County Clears Sand from Century’s Fischer Landing Boat Launch
September 23, 2025
Escambia County Public Works worked Monday to remove sand from the boat launch at Fischer Landing in Century.
Fischer Landing is owned by the Town of Century but does not have the equipment to maintain the boat launch. The town turned to Escambia County for assistance.
A sandbar remains in front of the launch with a narrow path around it due to the low river level. We were told the sandbar cannot be removed without obtaining state permits.
Monday, the level of the Escambia River at Century was 2.71 feet. The record low for the river was 1.3 feet in 1954.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FWC Operation Targets Meat Processors To Prevents CWD Spread
September 23, 2025
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Operation Processor 24 concluded earlier this year, following a 4-month effort to inspect businesses involved in meat processing and taxidermy of highly regulated wildlife species. FWC announced the results of the operation on Monday.
The operation began on November 1, 2024, and concluded its inspections on March 1, 2025, with several investigations still ongoing.
The operation covered all 16 counties of the Northwest Region, from the Alabama state line to Jefferson County. It included 88 businesses known to work with regulated species. Of those, 70 were actively operating during the inspection period. The initiative focused on ensuring compliance with wildlife conservation laws while supporting hunters and trappers.
“This detail underscores the FWC’s commitment to protecting Florida’s wildlife and holding processors and taxidermists accountable to the law,” said Maj. Robby Creech, FWC Northwest regional commander. “The results speak for themselves and further support our ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) throughout our state.”
A total of over 100 violations of Florida laws and rules were cited during the operation, including:
Failure to submit harvest reports.
Hunting without a license.
No deer permit.
No archery permit.
Taking deer during closed season.
Taking deer by illegal method.
Exceeding daily bag limit for deer.
Exceeding seasonal bag limit for deer.
Antler restriction violations.
Illegal sale of deer meat.
Taking bobcat during closed season.
Illegal take of fox.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) violations
The operation also led investigators to violations that occurred in other states. FWC partnered with Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi to curtail wildlife violations crossing state lines.
Century Approves Lower Tax Rate, $9.2 Million Budget
September 23, 2025
The Town of Century on Monday gave final approval to a $9.2 million budget for the next fiscal year and a property tax rate that is, by definition, a tax decrease.
The town council approved a tentative millage rate of .9204, the same rate that has been in place for several years.
That is 7.85% less than the rolled-back rate of .9988 mills, according to filed documents. The rolled-back rate is a computed millage rate that would generate the same amount of ad valorem tax dollars as the prior fiscal year, based on the proposed year’s tax roll, excluding new construction. While Century’s tax rate will hold steady, it is by definition a tax decrease as it is lower than the rolled-back rate.
Property tax is expected to generate $59,680 for the town budget.
The town council also approved a $9,203,199 FY 2025-26 budget.
Both the tentative budget and millage rate passed unanimously .
‘Stupid And Sick’ – Escambia Man Charged With Exposing Himself To Children
September 23, 2025
An Escambia County man is facing felony charges for allegedly exposing himself to children.
Tyler Lee Hamilton, 25, was charged with indecent exposure – exposure of sexual organs and lewd and lascivious behavior be in two separate incidents that occurred on September 4 and September 9.
In both incidents, victims between 9 and 15 years old reported that they were walking, when they were approached by a white male driving a black car. According to the ECSO, surveillance video led investigators to identify the suspect as Hamilton, who is the registered owner of a black Ford Fusion.
“Stupid and sick,” Escambia Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “is what this is. I want to give credit to our investigators and analysts who worked tirelessly to identify the individual responsible. We will do whatever it takes to protect our children.”
Hamilton remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning without bond.
Mostly Sunny, Low 90s Today
September 23, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A chance of showers before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 84. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Escambia Man Sentenced For Manslaughter Of His Stepson
September 23, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced for shooting and killing his stepson.
Martin Everardo Cardenas was sentenced to 30 years in state prison. He was previously convicted of murder with a firearm by an Escambia County Jury in early August.
Prosecutors said that on the evening of November 8, 2023, Cardenas killed his stepson Ray Oehlerking, 47, by shooting him five times with a .45 caliber revolver. Two other people witnessed the shooting, one of whom was Cardenas’ former wife and Oehlerking’s mother. The shooting occurred in the home, just after the family had finished dinner.
According to the witnesses, there was no indication of any imminent violence, but Cardenas bumped into Oehlerking and said something unintelligible before walking off to his room. When Oehlerking followed Cardenas to the back of the house, Cardenas shot him. Cardenas testified and claimed he feared Oehlerking was going to kill him.
The State Attorney’s Office sadi Cardenas used special .45 caliber bullets designed and marketed as self-defense ammunition (R.I.P. or radically invasive projectile). Additionally, after shooting Oehlerking twice as he stood in the doorway of the room, Cardenas followed Oehlerking through the house to the kitchen, shooting him another three times, one of which was in the back of Oehlerking’s head.
FHP Investigation Fiery Fatal Pickup Crash In Northern Santa Rosa County
September 23, 2025
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate a fiery fatal crash that claimed the life of a man Sunday in northern Santa Rosa County.
FHP said a pickup truck traveling north on Williams Lake Road left the roadway and became fully engulfed in fire about 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Troopers have not released any further details.
File photo.
Woman Seriously Injured, Child Unharmed in Highway 97 Crash
September 22, 2025
A 24-year-old woman was seriously injured when she crashed her SUV into a tree on Highway 97 in Davisville Sunday night. A properly restrained child in the vehicle was not injured.
The crash occurred on Highway 97 about 8:13 p.m. about a half mile north of West Highway 4, just north of Pine Barren Church Road.
The woman’s northbound Mazda CX-5 SUV left the roadway for an unknown reason, struck a culvert and went airborne for about 60 feet. The SUV then traveled about 100 feet before striking an oak tree.
The woman and a 5-year-old child were transported by Escambia County EMS Pensacola hospital.
The crash is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Highway 29 Rollover Near Highway 97
September 22, 2025
Two people were injured in a rollover crash on Highway 29 near Highway 97 just before noon Sunday.
The collision involved a Mazda SUV and a Lexus sedan. The SUV overturned in the southbound lanes of Highway 29, coming to rest on its side. Both occupants suffered injuries that were not considered serious.
The driver of the Lexus pulled into the nearby Tom Thumb parking lot after the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released the cause of the crash. The Molino Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Tate High School Homecoming Parade
September 22, 2025
The Tate High School 2025 homecoming parade rolled through Pete Gindl Stadium Friday evening just before presentation of the homecoming court and the football team’s win over West Florida.
For a Tate Aggies homecoming parade photo gallery, click here.
RELATED STORIES AND GALLERIES
- Tate Aggies Beat West Florida 27-7 (With Photo Gallery)
- Tate High School Crowns Homecoming Queen Destiny Moorer (With Photo Gallery)
- Tate High Crowns Homecoming King Carson Hindsman
- Bonus Photos: Tate Cheerleaders, Fans, And More
NorthEscambai.com photos, click to enlarge.
