Hot And Humid With A Chance Of Afternoon Showers
July 10, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday 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.
Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 90. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
James (Jim) William Leath
July 10, 2025
James (Jim) William Leath, of Pensacola, passed away peacefully on June 14th, 2025. Jim was born on Oct 6th 1937 in Chattahoochee, Florida. He was the son of Alice Laverne Merchant “nee” Gilbert and Alex Merchant.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Susan Bear Leath and survived by his son, Eric Leath, daughter Nikki Leath Faktor (Roy), and Bobbi Kitty.
He was always ready to help anyone, and loved nature, the mountains and children. He had a long, exciting career as a police officer with Pensacola Police Department and retired as a well adored sergeant after serving in the Marines and a few other odd and exciting jobs.
We would like to thank Dad’s wonderful caretakers that were his heart for the last couple of years. DJ, with hospice, Tammy, Sinciera, and Angie. You all were the bright light in the last few years and made life so much better.
A celebration-of-life will be held at the Pensacola Yacht Club on Saturday, July 19th at noon. All friends and family are welcome, attire will be casual. We request that contributions to your favorite charity be sent in lieu of flowers.
James (Jim) William Leath
July 10, 2025
James (Jim) William Leath, of Pensacola, passed away peacefully on June 14th, 2025. Jim was born on Oct 6th 1937 in Chattahoochee, Florida. He was the son of Alice Laverne Merchant “nee” Gilbert and Alex Merchant.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Susan Bear Leath and survived by his son, Eric Leath, daughter Nikki Leath Faktor (Roy), and Bobbi Kitty.
He was always ready to help anyone, and loved nature, the mountains and children. He had a long, exciting career as a police officer with Pensacola Police Department and retired as a well adored sergeant after serving in the Marines and a few other odd and exciting jobs.
We would like to thank Dad’s wonderful caretakers that were his heart for the last couple of years. DJ, with hospice, Tammy, Sinciera, and Angie. You all were the bright light in the last few years and made life so much better.
A celebration-of-life will be held at the Pensacola Yacht Club on Saturday, July 19th at noon. All friends and family are welcome, attire will be casual. We request that contributions to your favorite charity be sent in lieu of flowers.
Brenton Dale Kelley
July 10, 2025
Brenton Dale Kelley was born on September 16, 1963 to Clyde “Buck” and Glenda Kelley, and passed away on July 4, 2025. He is preceded in death by his Father, Buck Kelley, and brother, Timothy “Moe” Kelley. He is survived by his Mother, Glenda Kelley; son Daniel (Nikki) Kelley; daughter Jill (Jeffery) Steadham; grandchildren Liam, Clara Ann, and Logan; sisters Beverly (Mike) Digmon and Ellen (Darryl) Sims; and many nieces and nephews.
Brenton was a lifelong resident of Bogia. He will always be remembered for his lively spirit and his love for the outdoors. He could usually be found in the woods or on the water. He was a superior hunter and fisherman, making his nickname “Hook” most fitting. He also excelled in many sports, and was known for being a star athlete in baseball and football. He also spent time later in life coaching football and baseball, a role in which he was very loved.
He leaves behind a trail of memories for his loved ones, most of which are remembered with a smile, thinking of the fun adventures which were had over the years.
A memorial service will be held at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church on Saturday, July 19, at 10 a.m.. Family and friends are all welcome to attend.
Ninth-Inning Explosion Sends Wahoos To Thrilling 16-9 Win
July 10, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
In an epic back-and-forth affair on Wednesday night, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos dealt the final blow with an improbable eight-run ninth inning for a 16-9 win over the Columbus Clingstones.
Trailing 9-8 in the top of the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos completed their comeback from a 9-5 deficit with a go-ahead two-run home run from Nathan Martorella. Grant Richardson added a two-run blast, his second homer of the night, and Michael Snyder and Cody Morissette tacked on run-scoring hits for an eight-run frame that marked Pensacola’s biggest inning of the season.
The 16 runs and 18 total hits marked the most in a game this season for the Blue Wahoos, who moved past the Clingstones and back into first place in the second half South Division race.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 2-0 in the early innings with a Martorella RBI double and Shane Sasaki RBI single off Clingstones starter Amos Willingham, who contributed 2.0 innings in a planned bullpen game.
Pensacola starter Jacob Miller had an uncharacteristic night, serving up two home runs in a start for just the second time in his professional career. A solo homer from Ethan Workinger and two-run shot from Stephen Paolini gave the Clingstones a 3-2 lead after three innings.
