Cantonment Bicyclist Killed In Thursday Morning Crash
July 31, 2025
A bicyclist was killed in a crash Thursday morning in Cantonment.
The crash happened about 8:30 a.m. on County Road 97 near Nowak Dairy Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 64-year-old Cantonment woman was traveling northbound on County Road 97 when she was struck from the rear by a Honda sedan driven by a Pensacola woman. The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
File photo.
Woman Gets 15 Years For Hit And Run That Killed Man On A Scooter
July 31, 2025
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced for a fatal hit-and-run wreck in January 2024.
Sarah Rachel Nowlin, 40, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, with four years mandatory minimum, by Circuit Court Judge Amy Broderson.
On January 26, 2024, Nowlin borrowed a car from a friend and struck a man riding an electric scooter in the 400 block of Nine 1/2 Mile Road near Omar Avenue. The victim, 34-year-old Calvin Garlick, was hit from behind and died from blunt force injuries.
Nowlin fled the scene and hid her vehicle in the woods on Cove Avenue.
“This defendant knew what she was doing was wrong. Evidence came out that Ms. Nowlin knew she had hit a person, lied about it to everyone, including her 8-year-old child who was in the car at the time of the crash, tried to hide the vehicle in a wooded area, and continued to cover up the crime in an attempt to evade responsibility. Nowlin had several opportunities to do the right thing, but instead made a calculated decision to choose self-preservation at every turn,” prosecuting attorney Charles Britt said.
Century Hiked Community Center Rates; Now They Are Making Improvements
July 31, 2025
In June, the Century Town Council voted to hike community center rates, and now the town is putting money back into the improvements.
The town rents the Century Community Center (Ag Building) on West Highway 4 and the Century Business Center (Habitat Building) on Pond Street.
The town, using inmate labor and town staff, recently repainted the interior of the community center on West Highway 4. The dirty yellow walls have been painted over, as has what was an incredibly noisy water fountain. Moldy ceiling tiles have been replaced, and improvements were also made in the kitchen, which included a new vent hood and microwave. The floors were also scheduled to be cleaned.
Previously, the daily rental fee was $380, with security provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for all events. However, a provision allowed a pastor or officer to sign off, dropping the rental to $200 for churches or non-profits. Both rental rates included a $100 refundable cleaning deposit.
The new rental policy is $500 for everyone, including a $150 refundable cleaning deposit. If the facility is properly cleaned, the cleaning deposit will be returned in 7-10 days. A fee waiver can be approved by the council for any governmental agency using the facilities.
Security, provided by either the sheriff’s office or a Florida-licensed security company, will be required at the renter’s expense for all events with more than 75 attendees. All renters will be required to sign a hold-harmless agreement.
The policy also includes standard terms such as no tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, and a no-admission fee restriction. It also forbids taping anything to the newly painted walls.
Pictured: The new paint inside the Century Community Center on West Highway 4. The bottom photo shows the yellow walls and moldy ceiling tiles in January 2025. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Wanted On Multiple Counts Of Attempted Murder
July 31, 2025
Authorities are searching for an Atmore man wanted on multiple counts of attempted murder.
The Brewton Police Department said Tylee Ikeem Brown is wanted on three counts of attempted murder and two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. The charges, according to BPD, are related to two seperate shootings that occured in Brewton in December 2024.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brewton Police Department at (251) 867-3212 or their local law enforcement agency.
DOJ: Dermatology Providers Agree To Pay Nearly $850,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims
July 31, 2025
Forefront Dermatology S.C. and Henghold Surgery Center LLC, have agreed to pay $847,394 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of falsely coded claims to Medicare for wound repair procedures, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Forefront owns and operates a dermatology practice in Florida doing business as Henghold Dermatology. Henghold Surgery Center is an ambulatory surgery center that closed in 2023, and is wholly owned by William B. Henghold, M.D. Both the practice and surgery center performed wound repair procedures following Mohs micrographic surgery, a method of skin cancer removal.
The DOJ alleged that Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by using inaccurate wound repair billing codes for which Medicare paid more money than it would have paid for the wound repairs that were actually performed — a practice known as “upcoding.” Specifically, Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center falsely coded linear repairs as if they were flap repairs and falsely coded smaller flap repairs as if they were larger flap repairs.
“Improperly billing Medicare depletes valuable government resources that provide necessary medical care to millions of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who enrich themselves by defrauding federal healthcare programs.”
Heat Advisory In Effect; Afternoon Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
July 31, 2025
A heat advisory is in effect again for Thursday for heat index values of 108-110.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 110. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 108. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 92. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Man Accused Of Stealing Smokey Bear Signs From Escambia County To Orlando
July 31, 2025
“What happens when dumb criminals poke the bear?”
That’s the question Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson asked Wednesday when he announced the arrest of a man stealing Smokey Bear signs across northern Florida and selling them.
The Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) arrested a man accused of traveling from Pensacola to Orlando stealing Smokey Bear signs form state forests. He was then selling the signs on Facebook Marketplace for $1,900 each.
Smokey Bear assisted in the arrest, Simpson said. The suspect’s name and exact charges were not released.
Update: Piles Of Old Mail Delivered To Walnut Hill P.O. Boxes, But New Mail On Hold
July 31, 2025
Here’s an update to a story we brought you yesterday:
Old mail has been delivered to post office boxes in Walnut Hill, but no new mail will be delivered for the foreseeable future.
After being closed for nearly a year due to mold, the Escambia River Electric Cooperative Office in Walnut Hill reopened Tuesday.
During the closure of the Walnut Hill post office, mail was held at the McDavid Post Office for box holders to pick up. But many did not, and the mail simply piled up. Tuesday, that previously held mail was delivered to box holders at the Walnut Hill contract post office.
