Tate Boys Tennis Beats Milton 7-0
February 20, 2026
Thursday, Tate Aggies Boys Tennis beat Milton 7-0 to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The Aggie Boys were coming off a 7-0 win over Washington on Tuesday, and a 7-0 win over Escambia on February 12. Up next, Tate will face Navarre.
The Tate Girls fell to Milton 5-2 on Thursday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Firearm Possession
February 20, 2026
An Escambia County convicted felon has been sentenced on a federal firearms charge.
Jerney Jabara Purifoy, 33, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will then be on supervised release for three years.
Court documents reflect that deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Purifoy’s residence. In his bedroom, deputies located a loaded 9-millimeter handgun. In another room, deputies located a loaded .22 caliber AR15-style rifle.
Purifoy has prior felony convictions for aggravated battery and fleeing or eluding law enforcement, and he also has a pending case in Escambia County state court related to animal cruelty, animal fighting, and confinement of animals without sufficient food or water.
He faced up to 15 years in prison.
Century CRA Reemerges with $191K Balance For Blighted Area; First Meeting in Years Held
February 19, 2026
The Century Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) now has $191,151.89 in the bank and will soon begin to consider how potential projects can improve blighted areas of the town.
The five members of the Century Town Council and one citizen currently sit as the CRA board, which is expected to meet quarterly. However, a meeting this week was the first in years, and financial information has not been published since the 2021-2022 operating year.
Eric Christianson, a planner for the Emerald Coast Regional Council, met with the CRA board this week for a presentation on what the CRA is and how the agency can work to improve a portion of the town.
In October 2018, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing plan for their redevelopment area, allowing the CRA to receive property tax revenues each year in excess of an established base rate. The appraised value of the property within the designated district was “frozen” in 2018, with that amount of tax revenue generated still designated for the town’s general fund, the county, and other taxing authorities.
The redevelopment area receives 95% of the property tax generated in excess of the frozen base value as property values rise. Along with small interest earnings, the CRA has spent nothing on improving the area to date, as far as we know from financial reports that were last published nearly three years ago.
The CRA funds can be used to improve conditions in the 510 acres bounded by Jefferson Avenue to the south, Jefferson Avenue to the east, East High 4 to the north and the center line of North Century Boulevard to the west. It also extends north on the east side of North Century Boulevard to include commercial properties up to, and including, the former Burger King (see map below).
Tax Increment Financing is a unique tool available to cities and counties for redevelopment activities. It is used to leverage public funds to promote private sector activities in the targeted redevelopment area. Property owners in the CRA pay the same tax rate as those in the remainder of the town.
TIF revenue can be used on a “pay as you go” basis, where the annual stream of revenue is used to fund small projects, or used to pay debt service costs over the life of a project lasting 10 or more years. Historically in Florida, TIF has been effective at generating large amounts of funding for capital investments for roadway improvements, flood control programs, water and sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements, parking lots and garages, neighborhood parks, sidewalks, street and sidewalk tree plantings, signs and building construction.
After a February 2016 tornado damaged or destroyed 40 homes and businesses, the town looked to address the long-term effects on the community of a downturn in economic development. That led to the redevelopment area.
The CRA plan sets a roadmap for future development and spending to eliminate existing conditions of blight and to encourage continued private investment. The plan also provides a framework for coordinating and facilitating public and private redevelopment within the area.
This week, the CRA board set future meetings for 5:30 p.m., before regular 6:15 council meetings, on March 2, June 23, September 15, and November 17. The board is expected to receive current financial details at the March 2 meeting.
Pictured: The Century CRA held a workshop meeting this week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured below: The Century CRA boundary map, click to enlarge.
Suspect Dead Following Officer-Involved Shooting In Pensacola
February 19, 2026
TThe Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a Pensacola Police officer-involved shooting on Wednesday afternoon.
The shooting happened about 3:40 p.m. at the Carlton Palms Condominiums on Garden Street, just a few hundred feet from the Pensacola Bay Center.
At 3:38 pm, the Pensacola Police Department received a 911 call indicating that a man was firing a gun inside the residential complex.
As responding officers arrived, the suspect was seen in the parking lot with a gun in his hand. Officers gave commands for the man to drop the weapon, and he refused to do so..,” Officer Mike Wood said. “Shots were fired and the man was wounded. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
There were no other injuries.
FDLE is conducting the investigation, and the officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
High School Juniors In Escambia County Receive Required CPR, AED Training
February 19, 2026
Juniors at Northview High School received required hand-on CRP and AED training on Wednesday, led by Dr. Matthew Steiner, a pediatric cardiologist at Nemours Children’s Health
Florida statute requires students in 9th and 11th grade to participate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
Students gathered in the gym to learn how to properly perform chest compressions on CPR manikins. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. With more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occurring outside of a hospital setting each year, bystander intervention plays a crucial role in patient outcome.
By the end of the school year, more than 2,000 students across seven high school in Escambia County will have received training on how to effectively administer CPR, as well as instruction on how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Warm 80s The Next Few Days, But A Winter Chill Will Return
February 19, 2026
A warm stretch is set to peak as temperatures climb into the lower 80s through Friday, but a significant shift is on the horizon. Gusty winds and increasing moisture will bring a round of showers and thunderstorms Friday and Saturday before a strong cold front arrives. By Sunday, conditions will turn sharply cooler and breezy, leading into a clear Monday with temperatures dropping below freezing.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 29.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
NorthEscambia Publisher Named One Of Escambia County’s Most Influential People
February 19, 2026
The Pensacola Independent News has released their 2025 Inweekly Power List — their ranking of the most powerful and influential people in Escambia County.
Only one person who works primarily in the North Escambia area was named to the list — NorthEscambia.com publisher William Reynolds — for the 14th consecutive year.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons tops this year’s list, “because he has transformed law enforcement in Northwest Florida while building unprecedented trust with the community. Sheriff Simmons’ leadership style and commitment to innovation, technology and community engagement have improved public safety throughout Escambia County.”
To view this year’s Inweekly Power List edition, click here.
Pictured: Sheriff Chip Simmons was at the top of the 2026 Inweekly Power List. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Motorcyclist Killed In Escambia County Crash
February 19, 2026
An Alabama motorcyclist was killed in a crash on Wednesday night in Escambia County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 30-year-old Mobile man was traveling southbound on W Street near the intersection with Beverly Parkway.
Troopers said he lost control of his motorcycle and fell onto the roadway.
File photo.
Tate High School Students Explore Futures At Career And College Fair
February 19, 2026
Over three dozens vendors took part in the Tate High School Career, College, and Job Fair on Wednesday.
Hosted by the Tate FFA, the event provided students with a hands-on look at life after graduation. Professionals from across the region, alongside representatives from various colleges and universities, occupied interactive booths where sudents were able to see first hand the possibilities that await them beyond graduation.
For additional photos, click here.
The fair is a central part of the school’s mission to ensure students are prepared for their next steps, whether they plan to be “Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed”.
“Your willingness to pour into the next generation truly makes a difference,” school officials shared in a statement thanking the community partners and businesses that invested time in the students.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Cheerleader Alyssa Bello Commits To South Alabama
February 19, 2026
Tate High School’s Alyssa Bello has signed with the University of South Alabama. The Aggies senior is the first commit of 2026 for the Jaguars.
“We can’t wait to see her in JagNation,” South Alabama cheerleading said in making the announcement. “Her determination and work ethic (are) exactly what we are looking for.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
