Northview Beats Jay To Win First Ever Regional Title, Advance To State (With Gallery)
May 14, 2025
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat Jay 4-1 to win the Rural FHSAA Softball regional championship 4-1 over Jay. It is the first-ever softball regional title in the history of the school.
“These girls worked very hard this year, and the coaches worked very hard,” Northview Head Coach Amy Holland said. “I’m just telling you they deserve it. They came out fighting…They came out of top, a very young team, but we’ve got a lot to look forward to down south. I’m ready.” The Chiefs have just one senior of this year’s roster, pitcher Jamison Gilman.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview took the lead in the top of the third inning when Daviona Randolph doubled to score one run, and Avery Stuckey singled to score two runs.
Sophomore Mikayla McAnally earned the regional win for the Lady Chiefs. In a complete seven innings, she gave up three hits and one run while striking out nine and walking just one. Layna Lowry took the loss for Jay, surrendering four runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out three.
Stuckey led Northview at the plate with two RBIs as she went 1-2. Gilman, McAnally, Randolph, Stuckey, Riley Brooks, Addysen Bolen, Bailey Burkette, and Kylee Langham each had one hit for the Chiefs.
“Tonight, they’re playing on the fence,” John McAnally, Northview hitting coach, said. I tried to stretch a couple that came off the fence, and we lost a couple of runs at the plate on close plays.”
For Jay, Morgan Barrow went 1-for-3 at the plate with one RBI. Kiley Samford and Mylee Frazier each added a hit for the Lady Royals.
Northview (21-6) advances to face a yet to be determined opponent in the state semifinals at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, May 20 at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, on the northeast side of the Orlando metro. The winner will advance to the state championship game at 1:30 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, May 21.
Jay’s season ended at 21-4.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“This has been a long time coming,” Holland said. We’ve been here so many times, so many times. It feels great.”
“It doesn’t feel real. I don’t think it’s click that we are to state yet,” Gilman said. “We worked really, really hard, really hard for this.”
As they prepare for the final four, Gilman and McAnally are both quick to give credit to God for their chance to go to state.
“On the bus, we all pray together, and one of teammates goes around to every single person, and we pray in groups. Then we pray individually,” McAnally said after the game. “We just know we have to give all the glory to God…and we’ve just to know that we do it all for Him.”
“He gives us peace,” Gilman added. “We are never nervous; He always helps us go in with a clear mind ready for the game.”
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Fleeing From Park With Gun, Drugs
May 14, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office charged a Cantonment man with possession of drugs and a firearm at the Escambia County Skate Park on Chimes Way.
Vontarius Lavont Gulley, 19, was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, being in possession of a handgun on his person at age 19, possession of synthetic cannabinoids, and obstruction of justice resisting officer without violence.
Deputies responded to a reported robbery at the park on May 3 where an alleged victim told deputies that he had been robbed by a man that ran towards Chaser’s Lounge on W Street. That’s where deputies spotted a man matching the description of the alleged robber. The man, later identified as Gulley, immediately ran from deputies.
A deputy gave chase on foot, reporting that Gulley held up a handgun with an extended magazine in his right hand before throwing the firearm under a parked vehicle. He was taken into custody.
Deputies returned to the park, but the supposed victim had left the scene and could not be located. According to an arrest report, a 9mm handgun was located under a vehicle in the lounge parking lot, where the deputy reported seeing a fleeing Gulley throw it.
Deputies located 273 grams of synthetic cannabinoids in Gulley’s bag, the report states.
Gulley told deputies that he was in the park when he observed a male holding the bag, and the male reached into the bag as if he had a gun. He stated he believed the man was going to harm him. He stated the male dropped the bag, which he picked up before running out of fear of being harmed. He denied knowing about the narcotics in the bag.
Gulley was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $12,500 bond.
Ernest Ward Middle School Names Students Of The Month
May 14, 2025
Ernest Ward Middle School recently named their employee and student of the month for April. Pictured with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger (right) are math/inclusion teacher MaryBeth Geary; Jesse McElhaney, eight grade; Wyatt Jones, seventh grade; Colton Hopper, sixth grade. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Tax Collector Bringing Mobile Services to Century Thursday, Walnut Hill In June
May 14, 2025
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Century on Thursday, and upcoming dates and locations have been announced through July.
MILO, a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, will be at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse on Thursday,May 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
This initiative aims to bring services to areas of Escambia County that may have limited access to traditional tax collector offices, particularly during disaster recovery or for residents in assisted living facilities, community centers, and correctional facilities.
