Cantonment Man Arrested For Burglary At Olive Baptist Church
February 23, 2026
A Cantonment man is was arrested for allegedly breaking into an Olive Baptist Church ministry building and a church, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Charles Edward Suggs, 53, was charged with felony counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, criminal mischief with property damage over $2,500, possession of burglary tools, and misdemeanor larceny.
Deputies responded to the Olive Baptist Church Crossroads building on University Parkway at Davis Highway after an employee discovered a man sitting on a couch inside the building. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a man shattering the front glass door with a wheel hub and using a metal bar to force entry through a rear door.
The investigation revealed that a 2006 Ford van on the property had also been burglarized after its passenger window was smashed. Authorities found Suggs in possession of food items and a shirt taken from the premise, according to an arrest report. Total damages to the building and the vehicle were estimated at approximately $5,000.
Suggs told deputies that he was told by his paston, “Joe”, to come to the church and clean. His additional statements were redacted from the arrest report.
Suggs was transported to the Escambia County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
Clear, Middle 20s For Tonight
February 23, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 25. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Wind chill values between 25 and 35 early. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Lipscomb Elementary School Holds Family STEM Night (Gallery)
February 23, 2026
The Lipscomb Elementary School PTA recently hosted a family STEAM night.
The event included performances by the Lipscomb Chorus, MESS Hall activities, free pizza, and all students had artwork on display. District staff were also on hand to answer questions about the Focus Parent Portal or Canvas.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ECFR: Fire Near Molino Was Caused By A Chicken
February 23, 2026
A chicken is being blamed for a fire last week near Molino.
The fire in the 5600 block of Highway 99 near the Escambia County 4-H facility was reported around 12:40 p.m. Thursday.
According to Escambia County Fire Rescue, the fire started in a chicken coop and spread to numerous bales of hay, creating thick smoke in the area.
ECFR said its investigation determined the fire was started by a chicken knocking over a heater in the chicken coop.
“No poultry was harmed during the fire, although approximately 20 hay bales were lost in the fire,” an Escambia County spokesperson said. The chicken coop was destroyed.
ECFR Station 18 from Molino responded to the fire.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Here Are The Road Construction Delay Spots For The Week
February 23, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Beulah Road (State Road (S.R.) 99) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (S.R. 10A) to Isaacs Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Beulah Road, from Nine Mile Road to Mobile Highway, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from the Perdido River Bridge to west of U.S. 29 – Drivers on I-10, between mile markers 7 and 9, may encounter inside lane closures Sunday, Feb. 22 and Monday, Feb. 23 and outside lane closures Tuesday, Feb. 24 through Thursday, Feb. 26, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Additionally, traffic will be shifted toward the inside of the roadway, as crews perform construction activities.
- Interstate 110 (I-110) Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on I-110, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for construction activities.
- I-10 Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for construction activities.
- Ninth Avenue (S.R. 289) Resurfacing from Creighton Road (S.R. 274) to Olive Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Ninth Avenue, between Creighton Road and Olive Road, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Resurfacing, from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Baisden Road – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for paving operations:
- Intermittent lane closures on Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard, from Davis Highway to Baisden Road.
- On-street parking closures on Bayou Boulevard, between 12th Avenue and Baisden Road.
- S.R. 296 (Michigan Avenue) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, Feb. 22, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Michigan Avenue, from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) Resurfacing from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Feb. 22, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292 from east of Bauer Road (C.R. 293) to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Additionally, a new traffic configuration has been implemented on S.R. 292 between Mills Avenue and just east of Patton Drive, with travel lanes shifted to the outside of the roadway to provide space to construct a median traffic separator. Channelizing devices are in place to delineate the work zone. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph through the work zone
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the I- 110 ramp – The week of Sunday, Feb. 22, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and North Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street, from B Street to J Street, for ECUA water main upgrades. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at C Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between B Street and L Street.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Friday, Feb. 27, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for bridge construction activities. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions the week of Sunday, Feb. 22:
- Intermittent lane closures may occur on North Palafox Street between Whitehead Drive and Hope Drive for construction at the North Palafox Street overpass. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- I-110 Routine Bridge Maintenance over City Streets – Motorists may encounter intermittent southbound lane closures Sunday, Feb. 22 through Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 98 Routine Bridge Maintenance over Pensacola Bay – Motorists may encounter intermittent westbound lane closures Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) Routine Bridge Maintenance over the Intracoastal Waterway – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures west of S.R. 297 Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Thursday, Feb. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, Feb. 22, through Friday, Feb. 27, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from U.S. 98 to south of East Bay Boulevard (C.R. 399) – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for striping operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from the Escambia River Bridge to east of Woodbine Road (C.R. 197A) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 90, from Escambia River Bridge to Woodbine Road, Sunday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 26, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for milling and paving operations. Additionally, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
No Injuries In Highway 29 Rollover Crash Near Bogia Road
February 22, 2026
There were no injuries in a single vehicle rollover crash midday Saturday on Highway 29.
About noon, the driver of a Kia sedan lost control, left the roadway, and overturned in a muddy ditch alongside Highway 29 near Bogia Road.
Both the driver and passenger escaped without injury.
The McDavid Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the scene, along with the Florida Highway Patrol, but FHP has not released further details.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Pensacon Friday And Saturday
February 22, 2026
Thousands of fans attended the first two days of the Pensacon pop culture convention at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The event continues from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Breezy And Colder: Low In The 30s
February 22, 2026
A cold front is bringing achilly start to the week across the North Escambia area, with gusty winds on Sunday and wind chills dipping into the 20s by Monday morning. Conditions will remain clear and sunny through Tuesday before a significant warming trend takes hold, pushing afternoon highs into the mid-70s by midweek. Rain chances return late Wednesday night, with showers and a possible thunderstorm likely on Thursday night as another system approaches.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 31. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 26. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
Would you like me to check for any active National Weather Service advisories for the area?
Century Correctional Officer Sexually Assaulted By Inmate, FDC Says
February 22, 2026
A correctional officer at Century Correctional Institution was sexually assaulted by an inmate, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Inmate David Gutierrez, 34, sexually assaulted the officer, the FDC said.
The FDC said the officer was injured but did not provide further details. All assaults are investigated, and disciplinary action is imposed in accordance with policy.
Gutierrez is serving just over two years on a 2025 robbery with a deadly weapon and multiple grand theft convictions from Broward County.
Here’s What To Know As Jay Lady Royals Basketball Heads To The State Final Four
February 22, 2026
It’s been nearly three decades, 28 years in fact, since a Jay High School girls basketball team made the state Final Four in the Rural Division
Last week, the Lady Royals beat Chipley 51-44 to seal the deal.
Jay will travel to UNF Arena at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville for the semifinals on Tuesday, February 24, ahead of the state championship game on Friday, February 27.
The team is seeking help with travel expenses. Donations by cash or check can be made Monday morning at the Jay High School front office.
The Lady Royals last made the Final Four back in 1998.
Want to go?
Where: CSI Companies Court at UNF Arena (University of North Florida in Jacksonville)
Host: University of North Florida Athletics
Facility Information: Spectator Information | Clear Bag Policy
Event Schedule & Specific Dates: click here
Admission: $15 per day if purchased in advance, and $18 if purchased day of via GoFan
- Limited number of Premium VIP ticket options available each day
Parking: fee included in the cost of admission (Parking in Lot 18)
- Additional Parking & Shuttle Route if needed
Lodging: click here
Live Webcasts: NFHS Network
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.