Cantonment Man Charged With Battery Of 78-Year-Old Relative
June 17, 2025
A Cantonment man has been charged with battery of a 78-year-old relative.
Jerry Wilbur Ferranti, 77, was charged with domestic violence related battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
The victim told deputies that she got into a verbal argument with Ferranti about sending money to his grandchildren. She stated he got very angry and grabbed and twisted her arm, according to an arrest report. She provided deputies with video surveillance of the incident.
According to the report, Ferranti blamed the incident on his consumption of four alcoholic beverages, and the victim waving her arms in his face as if she was about to hit him. The responding deputy wrote in the report that “Ferranti appeared calm and not under the influence of alcohol”.
Ferranti was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.
Register Now For Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp Under The Lights In July
June 17, 2025
The Tate High School Aggies will host their Youth Football Camp in July. This year, the camp will be held July 7-8 at night under the lights of Pete Gindl Stadium from 7-9 p.m.
Players will run through fundamental drills. The camp is open to players in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
Click here to register. Registration includes a camp t-shirt.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Tax Collector Molino Office Closed Monday Due To Weather-Related Outage
June 16, 2025
UPDATE…The Molino tax collector office reopened Tuesday morning.
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Office in Molino is was closed Monday afternoon due to weather-related network outage.
Tax Collector Scutt Lunsford said it appears the problem in external to the office, and work is underway to bring the office back online as soon as possible.
“We have turned off the queues for the day and will be screening the customers in the building and arranging assistance for them,” he said.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Daily Scattered Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
June 16, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 1pm and 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 88. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Juneteenth: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Special Commission Meeting Set To Consider $25 Million John R. Jones Park Bond Issue, $1.1 Million Beach Gateway
June 16, 2025
During a special meeting Friday, the Escambia County Commission will consider over $26 million in tourism related projects.
The meeting will be held at 9 a.m., June 20 at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building.
$25 Million TDT Note For John R. Jones Complex Upgrades
The commission will consider approval of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) Revenue Note not exceeding $25,100,000 for capital improvements at the John R. Jones Park and Sports Arena. The county will then enter into a loan agreement with Synovus Bank (the purchaser of the note). The annual debt service for the bank loan will be paid from Escambia County TDT with a structured level annual debt service of approximately $2.495 million over an approximate 15-year period which ends on October 1, 2039.
The project was approved by the commission in May; Thursday’s vote will finalize approval for the bond issue.
The $25 million for upgrades, including artificial turf, for the John R. Jones complex on East Nine Mile Road with a focus on sports tourism. The TDC approved the recommendation at their April 15 meeting.
The John R. Jones complex currently has 18 baseball and softball fields, plus two rectangular multi-use fields for sports such as football, lacrosse, soccer, cheerleading and more.
According to the proposal, the new facility will attract hundreds of teams, players and fans for tournaments and be competitive with similar facilities in nearby communities such as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Panama City, Fort Walton Beach, Daphne and more.
There are 23 hotel properties within seven miles, and it is about 15 minutes from the Pensacola International Airport.
The Nine Mile Road facility will have the capacity to host 39 weekend tournaments plus 12 full week tournaments during the summer, creating over $2.3 million in revenue subject to the tourist development tax.
The $25 million will fund:
- $20 million – Artificial turf for 20 Fields
- Approx. $1 million per field
- 18 multi-dimensional diamond fields,
- Plus, two rectangular multi-use fields
- $500,000 – Landscaping & Common Areas
- Flower beds and aesthetic landscaping
- $1.2 million – Sidewalks & Parking Upgrades
- Entryway and sidewalk connectivity
- $1 million – Fence, Shade & Dugout Work
- Overall fence work, shade areas & dugout upgrades
- $1.5 million – Concessions & Building Upgrades
- Remodeling and upgrading buildings.
- Miscellaneous Expenses – $400,000
- Various Aesthetic Upgrades
- Design – Permits or Consulting Fees – $400,000
- Potential fees for design or consulting
$1.1 Million For Pensacola Beach Gateway Improvements Design
The commission will consider approval of $1.1 million to Jacob’s Engineering Group for Pensacola Beach gateway improvement designs.
