Young Men, Including Three Ransom Middle Students, Graduate From Sheriff’s Blazer Academy
March 24, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently held graduation exercises for the Sheriff’s Blazer Academy Class of 2026.
The young men spent weeks developing lifelong skills. They learned how to do a proper handshake, how to put on a tie, how to present themselves, and much, much more.
After the ceremony, the graduates had a celebratory dinner at The Global Grill, where they made a toast to completing the academy and their futures.
From Ransom Middle School, Sheriff’s Blazer Academy graduates included Keylin Stallworth, Caiden Gremillion, and John Bosson V.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
Town of Century: Pay Past Due Utility Bills By Tuesday To Avoid Disconnection
March 24, 2026
The Town of Century has had problems in recent months with utility billing that delayed disconnections, but now the town says past due balances must be paid in full on Tuesday.
According to a social media post by Town Clerk Carrie Moore, disconnections will take place on Wednesday, March 25, for accounts with past due balances.
“To avoid interruption of service, all past due balances must be paid in full before the disconnection date,” the post stated. “No exceptions will be made on disconnection day.”
Bills can be paid in-person at the Century Town Hall, or contact the town at (850) 256-3208 for an online payment link or questions. Town Hall is open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The post stated that an “account will have to be paid in full if disconnected,” and reconnection fees will apply.
Current charges on the bill dated March 4, 2026, are not up for disconnection until April 27, the town noted.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Molino Man Arrested Months After Alleged Domestic Assault With Axe
March 24, 2026
A Molino man was recently arrested on an outstanding warrant in connection with an alleged domestic violence battery and assault late last year.
Kevin Ashton Pippins, 29, was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, and domestic battery by strangulation. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000 on the felony charges.
On November 03, 2025, Pippins’ girlfriend alleged he choked her and beat her, grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground, before choking her. She said he swung an axe at the floor multiple times just inches from her toes while stating, “I’m going to kill you,” according to an arrest report.
The deputy noted the victim suffered small spotty bruising on her legs and had red marks on her neck, the report continues.
A warrant was issued following the incident.
Tate Grad Wine Named Sun Belt Softball Player Of The Week
March 24, 2026
Tate High School graduate Kara Wine was recenthly named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week.
Wine, a freshman, was instrumental in helping South Alabama post a 3-1 record, including a Sun Belt series sweep of in-state rival Troy.
In her four outings, Wine led the club with a .500 batting average and reached base safely in seven of her 12 plate appearances while drawing a pair of walks. The freshman catcher drove in five runs, homered twice and posted three extra-base hits, as she had at least one hit and one RBI in each game.
Against ninth-ranked Florida State, Wine went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and a walk. In the series against Troy, she broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out, RBI-single in the Jags’ 3-2.
In a 7-0 win, Wine lined a bases-loaded, two-run single up the middle in the top of the first inning. Behind the plate, she helped the Jaguar pitching staff secure its conference-leading eighth shutout of the season. In Sunday’s 5-4 victory, Wine’s sixth-inning home run provided insurance and proved to be the game-winning run.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Spring Warming Trend Continues
March 24, 2026
North Escambia will see temperatures climb steadily through the work week, peaking in the mid-80s by Friday under mostly sunny skies. A weak front will move through Friday night, bringing a slight drop in temperatures for the upcoming weekend, though conditions will remain clear and sunny with highs in the mid to upper 70s.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday Increasing clouds, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 77.
Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 74.
Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 77.
OLF-8 Developer Wants County To Keep 160 Acres, Lower Price By $15 Million
March 23, 2026
A developer who purchased the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road wants Escambia County to keep nearly 30% of the property and lower the selling price.
Last year, the Escambia County Commissioners approved the $42.5 million sale of 540 acres of OLF-8 to Tri-W Development and Chad C. Henderson Enterprises of Pensacola.
Now, Henderson wants the county to keep 160 acres and lower the purchase price to $27.5 million.
