Theda Rae Warrick Bray
December 9, 2025
Theda Rae Warrick Bray, a resident of Jay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the age of 96. She was born on February 11, 1929.
A funeral service was held on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Jay First Baptist Church in Jay, Florida.
Arrangements were handled by Lewis Funeral Home Jay Cornerstone Chapel.
Lipscomb Elementary Names Students Of The Month
December 8, 2025
Lipscomb Elementary School recently named its Students of the Month for November. They are Naomi Truitt and Nyle Wright. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A Christmas Miracle: Tate High Hosts Miracle League’s Annual Christmas Party (With Gallery)
December 8, 2025
Santa visited with Miracle League of Pensacola players during their annual Christmas party Friday night at Tate High School.
For the past eight years, Tate Beta Club, sponsored by Stacye Litton, has hosted the Christmas Party for the athletes and the families. Numerous other Tate High student organizations and volunteers came together to put on the party including Early Childhood Education, Diamond Girls, Tate Theatre, Chorus, Gatsby Girls and S2S,.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Miracle League players were able to visit with Santa and share their wish lists, enjoy a spaghetti dinner, and take part in numerous activities.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Temporary Traffic Shift and Lane Reduction On I-10 Near Highway 29 Exit Tonight
December 8, 2025
I-10 westbound traffic will be reduced to one travel lane and shifted south, near the Highway 29 (Exit 10) exit between 8 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. The temporary traffic shift will allow crews to perform beam placement operations at the North Palafox Street overpass.
The speed limit is reduced to 50 mph through the work zone.
This work is part of a $236 million construction project designed to improve safety and capacity for the 62,000 drivers who travel the I-10 at U.S. 29 interchange daily. The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Low in The 30s Monday Night
December 8, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
New Subdivision Planned For Beulah Church Road
December 8, 2025
A new subdivision is being proposed for Beulah.
The 25-lot single family residential subdivision would be located on 9.9 acres on the south side of Beulah Church Road.
The application was filed by Hammond Engineering on behalf of developer Eric Patrick of B&W Utilities, Inc. in Cantonment. It states that there is one existing single-family residence on the property, which is located between Rebel Road and Beulah Road.
Rescheduled Tate Softball Winter Wonderland Little Aggies Camp Is Tuesday
December 8, 2025
Tate Aggies Softball will host the Winter Wonderland Little Aggies Camp on Tuesday, December 9 from 6-8 p.m at the Tate softball complex. It was rescheduled from last week due to weather.
The cost is $75 per player for 6U through eighth grade with a Santa hat and shirt included. Food and drink for players are included, and limited concessions will be available.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. To register online, click here.
Florida Gas Prices Down A Dime Over The Last Week
December 8, 2025
Florida gas prices have steadily declined over the past two weeks. During that time, the state average dropped 19 cents per gallon, falling from $3.12 per gallon to $ 2.92 per gallon.
According to AAA <Sunday’s state average of $2.92 per gallon is 10 cents less than last week, three cents more than last month, and 13 cents less than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average was $2.75 a gallon. Sunday night, a low of $2.52 was at a station on Chemstrand Road, and the North Escambia low was $2.56 at one station on Highway 29 in Cantonment.
“Drivers should expect gas prices to bounce back this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Over the past year, we’ve seen a consistent pattern: when prices fall for two straight weeks, they typically climb 10–20 cents shortly after. This is part of the normal price-cycling behavior, where retailers adjust prices to attract customers and stay competitive in the market. So far this year, Florida gas prices have bounced between $2.84 per gallon to $3.23.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Federal Prison For Escambia Man For Role In Drug Trafficking Operation From Texas
December 8, 2025
An Escambia County Man has been sentenced on federal charges for conspiracy to traffick drugs from Texas to Escambia County.
Charlie N. Steans, 58, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Court documents reflect that Steans was caught at a Greyhound Bus Station in Houston, Texas, with approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine hidden in his luggage in early 2023. He was able to bond out of a Texas state jail after being caught only to be arrested again in late-2024, this time on a Greyhound Bus in Mississippi heading toward Pensacola with nearly four kilograms of cocaine in his possession.
At that point, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions connected Steans to being an interstate transporter of large amounts of drugs between Texas and Florida with the drugs destined for Pensacola. Steans was then taken into federal custody based on charges out of the Northern District of Florida.
“Our agents and law enforcement partners will continue to fight those trafficking poisons into our Florida communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Whether by bus, tractor trailer, plane, or boat, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Pensacola Police Department; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Walter Dale Searcy
December 8, 2025
Walter Dale Searcy passed away Tuesday November 25th at home in Molino.
Dale was born in Pensacola, Florida on December 30, 1981. Dale severed in the Army National Guard and was an avid outdoorsman; he enjoyed spending time on the river and hiking through the woods and woodworking. He was a
Florida Gator and New Orleans Saints fan, and he also enjoyed cooking.
He is preceded in death by his mother Beverly Blankinship, niece Kelsy Smith and brother-in-law Mike Champitto.
He is survived by children Devin Searcy of Pensacola and Jasmine Searcy of Mansfield, MO.; siblings sister Marcella Champitto of Cantonment, and brothers Darin McLemore of Molino, Jon Mclemore (Shelia) of South Carolina and Paul Searcy of Pensacola; nieces and nephews Haley Mclemore, Tabetha Champitto, Cody McLemore, Evan Searcy and Jackson Searcy; granddaughter Mavis Rayne Kincheloe.
Dales wishes were to be cremated and have his ashes spread. Private services will be held at a later date.