Very Cold Thursday. Light Snow Flurries For Saturday Night?
January 14, 2026
Temperatures are set to take a tumble over the next few days as a cold front sweeps through the region. Residents should prepare for a significant chill Thursday morning with wind values dipping into the 20s, followed by widespread frost on both Thursday and Friday nights. A brief warming trend arrives Friday afternoon, but another chance for a rain then maybe light snow highlights the Saturday night outlook.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 30. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Widespread frost after 9pm. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Widespread frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain showers before midnight, then scattered rain and snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 26.
M.L. King Day: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
SOS Mode? No Service? Verizon Reports Major Outage
January 14, 2026
UPDATE: About 9:30 Wednesday night, Version said, “The outage has been resolved. If customers are still having an issue, we encourage them to restart their devices to reconnect to the network.”
Users across the North Escambia area reported that their phones were stuck in “SOS” or similar emergency modes with no service on Wednesday afternoon.
At our office in North Escambia, Verizon service was restored at about 1:40 p.m., and down again by 3 p.m.
Verizon reported a major outage across the nation, including portions of South Alabama and Northwest Florida.
“We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience,” Verizon said about 2 p.m. The company did not give an estimated time for service restoration.
If you still don’t have service, you can get back online or make a call by just connecting to a Wi-Fi network and making sure Wi-Fi calling is turned on. If you can’t connect to Wi-Fi, you can still make an emergency call to 911.
Cantonment Man Charged With Fleeing From Deputies At High Speed
January 14, 2026
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement at high speeds and running a red light
Lederrian Quamon Grandison, 28, was arrested recently on a warrant for fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, a deputy was patrolling near the intersection of Highway 29 and Pinestead Road on New Year’s Eve when they observed a black Chevrolet Impala exiting the Regency Motel with no tag light. A records check revealed the tag was not assigned to that vehicle.
When the deputy activated emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle reportedly looped through the parking lot of Smyrna Baptist Church before accelerating back onto Highway 29 northbound. The vehicle then turned east onto Burgess Road, extinguished its headlights, and ran a red light at the intersection of Palafox Street while traveling at a high rate of speed.
Deputies were able to identify Grandison as the driver through a combination of motel surveillance footage and previous contact with him earlier that day at the Circle K on Kenmore Road and Highway 29. Records indicated that Grandison did not have a valid driver’s license and had a prior conviction for driving without a license in 2019.
Grandison was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $21,000 bond. As a special condition of his bond, a judge has ordered that he is not to drive or be behind the wheel of any motor vehicle.
A Growing Century Neighborhood Watch Group Holds Second Meeting
January 14, 2026
Monday evening, the new Century Neighborhood Watch group held its second meeting since its inception in December.
Among the guests were an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant and sergeant assigned to the ECSO Century Precinct. Two additional members of the public also joined the group.
Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at the Soul Train Club, located at 150 East Pond Street. The next meeting will be held on February 9, and is open to any interested person, not just residents in the Century town limits or the surrounding area.
Pictured: The ECSO demonstrates a vehicle and emergency lighting Monday evening at a meeting of the Century Neighborhood Watch. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia District High School Graduation Rates Increase
January 14, 2026
The graduation rate in the Escambia County School District continues an upward trend, according to recently released data.
The district’s graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year increased by 5.3% from 84.2% to 89.5%. Florida’s statewide graduation rate increased to 92.2%, an increase of 2.5% over the previous year.
Graduation rates by school for the 2024-2025 school year and compared to 2023-2024:
- Tate High School – 97.5%, up from 93.3%
- Northview High School – 95.4%, up from 92.3%
- West Florida High School – 99.7%, Up from 98.6%
- Pine Forest High School – 88.9%, up from 85.4%
- Escambia High School – 94.5%, , up from 94.1%
- Pensacola High School – 92.1%, up from 87.9%
- Washington High School – 92.8%, up from 86%
“Our hard-working students and our entire district team continue to reach new heights each and every day,” stated ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “The increases in district graduation rates over the past several years serve as an example and a reminder of their hard work and dedication. I am both thankful for and amazed at their efforts.”
With 504 graduates, Tate High School had the largest graduating class in Escambia County for the 2024-2025 school year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Police and Escambia Sheriff’s Office Break Up Two-Month Scooter, E-bike Theft Operation
January 14, 2026
A joint investigation between the University of West Florida Police Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has shut down a theft ring responsible for two months of e-bike and scooter thefts on campus.
The crackdown culminated Tuesday morning when investigators executed a search warrant to recover stolen property.
UWF Police said the suspects have been identified and will face numerous charges including grand theft, dealing in stolen property, felony narcotics possession, and outstanding warrants. Their names have not yet been released.
“This morning, investigators paid an unexpected visit to recover the stolen property,” UWF Police officials said. “Turns out we weren’t exactly on the invite list, but we did come with a warrant.”
