FDLE: Suspected Escambia County Fentanyl Trafficker Arrested Friday
April 19, 2025
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested suspected fentanyl trafficker on Friday in Escambia County.
Christopher Alonse Cobb, Jr., 20, was charged with five counts of trafficking fentanyl.
The arrest is the result of a joint investigation by FDLE and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Task Force, and with funding from Florida’s State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) grant.
The investigation began in October 2024 after agents identified Cobb as a fentanyl distributer within a drug trafficking organization. Between October 2024 and April 2025, FDLE and HIDTA task force members reportedly witnessed Cobb selling fentanyl during five controlled drug purchases. Investigators said Cobb sold nearly a quarter of a pound of fentanyl during the controlled purchases operations.
An arrest warrant for Cobb was issued on April 14, and FDLE arrested him on April 16. FDLE and task force agents conducted two search warrants and seized a stolen 9mm Glock 23 pistol, a 50-round pistol drum, ammunition and multiple cellphones.
Cobb was booked into the Escambia County Jail and is being held without bond pending first appearance
FDLE Pensacola and the DEA HIDTA Drug Task Force are investigating the case. The Florida Highway Patrol assisted in the arrest
Homer Heroics Not Enough As Wahoos Suffer Wild Walk-Off
April 19, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Nathan Martorella broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, but the Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t hold the lead in a 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Columbus Clingstones on Friday night.
Martorella’s homer, the first in the history of Synovus Park, marked the only offense of the night for the Blue Wahoos (9-4), who went 0-for-10 with men in scoring position. The Clingstones (6-6) were little better, only getting one at-bat with men in scoring position the entire game, but took advantage of several late Pensacola miscues to tie the game in the ninth and win it in the 10th.
The game’s two starting pitchers, Pensacola’s Adam Laskey and Columbus’ Ian Mejia, traded zeroes in the early innings. Laskey worked 4.1 quiet frames, giving him an active scoreless streak of 10.1 innings dating back to his first appearance of the year. Mejia was just as good, completing 6.0 innings with only a pair of infield singles and a bloop double allowed.
Martorella’s homer in the ninth against Rolddy Muñoz gave the Blue Wahoos the long-awaited first run of the game, but the Clingstones tied it up just as quickly in the bottom of the inning. Lane Ramsey, on for his third inning of relief, got some help from his catcher as Joe Mack threw out Cody Milligan trying to take second on a pitch in the dirt. Mack’s third throw-out of the night wiped away the potential tying baserunner, but Adam Zebrowski reached second on a pair of errors from shortstop Jared Serna and scored on two Ramsey wild pitches to tie the game.
After the Blue Wahoos were unable to bring their automatic baserunner home from second in the top of the 10th against Hayden Harris (W, 1-0), the Clingstones wasted no time walking it off against Justin King (L, 0-1). Mack committed an ill-timed passed ball to advance Ethan Workinger from second to third, and a King wild pitch moments later allowed Workinger to score the winning run.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Saturday night. First pitch from Synovus Park is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. ET/5:05 p.m. CT.
Escambia Man Indicted On Attempted Murder Of DEA Agent, Federal Drug And Firearms Charges
April 19, 2025
An Escambia County man faces a potential life sentence after a federal grand jury indicted him this week on a litany of serious charges, including drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, and the attempted murder of a federal agent.
Austin James McCastler II, 35, was charged in the indictment announced Friday by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. The charges stem from alleged drug distribution activities and a violent confrontation during an investigation.
According to the indictment, McCastler faces two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government’s authority to take property during an authorized search and seizure, attempted murder and assault of a DEA agend, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
As law enforcement officers entered the house on a search warrant, they heard what wast “described as a muffled gunshot”, according to county documents. McCastler stated ‘I am locked and loaded! Get out of my house,’ or words to that effect,” a federal affidavit states.
“During the execution of the warrant, McCastler II fired shots at a DEA Special Agent,” court documents state. “McCastler II also barricaded himself inside the residence for a short time before fleeing out the front door on foot. McCastler II was then able to get into a vehicle parked near the front porch, and he fled the scene.” He was captured after his vehicle was disabled and a short foot pursuit.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton are prosecuting the case.
