Highway 97 Crash Snaps Power Pole; Over 500 FPL Customers Lose Power
March 4, 2026
A driver was airlifted after crashing into a power pole on Highway 97 on Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened around 2:40 p.m. near Molino Park Elementary School.
The power pole was snapped during the crash. Florida Power & Light reported that up to 530 customers lost power due to the wreck, which also cut power to the traffic signal at Highway 29 and Highway 97 for a brief period. FPL reported that power had been restored by about 4 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating, and has not released more information. Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Teen Seriously Injured When His Pickup Crashes Off Kingsfield Road Bridge
March 4, 2026
A teen was seriously injured when he crashed his pickup truck off a Cantonment bridge on Wednesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 17-year-old lost control of his Toyota pickup truck on the East Kingsfield Road bridge over Eleven Mile Creek, just eat of Highway 297a. The vehicle overturned off the bridge and landed on solid ground.
He was airlifted to an area hospital in serious condition. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
For additional photos, click here.
The FHP investigation is continuing.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Former Escambia Firefighter Assigned To Beulah Gets 75 Years In Federal Prison For Child Porn
March 4, 2026
A former firefighter assigned to the Beulah Fire Station has been sentenced to 75 year in federal prison on child porn charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said 48-year-old Garey Anthony Buscaino had a decade long pattern of producing and possessing child porn.
Multiple victims of Buscaino’s crimes were present at the sentencing hearing in federal court. In addition to serving 75 years in federal prison, Buscaino was ordered to pay approximately $30,000 in restitution to the victims. He will also have to register as a sex offender for life.
“Protecting our children from exploitation and the predations of sick individuals like this offender remains one of my office’s highest priorities. I deeply appreciate the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who helped stop this predator from continuing to sexually exploit minor children and brought him to justice. As this substantial prison sentence demonstrates, my office will relentlessly pursue offenders who victimize our children, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, and seek maximum punishment for their heinous crimes,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin.
Court documents reveal that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an online user in Northwest Florida possessed what appeared to be child pornography in a cloud account. Upon looking into the account and obtaining a search warrant for it, law enforcement determined that it not only contained child pornography from the internet but also what appeared to be hidden camera produced pornographic videos of unsuspecting minor females.
Based upon the content of the cloud account, and further investigation, FDLE linked the account to Buscaino and obtained a search warrant for his local residence and the Beulah firehouse. Located within, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task force seized dozens of electronic devices from the defendant.
“Our agents worked diligently to identify the offender and secure the evidence needed to protect these victims,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “We appreciate the strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in ensuring this individual is held fully accountable and cannot harm another child. Protecting Florida’s children is one of our highest responsibilities, and we will continue to pursue anyone who seeks to exploit them.”
Prosecutors said those devices contained hidden camera produced porn videos of five minor females in various states of undressing in bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as thousands of graphic images and videos of sexual child abuse from the internet. Some of these images and videos captured victims as young as toddlers being sexually abused, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to protect children from exploitation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure offenders are brought to justice and victims receive the support they deserve.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Century Water Rates Could Nearly Double In Effort To Keep System Afloat
March 4, 2026
Town of Century water system customers are facing a potential rate hike that would nearly double the cost of water usage, alongside smaller increases for wastewater.
Dyana Jo Stewart of the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) told the Century Town Council this week that it must raise rates in order to remain financially viable and make payments on six outstanding loans. As a member, Century received the rate study at no cost from the non-profit FRWA.
FRWA presented two rate hike recommendations: one with a large increase now, the second with three small increases over the next two-and-a-half years that will actually cost consumers more. The town council did not choose either scenario this week, but is expected to finalize plans at its March 17 meeting.
The council has also scheduled a public meeting for next Tuesday, March 10, at 6:15 at town hall to hear public input.
“Do you want to go ahead and take the hit and be done, or look at doing it for the next few years?” Stewart asked. She said the current rate structure will only lose money and not sustain the water utility. “If you don’t do it by April 1, you will have to use more of your reserves; you might have to borrow more money to balance out the end of the fiscal year.”
“That’s a hard decision we have to make,” Councilman John Bass said. “We are going to have to do this. I want to make sure we are transparent with the citizens.”
“It’s going to be an increase,” Council president Dynette Lewis said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s right after something we just came off of,” she added, referring to a recent sanitation fee increase.
Click any table below to enlarge.
