Two Escambia Men Facing Federal Methamphetamine Charges
September 3, 2025
Two Escambia County men are charged in a federal indictment with a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Ronald Dale White, 39, and Darius Rafael Whisler, 33, were indicted by a federal grand jury, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and multiple counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ronald White was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Both were arraigned in federal court last week and are set for trial October 6 before U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola.
If convicted, White and Whisler face up to life imprisonment.
Tate Aggies Sweep Washington; Northview Slips To Neal
September 3, 2025
In a triple-header of volleyball action Tuesday night, the Tate High Aggies secured a clean sweep against the Washington Wildcats at every level—varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen. Meanwhile in East Brewton, the Northview varsity and junior varsity squads fell to W.S. Neal.
Tate Aggies 3, Washington 1
The Tate Aggies the first two sets 25-16 and 25-20, while Washington took the third 25-22. The Aggies claimed the victory 25-22 in the final set.
Tate 2, Washington 0
The Tate High Aggies junior varsity volleyball team dominated Washington, winning their match in two straight sets. Both sets were decisive victories for the Aggies, with identical scores of 25-12.
Tate 2, Washington 1 (Freshmen)
The Tate High Aggies freshmen volleyball team defeated the Washington High Wildcats in a three-set match.
After dropping the first set 30-25, the Aggies rallied to win the next two sets. They took the second set 25-13 and clinched the match with a 15-11 victory in the final set.
Northview, W.S. Neal
The W.S. Neal Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team emerged victorious in a hard-fought five-set battle against the Northview Chiefs Tuesday night in East Brewton.
While the Chiefs fought hard, the Eagles were able to secure the victory in a tense fifth set.
Earlier in the evening, the Neal junior varsity squad swept the Northview Chiefs JV team in two straight sets.
Century To Consider $112K Employment Contract For Town Administrator Tonight
September 2, 2025
Tonight, the Century Town Council will consider a final employment contact with Dave Murzin of Cantonment as the town’s full-time administrator.
The two-year agreement includes a $112,000 annual salary with benefits. Funding for the position will be placed in the Town budget.
Murzin is currently the director of First Place Partners, representing economic development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He is a former two-term state representative. He has extensive experience in legislative leadership, economic development, and disaster recovery, having worked closely with local governments across Northwest Florida.
The town council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at Century Town Hall and is open to the public.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
FWC Hunter Safety Courses This Month In Molino, Cantonment, Jay, Milton
September 2, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in Molino, Cantonment, Jay and Milton. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.
Participants must take the online course before attending a class.
All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
The two-day events will be held as follows, and you must have completed an online hunter safety course and have a copy of the completion certificate or field day voucher prior to taking a Range Day (listed bottom).
ESCAMBIA COUNTY In Person Classes
- September 8, 6 p.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- September 15, 6 p.m. — Molino Community Center
- October 6, 6 p.m. — Escambia County Extension, Cantonment
- October 13, 6 p.m. — Molino Community Center
SANTA ROSA COUNTY In Person Classes
- September 22, 6 p.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- September 29, 6 p.m. – Extension Office, Milton
- October 20, 6 p.m. — Jay United Methodist Church
- October 27, 6 p.m. — Extension Office, Milton
RANGE DAY
- October 4 or November 1 at 9 a.m.
Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes or by calling FWC safety coordinator Jeff Schumacher at (850) 767-3612 for more information or email.
Powerball Rolls Over To $1.3 Billion; Winning $1 Million Ticket Sold In Escambia County
September 2, 2025
No one won the $1.1 billion top prize in the Powerball drawing Monday night, but one quick pick ticket sold in Escambia County won a $1 million second tier prize, for matching five numbers.
The ticket was sold at the Greer’s Perdido Bay Market at 12255 Lillian Highway and matched five numbers, one of several Match 5 tickets sold across the country and the only one sold in Florida.
The next Powerball jackpot drawing on Wednesday night is worth an estimated $1.3 billion or a cash payout of $589 million.
Monday night’s winning numbers were:
8-23-25-40-53
PB: 5
PowerPlay: 3
Century Man Sentenced After DUI, Fleeing Crash, And Driving Home
September 2, 2025
A Century man was sentenced for fleeing a DUI crash and driving home in a case brought by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Willie Eugene Cottrell, now 68, was sentenced to 12 months probation for DUI and was cited for leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and his driver’s license was also suspended for 12 months.
On June 6, Cottrell veered off the road, overturned his Nissan Versa, and hit a wire fence on Highway 4A near Bass Road, according to an FHP report. The vehicle made at least one rotation before coming to a final rest 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 an 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.