He said the plan would create a partnership with the county, giving it more control of job creation in an Employment Technology Innovation District. He said the county is in a position to secure funding, grants, or even Triumph money.
“We believe that coming together and partnering on the ETI district will allow us to have access to other financing aspects, grants, even Triumph, — where we can make sure we can develop this project the right way on the front end,” Henderson said.
He added, “540 acres is a large enough piece of property where you can curate the experience and feel of different aspects of real estate, making it all come together the way it should be.”
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
OLF-8 Developer Asks Escambia County to Keep 171 Acres and Cut Price By $14 Million
March 23, 2026
A developer who purchased the OLF-8 property on Nine Mile Road wants Escambia County to keep nearly one-third of the property and lower the selling price by millions.
Last year, the Escambia County Commissioners approved the $42.5 million sale of about 540 acres of OLF-8 to Tri-W Development and Chad C. Henderson Enterprises of Pensacola.
Now, Henderson wants the county to keep 171.5 acres and lower the purchase price by just over $14 million. The change would result in the sale of 366.94 acres for $28,429,000.
At its June 5, 2025, meeting, the Escambia County Commission approved a purchase and sale agreement, and the developer made an initial escrow deposit of $100,000 before exercising an option and depositing another $50,000 to extend the original closing date of December 2, 2025, until July 16, 2026. The developer has two additional options to extend to August 17 and September 17 at $20,000 per extension.
In February of this year, a representative of the purchaser reported to the county that they had concluded that the greatest economic benefit for OLF-8 would be to develop 366.94 acres into five unique districts — commerce, town center, community, civic, and residential — and that the County should retain ownership of 171.5 acres to be developed as an ETI (Employment, Technology and Innovation) district.
The Escambia County Commission will consider the change request during its regular meeting on Thursday morning.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired OLF-8 in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County. The county hired DPZ CoDesign to develop the best plan for OLF-8, and the firm presented four plans ranging from a commerce park-based concept to designs with a mix of commerce, residential and green space on the 500 plus acre site along Nine Mile Road in Beulah.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Traffic Stop Leads To Felony Drug Charges For Woman
March 23, 2026
A routine traffic stop by the Flomaton Police Department resulted in a woman’s felony arrest and the seizure of various narcotics this week.
During the stop, officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle, uncovering five different types of controlled substances. Police identified the suspect as Latanya Jones, who was taken into custody without incident.
Jones was charged with five counts of possession of a controlled substance for each of the following: morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, Suboxone, and Xanax.
Jones was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton.
Pickup Truck With No Windshield Leads To Felony Drug Charges In Century
March 23, 2026
A Century man is facing multiple charges after an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted him driving a truck without a windshield.
According to an arrest report, a deputy was patrolling the area of North Century Boulevard and State Line Road when they observed a maroon 1995 Ford Ranger traveling southbound. The vehicle was missing its entire windshield and did not have a license plate attached.
The driver, Juluis Ray Harris, pulled the truck into the Southern Pit Stop on North Century Boulevard, where he was immediately detained. The deputy had previously stopped Harris just one day prior and issued him a citation for driving with a suspended license.
During a search following the arrest, deputies discovered two plastic baggies in Harris’ pocket. One baggie contained approximately two grams of a white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, while the second contained 1.2 grams of a substance identified as synthetic cannabinoid, commonly known as “spice”, according to an arrest report.
A search of the truck yielded no other contraband, though deputies noted the passenger door could not be opened. Harris’ vehicle was left at the scene with a friend at his request.
Harris, 61, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (methamphetamine), felony possession of synthetic cannabinoids, and misdemeanor driving while license suspended or revoked (second conviction). He was released on a $3,500 bond.
Mostly Sunny, High In The Mid 80s For Monday
March 23, 2026
Expect plenty of sunshine with temperatures climbing into the low to mid 80s on Monday. A weak front mid-week will briefly introduce more cloud cover, but not rain in the forecast. By next weekend, a slight cooling trend will bring afternoon highs back down into the mid 70s under clear, sunny skies.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Tuesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.