Historic Ernest Ward Middle School FFA, Agriculture Education Programs Are Here To Stay
April 18, 2025
The historic agriculture and FFA programs at Ernest Ward Middle School are not going away.
Rumors and social media posts were spread Thursday that the program is being terminated. But that’s simply not the case, according to Principal Tyvanna Boulanger.
“FFA and ag are, and always have been, a big part of what Ernest Ward has been and will continue be a part of Ernest Ward,” Boulanger said. “They are here to stay.”
The Ernest Ward FFA program has received several state honors.
Agriculture education has a long history at Ernest Ward, believed to date back to the construction of a one-room log school in the 1880s to two-room building that opened in 1909 and later to Ernest Ward School in 1921. The school later became Ernest Ward High School and then the building became Ernest Ward Middle School after the high school merged with Century High School to form Northview two decades ago.
The EWMS agriculture teaching job is currently posted and open only to current instructional employees of Escambia County Public Schools. Applications will open to persons that register for an upcoming ECPS Teacher Hiring Event on May 3 before being posted for open applications, Boulanger said.
Pictured: A 2024 appreciation breakfast held by the Ernest Ward Middle School FFA. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Good Friday Closures
April 18, 2025
The following government office will be closed today in observance of the Good Friday holiday.
Escambia County
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (all departments)
Escambia County Administration Offices
Escambia County Area Transit Administration
Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare
Escambia County Extension Office
Escambia County Waste Services Administration
West Florida Public Libraries (all locations)
Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
Escambia County Property Appraiser
Escambia County Tax Collector
Escambia County Notes:
The Perdido Landfill will be open with regular hours Friday, April 18.
The Animal Welfare and Adoption Center will reopen Saturday, April 19.
West Florida Public Libraries will also be closed Saturday, April 19. Regular hours will resume Monday, April 21.
ECAT Bus Schedule:
ECAT will run regular bus service Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19.
ECAT Administration will resume normal operations Monday, April 21.
ECUA
The ECUA customer service department will be closed on Good Friday. All other ECUA offices will be open with no change in sanitation schedules.
Town of Century
Town of Century offices will be closed in observance of Good Friday
Great Good Friday Weather: Sunny, High In The 80s
April 18, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Patchy dense fog after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Special Services, Egg Hunts And Many Other Area Easter Events Planned
April 18, 2025
Here are Easter weekend events schedules in the North Escambia area:
Holy Week at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church
St. Monica’s Episcopal holy week services include Good Friday Noon Liturgy, as well as Station of the Cross at 6p.m. on Friday, April 18. Holy Saturday Liturgy will be held at 10 a.m. with Great Vigil of Easter at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. Easter sunrise services will be held at 6:15 a.m. on Easter Sunday, followed by Easter Sunday family service with Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited. There will be a children’s Easter egg hunt following the service. The church is located at 699 S. Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Good Friday Service at Highland Baptist Church
Highland Baptist Church will hold Good Friday services on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. with scripture, song and the Lord’s Supper. The church is located at 6240 N. Highway 95A in Molino.
Springtime Family Event at Run-a-muck Ranch
Run-a-muck Ranch will hold a springtime family event on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at their ranch on Rigby Road (just follow the signs). There will be various animals for guest to pet and greet as well as family games inlcuding RanchBall, Corn Hole, table gams and more. Concessions will be availabe at the concession cabin. The event is weather dependent with a back-up date planned for April 26 if necessary. Everyone is welcome!
Community Easter Egg Hunt at Gonzalez Baptist Church
Gonzalez Baptist Church will hold a community Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, April 19, starting at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome. The church is located at 1590 Pauline Street in Cantonment.
Enon Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt
Enon Baptist Church at 7121 Highway 97A, Walnut Hill, will host an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m. Hotdog lunch and candy gift bags.
Beulah Dash
Beulah Dash will be held Saturday, April 19 at the Escambia County Equestrian Center. The color run will be at 8:30 a.m., followed by an egg hunt at 11 a.m.
Easter Service at Oak Grove Baptist Church
Oak Grove Baptist Church will hold Easter services on Sunday, April 20, at 11 a.m. The church is located at 2600 N. Hwy 99 in Oak Grove.
