Molino Man Charged With Grand Theft, Dealing In Stolen Property For Alleged Wire Theft
September 17, 2025
A Molino man is facing felony charges after he allegedly stole copper wire from a neighbor and sold it for cash.
Nicholas Allen Jones, 32, was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property.
The investigation began in August when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a report of stolen scrap copper wire from a residence on Pine Circle Drive. The victim reported that a large pile of copper wire, valued at approximately $4,000, had been taken from behind a shed. The victim also noted that a fence near the pile had been pushed down and a piece of wire was found in the neighbor’s yard on Highway 97.
According to an arrest report, the a relative of the suspect, who lives on Highway 97, told the victim that the likely perpetrator was Nicholas Jones, who had a known drug problem. A follow-up investigation by law enforcement included speaking with the victim’s wife, who provided recordings of phone calls from Jones. In the recordings, Jones allegedly admitted to making an “extremely stupid decision” and wanted to make restitution for the stolen wire, stating he stole it because of his drug addiction and need for money, the report states.
Jones also allegedly gave his relative $240 to begin paying the victim back. This money was collected by deputies and submitted as evidence.
When deputies made contact with Jones, they said he was cooperative and remorseful, stating, “Yes, I made a stupid mistake”. Jones confessed to deputies that due to a money shortage and his drug addiction, he had stolen the copper wire over a two-week period, selling it to two different recycling companies. Jones provided deputies with five receipts from a recycling company, totaling $1,940.54, and stated he also received about $8.00 from a recycling company in Atmore.
According to the ECSO, the total estimated value of the stolen wire was $4,000.
He was released from jail on a $22,500 bond.
Hot Days And Mild Nights Continue
September 17, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tate High’s Morgan Landreneau Named Beyond START Mentor of the Month
September 17, 2025
Escambia County Public Schools’ Professional Learning Department had recognized Morgan Landreneau of Tate High School as the September Beyond START Mentor of the Month.
“Morgan exemplifies the spirit of mentorship by providing consistent guidance, encouragement, and instructional support to the teachers she serves. Her dedication ensures that our alternative certification pathway educators feel welcomed, prepared, and empowered to succeed in the classroom,” Principal Laura Touchstone said.
“Through her commitment to building strong relationships and modeling best practices, Morgan is making a lasting impact on both her colleagues and the students of Tate High School. We are grateful for her leadership, positivity, and willingness to go above and beyond in supporting our mission of excellence in education,” Touchstone added.
Beyond START provides school-based mentors for alternatively certified teachers in their second year and beyond. The mentors serve as support for those teachers and help them to complete their requirements towards a professional certification.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Interstate Drug Trafficking Operation
September 17, 2025
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for an interstate drug trafficking operation.
Jafari J. Williams, 48, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents reflect that Williams was identified during a federal wiretap investigation conspiring with others regarding shipments of cocaine coming from Texas. During execution of a search warrant of a building where Williams maintained his contraband in Pensacola, law enforcement seized approximately seven and a half kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of methamphetamine, drug distribution paraphernalia, an AR-15-style rifle, and approximately $10,000 in United States currency.
“I am incredibly proud of the excellent collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that dismantled this drug trafficking operation, and this successful prosecution ensures this offender will be removed from our community for a long time. My office will not hesitate to target those who flood our streets with deadly drugs for aggressive prosecution and sentencing, and will deploy the full force of the law to keep our communities safe,” said John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Pensacola Police Department; the Gulf Breeze Police Department; and the Florida Highway Patrol.
MILO The Mobile ID And Licensing Office Will Be In Walnut Hill On Thursday
September 17, 2025
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be to Walnut Hill on Thursday, September 18, from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
MILO, a fully functional tax collector office on wheels, has the following schedule:
- September 18 – Walnut Hill Community Center
- October 16 – Billy G Ward Courthouse (Century)
- November 20 – Billy G Ward Courthouse (Century)
- December 18 – Walnut Hill Community Center
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
This initiative aims to bring services to areas of Escambia County that may have limited access to traditional tax collector offices, particularly during disaster recovery or for residents in assisted living facilities, community centers, and correctional facilities.
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Century Utility Bills Are In The Mail After Delays
September 17, 2025
The Town of Century is making progress on resolving utility billing difficulties.
Town Clerk Carrie Moore told the town council Tuesday evening that current bills are now complete, and utility customers should receive their bills in the mail by the end of the week.
The bills will have a due date of October 4 with no penalties. However, accounts with past due balances from last month are subject to disconnection unless customers make payment arrangements.
Moore said all customers need to update their contact information so that the town can call or text a few days before disconnects to save fees and penalties.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview Chiefs Fall To Baker Gators
September 17, 2025
Northview Chiefs volleyball fell to the Baker Gators Tuesday evening in Bratt.
The Gators swept the Chiefs’ varsity team 3-0, while the Northview junior varsity team lost 2-1.
For a photo gallery, click here.
