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.
Photos: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds Perform Super Delta Over Pensacola Beach
April 14, 2026
The hometown United States Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed a rare super delta formation over Pensacola Beach on Tuesday.
With NAS Pensacola closed to the public to see practices, the flyover provided a special view for beachgoers.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Alleged Battery Of Escambia County Jail Inmate Leads To Arrest Of Two Corrections Officers
April 14, 2026
Two Escambia County corrections officers have been arrested following an investigation into the battery of an inmate that occurred at the Escambia County Jail.
Sharif Dawud Hale, age 42 of Cantonment was arrested on charges of felony battery with great bodily harm and tampering with physical evidence. Larry Ken Martin, age 32 of Flomaton, was charged with providing false information to law enforcement regarding a felony.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation after an inmate was found on March 15, 2026, with a severe hand laceration requiring surgery and a rod insertion, a cracked rear molar, and head injuries. According to the reports, investigators determined the injuries occurred during an overnight shift between 03:53 a.m. and 03:55 a.m. after two officers entered the inmate’s cell for an unsanctioned encounter.
According to internal records and witness statements detailed in the reports, the officers failed to notify supervisors before entering the cell, which is required protocol during “lights out” hours. One witness told investigators she heard an officer state he “had to teach [the inmate] a lesson” because the inmate was “talking smack”.
Investigators said the inmate alleged that Hale “stomped” on him while he was on his bunk and intentionally twisted his finger. According to the reports, investigators observed security footage showing the Hale and Martin re-entering the cell approximately 10 minutes later. Investigators stated it appeared this second entry was an attempt to remove physical evidence, specifically beads that had broken off a bracelet during the struggle and a fragment of the inmate’s tooth.
While investigators noted that Martin appeared to attempt to calm Hale down after the initial encounter, the reports state he maintained a false account of the events during multiple interviews. According to the reports, Martin claimed the inmate was already bleeding and suggested the injuries were self-inflicted by “hitting the walls” or using a metal table, a theory investigators said was inconsistent with medical evidence and intake records.
Both men were booked into the Escambia County Jail and each released within minutes on bond — $50,000 for Hale, and Martin on a $5,000 bond.
According to the arrest reports, medical staff at the Escambia County Jail concluded that the victim needed further care and he was ultimately transported to Baptist Hospital. Hospital records indicated that he was admitted and required surgery for his injuries, which included the surgical implantation of a rod and pins in his hand, the reports state.
According to jail records, the inmate victim, a 35-year-old Pensacola man, remains in jail without bond on an unrelated charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a probation violation.
Mugshot for Hale and Martin were not released.Under Florida’s public records laws, the identities and photographs of correctional officers are often protected from disclosure.
Pictured: A cell in the Escambia County Jail. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
‘Agriculture Security Is National Security’ — Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Meets With Local Farmers
April 14, 2026
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins met with farmers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties on Monday in Jay.
“Having grown up on a family farm, touring Diamond Farm in Santa Rosa County today and spending time with those on the front lines of Florida agriculture was personal for me,” Collins said. “We had critical conversations about the current state of the ag industry, the challenges producers are facing, and the opportunities ahead.”
Collins visited several farms in the Jay area to discuss the challenges that farmers are facing from the economy and climate.
“Supporting our farmers isn’t optional; it’s essential to keeping Florida and America strong,” Collins said. “Agriculture security is national security.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Easter ‘Fields Of Faith’ Is Wednesday Evening At Northview
April 14, 2026
Community members are invited to gather for an evening of worship and celebration as “Fields of Faith” comes to the Northview High School’ Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium stadium on Wednesday.
The event, hosted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), will run from 6 to 8 pm and features a special message from Walnut Hill Baptist Church Pastor Ted Bridges. Attendees will also enjoy live music performed by a band from Walnut Hill Baptist.
Organizers are encouraging children to bring their Easter baskets to join in festivities following the service. The event is free and open to all members of the public.
Pictured: The 2025 Fields of Faith at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
