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.
Sue Parker Thomas
December 8, 2025
Sue Parker Thomas, 79, of Cantonment, Florida, joined a host of heavenly angels on December 4, 2025. She was born in Marianna, Florida, on September 19, 1946, to Charles McGowin Parker and Frances Cathey Parker, and grew up in Mexico Beach, Florida, where her father was the primary developer. She married Charles Gordon Thomas, Sr., of Port St. Joe, Florida, on November 1, 1968, after their courtship while students in the inaugural University of West Florida class.
Mrs. Thomas to hundreds, or Sue, was a beloved kindergarten teacher in Escambia County, Pensacola, Florida. Retiring after 35 years in the classroom, her accolades included being the Escambia County Teacher of the Year in 1988 and Outstanding Masters student while receiving her Masters in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Florida. Perhaps she is best known as “favorite teacher” to hundreds of former students. Her annual “Teddy Bear Tea Party”—held at her home and complete with a surprise visit from Santa—is but one example of the type of magic she created for the children in her care.
She was affectionately known as “Sue Baby” to her parents, and her dad was a Methodist Minister. She carried on his legacy of ministry by teaching art to the children of First United Methodist Church weekly for many years. “Miss Sue” worked tirelessly creating art lessons which combined techniques, themes, and inspiration from children’s books, bible stories, and famous artists like Monet and Van Gogh. The children’s creations were then used to create elaborate and exquisite art exhibits in the Henry Roberts Activity Center–some of which are on permanent display. Children of First Church loved getting to be in Miss Sue’s class, some even returning for years as her “helper” because they loved her so much.
Though she was a teacher to hundreds, “Mom” and “Gogi” were her favorite teaching roles. The same magic she created for students was created at home with elaborate Easter egg hunts for the neighborhood, Polar Express themed scavenger hunts for her grandchildren, making annual bunny cakes at Easter, and more. She never stopped teaching and creating special moments for those she loved, and she loved freely.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Charles McGowin Parker, Sr., and Frances Cathey Parker; a baby brother, Charles McGowin Parker, Jr.; and her precious niece, Frances Adkison Horton.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Charles Gordon Thomas, Sr.; daughter, Lalla Thomas Pierce (Walter) and son, Charles Gordon Thomas, Jr. “Chip,” (Kristin); sister Nan Parker Adkison (Vic), six grandchildren: Frances Sharp (Kenneth), Thomas Pierce, Gordon Pierce, Caroline Pierce, Chad Thomas (Katie), Missy Thomas, two great-grandchildren: Pierce Sharp and Theo Sharp, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First United Methodist Church Designated Funds (Memo: Children’s Ministries) or your favorite children’s charitable cause.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025, at First United Methodist Church Pensacola. Entombment will be held in First United Methodist Church columbarium. Pastors Geoffrey Lentz, Emily Kincaid, Henry Roberts, and Rick Branch to officiate the service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Neighborhood Watch Being Organized In Century; Meeting Monday
December 7, 2025
An organizational meeting will be held next week for a neighborhood watch group in Century.
The meeting is open to any interested person, not just residents in the Century town limits or the surrounding area.
“The group establishes its own size, but generally speaking it’s those living around the area where they meet,” said David Craig, community relations coordinator for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Attendees will learn not only how to keep a watchful eye on their community, but also how to protect themselves, Craig said.
They can learn how to establish a positive relationship with the Sheriff’s Office and get the most out of the agency,” he said. “They can hear information on how not to become a victim of crime, and how to have the mindset and behavior.”
Craig and Deputy Howard Enderson from the ECSO Mounted Posse will be the guest speakers at the meeting.
The Century Neighborhood Watch organizational meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, December 8 at 150 East Pond Street.
Chance Of Showers Sunday; Cool Down Early Week
December 7, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly between noon and 3pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 10 mph after midnight. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Good Samaritans Grab Saws, Open Blocked North Escambia Highway
December 7, 2025
North Highway 99 was completely blocked near Oak Grove late Friday, just north of Pine Barren Creek, after a tree fell across the roadway. However, thanks to the swift actions of several good Samaritans, the road was cleared without having to wait for a county crew to arrive.
Citizens, working together, managed to cut up the fallen tree and remove the debris from the highway. The cooperative effort and community spirit quickly restore the normal traffic flow as the hazard was removed from the county road.
An Escambia County Public Works crew removed the debris from the roadside Friday evening
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
