Two Railroad Crossings Along And Near South Highway 99 To Close Later This Week
February 4, 2026
Two North Escambia area railroad crossings, located along and near South Highway 99, are scheduled to close for a few days later this week.
The private crossing on Deer Run Road, located west of South Highway 99 about seven miles south of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill, is slated to close on Friday, February 6.
The crossing on South Highway 99, just east of the Highway 97A intersection in Bay Springs, about four miles north of Crabtree Church Road in Molino, is set to close on Saturday, February 7.
Both crossings are expected to reopen on Tuesday, February 10.
Pictured top: The South Highway 99 railroad crossing near the intersection of Highway 97A in Bay Springs. Pictured below: The private crossing on Deer Run Road, at South Highway 99. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Smokey Bear Saw His Shadow And Predicted Six More Weeks Of High Fire Danger
February 4, 2026
Smoky Bear saw his shadow on Monday, Groundhog Day, and predicted six more weeks of high fire danger.
Dry weather, low humidity, and wind lead to higher fire danger this time of year, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Smokey Bear turned 81 last August, marking the date when the U.S. Forest Service first authorized the character to promote wildfire prevention.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mayor Names Michigan Man As New Pensacola Police Chief
February 4, 2026
Mayor D.C. Reeves has chosen Eric Winstrom to lead the Pensacola Police Department, wrapping up a national search for the City of Pensacola’s next chief of police.
Winstrom, who has been the chief in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will start with PPD on March 2, pending approval of his hiring by Pensacola City Council.
“Choosing the right person to lead our police department is perhaps the most important decision I will make as your mayor,” Reeves said. “My focus was on finding the person who is the right fit for our community with the ability to lead PPD into the future. After much consideration and feedback from the community throughout this selection process, I look forward to working with Chief Winstrom to help write PPD’s next chapter.”
Kristin Brown, who has been serving as PPD’s Acting Chief, will serve as the Deputy Chief during the transition.
Winstrom began his law enforcement career with the Chicago Police Department in 2000, patrolling public housing complexes on the city’s South Side. In his 21 years in Chicago, he rose to the rank of commander, taking on multiple leadership roles and guiding tactical, investigative, and administrative teams through some of the department’s most challenging periods. He led the citywide child sex crimes unit at CPD, was captain of the 400-person 9th district in Bridgeport and commander of the Area 5 Detective Division, a 200-person team that covers the Northwest side and O’Hare Airport.
In 2022, Winstrom was named the Chief in Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city. In his tenure there, which he began as an external candidate, he focused on recruitment, training, community engagement, accountability and reducing crime, while managing day-to-day operations and high-profile police and public safety incidents that drew national attention.
When Winstrom arrived in Grand Rapids, the force was budgeted for 302 officers but had only 260 sworn officers. There are now 312 sworn officers on the force so that the department can better keep pace with the needs of the city.
“Trust is a key component not only of leadership within a police department but also between the department and the community it serves,” Winstrom said. “I’m well aware that trust is earned and there are no shortcuts in earning it. I am eager to get to work with the team already in place at PPD.
“Pensacola’s looking to strive to thrive in an ethical way, and in a way that lifts everyone up. Policing is an integral part of that effort. Everyone wants to be on a winning team. Pensacola is a winning team, and I am looking forward to being part of that.”
Winstrom has been a guest lecturer on police issues at numerous colleges and universities and a regular expert witness in police-related litigation.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University, followed by a juris doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School. After law school, Winstrom worked at the NYPD Legal Affairs Bureau, where a police officer mentor told him that if he wanted to make substantive changes to the system, he should become an officer and help change it from the inside. It was advice that launched his career.
Winstrom and his wife — a former Chicago police officer — have been married for more than 15 years and have two children, ages 12 and 14.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Near Freezing Tonight Tonight, Windy And Cold Start For Thursday
February 4, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind around 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 34. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Tate Aggies Beat Pace In District Quarterfinal; Northview Chiefs Fall To Central
February 4, 2026
District quarterfinal action Tuesday night was the end of the road for the Northview Chiefs, while the Tate Aggies are battling forward.
In 6A District 1, the No. 2 Tate Aggies beat the No. 7 Pace Patriots 62-42 Tuesday night at Tate. Up next, the Tate Aggies will host No. 6 seed Gulf Breeze in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday in Tate’s Fryman Gym.
In Rural Class District 1 quarterfinals, the Central Jaguars beat Northview 72-35 at Central, ending the season for the Chiefs.
NorthEscambia.com file image.
Ransom Academic Team Takes Second In Beulah Academy Tournament
February 4, 2026
The Ransom Middle School Academic Team competed at the Beulah Academy of Science Snowball last Saturday.
In a field of eight teams from four schools, the Ransom C team – Sydney, Megan, Madelyn, and Adelynn – made the playoffs, and the Ransom A team – Calleigh, Cooper, Levi, Zackary and Cutter Rhodes won the semifinal over King Middle, but fell late in a tight championship final to defending champions Freeport and missed qualifying for Nationals.
