Williamson
- Bellview Middle – Levi Paul (formerly of West Pensacola Elementary)
- Beulah Middle – David Hall, Lillymae Knight, Basileigh Olford, and Kaylee Spearman
- Brown Barge Middle – Faisal Abumohaimed, Barin Barthwell, Giovanna Capocci, Tyson Culliver, Dakoda Ellis, Trevor O’Neill, Duc Tran, and Chloe Wood
- Dixon School of Arts & Sciences – Annelly Barcia, Ezekiel Chase, and Lavon Slater, Jr.
- Ferry Pass Middle – James Bain, Nigel DeVaughn, Coriana Powell (formerly of Cordova Park Elementary), Stephen Williams, Tiana Williams, Zari Woods
- Florida Virtual School – Douglas Caden Epps
- West Florida High – Rickiyah Randolph
- Workman Middle – Ayla Rostofer and Sunshine Sampson
Take Stock in Children is a statewide non-profit organization operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation.
Take Stock provides “scholarships, mentors & hope” to deserving young people selected at the end of their 6th or 7th grade year through a need-based application process. Scholarship donations from local foundations, organizations, businesses and individuals are matched dollar-for-dollar when scholarships are purchased each year at selection from Florida Prepaid College Foundation, and are held until students graduate from high school.
To date, Take Stock in Children graduates have been awarded nearly 200 post-secondary completions including professional certifications, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhDs.
McDavid Fire Station Real Estate To Be Donated To Escambia County
September 28, 2025
This week, the Escambia County Commission is set to consider accepting the donation of the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department building and property.
The fire station at 100 North Century Boulevard, known as Escambia County Fire Rescue Station 9, operates from a building that still legally belongs to the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
If acceptance is approved by the commission, the real property ownership will transfer from the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. to Escambia County.
The fire station will continue to operate as usual with volunteer firefighters using county owned vehicles and equipment.
Pictured: An Escambia County EMS ambulance earlier this year stationed outside the McDavid Fire Station belonging to the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Narcotics And Firearms Charges
September 28, 2025
An Escambia County man has pleaded guilty to federal narcotics and firearms charges.
Akeem Cornell Shaw, 39, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of an unregistered firearm (short-barreled shotgun).
In February 2025 law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shaw’s residence. In Shaw’s bedroom, officers located multiple loaded firearms, including a short-barreled shotgun, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, ammunition, and other items indicative of drug distribution. Shaw is a convicted felon, who has previously been convicted of several narcotics related offenses, including possession of heroin with intent to sell.
Shaw faces up to life imprisonment when he is sentenced ion December 11.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the AFT.
“I am incredibly proud of the continued excellence demonstrated by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners to investigate this repeat offender and help bring him to justice. The hardworking prosecutors in my office are committed to using the full force of the law to keep our streets safe,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students, Employee Of The Month
September 28, 2025
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their employee and student of the month for August. Pictured (L-R) with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger are students Nevaeh Tidd, eighth grade; Zane Therrell, seventh grade; Hadley Cook, sixth grade; and Wesley Stafford, technology coordinator. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Farm Bureau Presents Farm Family, Distinguished Service Awards
September 27, 2025
Escambia County Farm Bureau recently honored local producers during their annual meeting.
The Farm Family award was presented to the Glen and Todd Wiggins, and the Distinguished award was presented to Brett Ward of Walnut Hill for outstanding services to rural Escambia County.
Pictured top: Jack Livingston presented Glen and Todd Wiggins the Farm Family award. Pictured below: Farm Bureau President Jerry Sheppard presented the Distinguished Service award to Brett Ward. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Down, But Never Out: Tate Aggies Stage Epic Second-Half Rally To Beat Navarre 29-26
September 27, 2025
The Tate Aggies charged back from a devastating first-half deficit to defeat the Navarre Raiders 29-26 Friday night in Navarre.
The Raiders stunned the Aggie faithful early, jumping out to a 13-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and pushing their advantage to 20-0 in the second. But the Aggies’ battle for the win picked up steam right before the half.
With 6:55 to go in the half, Ethan Pittman finally put Tate on the board, cutting the Navarre lead to 20-6. The comeback gained traction when a touchdown and two-point conversion from Tanner Clark with just 2:03 left in the second quarter slashed the score to a manageable 20-14 at halftime.
Tate needed just moments in the third quarter to take the lead, with Ladquarius Bradford finding the endzone for a 21-20 advantage. The Aggies sealed the game late in the third when Bradford delivered another touchdown, and a clutch two-point conversion from Clark extended the lead to 29-26. That score would hold, as both teams locked down defensively for a scoreless fourth quarter.
With the hard-fought district win, the Tate Aggies improved to 5-1 on the season. The Aggies are off next week and will host the Pace Patriots on October 10 in another critical district matchup.
Pictured: Tate beat West Florida 27-7 last week. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Friday Night Football Scoreboard
September 27, 2025
Here are Friday night football scores from across the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
Tate 29, Navarre 26 [Read more...]
Flomaton 21, Jay 7
Escambia 22, Washington 3
Bay 47, Pensacola High 28
Pensacola Catholic 42, Freeport 17
Mosley 27, Milton 14
Pace 34, Crestview 8
Niceville 56, Gulf Breeze 6
Rocky Bayou 41, Central 7
Northview – bye week
West Florida – bye week
Pine Forest – bye week
ALABAMA
Flomaton 21, Jay 7
Escambia Academy 72, Trinity Christian 42
Blountstown 38, W.S. Neal 7
UMS Wright 29, T.R. Miller 6
Escambia County (Atmore) – Bye week