The Escambia County Engineering Department, in collaboration with the Santa Rosa Island Authority, requested 100% construction plans to be developed for an improved northern gateway to Pensacola Beach. The new gateway design will piggyback a new tolling system structure that is currently being designed by Jacobs Engineering. The new gateway will include a welcome structure, new landscaping, a new shared multi-use path, and pavement improvements to be located between the south end of the Bob Sikes Bridge and the north end of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) water storage tanks. The existing toll booth facility visually cues motorists to stop in spite of the signage to the contrary, increasing traffic congestion. These changes seek to improve traffic efficiency entering the island while collecting the toll and providing an aesthetic greeting to Pensacola Beach.
Escambia County Renews Emergency Response Agreement With Century Prison
June 16, 2025
Escambia County recently renewed a contract to provide fire suppression and rescue services for the Century Correctional Institution.
A 2022 agreement with the Florida Department of Corrections was renewed for five years for Escambia County Fire Rescue to continue providing fire services when the need arises.
Century Correctional is located on Tedder Road, a short distance from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. In the event of a fire or other emergency, other surrounding ECFR stations may also respond.
ECFR agreed to provide the following on an as-needed basis 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- Fire suppression and fire equipment;
- Fire investigation;
- Contact for ambulance and emergency medical services; and
- Rescue of inmates/persons who may have become trapped.
- There are no financial obligations between the parties.
Pictured: An Escambia County EMS ambulances exist the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Morristown Road Closing From Highway 4 To Dykestown
June 16, 2025
Morristown Road in northern Santa Rosa County will be closed from Highway 4 to Dykestown Road Tuesday through Thursday for roadway improvements, weather permitting.
Residents will have access to their property.
Signage will be placed at each end of the roadway to inform drivers of the closure.
Drivers should seek an alternate route until the roadway reopens. Drivers can utilize Dykestown Road to Ebenezer Church Road as a detour to the west and Shell Road to Nelsontown and Nelson Roads as a detour to the east.
Map courtesy Santa Rosa county.
Rain Into Early Monday Evening, Likely On Tuesday
June 16, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Juneteenth: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
FHP: Century Man Flips Car, Flees Ambulance, Drives Home, Arrested For DUI
June 16, 2025
A Century man fled a DUI crash and drove home, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Willie Eugene Cottrell, 67, was charged with DUI and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.
Cottrell veered off the road, overturned his Nissan Versa, and hit a wire fence on Highway 4A near Bass Road, according to troopers. The vehicle made at least one rotation before coming to final rest back on its tires. Cottrell then called 911, and Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
He became verbally abusive to EMS personnel in the back of the ambulance and fled through the rear doors, according to an arrest report, before getting back in his Nissan and driving home about 1.5 miles to his residence on Backwoods Road.
A trooper responded to his residence, noting he smelled strongly of alcohol and was slurring his words. He refused a field sobriety test, but the trooper said his impairment from alcohol “was extreme and obvious” and placed him under arrest. Cottrell later provided two breath samples, both showing a breath alcohol content of 0.164, over twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to the arrest report.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Face Upward Pressure From The Israel-Iran Conflict
June 16, 2025
Florida gas prices are the lowest in a month, but face upward pressure heading into this week, according to AAA.
Sunday’s state average was $2.95 per gallon. That’s down 14 cents from a week ago and the lowest since $2.92 a gallon on May 12.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.90. A low of $2.72 was available Sunday at several stations in Escambia County. The low price in North Escambia was $2.84 on Sunday night at station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran drove oil prices higher last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As a result, U.S. gas prices are expected to rise this week. The extent of the increase is uncertain, but drivers could begin seeing gas prices move higher on Monday.”
The U.S. price for crude oil rose 13% last week. Friday’s closing price of $72.98 per barrel was $8.40/b more than the week before, and the highest daily settlement since February 11, 2025.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.