Five People, Including Two Young Children, Injured In Early Morning Hwy 97 Head-on Crash
September 7, 2026
Five people were seriously injured in a two-vehicle head-on crash early Monday morning south of Walnut Hill.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a Nissan Rogue driven by a 23-year-old McDavid man was northbound on Highway 97 about a half mile south of Howell Road when he crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by a 37-year-old Uriah, Alabama, man at about 5:00 a.m.
There were four occupants in the pickup truck — the 37-year-old driver, a 31-year-old female passenger and two children, girls ages 3 and 6. Both adults and the 3-year-old were airlifted in three different medical helicopters to Pensacola hospitals as trauma alerts. The driver of the Nissan and the 4-year-old were also transported to the hospital.
The crash completely closed Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill for hours.
FHP said its investigation is continuing.
For additional photos, click here.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Hunting, Fishing and Camping Tax Holiday Is Now Through Dec. 31
September 7, 2026
Florida’s four-month sales tax holiday on outdoor gear, camping equipment, firearms and ammunition is underway and continues through December 31.
Shoppers can save on items with tents and fishing rods with set price limits, while there are no price caps on firearms and tactical accessories.
The “Hunting, Fishing and Camping” sales tax holiday excepts a wide variety of outdoor gear from sales tax, including tents up to $200, sleeping bags up to $50, lanterns under $30, fishing rods up to $75 and tackle boxes up to $30.
But different than other tax-free holidays, there is no price limit on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and tactical accessories.
During the tax holiday, sales tax is not due on the retail sale of:
- Hunting supplies:
- Ammunition (as defined in section 790.001(1), Florida Statutes (F.S.))
-
Firearms, including:
- Any weapon designed to expel a projectile by an explosive
- Pistols, rifles, and shotguns
- Firearm accessories (see question #2)
- Bows and crossbows
- Bow and crossbow accessories, including:
- Arrows
- Bolts
- Quarrels
- Quivers
- Releases
- Sights or optics
- Wristguards
- Camping and fishing supplies, including:
- Bait and fishing tackle priced at $10 or less (or $20 or less when sold as a set)
- Flashlights, camping lanterns, tackle boxes, or tackle bags priced at $30 or less
- Camping stoves, collapsible chairs, portable hammocks, and sleeping bags priced at $50 or less
- Rods and reels priced at $75 or less, or $150 or less if sold as a set
- Tents priced at $200 or less
2. Are firearm accessories exempt from sales tax?
Yes. During the sales tax holiday, purchases of certain firearm accessories are exempt from tax, including:
- Barrels
- Cases or range bags
- Charging handles
- Cleaning kits
- Handguards
- Holsters
- Internal parts and components
- Magazines or other ammunition feeding devices or carriers
- Pistol grips
- Shooting chronographs
- Shooting mats, rests, or bipods
- Sights or optics
- Slides or cylinders
- Slings
- Stocks or braces
- Suppressors or silencers
- Triggers
3. How is ammunition defined?
Ammunition is defined in section 790.001(1), F.S., as any object consisting of all of the following:
- A fixed metallic or nonmetallic hull or casing containing a primer
- One or more projectiles, one or more bullets, or shot
- Gunpowder
Ascend Performance Materials Volunteers Spruce Up The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
September 7, 2026
A group of volunteers from Ascend Performance Materials worked recently to spruce up the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center.
The group worked to help the facility get ready for upcoming student field trip visitors. They worked to replace pond pumps, trim around ponds, trim the butterfly garden, trim about 120 acres of trails, change animal substrate, build a rain gauge garden, and much more.
Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment is owned and operated by the Escambia County School District. Second- and fifth-grade students visit the 120 acres of wilderness where they participate in science activities. The center is not generally open to the public, but does host announced public events during the year, including the free upcoming “Night of Nature” on Friday, October 16, from 5:30 until 8 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bonus Gallery: Tate Cheerleaders,Showband, Fans, And More
September 7, 2026
Excitement was in the air on Friday night for Week 3 of high school football as the Tate Aggies hosted the Escambia Gators.
Look for more photos and coverage on Tuesday about one very special Aggie guest cheerleader and her inspiring story.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Punch Ticket To Playoffs With Ninth-Inning Comeback
September 7, 2026
The Blue Wahoos battled through a challenging season to fittingly celebrate reaching the playoffs in astonishing fashion.
Trailing 5-2 and down to their final at-bat with no one on base in the ninth inning, the Blue Wahoos incredibly blasted three homers in a five-run, two-out rally to pull off an amazing 7-5 victory Sunday night against the Columbus Clingstones that clinched the South League South Division second-half race.
What a way for the Blue Wahoos to return to the playoffs for the first time in three years.
It will be their eighth post-season trip in the 14-year history of the franchise. The Blue Wahoos, two-time league champions, have done it with three different affiliations. This is the third in six years as the Miami Marlins affiliate.
