Escambia County Felon Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse Material, Drugs, And Stolen Guns
June 17, 2026
An Escambia County convicted felon has been arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on multiple counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and other charges.
Hershel Keith Cranford, 44, was charged with 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and one count each of promotion of CSAM, using a two-way communication device to commit a felony, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and dealing in stolen property.
FDLE’s investigation began in May when agents identified a device that was using a peer-to-peer file-sharing platform to share files depicting the sexual abuse of children. Investigators linked the device to an IP address in Escambia County and identified the user as Cranford.
This week, FDLE agents, with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Cranford’s residence. FDLE said the search warrant resulted in the seizure of an electronic device, methamphetamine, a Schedule I controlled substance, and multiple stolen firearms.
Cranford remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $80,000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Barons Postponed in Pensacola
June 17, 2026
Tuesday’s game at Blue Wahoos Stadium between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Birmingham Barons has been postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday, June 17, with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 4:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Fans planning to attend Tuesday’s postponed game can exchange their tickets for a future 2026 regular season home game of equal or lesser value at the Blue Wahoos Stadium ticket office. As stated on tickets, no refunds will be given, according to the Wahoos.
Fans with tickets to Wednesday’s regularly scheduled game will gain admittance to both games in the doubleheader, in the seats they have been assigned. Gates open at 3 p.m.
Five Years Later: Molino Cold Case Murder Remains Unsolved, Investigators Still Seeking Answers
June 16, 2026
It’s now been five years since a young man was shot in a Molino home, and the case remains unsolved.
At approximately 1:45 a.m. on June 15, 2021, Shyheim Smith was shot inside a family home in the 5500 block of Cedartown Road. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. At the time of his death, Smith’s girlfriend was pregnant with their son.
There were three adults in the room at the time of the shooting, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but only Smith was struck by gunfire.
“We do not think it was random,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons told NorthEscambia.com shortly after the shooting. “We believe the shooter or shooters intentionally went to that residence, walked around to the side of the house and shot multiple rounds through the window.”
“We still have a number of investigators on the case,” Simmons added.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Century Changing Yard Waste, Bulk Debris Collections After Council, Resident Outcry
June 16, 2026
After outcry from residents and town officials, Waste Pro is making changes to yard waste and bulk collections in Century.
At their most recent meeting, town council members expressed concern with the “black can.” It’s a green can with a black lid intended for yard waste, and they said it’s not practical to fit several tree limbs and other yard debris in the can.
Now, the Town of Century is removing the black lid cans and transitioning to a grapple truck collection of yard waste once per month. Waste Pro will collect organic debris smaller than 6 feet in diameter or 6 feet in length, placed in an area no larger than 6 x 6 feet square and 6 feet high. The collections will begin in July on a schedule to be announced, but household garbage, construction debris, treated lumber and large stumps will not be collected.
Bulk pick up for household items (furniture, mattresses, appliances and other large items) that will not fit inside the regular blue can will also begin in July. Areas on the west side of Highway 29, the “town hall side,” will be collected on July 7. The areas on the east side, the “Whataburger side”, of Highway 29 will be collected on July 14. Bulk items should be placed in an area no larger than 6 x 6 feet square and 6 feet high.
Bulk items, such as furniture and appliances, should be placed in a separate pile from organic material (such as limbs, leaves and grass clippings).
For additional details, click the graphic above to enlarge, or click here to download a printable pdf.
For other questions, call Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.
Graphic provided by the Town of Century for NorthEscambia.com.
West Bogia Road Open To Traffic; Paving Delayed By Forecasted Rain
June 16, 2026
West Bogia Road reopened Sunday afternoon, just two weeks after washing away during torrential rainfall and flooding, but work is not yet complete.
On May 31, an estimated six inches of rain fell in a three-hour window near McDavid. While Highway 29 at West Bogia Road was under several feet of water, West Bogia Road completely washed away and collapsed at a culvert intersection.
The Florida Department of Transportation quickly stepped in to handle the emergency repairs to the county road, replacing the failed 78-inch culvert pipe and rebuilding the crossing with solid concrete headwalls and new base materials.
