Today Is Voter Registration Deadline For Century Special Primary Election
February 17, 2025
Today is the final day for Town of Century residents to register to vote in the March 18 special primary election for a vacant Seat 4 on the Century Town Council.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office is closed today for the federal Presidents’ Day holiday; however, residents within the town limits of Century can still register to vote today.
According to Deputy Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Sonya Daniel:
- Voter registrations can be hand-delivered today by placing them in a drop box on the front door of the SOE office at 213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor, in downtown Pensacola.
- Registrations can also be submitted online.
Seat 4 became vacant in early January when Alicia Johnson was appointed interim mayor after Luis Gomez, Jr., resigned for health reasons. The candidates for the position are:
- John Bass
- Kathryn Fleming
- Lizbeth “Sparkie” Harrison
Polls will be open on March 18 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard in Century. The election is nonpartisan.
If you wish to receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the Town of Century primary and/or general election, you must contact the Supervisor of Elections office by phone at (850) 595-3900, by email at votebymail@escambiavotes.gov, by fax at (850) 595-3914, or by using the online form at EscambiaVotes.gov/vote-by-mail. Requests must be received by 5 p.m. on March 6.
Highway 4 Escambia River Bridge: Lane Closures Possible Monday And Tuesday
February 17, 2025
Drivers may experience delays on the Highway 4 Escambia River Bridge between Century and Jay on Monday and Tuesday.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, intermittent lane closures in both directions will occur from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days as crews conduct routine bridge maintenance.
Pictured: The eastbound approach from Century to the Highway 4 Escambia River Bridge. NorthEscambia.com file photo. Click to enlarge.
Patchy Frost, Middle 30s Tonight
February 17, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy frost after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 35. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Areas of frost before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Showers, mainly after midnight. Low around 45. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Wednesday: Showers before noon. High near 55. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 44. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 23. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Guests Announced For Pensacon 2026
February 17, 2025
Pensacon will return for its 13th annual convention, February 20-22, 2026 in downtown Pensacola. Eight initial guests were announced during a press conference at the Pensacola Bay Center Sunday. They are:
- Comedian and actor Paul Reiser, star of hit movies like “Aliens” (which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026) and “Beverly Hills Cop,” as well as iconic TV series such as “Mad About You,” “Stranger Things,” “The Boys” and “My Two Dads.”
- A reunion of stars from the seminal 1987 vampire film, “The Lost Boys,” featuring actors Jason Patric, Jamison Newlander, Billy Wirth and Chance Michael Corbitt.
- The iconic stars of the hit TV series “CHiPs,” Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox.
- Actor Marti Matulis, known for his “Star Wars” work in “Skeleton Crew” and “The Mandalorian” as well as roles in “Star Trek: Picard,” “Star Trek: Enterprise,” “Teen Wolf,” “Evil,” “Smile,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Red One,” “Westworld” and “Studio 666.”
For NorthEscambia.com photos from Pensacon 2025, which wrapped up Sunday, click here.
Charges Dropped Against Atmore Pastor In Prison Drug Smuggling Case
February 17, 2025
Charges have been dropped against an Atmore astor and prison drug counselor accused of trafficking synthetic drugs and bringing them to Fountain Correctional Facility.
The state alleged that Vincent Bishop was found with a “prison pack” containing drugs and cellphones taped under the rear bumper of his truck. However, Bishop’s attorney, Jerome Carter, argued that his client was set up.
Bishop, an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) employee, was charged in December with trafficking flakka, first-degree possession of marijuana, attempting to commit a controlled substance crime, prohibited activities (cell phones in a correctional facility), possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree attempt to promote prison contraband. Flakka, according to the DEA, is a street drug commonly called bath salts.
“The lack of common sense that he would do all this fancy packaging and securing and put it in a hidden spot in the bumper of the car, he’s got to get out under surveillance, get it and then or leave it there for someone to come and get it from him that’s under video surveillance. It just doesn’t make common sense,” Carter told NBC 15.
The state declined to present its case at the preliminary hearing, leading the judge to drop the charges. However, the district attorney could still bring the case before a grand jury to seek an indictment.
