Beulah Man, Who Worked As School Custodian, Charged With Child Sex Crimes
October 21, 2025
A Beulah man who was working as a school custodian has been charged with trying to lure a child for sex.
Chad Lane Wren, age 56 of Beulah Road, was charged with soliciting or luring a child to engage in sexual conduct, traveling to meet a child for obscene purposes, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
All of the charges filed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are felonies. He remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
Wren resigned from his position of custodian at Blue Angel Elementary School.
“The safety and wellbeing of all students is our primary concern,” Escambia County Public Schools said in a statement. “The appropriate actions have been taken by your school district and law enforcement will follow through on these charges.”
FDLE Charges Gang Associate With Scheme To Smuggle Drugs Into Prisons Across Florida
October 21, 2025
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has charged a Miami man with a scheme to smuggle drugs into state prisons in Florida.
FDLE charged Dimy Paraison, 52, with a long list of serious felonies.
The 15-month investigation began in June 2024 when the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office (SRCSO) requested FDLE to assist in a drug smuggling investigation. A number of arrests made in Santa Rosa and Escambia County were identified involving the introduction of contraband through inmate visits.
During the investigation, Paraison was identified as an associate of the ZOE Pound Gang, a Haitian Criminal Street Gang. His position was to recruit individuals to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into several Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities throughout Northwest Florida.
Throughout the investigation, agents and DOC staff seized approximately 387 grams of substituted cathinones (bath salts), 1.2kg of marijuana, over 190 grams of Spice (synthetic cannabis), 123 strips of LSD, over 180 grams of methamphetamine, over 500 grams of tobacco, and four cell phones.
In February 2025, Paraison was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) on his way to a contraband drop at a DOC Facility. He attempted to flee, and was arrested after a vehicle pursuit. He is currently in custody at Alachua County Jail.
FDLE charged Paraison with
- continuing a criminal enterprise (life felony)
- introduction of contraband (2nd degree felony)
- conspiracy to introduce contraband (3rd degree felony)
- conspiracy to traffic controlled substances (1st degree felony)
- trafficking in controlled substances (substituted cathinone) (1st degree felony)
- trafficking in controlled substances (methamphetamine) (1st degree felony)
- possession wits or deliver cannabis (3rd degree felony)
- use two-way communication device to facilitate a felony (3rd degree felony)
- money laundering (3rd degree felony)
Paraison’s bond was set for $1.5 million. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
FDLE said the investigation is ongoing and active.
Students At 28 Escambia County School Can Qualify For Free Eye Exams, Glasses
October 21, 2025
A non-profit vision program is offering free eye exams and glasses to students at 28 schools in Escambia County.
The program is through the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, a subsidiary of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, and provides comprehensive eye examinations with prescription glasses when needed at no cost to the family. It is funded by entities that include the Florida Department of Health and the Lions Clubs International Foundation.
“Each participating school must have at least 30 approved applicants in order to provide the service,” said Escambia County Public Schools Health Services Coordinator Betty Hagans, MSN, RN. ” I am hopeful that many students will benefit from this program.”
The program is available to qualified students in the following schools:
- A.K. Suter Elementary School
- Bellview Elementary School
- Bellview Middle School
- Beulah Elementary School
- Blue Angel Elementary School
- Bratt Elementary School
- Ensley Elementary School
- Ernest Ward Middle School
- Ferry Pass Elementary School
- Ferry Pass Middle School
- Holm Elementary School
- Hope Horizon Academy
- Jim Bailey Middle School
- Lincoln Park Elementary School
- Lipscomb Elementary School
- McArthur Elementary School
- Molino Park Elementary School
- Montclair Elementary School
- Myrtle Grove Elementary School
- Navy Point Elementary School
- Oakcrest Elementary School
- O.J. Semmes Elementary School
- Pensacola High School
- Pine Meadow Elementary School
- Pleasant Grove Elementary School
- Sherwood Elementary School
- Weis Elementary School
- West Pensacola Elementary School
Need to Know Info:
Florida students at a listed school
Low Income
Pre-k through 12 grade
Can reapply every school year
6-12 week processing time
All information is kept confidential and not shared with any other entity.
Melissa Venable Named Kingsfield Elementary Teacher Of The Year
October 21, 2025
v has been named the Kingsfield Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
From the school:
Family and friends are proud to celebrate Melissa Venable, who was recently named Teacher of the Year at Kingsfield Elementary.