For more photos of the opened road on Monday, click here.
For more photos of the damage and the road as it appeared last Saturday, click to enlarge.
While the vital corridor is now open to traffic—saving local residents from a significant daily detour—the $150,000 project is not quite finished. Final paving has been delayed for a few days due to rain in the forecast this week. According to FDOT, crews will complete the paving process as soon as the weather permits.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Flash Flood Watch In Effect Through Friday Evening
June 16, 2026
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire area through Friday evening.
Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall will continue through at least Friday afternoon. Additional rainfall amounts of 4 to 7 inches are expected with locally higher amounts, which may cause flash flooding, especially in urban and other poor drainage areas.
Here is the official local area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Low around 72. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 82. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 75. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Juneteenth: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 86. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Florida AG Sues TikTok, Alleges Violation Of State Child Safety Law
June 16, 2026
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed suit again TikTok, alleging the popular social media platform committed a series of violations of Florida law by actively targeting and contracting with minors while deceiving parents about the dangers of the app.
TikTok’s success hinges on its ability to addict children and teenagers to the platform,” said Uthmeier. “TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law. We have zero tolerance for companies that prioritize profit over children’s safety. TikTok should expect to be held accountable.”
The complaint alleges that TikTok is in violation of House Bill 3, Florida’s online child protections law, which took effect on January 1, 2025. Specifically, TikTok is accused of letting children under 14 years old create accounts, and letting 15- and 16-year-olds do the same without parental consent. Both violate H.B. 3, which bans children under 14 years of age from social media platforms entirely and requires parental consent for 15 and 16-year-olds to create accounts.
The lawsuit also alleges that TikTok is violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by deceiving parents about the safety and appropriateness of the content their children will have access to. TikTok advertises itself on the app store as being appropriate for children 13 years and older, and characterizes mature themes including sex content, drug content, profanity, self-harm or suicide, and eating disorders as “mild” and “infrequent” – a claim that is blatantly false. These themes are present very frequently on the app, and are often shown/discussed in graphic detail.
FDOT Completes $5.3 Million Resurfacing Project On Brent Lane, Bayou Boulevard
June 16, 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed a $5.3 million project to resurface State Road 296 (Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard), from Davis Highway to Baisden Road, in Escambia County.
Additional improvements include:
Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades.
Signalization improvements.
Stormwater management enhancements.
New signing and pavement markings.
Britt Announces $1.25 Million To Combat Flooding In Atmore
June 16, 2026
The City of Atmore is set to receive a massive infrastructure boost following a major federal funding announcement on Monday.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations, announced that she has directly secured $1.25 million for the City of Atmore in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
This funding will support the repair and improvement of Atmore’s storm drainage system, part of more than $14.97 million for Alabama in FY26 Homeland Security appropriations funding.
“I’m proud to deliver $1.25 million in funding for the City of Atmore to upgrade its stormwater infrastructure,” said Britt. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’m committed to returning taxpayer dollars right back to our communities. This critical funding will address longstanding drainage issues, reduce flooding risks, and better protect homes, businesses, and public safety. I’m eager to see the lasting impact this project will have in strengthening Atmore’s resilience for years to come.”
The project aims to address aging and insufficient stormwater infrastructure in Atmore to reduce flooding risks, protect public safety, and improve the community’s resilience to heavy rainfall events. The existing drainage system in the affected area has experienced frequent blockages, overflows, and erosion, resulting in property damage, road closures, and environmental degradation.
The funding is directed to support proactive disaster preparedness efforts aimed at reducing the need for post-disaster response and recovery.
“Senator Katie Britt has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the people of Atmore and to the future of our community,” said Atmore Mayor Shawn Lassiter. “We cannot thank the Senator enough for her tireless help and support in securing this transformative investment. Her leadership has made it possible for our city to take a bold step forward in protecting our residents, our businesses, and our infrastructure from the growing risks posed by natural hazards.”
Incoming Tate Senior Brooklyn Ray Commits To Southern Mississippi
June 16, 2026
Tate High School’s Brooklyn Ray has made an early commitment to continue her athletic and academic career at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is an incoming senior at Tate. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.