ECSO, Ascend Cares Volunteers Fill Care Packages For Service Members In Guam
January 3, 2026
Members of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office were joined by volunteers from the Ascend Cares Foundation to package care packages for service members deployed during the holidays.
Sheriff Chip Simmons, Lt. Tampary, and Deputy Mason Tampary worked alongside Ascend volunteers to fill dozens of care packages for U.S. service members stationed in Guam.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rail Yard Dawgs Top The Pensacola Ice Flyers 4-2 Friday Night
January 3, 2026
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs defeated the Pensacola Ice Flyers 4-2 on Friday night during Friends and Family Night at the Hangar in front of 5,803 fans.
The first period was evenly matched, but Roanoke’s Noah Finstrom broke through late in the frame to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period saw Andrew Poulias tie the game early with a short-handed goal. However, Roanoke quickly responded with goals from Travis Broughman and Jordan Rosenbaum to take a 3-1 lead into the third period.
The Ice Flyers fought back in the third period, with Zack Bross cutting the deficit to 3-2. Despite a valiant effort to complete the comeback, Roanoke’s Matt O’Dea sealed the 4-2 victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
The Ice Flyers will look to bounce back tomorrow night for 850 Night in a rematch against the Rail Yard Dawgs.
Five Escape Injury In Crash At Highway 29, Highway 97 In Molino
January 2, 2026
Five people escaped injury in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
The crash happened at 5:55 p.m. and involved a Toyota Tacoma and another vehicle.
All five people involved reportedly refused transport to the hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details.
Reader submitted photo by Kevin Enfinger for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged After Crashing Reported Stolen Vehicle
January 2, 2026
The Florida Highway Patrol charged a Cantonment man after he wrecked a reported stolen vehicle in December.
Justin Michael Odom, 31, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and driving with a suspended license third or subsequent conviction.
On December 6, Odom crashed a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe at the intersection of West Roberts Road and Tate Road. He was extracted and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital by Escambia County EMS.
According to troopers, the vehicle had been reported stolen in Santa Rosa County. FHP said, Odom admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Troopers said that his license had been suspended due to multiple prior convictions for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Odom remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond. He is set for arraignment on Friday, January 2.
Brandon Korinchak Named Northview High Teacher Of The Year
January 2, 2026
Brandon Korinchak was named the Northview High School Teacher of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Florida Animal Cruelty Offender Database Is Now Online
January 2, 2026
A new statewide animal cruelty offender database is now online in Florida.
It’s the latest phase of Dexter’s Law, which was named after a 4-year-old black and white bulldog mix that was adopted in Pinellas County and found brutally killed a few days later in a park.
The first part of the law went into effect back in July 2025, allowing judges to increase penalties in animal cruelty cases. The next part of the law went into effect January 1, 2026, requiring the state to create and maintain a database of animal abusers.
To access the database, click here.
“Across Florida, we have seen horrifying instances of animal cruelty that demand a stronger response,” said Governor Ron DeSantis when he signed Dexter’s Law.
People who have either been found guilty, pleaded guilty**,** or no contest to animal cruelty charges will be listed in the database. The database is hosted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is designed to help shelters, pet rescues, and citizens who screen individuals before the adoption process is complete.
If a name is placed in the state database, it will remain for 10 years. The database is updated on the first day of each month.
Maria Moultrie Named George Stone Technical College Teacher Of The Year
January 2, 2026
Maria Moultrie was named the George Stone Technical College Teacher of the Year. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EREC Announces New Jay And Walnut Hill Office Hours For 2026
January 1, 2026
Escambia River Electric Cooperative will have new office hours in the new year.
EREC offices in Jay and Walnut Hill will now be open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., giving members an extra half hour in the mornings and afternoons for added convenience. In order to accommodate the longer hours, both of the utility’s offices will be closed every other Friday. Office hours on open Fridays will be 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The EREC Operations department will be operating five days a week and we will continue to provide 24/7 outage monitoring and response, with crews always prepared to restore power quickly and safely whenever disruptions occur.
Listed below are the Fridays when EREC offices will be closed in 2026. These dates are also listed in the EREC wall calendar available for pickup at either EREC location.