“We were under the impression on Tuesday that they would be sending new mail to us,” EREC CEO Ryan Campbell said Wednesday. “But we’ve found out today (Wednesday) that they will be holding the mail again at McDavid. People will need to pick up their mail there.”
EREC is awaiting a new contract with the U.S. Postal Service. Until it is finalized, they won’t be able to provide any postal services, not even selling stamps.
Campbell said he is hopeful that contract will be in place soon. Meanwhile, EREC is providing utility company services, including bill payment and service requests for both electricity and water.
Pictured: Mail that was held at the McDavid Post Office for nearly a year was delivered to box holders in Walnut Hill on Tuesday. No new mail will be delivered to the boxes in the foreseeable future. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Late Rally Leads Fitterer, Wahoos To Comeback Win
July 31, 2025
written by Willie Phaler
A record-tying relief performance, combined with a five-run seventh inning, propelled the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to an 8-4 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday night.
Evan Fitterer (W, 6-4) tallied six punchouts over 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, ending his night with a strikeout of Biloxi’s Darrien Miller to tie the Blue Wahoos career franchise record of 258 set by Daniel Wright in 2015-16 and 2018.
“It’s pretty cool,” Fitterer said of the record. “It’s definitely cool to have a record of any kind in baseball.”
Fitterer anchored things down for the Blue Wahoos out of the bullpen, allowing only three baserunners while the Pensacola bats made a furious comeback after trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning.
“Everything was working,” Fitterer said. “I was just throwing things, trying to get things in the strike zone and let the defense take care of the rest.”
Kemp Alderman tied the game 4-4 with an RBI infield single in the seventh against Biloxi’s Nick Merkel (L,1-1). Nathan Martorella followed with a two-run single for a 6-4 lead, and Fenwick Trimble added on with a two-run double. After the five-run frame, Pensacola has now outscored opponents by 32 runs in the seventh inning this season.
“They’ve been doing it the last couple of weeks,” Fitterer said. “Staying in it, coming back, the lineup has been doing a really good job.”
Biloxi scratched across the first run of the night against Blue Wahoos starter Jake Brooks as leadoff man Luis Lara drove in Bladimir Restituyo on a sacrifice fly to left in the third inning.
The Blue Wahoos offense started in the third, bringing three men around to score. Jared Serna, Cody Morissette and Alderman each picked up an RBI single after starter Brett Wichrowski walked three consecutive batters to begin the inning. Shuckers right fielder Garrett Spain prevented two more runs from scoring, throwing out two runners at the plate in the inning.
Miller tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth for Biloxi, lining a double down the right field line to drive in two. Miller later scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Spain to give the Shuckers a 4-3 lead.
Brooks made his Double-A debut on the mound for the Blue Wahoos Wednesday night. Across 4.0 IP, the former UCLA Bruin allowed four runs on four hits while striking out four Shuckers. Nigel Belgrave closed things out with a scoreless ninth inning to seal win number 51 for the Blue Wahoos.
Pensacola and Biloxi will square off in game three of the series tomorrow. Left-hander Dax Fulton (4-7, 5.10 ERA) will make his 16th start of the year for the Blue Wahoos while the Shuckers send out right-hander Tate Kuehner (7-4, 2.39 ERA) to take the mound.
GAME NOTABLES
— Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos announced that outfielder Grant Richardson was elevated to Triple-A Jacksonville. Richardson was batting .237 in 28 games for the Blue Wahoos with six homers and 20 RBI. He had several big games for the team and walk-off hits.
— Wednesday’s game was the final mid-week fireworks night of the summer. The Blue Wahoos’ final three homestands that will follow this week occur with area schools back in session
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Biloxi Shuckers vs. Blue Wahoos.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday. Gametimes on Thursday through Saturday games are 6:05 p.m. start time and Sunday’s game will start at 4:05 p.m..
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Donald Keith Griffis
July 31, 2025
Mr. Donald Keith Griffis, who was 72-years-old, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. He was born in Atmore, Alabamac and raised in Century, Florida, where he lived for his entire life. His love for his hometown and the community around him was evident to everyone who knew him. He will be remembered fondly by family and friends for his kind spirit and gentle nature.
He loved music, especially playing the piano and guitar. Whenever he got the chance, you could find him strumming away, lost in the melodies. He was also a huge fan of the Atlanta Braves, cheering them on with excitement during every game. His family meant the world to him, and he cherished spending time with them. Going to church was important to him too, where he found comfort and joy in his faith. Reading his Bible brought him peace and guidance, helping him stay grounded in life.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Earl and Della White Griffis; three brothers, Robert Griffis, Billy Griffis and Marty Griffis.
He is survived by his brother, Rodney Griffis of Century, Florida; sister-in-law, Angie Baggett of Flomaton, Alabama; aunt, Jean Clark of Century, Florida; nieces and caregiver, Mandy Griffis (David) Odom of Century, Florida and Brandy (Jamie) Gafford of Century, Florida; nephew, Josh Griffis of Century, Florida; great-niece, Kaitlin “KK” Gafford; great-nephews, Kaden Odom, Easten Odom, and Keaten Odom; numerous other nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Petty Funeral Homes, Brother Mitch Herring and Brother James Peacock officiating.
Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 10 a.m. until service time at Petty Funeral Homes.
Pallbearers will be Don Word, Nikki Odom, Cody Odom, Johnny Griffis, Patrick Griffis, and Jamie Gafford.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Rocky Coffey, Wayne Stanton and Jimmy Stanton.
Petty Funeral Homes is entrusted with all arrangements.