Slightly ‘Cooler’ For A Few Days With Highs In The 80s And Scattered Rain
August 4, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Low around 72. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 84. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 86. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Escambia Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Sexual Battery Of A Child
August 4, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the sexual battery of a child.
Tracy Edward Williams pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery by a person in familial authority. He was also designated a sexual predator by Circuit Court Judge John Simon
Prosecutors said Williams admitted to sexually abusing a minor child in his custody over a period of several months in 2024.
Wahoos Win Fifth Straight In Rainy Season Finale
August 4, 2025
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos picked up their fifth win in a row Sunday afternoon, defeating the Biloxi Shuckers 8-4 in a rainy series finale.
After an 87-minute rain delay, the Blue Wahoos bats unleashed a barrage of runs in the first four innings. Kemp Alderman led the way with a 4-for-4 day, including two home runs, a double and five RBI in the win.
“We’re just seeing it big and trying to hit the ball hard,” Alderman said. “Swing at strikes, take the balls and score runs.”
The Ole Miss product got things going early, pulling a no-doubt, two-run homer out to left in the bottom of the first off of Biloxi’s KC Hunt (L, 6-7).
Josh Zamora added to the lead in the second with a two-run home run to left of his own in the second inning. The home run was Zamora’s eighth of the year and marked the team’s fourth of the series.
Alderman’s second home run came in the third, on a high fly ball down the right field line, just barely getting over the wall.
“[I’m] just trying to keep it simple and play the game like a kid,” Alderman said. “Have fun and try to do good, and help the team win.”
Biloxi’s offense pushed across a run quickly in the first thanks to a Blake Burke RBI single to left, scoring pinch-runner Adam Hall. The Shuckers added two more in the third, as Garrett Spain and Jheremy Vargas each picked up RBI groundouts after having runners on second and third with no outs.
The Wahoos found three more runs in the fourth. After a Jared Serna single up the middle to drive in Michael Snyder, Alderman unleashed a double off the wall in left-center to drive in two.
Biloxi added one in the fifth on a wild pitch by left-hander Justin King, allowing Ethan Murray to score from third.
Jacob Miller (W, 3-4) earned the win for the Blue Wahoos after tossing 5.0 innings of three-run ball, including three strikeouts.
Evan Fitterer notched his 259th career strikeout in a Blue Wahoos uniform in the seventh inning, setting a new franchise record for career strikeouts after tying the record of 258 on Wednesday.
The Wahoos bullpen continued its dominance on Sunday. King, Fitterer, Will Kempner and Josh Ekness combined for 4.0 innings of one-run relief to secure the Blue Wahoos’ fifth straight win.
“[We’re] just going out there and playing clean, good baseball, sticking together as a group and playing until the final out,” Alderman said.
With six weeks left in the regular season, the Blue Wahoos lead the race for the Southern League South second-half title over the Montgomery Biscuits by 6.5 games.
The Blue Wahoos will hit the road to take on the Biscuits for a six-game set next week, beginning on Tuesday. First pitch from Montgomery will be at 6:35 CT, as Alex Williams (3-1, 2.55 ERA) takes the mound for the Blue Wahoos.
Tammie Knowles Penegar
August 4, 2025
Tammie Knowles Penegar passed away in her home surrounded by family and friends on the morning of July 31, 2025. She was born on December 28, 1964 to her parents in Atmore, Alabama. She was her Mother’s Darling Darlene. Tammie spent most of her life as a resident of Cantonment, Florida.
Tammie loved being a mom to her children Branden and Tyler. She was also “mom” to their many friends whom could be found at her house at any time of the day or night.
Tammie worked in the cellular industry for 12 years. She then worked for a period of time for Don Cotton in estate sales.
As Tammie lived a life of being a Christ follower, she was led to teach Sunday School and be a Youth Leader for many years at Gonzales Methodist Church where many youths’ lives were changed for Christ.
Tammie was preceded in death by her son, Branden Heath Penegar, and by her parents, Frankie and Nora Knowles. She leaves behind her husband, Elbert “Bert” Penegar and her son, Aaron Tyler Penegar. Also left behind are all of the kids who called her “mom” along with many people who called her friend.
Funeral services for Tammie will be held on Saturday, August 09, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 S Highway 29, Cantonment, Florida, with a visitation on August 07, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
Interment will immediately follow the funeral at Cottage Hill Baptist. A reception to follow at the funeral home for family and friends. Reverend Dr. George Dunn will be officiating.
