Century Reports 5,000 Gallon Spill At Wastewater Plant
July 26, 2025
The Town of Century reported a 5,000 gallon spill at their wastewater treatment plant on Friday, according to a report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Effluent pumps at the facility on Jefferson Avenue had an electrical issue that caused the treated wastewater to spill for seven and one-half hours.
The spill, according to the report, was cleaned by applying lime.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Becoming Mostly Clear Tonight
July 26, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Becoming mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 109. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 75.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
New Heavy Equipment Retail Business Proposed For Highway 29 In Cantonment
July 26, 2025
A heavy equipment retail business is being proposed for Highway 29 in Cantonment.
Gibbs Equipment filed plans with the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) for the business on 4.81 acres on at 1170 North Highway 29, on the east side of the highway just south of Neal Road. According to the application, there are two old houses on the property.
The plans include a proposed 11,900 square foot building, with about 25 parking spaces. Most of the retail lot would be gravel, with access to both Nealt Road and Highway 29.
The proposal is in the internal review process with DRC with a public meeting not yet set.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Wahoos Break Through Late, Win Fifth In A Row Over Smokies
July 26, 2025
witten by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fifth game in a row on Friday night, beating the Knoxville Smokies 5-1 in a game that was scoreless until the late innings.
Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and Smokies starter Grant Kipp matched each other with 5.0 scoreless innings, and reliever Austin Roberts (W, 2-0) weathered a bases-loaded threat in the sixth inning to send the game to the seventh in a scoreless tie.
After a leadoff walk to Nathan Martorella, Ryan Ignoffo got the Blue Wahoos on the board with an RBI double on a sinking liner that skipped past Knoxville left fielder Andy Garriola. Two walks loaded the bases for Shane Sasaki, who laced a two-run double down the left field line for a 3-0 Blue Wahoos lead. A passed ball from catcher Casey Opitz capped a four-run frame that proved to be decisive.
With light rain falling in the final innings, the Blue Wahoos took advantage of erratic control from Smokies reliever Jacob Brentz to score an insurance run in the ninth with two walks and two balks. Josh Ekness (S, 9) earned the rare three-inning save, allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth but locking down a 5-1 final.
The five-game winning streak matches Pensacola’s longest of the season, set previously on June 5-10 with wins over Columbus and Rocket City.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Saturday night.
Federal Judge Orders Former Firefighter Held Without Bond in Child Porn Case
July 25, 2025
A federal judge this week ordered a former firefighter held without bond as he awaits trial on federal charges the U.S. Attorney’s Office says related o a decade-long pattern of producing and possessing child pornography
Trial for 48-year-old Garey A. Buscaino was set for September 15 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, according to an order issued this week.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office requested Buscaino be held without bond because the crime involves a minor victim, and he is a serious flight risk and poses a serious risk that he will obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice. The prosecution’s request was approved by United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho, and Buscaino was remanded into custody. The court appointed him a public defender. He is now being held without bond in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
A federal indictment charges Buscaino, who was assigned to the Beulah Fire Station, with the production of child pornography of four different minor females between 2015 and 2025. He is also charged with the possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12 years old.
If convicted, Buscaino faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment as to each minor victim for the production of child pornography and up to 20 years’ imprisonment as to the possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12 years old.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Previous State Charges From FDLE
In May, state charges were brought against Buscaino by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He was charged with seven counts of video voyeurism of a child under 16 years of age, 30 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
FDLE’s investigation began in April 2025 after agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), alerting agents to a cellphone user uploading child sexual exploitation files to a cloud account.
The investigation identified Buscaino as the account holder. FDLE said their investigation revealed that Buscaino had hidden video cameras and secretly recorded a juvenile in stages of undress.
The report states that FDLE agents located 96 images that appeared to be taken inside Buscaino’s home of a child about 12-14 years old “without the knowledge of the minor” between September 11, 2024, and April 10, 2025. FDLE said agents also located seven video files that “appeared to be recorded without the minor victim’s knowledge.”
“Each of the seven video files depicted the same minor victim nude while either dressing or undressing, in a circumstance where she had an expectation of privacy,” the report states. One five-and-a-half-minute video appeared to have been taken by a camera placed underneath a piece of furniture, agents said. Another video, according to the report, was taken with the camera inside a laundry hamper with holes in it.