With 18 years of teaching experience, Melissa has spent most of her career in kindergarten, shaping young minds with patience and love. When she was moved to 5th grade, she embraced the change with grace, humor, and heart. She’s known for her kindness, wit, and willingness to help anyone. Always putting others before herself.
This recognition is well-deserved for a teacher who gives her all to her students and school every single day.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First Stage Of $3.5 Million In Sewage Lift Station Upgrades Now Online In Century
October 21, 2025
Work is continuing on an $8 million wastewater improvement project in Century, with the first of four lift stations being replaced for $3.5 million.
The lift station located at the rear of the Century Woods Apartments on West Highway 4 (pictured above) is now online.
Lift stations are pumps that move sewage and wastewater to high elevations when gravity alone cannot achieve the necessary flow to a point such as the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Without functioning lift stations, sewage would back up into homes and businesses.
The total $8 million project, including $5.5 million for the treatment plant, is being funded by a loan with 90% of the principal to be forgiven, leaving Century responsible for repaying just 10% of the total amount to the state’s revolving loan fund.
The project includes four lift stations located at:
- West Highway 4 (pictured below, just west of the community center)
- Century Woods Apartments (now online at the rear of the complex)
- Pond and Jefferson intersection
- Century Correctional Institution
Additional projects will be forthcoming to replace other lift stations around the town.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Low 80s Tuesday, Tuesday Night Back In The 50s
October 21, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Northview Tribal Beat Band Receives Excellent Ratings
October 21, 2025
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band received excellent ratings across all categories recently at the Florida Bandmasters Association Marching MPA.
This was the highest overall rating at the Marching MPA that the band has achieved since 2021.
NorthEscabia.com file photo.
Edward ‘Ed’ Fleming Lambert
October 21, 2025
Edward “Ed” Fleming Lambert, age 84, of Irvington, AL, passed away on October 17, 2025, in Atmore, AL. Edward was born on August 22, 1941, to Dubose Collins Lambert and Ruby Lee Woods Lambert in Atmore, AL. Edward served in the United States Army and was a retired master ellectrician.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Opal Burroughs Lambert; and his sister, Frances Marie Lambert Biggs. Ed is survived by his daughters, Cheryll “Cherrie” (Steven) Yarnot of Anchorage, AK and Donna Rider (Rodney Albright) of Wasilla, AK; his brothers, Sherrel Lambert of Atmore, AL and Norman Lambert of Perdido, AL; his grandchildren: Elizabeth Schlueter, Lindsey
Rudolph, and Nicholas Yarnot, and a host of family and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 12 Noon at Johnson- Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Joe White officiating. Interment will follow in Woods/Mothershed Cemetery in Atmore, AL, with Military Honors. Active pallbearers will be Norman C. Lambert, Dennis Biggs, Ronnie Lambert, Rodney Biggs, Trent Lambert, John Lambert, Danny Lambert, and Martin Holmes.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. until service time at noon at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore, AL.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Shift To Winter Staffing, Towers Off The Beach
October 21, 2025
The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have shifted to winter staffing levels and lifeguard towers have been removed from the beach until the 2026 lifeguard season. Lifeguards will maintain a presence on Pensacola Beach throughout the winter at Casino Beach and via patrol vehicles.
Escambia County said residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution when visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf, especially when lifeguards are not present.
Follow the posted beach condition flag warnings:
Green flag – Low Hazard: Generally calms surf and currents
Yellow flag – Medium Hazard: Moderate surf and/or currents
Red flag – High Hazard: High surf and/or dangerous currents; beach patrons are encouraged to remain out of the water
Double red flag - Water Closed: No swimming or wading
Purple flag – Stinging Marine Life: Flown when jellyfish, Portuguese man o’war or other stinging marine life are present
Crash Involving Two Pickups Seriously Injures Two Flomaton Residents Near Century Prison
October 20, 2025
A crash involving two pickup trucks seriously injured two Flomaton residents early Monday morning on Tedder Road, between North Century Boulevard and the Century Correctional Institution.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 50-year-old man was traveling east on Tedder Road about 5:45 a.m. when he failed to maintain a single lane. The front driver’s side of his pickup collided with the front driver’s side of a westbound pickup driven by a 37-year-old Flomaton woman with a 7-year-old male passenger.
The at-fault pickup driven by the 50-year-old, overturned and landed on its passenger side, blocking Tedder Road. The second pickup came to a stop on the side of the road.
Both drivers were seriously injured. One was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital. The second was transported by Escambia County EMS. The young boy was not injured.
The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
FHP investigated the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