On Thursday, Northview will travel to Uriah, Alabama, to take on J.U. Blacksher.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Sweep Washington
September 17, 2025
The Tate Aggies volleyball program swept the Washington Wildcats on Tuesday night at Washington.
Tate 3, Washington 1 (Varsity)
The Tate Aggies varsity volleyball team secured a powerful comeback win against the Washington Wildcats.. After a tough first set loss of 15-25, the Aggies rallied with three consecutive dominant wins. They took the next sets with scores of 25-15, 25-7, and a decisive 25-20 in the final set to seal the victory.
Up next, the Tate Aggies will host the Pine Forest Eagles on Wednesday night.
Tate 2, Washington 0 (JV)
The Tate Aggies junior varsity team showcased their dominance by defeating the Washington Wildcats in two straight sets. The Aggies controlled the game from the start, winning the first set 25-16 and closing out the match with a 25-19 victory in the second set.
Tate 2, Washington 1 (Freshmen)
The Tate High School freshmen volleyball team defeated the Washington Wildcats in a three-set thriller. After winning the first set 25-22 and dropping the second 14-25, the Aggies rallied to win the deciding third set 15-7, showcasing impressive resilience and teamwork.
Robert Gary Johnson
September 17, 2025
Robert Gary Johnson, 77, passed away on September 12, 2025.
From the streets of South Alabama to climbing Machu Pichu, navigating inside the Pyramids of Egypt, strolling the streets of Ephesus, munching goodies at Christmas Markets all over Europe, Gary was at home when traveling the world with the love of his life, Pat.
Gary was born on October 24, 1947 at the Turberville Memorial Hospital in Century Florida, the third son of Ernest Hiram Johnson and Lola Mae Simmons Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pat) Staton Johnson, his two brothers, Hiram Johnson and Chester Johnson, and a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews. He was extremely proud of his South Alabama-Northwest Florida upbringing and his Century High School “Blackcats.”
Gary spent his early years working and playing on the farm with his maternal grandparents and uncles who served as stand in fathers after the death of his father. These years established his unusually good work ethic, curiosity about the how to and why of anything, and his logical way of looking at life.
He had a keen interest in engineering and attended the University of Alabama, earning a degree in Mechanical engineering. He was employed by Gulf Power for a short time, until his desire to serve his country and led to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, and served in Vietnam.
He returned to the University of Alabama to earn an MS in Mechanical Engineering. He was hired and worked for Brown Engineering, USBI, in Huntsville and Cape Canaveral. It was necessary in God’s design for him to move to Florida because that is where he met and married his wife, Pat.
Gary cherished his relationships with family and friends from all walks of life. He spent much of life making and cultivating these friendships. He met, believed, and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. His relationship with Christ created the direction and actions for the rest of his life. Ministry in missions brought God’s spiritual gift of ‘Joy’ in Gary’s life. This” joy” was encouraged and cultivated by Indian Springs Holiness Camp Meeting, Church of the Highlands, Kairos Prison Ministry and kingdom workers around the world.
For the better part of his adult life, he and Pat worked in and supported ministries across the globe. His impact was seen in establishing an eye glass ministry in Honduras, water filtration devices in Honduras and Kenya, providing and installing radios for the Quechua in Bolivia, providing shoes through Operation Beautiful Feet in several countries and serving in the Kairos Prison Ministry.
He avoided recognition as much as possible, but one document he treasured was a Certificate of Appreciation from NASA for investigating the Space Shuttle Challenger accident and identifying actions to return to flight. In this it meant retrieving parts of the spacecraft from the ocean floor.
A Life Well Traveled, A Life Well Lived because of Jesus Christ
Susan Gay Harmon Meadows
September 16, 2025
Susan Gay Harmon Meadows, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and teacher, passed away peacefully on September 06, 2025. She was 88 years old.
Born on September 22, 1936, Susan lived a life marked by love, faith, and music. A gifted educator, she shared her passion for music with countless children as a kindergarten music teacher at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where she taught for more than 30 years. Her gentle spirit, patience, and creativity touched the lives of generations of students and their families.
Susan met the love of her life, Merrill Lamar Meadows, while attending Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. They were married soon after and shared over 50 years together, raising a family and building a life filled with devotion and joy. The couple first made their home in Atlanta before moving to Tucker, Georgia, where they raised their son and became deeply rooted in their community. Later in life, Susan moved to Cantonment, Florida, where she continued to surround herself with family and faith.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lamar, who passed away on December 25, 2015; her mother, Vivian Callahan; as well as several cherished aunts and an uncle.
Susan is survived by her son, Christopher David Meadows; his wife, her loving daughter-in-law, Marilee Waller Meadows; four grandchildren who were the pride and joy of her late years; sister, Linda Callahan of Oregon, who shared a lifetime of memories and love with her.
Those who knew Susan will remember her as a woman of kindness, grace, and unwavering faith. She found joy in music, teaching, and the simple blessing of time with her family. Her legacy lives on through the many students she inspired, the family she nurtured, and the friends who loved her.
In memory of Susan, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.