Walnut Hill Man Charged With Battery, False Imprisonment
November 28, 2025
A Walnut Hill was charged with holding a woman against her will for hours and battery.
Andrew Kelly Freeman, 56, was charged with felony false imprisonment of a person and misdemeanor battery domestic violence.
The arrest followed an investigation initiated after a female victim reported the incident to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The alleged crimes took place at a residence in the Walnut Hill area between the afternoon of November 6 and the morning of November 7.
Freeman allegedly became irate when the victim took her dogs to the vet, but he was unable to track her phone location because her battery had died. Freeman tried to take her car keys, grabbed by the hair and threw her around the house, an arrest report states.
The report continues that the victim was allegedly held against her will inside a bedroom for several hours. The report details that the victim was eventually able to leave the home under the pretense of a doctor’s appointment and subsequently contacted the sheriff’s office.
Deputies met with the victim at the ECSO’s Century Precinct, where she provided a sworn statement and evidence, including an audio recording of the incident. The recording, which lasted approximately two and a half hours, allegedly captured the argument and sounds consistent with physical contact, along with the victim repeatedly asking the suspect to stop and stating that he was hurting her.
Deputies reported observing physical marks on the victim, including small lacerations and scratches, which were documented as part of the investigation.
Freeman would not meet with deputies but denied all allegations on the phone, stating that he never touched the victim and that her claims were false. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond
Monday Is The Payment Deadline For Property Tax Discount
November 28, 2025
Scott Lunsford, Escambia County Tax Collector, is reminding taxpayers that the four percent discount on real estate and tangible personal property tax payments ends Monday, December 1.
To receive the discount, payments must be:
- Mailed with a November postmark
- Dropped off by midnight, December 1, in any 24-hour drop box
- Paid online by midnight, December 1, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com
The tax collector’s office is closed Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Drop boxes are open 24-hours a day are located at all four locations:
- Molino — 6440 Highway 95-A North, Suite A, Molino
- Brentwood — 5045 N Palafox St, Pensacola
- Downtown — 213 Palafox Place, Pensacola
- Warrington — 4051 Barrancas Avenue, Suite A, Pensacola
Taxpayers are encouraged to use the virtual office at EscambiaTaxCollector.com, available 24/7. Current taxes can be paid online by eCheck with no additional fee. Customers who prefer to visit one of our four offices may drop off payments in the drive-thru or in any exterior drop box.
Farm-City: Volunteers Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner For 1,000 Needy Families
November 28, 2025
Earlier this week, students and volunteers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties worked in fields near Jay to harvest vegetables that will help feed about 1,000 needy families for Thanksgiving.
The event at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center is part of Farm to City Week and brought the bounty of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences farm to the needy in the city.
The students were from agricultural programs and organizations, including FFA members from local schools.
The produce was distributed to 500 families in Escambia County and 500 more in Santa Rosa County along with a turkey and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal from Feeding the Gulf Coast and the Waterfront Rescue Mission.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Arrested On Contraband, Drug Charges Near Atmore Prison
November 28, 2025
Four people were arrested in an alleged attempt to introduce phones and drugs into the Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore on Wednesday.
At 6:50 p.m. Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) K-9 agents responded to the incident. An unidentified male had been observed throwing a package over the fence. The suspect was then observed getting into a gray car and leaving the property. The vehicle was later stopped on I-65, and four people were arrested.
ADOC said seven cell phones and about 221 grams of marijuana were recovered.
Suspects Sylvia Turner, Shelby Turner, Jacory Mitchell, and Jayden Armstrong were transported to the Escambia County Jail without incident and charged with distribution of marijuana, possession of marijuana, prohibited activity, and promotion of prison contraband. Their mugshots were not available at time of publication from the jail.
Officials said the investigation is continuing and additional charges may be pending.
Tate Aggies Hosting Tournament State Semifinals Tonight
November 28, 2025
The Tate Aggies will host the Chiles Timberwolves at 6:30 Friday night in the state semifinals of the Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT)
The No. 2 Aggies (9-3) are headed into the round three game after a close 21-19 win November 20 over the Bartram Trail Bears, while No. 5 Chiles (8-4) beat Land O’Lakes 28-7 last week.
Tickets are available on GoFan. Season passes are not valid. The Tate Quarterback Club will be selling chili with cheese, hot chocolate, sodas and candy.
