Woman Charged With DUI Manslaughter For Fiery 2025 Fatal Highway 29 Collision
May 29, 2026
A woman has been arrested for a 2025 crash that took the life of a Cantonment man and seriously injured two Flomaton residents.
Kelcey Alexis Eyl, 29, surrendered Friday on outstanding Florida Highway Patrol warrants for DUI manslaughter and two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury.
The two-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on October 11, 2025, on Highway 29 south of the paper mill, near Woodbury Circle, and involved a Chevrolet Equinox SUV and a passenger car.
According to FHP, a car driven by Eyl was traveling southbound on Highway 29 at a high rate of speed when the vehicle crossed over the median and into the path of a northbound SUV. She was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Her passenger, a 30-year-old Cantonment man, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of a Chevrolet Equinox SUV, a 72-year-old Flomaton man, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. His passenger, a 70-year-old Flomaton woman, was also transported to Sacred Heart in serious condition.
The rear portion of Eyl’s car was ripped away in the collision, and the front and passenger compartment crossed all lanes of Highway 29 before bursting into flames.
The crash completely shut down Highway 29 for several hours.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Combative Suspect Tased, Shot With Non-Lethal Gun After Resisting Deputies In Century
May 29, 2026
A suspect shot by deputies with a non-lethal weapon was taken into custody just before noon on Friday in Century.
Cortez Rasheen Davison, 32, will face multiple charges according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began with a criminal mischief complaint in the 7000 block of Alger Road (pictured left), just off North Century Boulevard. Davison allegedly broke a window at a mobile home. The Sheriff’s Office said he became combative with arriving deputies and fled.
Deputies caught up with Davison at the nearby Century Food Mart on North Century Boulevard, where he again became combative. The Sheriff’s Office said he was tased before being shot with a non-lethal bean bag gun and then taken into custody.
Davison was evaluated on-scene and medically cleared by an Escambia County EMS supervisor and Newman’s Ambulance.
Davison (pictured in a 2025 mugshot) will be booked into the Escambia County Jail Friday afternoon. The exact pending charges were no immediately available.
The ECSO said no actual shots were fired, and there were no injuries to deputies or citizens.
The Flomaton Police Department also responded and assisted.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Sending Death Threats To Ex-Girlfriend In Bratt
May 29, 2026
A man has been charged after allegedly traveling to the area to stalk and sending death threats to a Bratt woman.
Eric Dean Vickers, age 41 of Panama City, was charged with felony written or electronic threats to kill or do bodily harm.
According to an arrest report, an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a harassing communications complaint at a residence near Bratt. The victim stated that Vickers, her ex-boyfriend, became enraged when she turned off the location tracking on her phone. Vickers then allegedly drove from Panama City to Escambia County to track her down.
The deputy reviewed numerous messages sent across Facebook, Snapchat, and text message threads. In the messages, Vickers allegedly threatened violence, claiming he would find her and murder her. One text message included a photograph of a black SUV parked outside a room she was in, along with a message stating he was about to kill her and the person she was with.
The victim fled her home to hide in Pensacola out of fear for her safety. Witnesses also reported seeing Vickers driving past the Bratt residence multiple times over a weekend. During the investigation, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on Vickers’ silver Ford Escape at Highway 99 and Highway 4 in Bratt, confirming his identity and noting that his vehicle matched witness descriptions.
Investigators later linked a phone number used to send a threatening voicemail transcript directly to Vickers.
Vickers remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $15,000.
Deputies noted in the report that Vickers is formerly a resident of the Century area.
Salzman Reports $27 Million In Local Funding Secured In Proposed State Budget
May 29, 2026
Florida lawmakers have reached an agreement on state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including $27 million in funding for local projects secured by Rep. Michelle Salzman and several Senate partners.
Those projects include nearly $1.2 million for Century water and sewer projects, funds for an Escambia River Electric Cooperative water project, ECUA, and Escambia County public safety needs.
Among the projects included are funding initiatives supporting the University of West Florida, Pensacola State College, ECUA infrastructure improvements, Escambia County Fire Rescue emergency vehicles, veterans’ mental health services, Town o of Century water management improvements, Escambia River Electric Cooperative water system repairs and improvements, and the Northwest Florida Community Resilience & Long-Term Recovery Support Initiative.
“As lawmakers, one of our most important responsibilities is ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested back into our communities in meaningful ways,” said Salzman. “This budget prioritizes infrastructure, education, healthcare, public safety, and critical services that directly impact families across Northwest Florida. I’m proud to work alongside our delegation to secure investments that strengthen our communities while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
The budget has not yet been signed by Gov. DeSantis, who has the power to veto line items.
Local items currently in the budget include:
Town of Century
Century Inflow and Infiltration Study — $315,000
- The study is aimed at problem areas in the system to reduce wastewater flow at the town’s treatment plant.