SCENARIO – BIG INCREASE NOW
The first scenario would double the current base rate for 2,000 gallons from the current $13.59 to $26.64 beginning April 1 and continue for three years before incremental increases to $29.11 in 2029. Usage tiers over 2,000 gallons a month would increase nearly double up to 5,000 gallons (from $2.59 to $5.08) with other increases for additional usage.
For an average customer using an average 5,000 gallons of water per month, the water cost would rise from $21.36 to $41.87 while the study says combined water and wastewater cost would rise from $48.95 per month to $70.84 in April, with additional increases to $80.56 by 2029. That study says that is comparable to other towns of similar size.
SCENARIO 2 — SERIES OF THREE STEP INCREASES
In the second scenario presented by the FRWA, there would be three smaller increases — April 1, 2026; October 1, 2026; and October 1, 2027.
Under the second option, the base rate would increase from $13.59 for 2,000 gallons to $20.39 before going to $25.48 in 2027 and $29.74 by 2029.
The average user consuming 5,000 gallons per month would see their water and wastewater bill increase from a current $48.95 to $61.01 in April and eventually $81.95 in 2029 for water and wastewater.
Under both scenarios, there would be additional small increases for wastewater and, in future years, increases based upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation.
Pictured top: Dyana Jo Stewart of the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) addresses the Century Town Council. NorthEsscambia.com photo/graphics, click to enlarge.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Alleged Hammer Assault
March 4, 2026
A Walnut Hill man was charged with the alleged battery of a female relative.
Gary Glenn Roley, 55, was charged with second degree felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor battery, all domestic violence related. He was later released on a $22,500 bond.
Deputies responded to the home after emergency dispatch advised that a woman had called stating a male was going to murder her with a hammer. Upon arrival, the responding deputy heard the victim’s cries for help and made an unannounced entry into the home, where he discovered Roley and the victim on the floor near a doorway. The deputy drew his agency issued firearm, and Roley was immediately detained and placed in a patrol vehicle without incident.
Deputies said Roley then retrieved a hammer and began beating on the door to reach her. While forcing his arm through the door, Roley struck the victim with the hammer at least twice before entering the room to punch, kick, and pull her hair.
Responding officers noted that the victim had blood on her arms, face, and clothing, and she appeared to have difficulty using her right arm. Deputies also observed broken drywall, a damaged door, and a hammer on the laundry room floor.
Overnight Fog, Back In The Low 80s For Thursday
March 4, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Wednesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Evan Taylor’s Third Home Run Of The Night Gives Tate Walk-Off Win Over Crestview
March 4, 2026
Evan Taylor’s third home run of the night gave the Tate Aggies a 7-6 walk-off win over the Crestview Bulldogs on Tuesday night at Tate.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies were down 6-5 when Taylor hit a two-run homer to right field. His other two home runs came in the fourth and sixth innings.
Taylor went 3-4 overall with four RBIs. Kaden Posta and Griffin Cook added two hits each while Conner Dethlefs and Cooper Halfacre had one each.
Nathan Conners started on the mound for Tate, giving up three hits and one run in four and one-third innings while striking out four and walking six.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Veterans Services Outreach On Thursday In Molino
March 4, 2026
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will hold an outreach event on Thursday, March 5 in Molino.
Veterans are invited to discuss veteran benefits with an accredited veteran service officer from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Molino Community Center, 6450 North Highway 95A.
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and re-evaluating VA disability.
Additional vendors scheduled to part include:
- Escambia County Property Appraiser’s Office
- Legal Services of North Florida
- The Office of Florida State Representative Michelle Salzman, District One
- United Way of West Florida
- Pensacola Vet Center
For more information, call (850) 595-2409 or email VSO@myescambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Lady Aggies Drop Close One To Gulf Breeze (With Gallery)
March 4, 2026
The Tate Lady Aggie dropped a close one to the Gulf Breeze Dolphins on Tuesday night at Tate. The Dolphins came out on top 6-5.
The Aggies took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third with an inside-the-park home run from Madison Smillie that scored two runs. Smillie, Kaylie Mitchell and Brelynn Morris each had one hit for the Lady Aggies.
Sarah Mitchell took the loss for Tate in five innings, surrendering five runs and one hit while striking out seven and walking nine. Kaylen Relstab stepped in the circle for two innings of no-hit ball, allowing one unearned run and striking out two.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle School’s Lauren Samo Named Beyond START Mentor Of The Month
March 4, 2026
Escambia County Public Schools’ Professional Learning Department had recognized Lauren Samo of Ransom Middle School as the September Beyond START Mentor of the Month. The award was presented on Monday morning. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.