Tom Sidler

January 25, 2026

Tom Sidler, 63, of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on January 19, 2026, in Black Hawk County, Iowa.

Born on April 4, 1962, in Newport News, Virginia, to Edward Sidler and Barbara Crowe Sidler, Tom was raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he graduated from Cedar Falls High School. He later earned a degree in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and built a long and respected career in the transportation, construction, and aggregates industries. For more than four decades, he held leadership and management roles while residing in Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida, overseeing operations in concrete paving, safety management, and aggregate supply. He spent the last 30 years of his life near Pensacola, Florida, where he met his wife, built his family, and continued to live out the values of integrity and service that defined his life.

Tom was known for his selflessness, loyalty, and unwavering dependability. A true doer, he believed deeply in hard work and personal responsibility, approaching everything in his life with intention and commitment. He did not cut corners, and he taught his children the value of showing up, following through, and doing things the right way.

He had a passion for motorcycles, fellowship, and service, and was a member of two motorcycle ministries, including Bikers for Christ (Birmingham, Alabama) and Hell Fighters (Pensacola, Florida). He was also a member of the Shriners and the Masons, continuing a proud family tradition alongside his father. Beyond his community service, he lived out his faith in everyday moments, often carrying small metal crosses to share as a simple reminder of God’s love.

Tom enjoyed boating, home-cooked meals, playing card games, and singing songs, but he especially cherished spending time at home with family and friends. Though a big man with a strong presence, Tom was a gentle giant at heart – tough when he needed to be, but endlessly loving and supportive. He found his greatest joy in caring for those around him, encouraging their passions, and helping them grow.

Above all, he was a devoted husband and father. Of all his accomplishments, he was most proud of his wife and three children.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Sidler; his stepfather, Jack Scott; his father-in-law, Bobby Johnson; and his brother-in-law, Dave Rasmusson.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Angel; his daughter, Raegan Sidler; and his sons, Landon and Gregory Williamson. He is also survived by his mother, Barbara Scott of Cedar Falls, Iowa; his sisters, Lori Rasmusson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Lisa Bown (Mike) of West Bend, Wisconsin, and Samantha Buckingham of Ankeny, Iowa; and his brother, John Sidler (Jesica) of Boone, Iowa. He is further survived by a large extended family, including his father- and mother-in-law, Billy and Joyce Campbell of Molino, Florida; his sisters-in-law, Kathi Johnson (Brian) and Trudy Campbell, both of Pensacola, Florida; his brother-in-law, Kevin Johnson (Becky) of Jay, Florida; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends whom he loved dearly.

Pallbearers will be John Sidler, Dan Rasmusson, Chuck Taylor, Mark Jackson, Forrest Gibbs Sr., Rich Boykin, Hammond Hearn, and Daryl Powell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Nick Hearn, Victor Wallace, and Eli Miller.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Faith Chapel North in Cantonment, Florida, with Pastor Lonny Hughes officiating.

● Family Visitation: 10:00 a.m.
● Public Visitation: 11:00 a.m.
● Service: 12:00 p.m.

Burial will follow at McCurdy Cemetery, located at 800 Fannie Rd in Century, Florida. All friends and family are invited to a dinner reception afterwards at Beams of Light Church, located at 3825 North Highway 29 in Molino, Florida.

Flowers are welcome and appreciated. For those who feel led to do so, memorial donations may be made to the House of Righteousness Ministries (H.O.R.M.) P.O. Box 3171, Pensacola, FL 32516

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries

Library Winter Book Sale Is Saturday And Sunday

January 24, 2026

The Friends of the West Florida Public Library 2026 Winter Big Book Sale is going on Saturday and Sunday at the Downtown Library.

The big book sale is for readers of all ages with books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs. Selections cover a wide variety of genres including plenty of family-friendly options.

Sale Highlights:

Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – $7 for a bag of books (bag provided)

Location: Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola. Admission is free.

Items for Sale: Hardback and softback books (fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, biographies, young adult, children’s), paperbacks, religious, foreign language, travel, crafts, holidays and cooking. Multimedia includes CDs, DVDs, vinyl and audiobooks.

Cash or Credit Cards accepted.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Century Utility Bills Are Running Late; Here’s What To Know.

January 24, 2026

Town of Century utility January bills were delayed this month, but customers will still have time to pay without penalties or service disconnects.

Town officials said the delays were due to a meter changeout project by a contractor, in addition to the holidays. The bills were mailed from a service provider in Pensacola on Tuesday and are now arriving in customer mailboxes.

While the current January bills have a due date of January 25, residents will have until February 25 to pay the bills before facing disconnects and penalties. Officials noted that December bills not paid by Monday, January 26 will be subject to disconnect.

Residents who have not received their January bill may call the town at (850) 256-3208 to find their amount due or request that a copy of their bill be emailed. Alternatively, they can stop by the office to pick up a copy of their bill or make a payment.

Pictured: A sample Town of Century utility bill. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

FloridaCommerce Reports Decrease In Escambia County Unemployment

January 24, 2026

The Escambia County area unemployment rate decreased, according to data released Friday by FloridaCommerce.

The area’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in December 2025, a 0.4% decrease from the November 2025 rate of 5.6%. A year ago, the unemployment rate in Escambia County was 3.4%.

That represented 7,637 people unemployed out of a labor force of 147,631.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3% in December 2025, up 0.1 percentage point from the November 2025 rate, and up 0.9 percentage point from a year ago.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

EREC Crew Heads North To Help Restore Power For Expected South Carolina Ice Storm

January 24, 2026

A team from Escambia River Electric Cooperative headed to South Carolina ahead of an impending ice storm.

If needed, the EREC crew will assist Aiken Electric Cooperative with power restoration efforts. According to the National Weather Service, the Aiken area is under and ice storm warning and is expecting significant icing, with power outages and tree damage likely.

Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News

Chance Of Rain Through Sunday Night, Then Temperatures Plummet

January 24, 2026

North Escambia residents should prepare for a dramatic shift in conditions as a strong cold front moves through the region. Sunday will bring widespread rain and breezy conditions, with temperatures dropping sharply throughout the afternoon. By Sunday night, the mercury will plummet, ushering in a stretch of clear but frigid days. Daytime highs early in the week won’t even crack the 40s, and overnight lows will dip into the teens and 20s through the end of the week.

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Temperature rising to near 72 by 11am, then falling to around 60 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 39. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 45. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 47.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive

Bratt Elementary School Holds Math And Reading Night (With Gallery)

January 24, 2026

Bratt Elementary School recently held a “Team Up For Success” Family Night with hands-on reading and math activities for families.

Parents also received a copy of the most recent assessment scores, and a take-home learning packet.

For more photos, click here.

Bratt student leaders led the activity stations and taught their friends how to play the games. Other student leaders welcomed guests, directed families through the building, and served refreshments.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News

All Escambia County, Alabama, High Schools Now In 3A Football Classification

January 24, 2026

Every high school in Escambia County, Alabama, will be in the same classification beginning with the 2026 season for fall sports.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association on Friday gave final approval to new classifications, including splitting public and private schools into different classes. Public schools will be Class 1A to 6A, and private schools will be two additional classifications, with the public and private schools playing for separate state championships.

Every public high school in Escambia County, Alabama, will be in Class 3A, with Escambia County High School (Atmore) moving down to 3A**,** as did W.S. Neal, joining Flomaton and T.R. Miller.

Class 3A Region 1 Football