Sunny Hot Days, Mild Nights Ahead
September 3, 2025
A high pressure system will remain in control over the next few days, bringing a stretch of clear, sunny weather to the North Escambia area. Temperatures will steadily climb, reaching the low 90s by Friday. Expect light winds and comfortable nights, making for ideal conditions to enjoy the outdoors.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. 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 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Two Suspects In Retail Boot Theft
September 3, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking two suspects in connection with alleged retail thefts from The Boot Store in late August.
Deputies said 50-year-old LaCarter Millionder and 49-year-old Angel Scott were caught on video taking merchandise from the store on August 22.
The store alleges that $1,000 in boots were stolen from the business on Pine Forest Road.
Deputies said Milloder already had active warrants for thefts and violation of community control, while Scott was already wanted on three active warrants for petit theft, which have now been upgraded to felonies.
The Boot Store originally alleged in a social media post that a third individual was involved in the thefts, but the ECSO said Tuesday that she was not.
“Upon reviewing the store’s video surveillance, it was determined that the white female previously posted to The Boot Store social media page as a ‘potential suspect’ was not involved in any theft and did not appear to be working in conjunction with Millionder and Scott,” the ECSO said in a statement.
Former Rep. Dave Murzin Inks Contract As Century’s First Town Administrator
September 3, 2025
Former state Rep. Dave Murzin signed his employment contract as Century’s first town administrator Tuesday night after the town council unanimously approved his employment.
He will be paid $112,000 per year plus benefits using funds allocated in the town’s annual budget.
Murzin represented District 2 in the Florida House from 2002 until 2010 when he was term-limited. Before serving in the Florida House, he was a legislative aide to Florida House Majority Leader Jerry Maygarden and then worked as Northwest Florida director for State Sen Greg Evers. In 2014, he made the shortlist of candidates for the Florida Public Service Commission.
He has extensive experience in legislative leadership, economic development, and disaster recovery, having worked closely with local governments across Northwest Florida. He currently is a director of First Place Partners, representing economic development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“I’m ready to get to work to make Century a better place,” Murzin said Tuesday night.
“One of the things that originally brought us to the need for a town administrator was transparency,” Dynette Lewis, president of the Century Town Council, said Tuesday night. “That’s one of the things that we need — transparency. We need to know exactly what’s going on; we need somebody that’s able to dissect our items, break down the agenda items, and let us know what the recommendation is, and we need to know what the financial impact is.”
In a meeting last week, Florida Sen. Don Gaetz praised Murzin and Mayor (Ben) Boutwell for being in a position to make progress for the town.
“Now I believe that Century has every reason to go forward and be progressive,” Gaetz said. “It is because we have Mayor (Ben) Boutwell and we have representative (Dave) Murzin. We have their city council who are getting things done and moving the city forward.”
Century interim town manager Howard Brown’s final day will be Friday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Mark Your Calendars: Date Set For Beulah Christmas Parade
September 3, 2025
Mark you calendar — the date has been set for this year’s Beulah Christmas Parade.
The parade will roll at 1 p.m. on Saturday December 6.
Registration will open in late October.
Pictured: The 2024 Beulah Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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.