Easter Service at Lathram Chapel United Methodist Church
Lathram Chapel United Methodist Church on 2690 Jack’s Branch Road, will have a 10:30 a.m. service, dinner on the grounds and and Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday.
Easter Service at Highland Baptist Church
Highland Baptist Church will hold Easter services on April 20 at 10:45 a.m. The church is located at 6240 N. Highway 95A in Molino.
Easter Service at Dogwood Park Baptist Church
Dogwood Park Baptist Church will hold an Easter service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with an Easter egg hunt for kids following the service. The church is located at 3301 Hwy 97 in Molino.
Community Sunrise Service at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church
St. Monica’s Episcopal church will hold a Community Sunrise service at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, April 20. Everyone is invited. Dress may be casual and appropriate for the weather. The church is located at 699 S. Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Easter Service at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church
St. Monica’s Episcopal church will hold Easter services on Sunday, April 20 beginning at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited. There will be a children’s Easter egg hunt following the service. The church is located at 699 S. Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Easter Services at Jubilee Church
Jubilee Church will hold Easter services on Sunday, April 20, at 8:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome. The church is located at 5910 North W Street in Pensacola.
Easter Services at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Molino
Easter services will be held on the Molino campus of Marcus Pointe Baptist Church at Molino Park Elementary School, 899 Highway 97.
Easter Services at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Beulah
Easter services at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Beulah will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 20 on the campus of Beulah Middle School, 6001 West Nine Mile Road.
Resurrection Sunday Services at Cross Faith Church
Resurrection Sunday services at Cross Faith Church on Highway 29 will be at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday, April 20.
New Beulah Wawa Opens; Deputies Top Firefighters In Hoagie Matchup
April 18, 2025
Beulah’s new WaWa store opened Thursday morning with a ribbon cutting and festivities including a hoagie competition in which local deputies defeated local firefighters.
The new store is located at 5888 West Nine Mile Road, at the corner of Beulah Road.
Wawa’s signature Hoagies for Heroes competition pitted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office against Escambia County Fire Rescue. Both received a $1,000 donation, but the title went to the deputies.
The Beulah location will be Wawa’s second location in Escambia County. The first opened on Boesch Lane, located at Ransley Station on Pine Forest Road just north of I-10.
Three more Wawa stores are currently planned for Escambia County:
- 6650 Pensacola Boulevard near W Street.
- 8503 North Davis Highway, near Johnson Avenue and HCA West Florida Hospital.
- 9262 West Highway 98 at Blue Angel Parkway.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Gets Senior Night Shutout Over Baker; Tate Slips To Pace
April 18, 2025
Northview 12, Baker 0
The Northview Lady Chiefs celebrated Senior Night 12-0 shutout of the Baker Gators Thursday night in Bratt.
Before the game, the Chiefs honored Jamison Gilman, their only senior, and threw a ceremonial first pitch to her dad James Gilman.
Gilman went on to pitch a complete run-rule win, allowing just one hit and no runs while walking one and striking out eight.
Gilman and Avery Stuckey each had three hits for the Lady Chiefs, including a solo home run to left field for Stuckey in the fourth inning as she went 3-3. Kylee Langham and Daviona Randolph both had two RBIs, and Addysen Bolen had two hits for NHS.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview will host the Tate Aggies next Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the final game of the season for the Chiefs.
Pace 3, Tate 0
The Pace Patriots slipped past the Tate Lady Aggies 3-0 Thursday night in Cantonment.
Back-to-back in the lineup, Kara Wine and Kaylie Mitchell each had one hit for the Aggies.
In the circle Jordan Smith went seven innings for Tate, surrendering three runs (one earned) on nine hits while walking one and striking out one.
Tate will host Milton at 6 p.m. Friday before traveling to Bratt next Tuesday to face the Northview Chiefs at 6 p.m. The Aggies will then host Escambia on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in their final regular season game.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Highway 29, Highway 196 Crash
April 18, 2025
Two people were reportedly injured in a crash Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 196.
The injuries were not considered life threatening in the wreck, which occurred about 2:40 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.