Bonus Photos: Northview Chiefs Fans, Band, Cheerleaders
September 2, 2025
The Northview Chiefs dropped their home opener to Opp Friday night 26-14.
For a bonus photo gallery including the band, fans, student section, and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny, Dry Week Ahead
September 2, 2025
Sunshine continues to dominate the North Escambia area forecast for the next several days, with temperatures gradually climbing from the upper 80s into the low 90s. Mornings and nights will be mild and clear, offering pleasant conditions before the daytime heat sets in. Light winds will keep things comfortable.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 64. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Dub’s Birthday Doubles Not Enough In Wahoos Loss To Shuckers
September 2, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began a pivotal road series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a 6-3 loss on Monday night.
Playing on Labor Day for the first time since 2019, and playing on a Monday for just the third time in five years, the Blue Wahoos out-hit the Shuckers 11 to 8 but couldn’t overcome an early deficit.
First baseman Dub Gleed, celebrating his 23rd birthday, was 4-for-4 with three doubles, tying a franchise record last set by Royce Lewis in 2019.
Right fielder Fenwick Trimble, named the Southern League Player of the Week earlier in the afternoon, made a strong first impression in the field in the first inning. With two on and two outs, Shuckers designated hitter Mike Boeve made a bid for a three-run homer before Trimble reached over the right field wall to make an impressive catch.
Gleed’s first double of the night scored Mark Coley II from second base in the second inning to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead. That would be the only run allowed by Biloxi starter Tyson Hardin, who worked 2.1 innings in his continued return from a lengthy stay on the injured list.
Blue Wahoos starter Alex Williams (L, 4-4), saved from a Boeve homer by his right fielder in the first inning, surrendered a two-run shot to Garrett Spain in the second inning for a 2-1 Biloxi lead. The Shuckers added on in the third, loading the bases before a Darrien Miller RBI groundout extended their advantage to 3-1.
Three more Biloxi runs scored on a pivotal play in the fourth, as Cooper Pratt lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to Trimble in right field. An errant relay throw from second baseman Payton Green sailed into foul ground, emptying the bases and putting the Shuckers ahead 6-1.
The Blue Wahoos got two back in the fifth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles from Michael Snyder and Jared Serna off Zach Peek (W, 6-2), but clutch hits eluded them the rest of the night. Two runners were stranded in scoring position in the seventh inning, and Abdiel Mendoza (S, 1) left runners at the corners in the ninth to seal a 6-3 final.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos are now 4.5 games behind first-place Montgomery in the second half South Division standings with 11 games to play in the regular season.
After an off day Tuesday, the Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Wednesday.
Sylvia Ann Lunsford
September 2, 2025
Sylvia Ann Lunsford, 73, of Pace, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 30th, 2025. Sylvia was born December 6th, 1951, in Brewton, AL, to Clyde and Dollie Mae McCormick.
Sylvia was affectionately known as Mom, Nana, and Aunt Sib. She was kind, loving, and always generous. Anyone who entered her home was treated like family. Two of her favorite things were Diet Dr. Pepper and Gunsmoke. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed having her family together for special occasions. Sylvia was famous (at least in the immediate family) for her “Christmas stockings.” After all other activities were over, she would disappear only to reemerge with stockings for everyone – even the adults. It soon became a running joke that whenever she would go to another room, the family would all start yelling, “stocking time,” even when it wasn’t Christmas. On one occasion, she even hid them in a present addressed to herself so she could smuggle them into Kristen’s home without anyone knowing. She did threaten, though, to cancel Christmas anytime one of us failed to cooperate.
Sylvia also defended her daughters-in-law, claiming she didn’t know why they would put up with her sons’ antagonism and saying they could come live with her anytime they wanted.
She retired from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Max McCormick; and sister, Marie Caraway.
She is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Sue) McKee, Kristen (Jason) Mitchem, Stephen (Mary-Catherine) McKee; her grandchildren, Alexis Mitchem, Anna McKee, Stella McKee, and Jordan McKee; siblings, Barbara Merritt (Bill), Joseph (Dorothy) McCormick, Carolyn (Skip) Tompkins, Debra Morris, brother-in-law, Lavon Caraway; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She loved her family, and her family loved her. She will be sorely missed.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday September 6, 2025, at Lewis Funeral Home Milton Chapel, 6405 Highway 90 West Milton, FL, 32570, with visitation from 12:00-1:00pm and service at 1:00pm with Rev. Mike Poston officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Walling Cemetery.