Clear, Near Freezing Tonight
February 16, 2025
Here is the complete North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 10 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light north in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Showers, mainly after midnight. Low around 46. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Fluoride In Drinking Water? ECUA Board Members Want Public Input
February 16, 2025
The debate on the addition of fluoride to drinking water is coming to the forefront once again, and at least two ECUA board members are looking for public input.
The ECUA board vote in 1998 to add fluoride to drinking water after 58% of Escambia County voters supported the addition in a referendum.
Now, ECUA District 5 board member Kevin Stevens wants to know what ECUA customers think about fluoride in the water as the board discusses the issue once again. He said Saturday that he’s spent a lot of time researching the issue and has heard from the pros and cons from both sides of the issue. He said he wants to know what the residents of the county, particularly District 5, think.
“I do agree that it is time,” Stephens said at the January ECUA board meeting about asking for public input. “It’s been 27 years ago since they had that input…I personally would like to see the public weigh in on this. Then, based on that, we make a determination.”
District 4 board member Dale Perkins, who was on the ECUA board when the fluoridation decision was made in 1998, said he agrees it would be good to have public input again. He suggested that those for, or against, try to get another referendum on an upcoming general election ballot.
“See what the general public think, and if there’s a strong desire to take it out, the look at that,” Perkins said, adding that he believes fluoride is beneficial based upon both personal experience and science.
“If the citizens of the county voted again in a referendum that they really want it out of the water, I’d really take that seriously. That would probably change my position on it,” Perkins added. “I would encourage and certainly not oppose a referendum.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been confirmed as President Donald Trump’s head of the Department of Health and Human Services, sparked debate after referencing a study that found an association between I.Q. levels and fluoridated drinking water.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has advised local governments to stop adding fluoride to water supplies across the state. He even called it “public health malpractice.” He said fluoride “increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disease in children and reduces their IQ.”
ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody said late last year that the while the EPA regulates the maximum level in drinking water, the agency does not require any minimum level.
“We depend strongly on recommendations that comes from the scientific community, the EPA, CDC and other bodies,” Woody said at a recent ECUA board meeting. ” So we will be very curious and watching very closely as they provide further guidance as this gets studied.”
The American Dental Association and the CDC still recommend fluoride in public drinking water to prevent tooth decay.
“Studies continue to show that widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system,” the CDC said. “Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.”
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Cantonment Man Arrested for Alleged Felony Contractor Fraud
February 16, 2025
A Cantonment man has been arrested for allegedly committing fraud by taking payment for a construction service he never provided.
According to an arrest report, 41-year-old Jason Weiss entered into an agreement on June 13, 2023, to install sod at a residence in Escambia County. The homeowner wrote Weiss a check for $2,872, but after several months, the sod was never installed, and the money was not refunded, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The report states that the victim made multiple attempts to contact Weiss, who allegedly provided excuses but failed to deliver the service. On March 30, 2024, the victim sent a certified letter demanding a refund, but no response was received. The letter’s receipt and a copy of the demand were submitted as evidence.
Law enforcement reviewed the case and issued a warrant for Weiss’s arrest. The suspect did not respond to phone calls from investigator, the report states.
Weiss was charged with a third degree felony and released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Beulah Ag, FFA Students Create 200 Valentine’s Arrangements For Nursing Home Residents
February 16, 2025
The agricultural students and FFA members at Beulah Middle School made Valentine’s Day a little happier for residents of two different nursing homes.
They created 200 floral arrangements to share with the nursing home residents Not only did they learn to share love, but they also learned about the floriculture industry, according to organizers.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Thousands Attend Pensacon (With Gallery)
February 16, 2025
Tens of thousands of people attended the first two days of the Pensacon Friday and Saturday at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The event will continue Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Pensacon 2025 is an all-inclusive event that encompasses the many genres of pop culture and the fan community, including sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comics, anime, gaming, comedy, music and much more.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Perry Doggrell and Sheri Hendon for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Students Take Home Awards in Escambia County History Fair
February 16, 2025
The recent Escambia County History Fair showcased entries from students who had advanced from school-level competitions. These entries spanned various categories, including exhibits, websites, performances, documentaries, and historical papers.
The Junior League of Pensacola sponsors the J. Earle Bowden Young Historian Award for Outstanding Senior Entry which was presented to Sarah Tanveer of PHS, for her historical paper titled, “From Atrocity to Accountability: The Doctors’ Trial Impact on Medical Humanitarian Law.”
The Katherine Pomeroy Memorial Award for Outstanding Junior Entry in 2025 was awarded to Avery Smith (Beulah Elementary) for her website, “IDEA: Bridge to Academic Equality.”
The first- and second-place winners in the junior and senior categories (listed below) will advance to the state history fair competing this May.
