EREC Plans Power Outage For Wallace Substation In North Santa Rosa Beginning Tonight
January 17, 2025
Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) has announced a scheduled power outage for late Friday night into early Saturday morning, impacting customers in parts of northern Santa Rosa County.
The outage is set to begin at 10 p.m. Friday and is expected to last approximately four hours, with a projected end time of 2 a.m. on Saturday. It will impact cooperative customers served by the Wallace substation (depicted on the map in blue, click to enlarge.). This includes customers along and near portions of Willard Norris Road, Chumuckla Highway, Tidwell Road, and Quintette Road.
“We will be reconnecting service from the portable substation to the new Wallace substation. The same members that were affected during our first planned outage in August will be affected during this outage. We apologize for the inconvenience,” EREC said.
Editior’s note: End time updated to 2 a.m.
Graphic for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay High Student Charged With Weapon, Drug Possession After Weapon Found In Vehicle
January 17, 2025
A Jay High School students was arrested after a weapon and drugs were found in a vehicle.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said the student, who has not been identified, was charged with possession of a weapon and drugs.
The Santa Rosa County School District said a weapon and other items were found during the search of a student vehicle, and the items were seized.
“At no time were students or staff in any danger. Our staff is following all protocols, adhering to the code of student conduct, and following Florida State Statutes to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone. At this time, further action will be addressed by Santa Rosa County Sherriff’s Office,” the district said in a statement.
Cantonment 10,000 Pound Food Distribution Rescheduled
January 17, 2025
THIS DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 28. — Times and location will be the same.
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will host a 10,000 pound food distribution on Tuesday, January 28 at Carver Park, 208 Webb Street.
The event will start at 3 p.m. Attendees should like up facing north on Webb Street. Must have an identification to receive food.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Lady Aggies Down Northview 56-37 (With Gallery)
January 17, 2025
The Tate Aggies defeated the Northview Chiefs 56-37 Thursday night in Bratt.
Sam Williams led the Lady Aggies will 12 points, while Kaylie Mitchell added 11 and Amerie McGee had 10. Sarah Mitchell, Grace Best and Taylor Malone added six points each. Kahari Davis had three, and Brelynn Morris had two.
Stats for Northview were not entered Thursday night.
The Northview Lady Chiefs will travel to Laurel Hill Friday night at 6:00, and the Lady Aggies are next scheduled to be in action January 23 at Santa Rosa Christian.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Missing Endangered Runaway Teen Located
January 16, 2025
UPDATE: Alyssa Harper has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing and endangered runaway teen last seen Wednesday in Cottage Hill.
Alyssa Rosemary Harper, 14, was last seen in the 700 block of Eden Lane.
She was wearing a black hoodie, a grey shirt, grey sweatpants, and white Converse-style shoes. She is 110 pounds, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and has strawberry blonde hair.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
DeSantis Picks AG Ashley Moody For Rubio Senate Seat
January 16, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday morning that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. She will the second woman to represent Florida in the Senate chamber.
Rubio, a three-term senator was President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be his secretary of state. He is awaiting confirmation as soon as next week.
“I pledge to you as United States Senator, supporting the REINS Act, supporting any effort to rein back in our out-of-control federal agencies. Make sure politics have pushed out of it,” Moody said. “Make sure we bring down spending. I am all for that, and I got the backs of the American people, DOGE and President Trump.”
Florida’ top law enforcement office, Moody ran on a campaign promise to be a prosecutor, not a politician. She previously worked as a federal prosecutor and was elected as a circuit judge in Tampa’s Hillsborough County.
Moody will serve in the U.S. Senate until the next general election in 2026, when she will need to run in order to keep the seat.
In Orlando Thursday morning for the announcement, DeSantis said Moody has a record of getting things done.
“This is a once in a decade, maybe even once in a generation, opportunity,” DeSantis said. “This current Congress is ultimately going to determine whether we do usher in that revival of the American experiment, or is it just going to be status quo, passing the buck and nothing ever changes.”
Pictured: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday morning in Orlando that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Highway 29 Crash Claims Brewton Man, Injures Woman
January 16, 2025
An 83-year-old Brewton man was pronounced deceased at the scene of a single vehicle rollover crash just before daybreak Thursday on Highway 29 in McDavid.