The winner will advance to the FIT championship December 4 against either Dr. Joaquin Garcia High or Westwood High on Thursday, December 4 at The Villages High School in Sumterville.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Bartram Trail last week in the FIT regional finals at Tate. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny, Middle 50s Friday; Back In The 30s Friday Night
November 28, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind around 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
UWF’s Nobles Named Region 2 Coach of the Year
November 28, 2025
UWF Argos Head Coach Kaleb Nobles has been named the American Football Coaches Association Region Two Coach of the Year.
Nobles led the Argos to a 9-1 record in the regular season and a No. 2 seed in Super Region Two for the NCAA postseason. UWF had its best start in program history with a 9-0 record heading into the final game of the regular season. The Argos defeated three nationally ranked teams during the win streak, including wins over No.14 Lenoir-Rhyne, No. 8 West Alabama, and No. 15 Delta State.
UWF was nationally ranked all season and jumped to No. 3 in the country where it remained for the majority of the season.
Last week Nobles earned his first career playoff win when West Florida defeated North Greenville 43-19 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championships.
The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners in each of the Association’s five divisions: Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. The winners are selected by Active members of the Association who vote for coaches in their respective regions and divisions.
The season continues for Nobles and the Argos on Saturday, Nov. 29 when the team hosts No. 3 Newberry at PenAir Field at 1 p.m.
Connie Lee Pilkington
November 28, 2025
Connie Lee Pilkington, 78, of Pensacola, FL, went home to the Lord on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Connie was born January 9, 1947, to the late Alonzo Lee and Mary Lee May Garrison in Centerville, IA. where she lived until a family move to Sigourney in 1960. Sigourney was home for Connie through her high school graduation in the summer of ’65. Connie worked as a Church Administrator for the majority of her life, retiring in 2005. When her husband Bob retired in 2007, they began traveling for longer periods of time visiting with Pensacola, FL family, Texas friends and Quincy, CA family. In 2015 they sold their home in Rock Island, IL and purchased a home in Pensacola, FL -trading white snow for white sand. Connie and Bob continued to travel, but with Pensacola as home base- enjoying seasonal travels to Texas and California and long summers along the Mississippi River in Iowa/Illinois. Connie was an avid reader, she enjoyed refinishing furniture, crafting, and loved a cozy campfire. She so loved cooking and baking her famous recipes for family and friends.
Connie is survived by her husband of 32 years Robert; daughter, Angela (Brent); son, Michael (Tonia); stepdaughter, Rebecca (Justin); stepson, Jeff (Nancy); 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held 10:00am, Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, Pensacola, FL.
A Memorial Service in Iowa will be held at 10:00am Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Holm Funeral Home in Sigourney, IA, with a committal service immediately following at Pennington Cemetery.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Brent Lane, Carson DeFerrari, Jarrett Scully, Justin Leer, Kyle Leer, Jacob Pilkington.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Alisha Watson (Ascension Sacred Heart Medical), and Travis (Ascension Sacred Heart ER) Vitas Hospice.
Federal Sentence For Escambia Man On Firearms Charges
November 28, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison on firearms charges.
Donavon Idris Ellis, 27, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Court documents reflect that a search warrant was executed at the his residence in March 2024, during which law enforcement found and seized two loaded firearms, boxes of bulk ammunition, and multiple magazines, including a large capacity drum magazine. Ellis admitted to law enforcement that the two firearms were his. In 2021, Ellis was of three federal counts of distribution of carfentanil.
Mary Lou Jernigan
November 28, 2025
Mary Lou Jernigan , 84, of Molino, Florida, passed away Saturday, November 22, 2025. She was born in Brewton, Alabama, on November 9, 1941, to Bessie Smith and Clinton Janes. Mary Lou was married to Freddie Leon Jernigan. She was a school bus driver for Escambia County Schools. Mary Lou had a passion for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by Bessie Smith, Clinton Janes, Freddie Leon Jernigan, John Thomas Janes, Sr., John Thomas Janes, Jr., Walter Lee Janes, Lillie Merle Chavers, Carolyn Durham, Richard Smith, Mitchel Durham, Heather Renee Daniel, Samuel Hunter Jernigan and Mitchell McDaniel.
Mary Lou is survived by her sons, Samuel Craig Jernigan and John Casey Jernigan; daughters, Chris Janes, Rhonda Janes, Shirley Renee Daniel (Jimmy), and Peggy Smith (Tony); grandchildren, Stephen, Brittany, Leon, Catherine, Gracie, Kristen, William and Nicole; great grandchildren, Bella, John Robert, Harry, Harper, AJ, Cali, Brooklyn, Michael, Walker, Tyler, Mikeriah and Michael; brother, Bill Janes; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 9:00 AM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Pastor Mike Mashburn will be officiating. Interment will be in Whitmire Cemetery.