Historical Exhibit Awards
Elementary Group Division
3rd place “Sorosis: of Women, by Women, for Women,” Harper VanLandingham and Austyn Hoxworth (Beulah Elementary)
Junior Individual Division
3rd place “The Montgomery Bus Boycott,” Jackson Loyed (Beulah Academy of Science)
Junior Group Division
2nd place “The Rights and Responsibilities of the Titanic,” Darby Walker and Kinsley Lukas (Ransom Middle School)
3rd place “The Great Emu War,” Emery Truitt, Brayden Scales, and Weston Wagner (Ransom Middle School)
Senior Individual Division
1st place “China’s One Child Policy,” Brandy Li (Pensacola High School)
2nd place “Teacher Unions: Who’s Responsible for the Rights of Educators?” Jude Poller (Booker T. Washington High School)
Senior Group Division
1st place “Bhagat Singh Thind v. US Supreme Court (1932),” Sudhishna Gampa and Hasini Kandala (Pensacola High School)
2nd place “The Chicago Tylenol Murders of 1982,” Virain Nanda and Naren Yerramsetty (Pensacola High School)
Historical Documentary Awards
Senior Individual Documentary Division
1st place “The Montreal Protocol: Environmental Movements that Work,” Lark Keckler (Pensacola High School)
2nd place “The Right to Education,” Myles Robinson (Booker T. Washington High School)
Senior Group Documentary Division
2nd place “America’s Bombing of Japan; A Turning Point in History,” Berkeley Henderson and Michael O’Brien (Pensacola High School)
Historical Paper Awards
Senior Division
1st place “From Atrocity to Accountability: The Doctors’ Trial Impact on Medical Humanitarian Law,” Sarah Tanveer (Pensacola High School)
2nd place “Informed Consent from Shloendorff to Canterbury: The Patient’s Right to Know and the Doctor’s Responsibility to Inform,” David Knoblock (Pensacola High School)
3rd place “History of Vaccine Mandates,” Roxanna Boland (Pensacola High School)
Historical Website Awards
Elementary Division
1st place “IDEA: Bridge to Academic Equality,” Avery Smith (Beulah Elem)
Junior Group Division
2nd place “Prohibition Era,” Micah Doyle, Hunter McLaughlin, and Isaiah McHenry (Ransom Middle School)
Senior Individual Websites
1st place “ Book Bans in Schools: Turning the Page on Censorship,” Lillien Williams
(Pine Forest High School)
2nd place “Breaking the Pace, Beyond the Finish Line: Katherine Switzer and the Boston Marathon” Sarah Boyles (Pensacola High School)
3rd place “Sati: Sacred Tradition to Social Revolution” Shrinithi Sridhar (Pensacola High School)
Senior Group Websites
1st place “The West Virginia Coal Wars: The Hardships for Unionizing And Labor Rights,” Michala Holland and Alexia Wilcox (Pine Forest High School)
2nd place “Rights and Responsibilities – Bill of Rights,” Jordan Dahms and Audreyanna Price (Pine Forest High School)
Historical Performance Awards
Elementary Individual Division
1st place “Title IX,” Callie Griffith (NB Cook Elem.)
2nd place “Rosa Parks: An Amazing Civil Rights Activist,” Gunner Knight (NB Cook Elem.)
Tie 3rd place “Susan B. Anthony,” Bellamy Lobley (NB Cook Elem.)
Tie 3rd place “Jackie Robinson: Breaking the Color Barrier in the MLB,” Jayden King (NB Cook Elem.)
Elementary Group Division
1st place “Miranda Rights and How They Affect You,” Balian Gregory, Casey Herzberg, Roark Robledo, and Liam Van Horn (NB Cook Elem.)
2nd place “Ruth Bader Ginsberg: Rights and Responsibilities,” Olivia Yasunaga, Victoria Owens, Major Johnson, and Riley Durre, (NB Cook Elem.)
3rd place “Women’s Voting Rights: A Difficult Fight” Peighton Schmidtke, Sloane Genest, and Kalani Thompson, (NB Cook Elem.)
Senior Individual Performance
1st place “A Court for the Creeks: How Seven Men Set in Motion a 150-Year Battle,” Aya Prince (Pensacola High School)
2nd place “Alice Paul and the Struggle for Women’s Rights,” Sydney Burkey, (Booker T. Washington HS)
Escambia County Seeks Volunteer for Planning Board Appointment
February 16, 2025
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than noon; however, occasionally may go beyond noon depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board are asked to submit a resume indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Tuesday, February 25. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Rachel Whitmire; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, FL 32505; or emailed to rwhitmire@myescambia.com.
The term for this vacancy is February 16, 2023 until February 16, 2025.
All submittals are subject to public records requests.
Patricia Powell Freeman
February 16, 2025
Patricia Powell Freeman, age 77, of Atmore, AL passed away on February 13, 2025. She was born on February 5, 1948, in Bratt, FL to Johnnie and Mary Gay Powell. Patricia was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She was an avid Alabama fan and loved fishing. She enjoyed gardening and doing yardwork. She took pride in her yard and flowers and hated potato vines. Patricia was a perfectionist!