The crash happened about 6 a.m. on Highway 29 about a mile north of Champion Drive and the West Fraser Sawmill.
The Florida Highway patrol said the man was the driver of a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck that was traveling south. He ran off the roadway, crossed over the median and northbound lanes before running up a small embankment and colliding with a tree. The pickup overturned, coming to rest on its passenger side in a ditch. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene.
His passenger, a 62-year-old Brewton woman, was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital in critical condition. Neither individual was wearing a seat belt, according to troopers.
The crash closed northbound Highway 29 for about an hour.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
It’s Turning Really Cold Next Week. But Will There Be Snow Or Ice?
January 16, 2025
Could we have snow or winter weather in North Escambia next week? Some models say yes, others say no. But the forecast does say it will be bitterly cold.
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, which creates the “official” weather forecast for North Escambia, we are still too far out in time to discuss for-sure specifics. But, we will have to carefully monitor the potential for winter weather for next Tuesday into Wednesday.
Keep in mind: This story, and the forecasts we publish on NorthEscambia.com are for the North Escambia area. And generally, the closer north you go toward the Alabama state line, the colder it is. And the closer you get the the beach, the warmer it is.
This is what we know for certain:
- It will turn very cold Sunday through the middle of next week as an arctic air mass builds into the area. High may not rise out of the 30s with lows in the 20s.
- We will need to keep an eye on the potential for winter weather early next week.
This is what is uncertain:
- The extent of the winter weather threat. There are two scenarios (pictured above) that we will be watching:
- *Scenario #1* Low pressure develops over the central Gulf and tracks east. Precipitation develops well to the north of the low, resulting in a wintry mix across that could bring impacts to the entire area.
- *Scenario #2* Low pressure doesn’t develop or develops across the far southern Gulf. This would keep conditions dry, but temperatures would still be bitterly cold.
“We know that’s a broad range of solutions, but that is the winter weather reality in the deep south this far out in time,” NWS said. “In the days ahead, we will gain confidence on one of these scenarios. Both are very much in play at this point.”
What should you do now?
- Monitor the forecast closely over the next several days from a trusted source of information. Be cautious of anybody sharing accumulation graphics this far out in time. As soon we can share more specifics, we will.
- Be prepared for very cold weather because it will happen in either scenario. Protect people, plants, pets, and pipes.
For the detailed forecast, click here.
Applications Accepted Until Noon Friday For Century Town Council Seat Appointment
January 16, 2025
Noon Friday is the deadline for interested Century residents to apply for appointment to a vacant seat on the town council.
Last week, Luis Gomez, Jr. resigned as mayor for medical reasons effective Friday, January 10, just as his new four-year term was beginning. After volunteering for the position, Seat 4 town council member Alicia John was appointed interim mayor. She will serve until a special election is held. and she has indicated that she will run for the seat.
Johnson’s interim move into the mayor’s office opened her seat on the town council. The town is accepting applications from citizens looking for an interim appointment to the town council to serve until a special election is held. Applications are due to noon, Friday, January 17.
The town announced Friday, January 10, that applications should be hand submitted or mailed to the Town Clerk’s Office, 7995 North Century Boulevard, Century, FL 32535 or hand-delivered between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to the same address. Applications can also be emailed to mwalker@centuryflorida.us.
Click here to download the application.
The town council is expected to review the applications and make a decision on an interim member on January 21.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Today Is Deadline To Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot For Congressional Special Primary
January 16, 2025
Today is the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the 2025 Special Primary Election to fill a congressional seat vacated by Matt Gaetz.
Voters wishing to request a vote-by-mail ballot can do so by visiting https://escambiavotes.gov/vote-by-mail, or by calling (850) 595-3900. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Thursday, January 16, at 5:00 p.m. CST. Voters can also track a vote-by-mail ballot by signing up for notifications at https://escambiavotes.gov/track-my-ballot. Voters will be able to see when a ballot was received and accepted for tabulation.
The 2025 Special Primary Election is for Republican voters only. The State of Florida holds closed primary elections, meaning only registered Republicans will be eligible for the 2025 Special Primary Election There is only one Democratic candidate, so there is no Democratic primary.
Early voting will open Saturday, January 18 and continue through Saturday, January 25 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.