Pallbearers will be Aaron Tyler Penegar, Trevor Berry, Kendall Hendry, Kevin Gray, Cade Bowman, and Bryant Walsh.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Escambia School Board Votes To Increase Property Taxes As Enrollment Declines
August 3, 2025
The Escambia County School Board has voted to approve a tax increase. The 1.5 mill increase is expected to net around $52 million for the district.
The total proposed millage rate is 4.644 mills, which is 15.4% greater than the rollback rate that would generate the same funding as last fiscal year.
The increase passed 4-1, with District 1 member Kevin Adams casting the lone dissenting vote. “I told my constituents, if you support the half-cent sales tax, I will never raise your property taxes.”
Other board members say the increase was necessary due to declining enrollment and a reduction in state funding.
“We cannot put that burden onto the taxpayer,” Adams said, noting that he has never voted for a tax increase during his tenure and he would stick to a campaign promise.
The district says enrollment is down by about 4,200 students over the past five years, with much of that drop due to school vouchers. A decreased enrollment means a decrease in state funding based on the student count.
“We’ve been cutting back for years,” David Williams, District 3 School Board member, said. “We’ve been making do with less for years, and I think the public needs to understand this is nothing new to us. This is a means of last resort. We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t have to… we have been cutting and cutting and cutting.”
“We’ve got to get back on track to resize this district,” Adams said.
“It’s a tough spot that we are in here,” District 5 member Tom Harrell said. “This is something that has happened over a period of time, and we probably could have weathered this storm had we not had such a drastic reduction in funds for this year.”
Harrell, who describes himself as a strong conservative, said he decided a week ago to vote against the increase. “But now it’s my belief that we are in a critical position here.”
“I did it for the children,” Harrell added to explain his support of the increase. “I did it for the district. I did it because it was the right thing to do at this time and this place.”
Northview Seniors Celebrate Senior Sunrise
August 3, 2025
Members of the Northview High School Class of 2026 celebrated “Senior Sunrise” on Saturday morning to mark the beginning of the upcoming school year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Daughter Of Deputy Killed By Drunk Driver Honored With Wahoos ‘Home Run For Life’
August 3, 2025
The daughter of an off-duty deputy killed by a drunk driver in 2022 was honored Saturday night at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos game.
In honoring Lauren Ray for her recovery from tragedy, the Sacred Heart “Home Run For Life” event Saturday brought another reminder of the horrors caused by drunk driving. Ray and her father, Escambia County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Kevin Ray of Cantonment, were traveling back from a Troy University football game when their car was struck near Laurel Hill.
Her father, who was driving, sustained fatal injuries. Lauren was in the passenger seat and spent nearly two months at an ICU in central Florida, having sustained injuries including a traumatic brain injury, two broken femurs, a broken left arm, a punctured lung, damage to her ribs, and some facial fractures.
After her discharge and return to Pensacola, she was assisted by the physical therapy team at Ascension Sacred Heart Rehabilitation center to help her complete her recovery process. Now, three years later, she is nearly fully recovered and healthy.
Saturday night, she circled the bases at Blue Wahoos Stadium in a Home Run for Life. Her Blue Wahoos jersey was numbered “602″ — his father’s radio number at the ECSO.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pattern Of Afternoon Pop-Up Showers And Storms Continues
August 3, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 87. North wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Low around 73. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. High near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 87. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Atmore Man Charged With Multiple Counts Of Attempted Murder In Brewton
August 3, 2025
An Atmore man has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in Brewton.
The Brewton Police Department charged 36-year-old Tylee Ikeem Brown with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. The charges, according to BPD, are related to two separate shootings that occured in Brewton in December 2024.
Brown was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton without bond.
Brewton Police have not released further details.
Escambia Felon Gets Federal Prison For Weapon Possession
August 3, 2025
An Escambia County felon has been sentenced in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Brandon Martez Black, 27 was sentenced to 100 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
On June 8, 2024, Black, a felon with prior drug trafficking convictions, fled in a vehicle from the Florida Highway Patrol (“FHP”) after an attempted traffic stop on Longleaf Drive. FHP was able to disable Black’s vehicle after performing a PIT manuver. Black fled on foot and threw a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol over a fence into a residential backyard, which was later recovered by law enforcement.