- January 9 & 23
- February 6 & 20
- March 6 & 20
- April 3 (holiday) & 17
- May 1, 15, & 29
- June 12 & 26
- July 3 (observing holiday), 10, & 24
- August 7 & 21
- September 4 & 18
- October 2, 16, & 30
- November 13 & 27 (holiday)
- December 11 & 25 (holiday)
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Honor Teachers Of The Year
January 1, 2026
Escambia County Public Schools is honoring the Teacher of the Year.
Editor’s note: We are in the midst of featuring the Teachers of the Year from each of the North Escambia area schools and will continue through the weekend.
In the coming weeks, one of them will named the Escambia County overall Teacher of the Year from a list of five finalists. Those finalists are highlighted in bold below.
- Jim Allen Elementary – Michelle (Shelly) Helton
- Bellview Elementary – Teswanna Johnson
- Beulah Elementary – Shelly Mitchell
- Blue Angels Elementary – Trinity Barnett
- Bratt Elementary – Angela Stuart
- Brentwood Elementary – Sarah Long
- Hellen Caro Elementary – Lori Walsh
- N. B. Cook Elementary – Megan Habayeb
- Cordova Park Elementary – Brittany Foster
- Ensley Elementary – Susannah Wright
- Ferry Pass Elementary – Nikki Cole
- Global Learning Academy – Whitney Osborne
- Holm Elementary – Etter Wright
- Kingsfield Elementary School – Melissa Venable
- Lincoln Park Elementary – Ashley Phillips
- Lipscomb Elementary – Courtney Geiger
- Longleaf Elementary – Gena Keszthelyi
- McArthur Elementary – Laura Sellers
- Molino Park Elementary – Chad Hetherington
- Montclair Elementary – Felicia Hudson
- Myrtle Grove Elementary – Brigit McAroy
- Navy Point Elementary – Jana Arnett
- Oakcrest Elementary – John Herber
- Pine Meadow Elementary – Tara Garic
- Pleasant Grove Elementary – Carol Larsen
- Scenic Heights Elementary – Amanda Pinckard
- O.J. Semmes Elementary – Jessica Zent
- Sherwood Elementary – Bridget Wakeman
- A. K. Suter Elementary – Juliana Barrett
- Warrington Elementary – Christina Myers
- C. A. Weis Elementary – Julia Hodo
- West Pensacola Elementary – Debra Jewell
- Bailey Middle School – Cameron Peters
- Bellview Middle – Clareta Broadnax
- Beulah Middle – Kenneth Atkinson
- Brown Barge Middle – John Blackwelder
- Ernest Ward Middle – Megan Bryan
- Ferry Pass Middle – Velvet Kalber
- Ransom Middle – Holly Kendrick
- Workman Middle – Quintarries Upshaw
- Escambia High School – Kristy Davis
- Northview High School – Brandon Korinchak
- Pensacola High School – Lora Fairhurst
- Pine Forest High School – David Dawson
- Tate High School – Richard Coleman
- Washington High School – Kathryn Cody
- West Florida High School – Tyler Mertz
- Alternative Education – Adam Stumpf
- Beulah Academy of Science – Molly Villanueva
- Achieve Academy – Brenda Baldwin
- Success Academy – Gregory Steen
- Escambia Virtual Academy – Tristan Harris
- Escambia Westgate – Kimberly Ripley
- ESE – Joyce “Kelton” Boykin
- Hope Horizon – Tara Hagan
- George Stone Technical College – Maria Moultrie
- Pensacola Beach Charter – Kimberley Talbert
Escambia Postal Worker Arrested For Trying To Run Down A Child, FHP Says
January 1, 2026
The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a postal worker on Wednesday for allegedly trying to run down a child with his USPS vehicle.
William White Jr, 41, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petit theft, and criminal mischief.
According to FHP investigators, the incident was sparked by a simple delivery error. White had reportedly dropped off a package at the wrong address on Kingfisher Way. The child, whose family lives at the residence, noticed the package was intended for a different neighbor.
In an effort to help, the child placed the package on his electric scooter and began riding toward the correct address. Troopers say that when White saw the child with the mail, he incorrectly assumed the 10-year-old was stealing the package.
Witnesses and investigators state that White then purposely steered the USPS vehicle toward the child. The boy managed to jump into a nearby yard just moments before the mail truck ran over his scooter.
The confrontation didn’t end there. After yelling at the child, White allegedly retrieved the mangled scooter from beneath his truck and placed it inside the USPS vehicle. When a family member of the child ran outside to confront the carrier, White fled the scene. He later threw the scooter into a yard on Blue Jay Way before continuing his route.