On May 15, agents served search warrants at Buscaino’s primary residence and a secondary residence. Multiple electronic devices were seized, and a preliminary forensic review located several voyeurism videos and hundreds of files depicting the sexual abuse of children, investigators said.
During the execution of the search warrant, agents reported finding hidden cameras within Buscaino’s bedroom, including one disguised as an electronic cigarette and another disguised as a wall charger. Several GoPro-style cameras were also located.
“When questioned about the electronic devices within the residence, Buscaino invoked his right to legal counsel,” the FDLE report states.
Authorities said USB drives were recovered from inside the residence that contained child sexual abuse material, including children as young as four years of age being sexually abused.
FDLE said they also located approximately 1,000 images of child erotica stored with a cloud service provider and attributed to Buscaino. The images, FDLE said, depicted young children in sexually suggestive poses, but they did not meet the statutory requirements of child sexual abuse material.
Escambia County confirmed that Buscaino is employed as a county firefighter.
“We are aware of the arrest of Firefighter Garey Buscaino and are currently reviewing potential personnel action,” the county said in a statement after the arrest. “Although the charges filed against him are not related to his duties with Escambia County Fire Rescue, we will fully cooperate with law enforcement should they need any information from Escambia County as they conduct their investigation.”
Three Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking After Warrant Served On Fowler Avenue
July 25, 2025
Three Escambia County residents were arrested for fentanyl trafficking, and state and federal agents served a warrant on Fowler Avenue.
Austin Mitchell Chapman, 30, Laurie Ann Chapman, 53, and Amber Lynn Adams, 32, were each charged with trafficking fentanyl and related offenses. Laurie Chapman was also charged with maintaining a structure for drug activity.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Major Drug Squad and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served a felony arrest warrant for Laurie Chapman in the 8700 block of Fowler Avenue, just a few blocks behind Lowe’s and Home Depot on Nine Mile Road, in support of an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation. FDLE said they also held arrest warrants for Adams and Austin Chapman, who were known to frequent the address.
FDLE reported locating 11.77 grams of suspected fentanyl in the home.
Austin Chapman and Adams remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond, while Laurie Chapman was jailed on a $125,500 bond.
Pictured top: (L-R) Austin Chapman, Laurie Chapman, and Amber Adams. Pictured inset: FDLE reported finding 11.77 grams of suspected fentanyl in Laurie Chapman’s residence on Fowler Avenue.
CDs, DVDs, Puzzles, Vinyl Records, Audio Books, And Puzzles In Library Sale On Saturday
July 25, 2025
Get ready to stock up on entertainment. The Friends of the West Florida Public Library is hosting an expanded “Special Summer Sale” set for Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library, located at 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola. Admission to this one-day-only event is free.
The sale will include thousands of CDs, DVDs, and puzzles, along with vinyl records and audio books, all available at great prices. The music selection promises a wide variety of genres, while the DVD collection spans dramas, comedies, thrillers, documentaries, and many family-friendly options.
The single disk CDs, single title DVDs, and many puzzles will be priced starting at $2 each.
Stock photo.
EREC To Reopen Walnut Hill Office Next Tuesday (But Not The Post Office Just Yet)
July 25, 2025
Escambia River Electric Cooperative will reopen their Walnut Hill office next Tuesday, July 29.
The post office will remain at the location, with postal services resuming at a later date once a contract is finalized with the U.S. Postal Service.
“We’re excited to reopen our Walnut Hill office and welcome members back,” Ryan Campbell, CEO of EREC said. “We truly appreciate everyone’s patience and continued support. We’re proud to once again serve our Escambia County members from this location and look forward to seeing you in person.”
The utility office will operate weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., observing a lunch break from noon to 1:00 p.m.
The EREC Walnut Hill office is located on Highway 99A next to Ernest Ward Middle School.
The office had been closed since August 2024 due to mold, which has since been remediated.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Symphony Performs At The Library
July 25, 2025
Three members of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra performed Thursday morning at the Century Branch Library and Friday morning at the Molino Library.
The performances were free and open to all ages.
Pictured: Members of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra performed Thursday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Scattered Showers And Storms Likely
July 25, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms. High near 87. East wind around 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Low around 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 60%