During her employment life, Patricia held many titles. She was employed at Elmore’s 5 & Dime, Bonner Printing, Dr. St. Amant’s Office, a Manager of Movie Gallery, a Bookkeeper with Freeman Builders Construction Company, a Lab Tech with Greenlawn Hospital, and a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant.
Patricia loved her grands and great-grands with her whole heart. She followed the grandkids to ALL of their sporting events, can’t ever remember her missing an event. Patricia was the “Boss” of the family, the “Backbone” of the family. She was everyone’s “go-to” person, family lawyer, family doctor, and family counselor before her health declined.
Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, Johnnie Powell and Mary Gay Powell; her brother, Wayne Powell; her grandson, Stephen Breyden Freeman; great-niece, Anna Grace Stanley; and her brothers-in-law, Shorty Tyree and Damon Bell.
Patricia is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Bobby Freeman; her son, Steve Freeman of Atmore, AL and her daughter, Kathy (Hub) Wilson of Bratt, FL; her grandchildren, Trent (Jessica) Freeman, Alex (Harrison) McDonald, Brannon (Grayson) Freeman, Aaron (Lacey) McDonald, Chasen (Hannah) Freeman, and Tyler (Marissa) Wilson; her great-grandchildren, Leighton Freeman, Parker Freeman, Sawyer Freeman, Knox Freeman, Miles Freeman and one on the way; her sisters and brother, Mary Alice Turner of Saraland, AL, Glenda Bell of Atmore, AL, Linda (Tony) Wooten of Atmore, AL, Billy Powell of Atmore, AL, and Rita Powell of Atmore, AL; special best friends, Dr. Frances D. Salter and Diane Jerkins; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Larry Beauchamp and Bro. Michael Roley officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL.
Active pallbearers will be Trent Freeman, Brannon Freeman, Aaron McDonald, Tyler Wilson, Chasen Freeman, and Harrison Kase.
Visitation will be held Sunday, February 16, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
William Joseph (Bill) Brewster
February 16, 2025
William Joseph (Bill) Brewster, a solitary man, died on 13 February 2025, as a result of a fall one year earlier, in which he broke his hip and never recovered.
Bill was born in 1947, the second year of the Baby Boomers, at Pensacola’s Baptist Hospital and grew up “in the country” in and around Cantonment, Florida, long before it became a bedroom community of Pensacola. Bill was the middle son of his late parents, Robbye Lee Estes Brewster, 1916-1999 and Joe McCall Brewster, 1914-1985.
Bill and his brothers learned early in life the lessons of hard labor and striving for perfection from their father, who put them to work on the homestead every Saturday morning. Bill grew up, and was baptized in, Gonzalez United Methodist Church, where his mother taught an adult Sunday School class for many years.
He graduated Tate High, Class of 1965, then graduated as a cadet from Marion Military Institute (est. 1842), Class of 1967, during the height of the Vietnam War. He then attended the University of Florida where he had too much fun and then he transferred to, and graduated from, William Carey University. He remained a true Gator fan until his death.
After working in retail for a number of years, he returned to the University of West Florida, where he earned his third college degree. Thereafter, he ran his own lawn and landscape company, as a one-man operation. Later, he taught as a substitute teacher for a while and then returned to working in retail.
He is survived by his two brothers, Tom E. Brewster (and wife Pam) of Pensacola Beach, James R. Brewster of Tallahassee, three nephews and two nieces, along with numerous Estes cousins. His brothers and sister-in-law, Pam, visited him often while he was in rehab for nearly a year; and Pam cared for, and comforted, him when he was on his death bed. His brothers said their goodbyes to Bill, face to face, on the Saturday preceding his death.
No services are currently planned. The disposition of the body is being handled by Faith Chapel Funeral Home. The family thanks all of the care-givers involved in treating Bill. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice or the charity of your choice.
Severe Storms Likely Early Sunday Morning
February 15, 2025
There is now an enhanced (level 3 of 5) risk of severe storms late Saturday night into early Sunday morning for the entire area.
Damaging winds of 70 mph or more are possible, along with a few strong (EF2 or greater) tornadoes. The storms may reach the extreme northwestern corner of Escambia County, Florida, (including Walnut Hill, Bratt and Nokolis) before midnight, but the storms are likely between 1 a.m. and 6 a.. for most of the county.
There is a wind advisor in effect through 6 a.m. Sunday with strong winds ahead of a cold front, gusting to 45 mph. There is also a gale warning at the coast.
Did you know? We post live updates during weather warnings on our Facebook page.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Overnight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and midnight, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 57. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 62 by 11am, then falling to around 55 during the remainder of the day. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 10 mph.
Washington’s Birthday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 47. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Showers, mainly before noon. High near 59. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 26.