Century Lift Station Rehabilitation — $830,339
- Rehabilitate two sewage life stations that were installed more than 30 years ago, a requirement of a consent order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative
- Water System Repairs and Improvements — $117,244
- Rehabilitate water well located on Highway 97A in Enon, which as declined from 350 gallons per minute to 200 due to wear and reduced capacity.
ECUA
- West Ensley Septic to Sewer — $500,000
The project will convert a lower income area with poor drainage from septic tanks to sewer.
Escambia County
Hazardous materials regional emergency response vehicle — $900,000
- Intended as a regional response vehicle across multiple counties. The full ask was $1.8 million.
Technical rescue regional emergency vehicle — $800,000
- Intended as a regional response vehicle across multiple counties. The full ask was $1.6 million.
Station management system — $600,000
- Advanced station management system in all staffed fire stations. The full ask was $1.2 million
Escambia 911 communications improvements $350,000 HF 1187
- Replacement of outdated 911 dispatch consoles. The full ask was $700,000.
Sunset Wildlife Connection Brings Animal Encounters To Century, Molino Libraries
May 29, 2026
Kids had a chance to get up close and personal with nature on Thursday morning, during Sunset Wildlife Connection’s Animal Encounters at the Century Library.
They learned each animal’s story, how to make a difference to wild animals, and more.
Sunset Wildlife Connection of Molino also presented the program on Tuesday at the Molino Library.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bluff Springs Recreation Area Closed By Flooding
May 29, 2026
The Northwest Florida Water Management District has closed the Bluff Springs Recreation Area on the Escambia River due to flooding,
The District said access roads are flooded, prompting the temporary closure.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Warm, Humid, And Rainy Weather Continues
May 29, 2026
A wet and humid pattern is settling into the region as a daily dose of afternoon showers and thunderstorms tracks across the area through most of next week. High temperatures will push into the upper 80s over the weekend before a slight cooling trend arrives by mid-week, though daily rain chances will remain locked in around 40% to 60%.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday: A chance of showers before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Blue Wahoos Walked off By Barons In Birmingham
May 29, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 7-4 in 10 innings to the Birmingham Barons on Thursday night, failing to hold a pair of leads and surrendering a three-run walk-off homer to Anthony DePino.
A Connor Caskenette sacrifice fly and Dylan Jasso two-run double gave the Blue Wahoos a 3-0 lead in the second against Barons starter Dylan Cumming. The next three Pensacola innings would be snuffed out by ground ball double plays turned by the Birmingham infield.
Eliazar Dishmey started for the Blue Wahoos in his Double-A debut, flashing swing-and-miss stuff before running into trouble his second time through the order. He allowed a solo homer to Drake Logan in the third, and issued a pair of walks in the fourth that came in to score on a Wilfred Veras groundout and Jorge Corona RBI single to tie the game 3-3. Dishmey allowed three runs in 4.0 innings while striking out six and walking four.
Fenwick Trimble singled, took second on an error, and scored on a passed ball in the sixth inning to put Pensacola ahead once more 4-3. Kade Bragg worked 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, but Jack Sellinger surrendered doubles to DePino and Jeral Perez in the eighth to tie the game 4-4.
The Blue Wahoos were unable to bring home their placed runner in the top of the 10th against Jonathan Clark (W, 1-0), and Colby Martin (L, 1-2) was placed in a tough spot when entering in the bottom half of the frame. After a stolen base and an intentional walk, DePino launched a walk-off blast for a 7-4 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Barons on Friday evening.
written by Erik Bremer
Tate Class Of 1971 Presents Two $5,000 Scholarships
May 29, 2026
The Tate High School Class of 1971 presented two scholarships at Tate’s senior honors ceremony.
Winners of the $5,000 scholarships were Princess Frierson (pictured left) and Brennen Williams, as selected by Tate administration and the guidance department.
This was the fifth consecutive year that the Class of 1971 has presented scholarships, now totaling over $35,000. The Tate Class of 1971 is the only class currently awarding scholarships and has challenged other graduating classes to do the same.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mosquito Control To Spray Tonight In Portions of Century, Byrneville And Scenic Hills
May 28, 2026
Escambia County’s Mosquito Control Division will conduct fogging missions in Commission District 5 on Thursday, May 28, including Century and portions of Byrneville and Barth east of Highway 29, and Scenic Hills, as part of an ongoing effort to reduce mosquito populations in Escambia County.
Fogging will begin at sunset and will continue during the evening as weather conditions allow. The timing helps target mosquitoes when they are active while reducing impacts on other insects.
Click maps to enlarge.
To request mosquito control service, call (850) 937-2198 or email mosquitocontrol@myescambia.com.