As the schedule fate turned out, the Blue Wahoos will finish their regular-season schedule at home this week with six games against the Biloxi Shuckers, beginning on Tuesday.
The teams will then turn around and play Game 1 of their best-of-three South Division series on September 15 in Pensacola.
How this unfolded befit the way the Blue Wahoos battled through a season with a slow start, injuries, late-season call-ups and other forms of adversity.
They began the second leg of a two-week road trip by dropping the first three games of this series to the Clingstones, cutting their first-place lead in half, but won an extra-inning game Friday, then swept the weekend to seal the division.
They entered Sunday with a 6.5 game lead, so it figured to happen soon, but not in this disbelieving way.
Cristian Hernández began the improbable rally with a solo homer to center field as the last hope in the ninth. Ethan O’Donnell kept the rally alive with a single. Colby Shade, who hit a solo homer in the eighth inning, blasted game-tying two-run bomb over the left field wall.
Ryan Ingoffo then followed by doubling down the right field line. On a two-strike pitch, Jay Beshears went opposite field to right with a go-ahead, two-run homer to complete the stunning feat.
Reliever Mason Vinyard earned the save in the bottom of the ninth. The Blue Wahoos did not jump into an infield celebration. Playing on the road, mindful of the situation, they were subdued before heading to their dugout.
This is the earliest the Blue Wahoos have clinched a playoff spot in franchise history with a full week of games remaining.
The Blue Wahoos gave up three runs in the first inning, then got excellent pitching and defense from that point, hit a pair of homers to cut the lead to 3-2. Columbus answered with two homers to take a 5-2 lead in the ninth.
But the Blue Wahoos were not done.
It’s only the second time the Blue Wahoos have won the second-half division to reach postseason.
Their first playoff trip in 2015 came by winning the second half race on the second-to-last game of the season. Since then, they won the first half division race four times, and twice qualified as the wild card team with the second-best record behind the full season winner.
The Wahoos will host the Biloxi Shuckers Tuesday through Sunday.
Chance Of Labor Day Showers And Storms, High In The Low 90s
September 7, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Labor Day: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Man Wounded In Early Morning Atmore Shooting Amid Crowd Of Over 500
September 7, 2026
The Atmore Police Department is investigating an early Sunday morning shooting that left an adult male injured amid a crowd estimated at more than 500 people.
Officers were dispatched to Carver Avenue near King and Sims streets following reports of numerous gunshots fired and a person struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers encountered a large gathering and people lining the roadside.
According to police, an adult male suffered a gunshot wound and was transported for medical treatment. He was listed in stable condition, and his identity has not been released.
Personnel from the department’s Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics/Vice, and Crime Scene divisions responded to the scene.
Police stated the shooting remains an active investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Sentenced To Community Control, Probation For Breaking Victim’s Jaw Outside Bar
September 7, 2026
A Molino man was sentenced recently to one year of community control and probation for punching a man and breaking his jaw during an altercation outside a Pensacola bar in January.
Travis Keith Hethington, 28, entered a plea of no contest to felony battery under a plea agreement. Judge Amy Brodersen sentenced Hethington to one year of community control, to be followed by 24 months of probation.
As part of the plea agreement, Hethington must also pay restitution, complete an anger management course, surrender all firearms, and have no contact with the victim.
According to an arrest report, officers responded on January 29, 2026, to O’Riley’s Uptown Tavern on Creighton Road regarding a fight. The victim told police he was recording a fight between several women on the porch when one of the women began arguing with him about the video. Shortly after, a man with a beard and mullet struck him in the face and fled the scene.
The victim suffered a concussion and two fractures to his jaw, requiring surgery and his jaw to be wired shut for several months to heal.
Investigators initially suspected another man due to actions captured on video, but after interviewing witnesses and presenting photo lineups, detectives positively identified Hethington as the assailant. Witnesses and surveillance footage confirmed Hethington struck the victim before fleeing.
The victim, according to the report, suffered a broken jaw in two places and a concussion.
Labor Day Gas Prices Spike Significantly Over Last Year Across Florida
September 7, 2026
As Florida drivers headed into Labor Day, gas prices were up just pennies over last week but 80 cents over a year ago, according to AAA.
Sunday night, the average price per gallon in Florida was $3.91, up two cents over last week but significantly over one year ago’s $3.11.
Escambia County’s average was $2.88, up 20 cents over last week and 94 cents over a year ago.
Sunday night, a North Escambia low of $3.77 was available at a station on Muscogee Road, while $3.64 could be found at the warehouse clubs in Pensacola.
File photo.
Century Correctional Inmate Serving Time For Homicide Assaulted Officer, FDC Says
September 6, 2026
A Century Correctional Institution inmate assaulted a correctional officer recently, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate Dwayne A. Collins assaulted a correctional officer by grabbing the officer, FDC said. Staff members were not injured.
Collisn was serving a 30-year sentence for a 2013 Highlands County conviction for homicide, negligent manslaughter. He was previously set for release in 2041.