The department credited the success of the operation to a close partnership with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Chip Simmons.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Faces 15 Years After Pleading To Federal Firearm Possession Charge
January 14, 2026
An Escambia County man faces up to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Isaiah Markeis Sims, 23, entered in the plea at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.
According to court documents, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle, and Sims was a passenger in the vehicle. Sims fled on foot from the deputies and when he fell to the ground, deputies located a loaded Glock handgun beside him on the ground. He is a convicted felon.
“I am very proud of the excellent work by Sheriff Chip Simmons and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, to remove this dangerous felon from our streets, and my office will continue to back up their efforts with successful prosecutions,” said John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
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Pensacola Beach Named Best In The U.S. By National Magazine
January 14, 2026
Pensacola Beach was recently named the best beach in the United States in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, earning the top spot on the list among prominent beaches in California, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and more.
For the 38th edition of the Readers’ Choice Awards, respondents from across the globe weighed in on all things travel, with 757,109 voters selecting their favorites. Pensacola Beach claimed the top spot for the best beaches in the U.S., with Condé Nast also highlighting local events and other offerings throughout the area:
“Taking the top spot on this list, Pensacola is so much more than its beach,” writes Condé Nast Traveler. “Venture beyond its perpetually summery sands and discover a thriving arts and culture scene well worth its own full itinerary. The so-called ‘Festival City of the South,’ Pensacola has a fully booked dance card of cultural programming to catch, including Mural Fest, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, and the Pensacola Foo Foo Festival, all of which happen in November and showcase a wide range of regional artistic talent. Add on a revitalized nightlife scene plus a culinary landscape where you can tell the chefs are having fun, and you have the ingredients for a formidable Readers’ Choice Awards winner.”
Pictured top and inset: A sunny winter day on Pensacola Beach. Pictured below: Looking back at Pensacola Beach from the end of the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Charles Monroe Young
January 14, 2026
Charles Monroe (Monty/Shake) Young, 58, of Molino, FL, left us too soon on January 1, 2026, peacefully at home with his wife. Monty was born on Mar 24, 1967, in Athens, Ohio to Deanna Sue Young, but raised by his grandparents, Helen and Charles Young, with his 3 aunts, Sharon, Linda and Carol Young. He went to high school in Athens, Ohio and took the mechanic class at Tri-County Vocational School. He established a trucking business with his family in 1999, CVC Young & Son Transport, but currently was employed by Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
Monty is preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles and Helen Young; his birth mother, Deanna Sue Young; aunt, Linda Schlaghter; cousin, Kindalyn; and his brother, Jamie Ohler.
Monty is survived by his wife Valerie Stotts Young; son, Jamie (Nikki) Young; daughters, Lindsey Young, Ashley (Max) Clark, and Daphne (John) Rogers; grandchildren, Jaden, Jonsey, Tres, Haiven, Charlie and Little Max; aunts, Sharon Young of Virginia, Carol (Pat) Smith of Pickerington Ohio; sister, Helaina (Tony) Young Rittenhouse of Parkersburg WV; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews including Katie, Leann, Kaison among others, including other children who were always welcome into the family.
Monty’s passion was demolition derbies in his younger years then dirt track racing where he won lots of end-of-the-year championships. He loved his friends; he never met a stranger. He was so funny, he spoke fluent insults “LOL” but his biggest accomplishment was his family. He is referred to as a legend in Ohio. May his legacy live on through his children, who loved him very much.
A celebration of life was held Tuesday, January, 13, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory North.
Teresa Faye Stokes
January 14, 2026
Mrs. Teresa Faye Stokes, aged 69, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026, in Milton, Florida. For the past 32 years, she called the Byrneville community her home. Teresa retired from the Atmore Nursing Center, where her compassion shone through. She had a passion for cooking and enjoyed attending Bingo games. Her favorite pastimes included watching cooking and crime shows. She cherished caring for others and treasured the moments spent with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, L.W. Flowers and Virginia Gaudet, her husband Larry Stokes, two sisters, Janet Tarver and Glenda Weaver, and one brother, Don Flowers.
She is survived by her three sons, James Steadham, of Byrneville, Florida; Brandon Stokes, of Byrneville, Florida; Micheal Stokes, of Flomaton, Alabama; two daughters, Lesley Haskew, of Pace, Florida; Dina (Alex) Lowery, of Flomaton, Alabama; two brothers, Ricky Flowers, of Molino, Florida; Glenn Tatum, of Orlando, Florida; one sister, Janice Padgett, of Milton, Florida; four grandchildren, Cody Kent, Paige Bell, Savannah Steadham, Reygan Steadham, three step- grandchildren, Ricky Kerns, Rusty Kerns, Raylin Martin, two great- grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.
The funeral service is set to take place at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC. with Reverend Mitch Herring officiating
Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Rigby Cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Michael Stokes, Braxton Manning, Reygan Steadham, Jeffery Hagan and Iris Young.
Arrangements are being managed by Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC in Atmore, Alabama.