Future MILO Dates in Century:
- May 15, 2025: Billy G. Ward Courthouse
- July 17, 2025: Billy G. Ward Courthouse
Future MILO Dates in Walnut Hill:
- June 12, 2025: Walnut Hill Community Center, Walnut Hill, FL
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Drier, Warmer Weather Ahead For The Next Week
May 14, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Olmstead Delivers Walk-off Win As Wahoos End Losing Streak
May 14, 2025
by Bill Vilona
The Blue Wahoos didn’t have much to celebrate on the end of their road trip.
They got some relief Tuesday night back home.
With their offense still in a slumber, the Blue Wahoos got clutch pitching, then a game-winning, two-out single from Johnny Olmstead in the 11th inning for a 3-2 walk-off win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas to end a five-game losing streak.
Moments earlier, reliever Jesse Bergin became the biggest star for Pensacola, after loading the bases with a pair of hit batters, then striking out the next three batters with well-placed fastballs to end the threat and keep the score tied.
A crowd of 3,112 on a Doggone Tuesday at Blue Wahoos Stadium watched a game where the Blue Wahoos had chances to take a lead, but again could not produce a big hit. This was the issue in Biloxi last week when the team dropped the final five games of the series and scored just eight runs combined in those games.
But Tuesday was different from a pitching perspective.
The Blue Wahoos got an outstanding start from Jacob Miller, who worked five innings, allowed four hits, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts.
The four relievers behind him were also plus points.
Zach McCambley worked two scoreless innings, striking out four of the seven batters he faced. Jacob White had a tough break in the ninth when a wild pitch led to a tying run. Josh Eckness worked two innings, gave up a run but retired the final two batters.
The Blue Wahoos missed a chance in the 10th to win the game, but caught a break when Bergin pitched out of a jam, then Olmstead jumped on a first pitch fastball to win the game, scoring Jared Serna.
The teams will have a quick turnaround, playing at 11 a.m. Wednesday in an Education Day game with school children from the region attending.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Rocket City Trash Pandas vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Wednesday through Sunday.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
GAMETIMES: Wednesday’s game is a special 11 a.m. start for Education Day with area schools, but is also open to all fans who want to attend the only mid-day game of the season; Thursday Thru Saturday games start at 6:05 p.m. Sunday’s game starts at 1:05 p.m.– the final 1:05 start until mid-September.
Natural Gas Station Proposed Adjacent To Century Courthouse, Apartment Complex
May 13, 2025
A new natural gas gate station is proposed next to the courthouse and an apartment complex in Century.
A gate station is the point in a natural gas delivery system where gas is transferred from high-pressure transmission pipelines to a local distribution network.
The Escambia County Commission on Thursday is expected to convey a half acre piece of county-owned property along North Century Boulevard next to the Billy G. Ward Courthouse to the Town of Century. The property was escheated to the county in 2021.
The Town of Century was awarded federal funding from the PHMSA Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety Modernization Grant to construct a new gate station.
The town currently receives natural gas from BP through their original gate station built in the 1950’s. It is located several miles outside the town on Poplar Dell Road, just behind the Poplar Dell Baptist Church on Highway 168. The project will connect the town’s gas distribution system to the Peninsula Pipeline, enabling access to Florida Gas Utility’s (FGU) aggregated supply network. This connection is expected to result in cost savings, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced safety.
A few years ago, FGU proposed the installation of the new gate station during the Peninsula Pipeline’s construction phase, but the Town Council did not approve the project at that time. When the Town revisited the proposal,
construction had already been completed. As a result, they are now working with grant funding and have shifted focus to a new location for the gate station.
The gate station would be located adjacent to the courthouse and in front of the Century Park Apartments. There is no timetable for the start of construction.
Pictured top: Graphic showing the location of a proposed natural gas gate station in Century marked in red. Pictured below: The piece of property located next to the courthouse. Pictured bottom: Century’s current gate station on Popular Dell Road. NorthEscambia.com photos/graphic, click to enlarge.
Older ECSO Law Enforcement Memorial Relocated To Molino
May 13, 2025
An older Escambia County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement memorial has been moved to Molino.
The stucco memorial, dedicated to the fallen men and women of the ECSO, is located next the Sheriff’s Office Molino substation is open to the public.
It was relocated to Molino from the front of the ECSO main office on Leonard Street to make room for new memorial plaza.
The ECSO will hold their annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the new memorial site on the front lawn of the ECSO main office at 1700 West Leonard Street. The public is invited to attend.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Create Your Own Unique Bird Feeder For Free At The Century Library
May 13, 2025
Want to create your own unique bird feeder?
Stop by the Century Branch Library on Tuesday or Wednesday. They library will supply a wooden bird feeder, and you supply the imagination to create your own one-of-a-kind bird feeder while supplies last.
The Century Library is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturdays at 7991 North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com generated image for illustrative purposes.
Sunny Skies, Low 80s Today
May 13, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.