Richardson’s first homer of the night tied the game 3-3 in the fourth, and Josh Zamora blasted a two-run shot in the fifth to give the Blue Wahoos a 5-3 lead. Once again the lead didn’t take, as the Clingstones charged back with six runs in the sixth off Miller and Jesse Bergin. David McCabe hit an RBI double, and seven other Clingstones added singles to take a 9-5 advantage.
Pensacola chipped away, scoring two in the seventh on a Zamora RBI single and another in the eighth on a Snyder fielder’s choice. Will Kempner (W, 2-1) held serve with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief to send the game to the ninth, where Austin Smith (L, 0-3) was tasked with protecting a 9-8 Clingstones advantage.
Smith didn’t record an out, surrendering the Martorella and Richardson homers and ultimately giving up six runs before position player Kobe Kato came on to get the final three outs of the inning. Josh Ekness worked a quiet bottom of the ninth to seal an improbable 16-9 Blue Wahoos win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Clingstones on Thursday.
Small Plane Crashes Near Highway 29 In Bluff Springs
July 9, 2025
A small single-engine plane crashed Wednesday evening in Bluff Springs.
A witness reported the plane flying just over the treetops before the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a freshly plowed field. The witness said the plane then flipped over. The crash, which occurred around 6:45 p.m., was several hundred feet east of Highway 29, just north of Bluff Springs and Byrneville Roads.
The pilot and a passenger were able to walk away from the crash and depart in a private vehicle. Authorities were told that they said they were going to an area hospital, but that was not confirmed.
According to Federal Aviation Administration registration data, the 1967 Cessna 172H belongs to an individual in Atmore.
The FAA was notified of the crash and will be in charge of the investigation.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Chance Of Pop-Up Showers
July 9, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: A 30 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.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. 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. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
The Owner Of This Gonzalez Cemetery Has Been Dead For Decades. Now The County May Take Over.
July 9, 2025
The Jordan Cemetery in Gonzalez is 163 years old, and there’s no official caretaker.
It was founded by owner John H. Hamn in 1862, but he died in 1938.
Now, the Escambia County Commission is considering the use of public resources and funds to provide maintenance for the cemetery at 2300 East Kingfield Road. Florida statutes allow the county to take over maintenance of an abandoned cemetery.
According to paperwork filed with the county, the nearly four-acre cemetery contains 811 graves from 1862 to 2017. The “Find a Grave” website lists the most recent burial as being in late 2023.
Of those, over 100 were listed as unmarked in a 1980 survey. About 79 graves have markings that are illegible or have no inscription, while others are marked with just wood or simple concrete. There are 372 graves marked as historic.
Jordan Cemetery is listed as a Historical Cemetery in the Florida Department of Financial Services master site file.
If the county takes over maintenance, they will use staff and resources from the University of West Florida Archeology Institute to supplement the county’s maintenance efforts.
The county commission will consider the Jordan Cemetery maintenance proposal at their meeting on Thursday, July 10.
Pictured: The Jordan Cemetary on Kingsfield Road, as seen in undated photographs. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Deer And A Series Of Events Lead To Unoccupied Jeep Plunging Into Deep Culvert In Bratt
July 9, 2025
A woman’s Jeep Wagoneer ended up deep in a culvert in Bratt Tuesday night in a rather unique sequence of events.
The woman said it all started around 9:50 p.m. when she swerved to miss a deer on Pine Barren Road just south of Bratt Road. She successfully avoided hitting the deer, ran off the roadway, and came to a controlled stop in high grass on the side of the road. The woman and her passengers exited the vehicle unscathed.
But unknown to her at the time, she had parked on the edge of a culvert that is about 20 feet deep. Once she got out of the Jeep, it plunged into the deep culvert—and that deployed all of the vehicle’s airbags, prompting an automatic crash notification to emergency services.
First responders arrived to find everyone standing at the top of the culvert, which was dry and not filled with water. The Jeep was reportedly in park, and the engine was not running.
Authorities on scene said that while the incident was a bit perplexing, everything about the woman’s account of the events to the Florida Highway Patrol matched the scene.
The Walnut Hill and Century stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Unregistered Machine Gun
July 9, 2025
An Escambia County man has pleaded guilty to charges of possession of an unregistered machine gun.
Prashant M. Jenkins Jr., 24, entered the plea in federal court.
Court documents state that on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers found and seized from Jenkins’ residence an AR-style machine gun conversion device, a Glock pistol with a loaded magazine, a loaded AR-15 magazine, approximately 500 grams of marijuana, and other suspected drug trafficking paraphernalia. The conversion device, considered a machine gun under federal law, was not marked with a serial number and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal ATF agents to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who illegally manufacture and possess these dangerous weapons, fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting violent criminals with the full force of the law.”
Sentencing is currently set for September 30, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Jenkins faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment and will be prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.