Florida Gas Prices Decline Average Of 14 Cents In The Past Week
February 17, 2025
Florida gas prices declined 14 cents last week, according to AAA. Sunday’s state average was $3.03 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price since December, and 2 cents less than the previous 2025 low.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was $2.89. A low of $2.71 was available on East Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. The low-price Sunday night in North Escambia was $2.79 at stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Oil prices are trading on the lower end of the range they’ve been in for the past few months,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This has enabled gas prices to also slip to the lower end of the range they’ve recently been priced at. However, Florida gas prices have been erratic and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see an uptick this week.”
Clear, Near Freezing Tonight
February 16, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 10 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light north in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Showers, mainly after midnight. Low around 46. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Fluoride In Drinking Water? ECUA Board Members Want Public Input
February 16, 2025
The debate on the addition of fluoride to drinking water is coming to the forefront once again, and at least two ECUA board members are looking for public input.
The ECUA board vote in 1998 to add fluoride to drinking water after 58% of Escambia County voters supported the addition in a referendum.
Now, ECUA District 5 board member Kevin Stevens wants to know what ECUA customers think about fluoride in the water as the board discusses the issue once again. He said Saturday that he’s spent a lot of time researching the issue and has heard from the pros and cons from both sides of the issue. He said he wants to know what the residents of the county, particularly District 5, think.
“I do agree that it is time,” Stephens said at the January ECUA board meeting about asking for public input. “It’s been 27 years ago since they had that input…I personally would like to see the public weigh in on this. Then, based on that, we make a determination.”
District 4 board member Dale Perkins, who was on the ECUA board when the fluoridation decision was made in 1998, said he agrees it would be good to have public input again. He suggested that those for, or against, try to get another referendum on an upcoming general election ballot.
“See what the general public think, and if there’s a strong desire to take it out, the look at that,” Perkins said, adding that he believes fluoride is beneficial based upon both personal experience and science.
“If the citizens of the county voted again in a referendum that they really want it out of the water, I’d really take that seriously. That would probably change my position on it,” Perkins added. “I would encourage and certainly not oppose a referendum.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been confirmed as President Donald Trump’s head of the Department of Health and Human Services, sparked debate after referencing a study that found an association between I.Q. levels and fluoridated drinking water.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has advised local governments to stop adding fluoride to water supplies across the state. He even called it “public health malpractice.” He said fluoride “increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disease in children and reduces their IQ.”
ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody said late last year that the while the EPA regulates the maximum level in drinking water, the agency does not require any minimum level.
“We depend strongly on recommendations that comes from the scientific community, the EPA, CDC and other bodies,” Woody said at a recent ECUA board meeting. ” So we will be very curious and watching very closely as they provide further guidance as this gets studied.”
The American Dental Association and the CDC still recommend fluoride in public drinking water to prevent tooth decay.
“Studies continue to show that widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system,” the CDC said. “Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.”
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Cantonment Man Arrested for Alleged Felony Contractor Fraud
February 16, 2025
A Cantonment man has been arrested for allegedly committing fraud by taking payment for a construction service he never provided.
According to an arrest report, 41-year-old Jason Weiss entered into an agreement on June 13, 2023, to install sod at a residence in Escambia County. The homeowner wrote Weiss a check for $2,872, but after several months, the sod was never installed, and the money was not refunded, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim made multiple attempts to contact Weiss, who allegedly provided excuses but failed to deliver the service. On March 30, 2024, the victim sent a certified letter demanding a refund, but no response was received. The letter’s receipt and a copy of the demand were submitted as evidence.
Law enforcement reviewed the case and issued a warrant for Weiss’s arrest. The suspect did not respond to phone calls from investigator, the report states.
Weiss was charged with a third degree felony and released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Beulah Ag, FFA Students Create 200 Valentine’s Arrangements For Nursing Home Residents
February 16, 2025
The agricultural students and FFA members at Beulah Middle School made Valentine’s Day a little happier for residents of two different nursing homes.
They created 200 floral arrangements to share with the nursing home residents Not only did they learn to share love, but they also learned about the floriculture industry, according to organizers.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