Rhodes too overall individual first place.
Ransom Academic Team members that competeted were:
- Calleigh Anderson
- Kyson Beck
- Cooper Boddy
- Daniel Boone
- Khloe Caldwell
- James Corvin
- Levi Cox
- Sydney Cox
- Zackary Cox (a Kingsfield Elementary 5th grader “playing up”)
- Madison Degan-Dorangricchia
- Ryann Gibbs
- Megan Gray
- Madelyn McShane
- Adellyn Mortellaro
- Cutter Rhodes
- Ryan Rodgers
- Jazmin Yahya
Host Beulah Academy of Science had two teams that made the playoff bracket. Forrest Scott of BAS placed fourth out of 38 players.
Pictured top: Ransom Academic Team (front, L-R) Ryan Rodgers, Cooper Boddy, Kyson Beck, Cutter Rhodes, Levi Cox, Zackary Cox, Daniel Boone, James Corvin; (back, L-R) Sydney Cox, Madison Degan-Dorangricchia, Calleigh Anderson, Khloe Caldwell, Madelyn McShane, Megan Gray, Adellyn Mortellaro, Jazmin Yahya. Pictured first below: Ransom championship final (L-R) Zackary Cox, Cutter Rhodes, Cooper Boddy, Levi Cox, Coach Jon Walker, Calleigh Anderson, Coach Maggie Brown, Coach Samantha Brown, Coach Clarissa Brown, Coach Madison Bass. Not pictured, Coach Brandon Bass. Pictured second below: The Ransom and Freeport championship teams. Pictured fourth below: The Beulah Academy of Science Team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
.
Anderson Leads Tate Boys Tennis To Season-Opening Win Over Choctaw
February 4, 2026
The Tate High School boys tennis team opened the season with a 4-3 district win over Choctawhatchee in Fort Walton Beach.
Newcomer Noah Anderson, a junior, led the way with singles and doubles wins.
Up next, Aggies tennis will travel to face the West Florida Jaguars on Thursday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Baseball Scoreboard
February 4, 2026
Here are Tuesday night preseason high school baseball scores:
Fort Walton Beach 8, Northview 4
The Fort Walton Beach Vikings defeated the Northview Chiefs 8–4 in Crestview.
Jack Boutwell opened on the mound for the Chiefs, giving up five hits and six runs (two earned) in one and two-thirds innings while striking out one and walking three.
Jackson Bridges, Taylor Curtis, Dane King, Jase Portwood, and Grayden Sheffield each had one hit for Northview. Grayson Burns and Sheffield each had an RBI for NHS.
West Florida 6, Tate 1
The West Florida Jaguars downed the Tate Aggies 6–1.
Bryton McLellan opened for Tate on the mound, giving up six hits and six runs (one earned) in two innings, striking out three while walking one. Logan Kimmons went three in relief, surrendering one hit and no runs as he struck out seven and walked one.
At the plate for the Aggies, Cal Foxworth went 1-for-1 with a sacrifice fly for an RBI. Nathan Connors, Griffin Cook, and Kaden Posta each added a hit for Tate.
On Thursday, the Tate Aggies will take on the Catholic Crusaders at 4:00 p.m. at West Florida.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Mobile Home, Pickup In Enon
February 3, 2026
Fire destroyed a mobile home Tuesday morning in Enon.
The fire was reported just before 8 a.m. in the 10300 block of Highway 97A, across from the Bay Springs Full Gospel Church.
The mobile home and a nearby pickup truck were fully involved when the first firefighter arrived in about three minutes. Both were total losses.
There was no one home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
For additional photos, click here.
Multiple stations from Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Strangulation After Alleged Domestic Battery In Bratt
February 3, 2026
An Alabama man is facing charges following an alleged domestic violence incident in Bratt.
Benjimen Issac Welch, age 25 of Frisco City, Alabama, was charged with battery domestic violence and felony battery domestic violence by strangulation. He was later released on a $4,000 bond.
The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office responded to Atmore Community Hospital where a woman was being treated. A person that met deputies in the parking lot told them that the victim had sent a location pin along with texts that included “Help Me”, “Pleaze”, and “He’s killing me.” They then picked the bloody victim up in the area of Oakshade Road and North Highway 99 in Bratt and transported them to the hospital in Atmore.
The deputy noted in his report that the victim had a deep cut on her forehead, along with several bruises and redness on her neck, consistent with being strangled, according to the arrest report.
Regarding the texts for help, the victim said “at one point that she was a liar and that she didn’t need help and didn’t want help”, the arrest report states.
At the Atmore Police Department, Welch told Florida deputies that he had argued with the victim about the status of their relationship and she put him out on the side of the road. According to the report, Welch had dried blood all over the inside of both hands, on his shirt, and on his pants. He told deputies that he did not have any injuries, and he was not sure of the origin of the blood.