Mostly Sunny Thursday Before Rain Chances Return
June 4, 2026
The North Escambia area will enjoy one more mostly sunny day on Thursday with highs near 81 before moisture returns to the region. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms enters the forecast Friday afternoon, paving the way for a much wetter weekend. Rain and thunderstorms become likely on Saturday and Sunday, primarily impacting the afternoon hours. This unsettled, stormy pattern is expected to stick around, keeping a 40% to 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast straight through the middle of next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Friday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night: A slight chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87.
Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
This Is Who Claimed A Winning $3.75 Million Lotto Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
June 4, 2026
We now know who claimed a winning $3.75 million Florida Lotto ticket sold last year in Beulah.
The ticket in the November 12, 2025, drawing was sold at the Circle K on Nine Mile Road at I-10.
Robert Ramon Lumpkins of Mobile claimed the top prize in the November 12, 2025, drawing for his quick pick ticket.
Winning numbers were 2-14-27-29-45-53.
The named was just released because draw game winners have 180 days to claim their prize, and names are exempt from disclosure for 90 days after the prize is claimed.
Free Summer Lunch Program Underway At West Florida Public Libraries
June 4, 2026
The free summer lunch program for youth at West Florida Public Libraries is underway at all locations.
West Florida Public Libraries will be serving free lunch for youth 18 years of age and younger at all library locations Monday through Friday from noon until 1 p.m. A special rural grab-and-go version of the program will be available at the Century and Molino library locations during the same time period.
The program will continue until August 7 at the Century, Molino, Tryon and Westside libraries, and until July 31 at the Bellview, Pensacola and Southwest libraries.
Disabled individuals 19 years of age and older who participate in a public or private non-profit program during the school year are also eligible to receive meals. This program is sponsored by Feeding the Gulf Coast.
Cantonment Man Charged With Late-Night Vehicle Burglary Attempt
June 4, 2026
A Cantonment man was arrested after allegedly prowling through a Pensacola mobile home park and attempting to break into vehicles
Vontarius Lavont Gulley, 20, was charged with felony attempted burglary of an unoccupied unarmed conveyance and misdemeanor loitering and prowling. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $3,500 bond.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, deputies responded to the Oakstead Mobile Home Park on Massachusetts Avenue around 12:50 AM on May 29, 2026, following a report of a burglary in progress. A resident alerted dispatch after surveillance cameras captured two individuals in black clothing, hoodies, and masks walking through yards and pulling on vehicle door handles.
Upon arrival, deputies spotted two individuals running through the complex. While one suspect eluded law enforcement, deputies successfully detained Gulley on the west side of the property.
Home surveillance footage linked Gulley to the scene, showing him—identifiable by a specific logo on his jacket—approaching an SUV on the property and attempting to open the door. Investigators confirmed the targeted vehicle was unlocked, but nothing was reported missing.
According to the arrest report, Gulley admitted he traveled to the area specifically to enter vehicles.
Domestic Violence Arrested Leads FDLE To Charge Man For Child Porn
June 4, 2026
A 44-year-old Escambia County man has been charged with 20 child porn counts.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Ronnie Cooper, 44, for possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The arrest is part of FDLE’s statewide initiative to identify and apprehend offenders who target children and share files depicting child sexual abuse.
In March 2026, agents received Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), reporting that an unknown user uploaded over 1,300 files containing images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Agents traced the associated IP address to Cooper’s residence and identified Cooper as the user of the account.
While under investigation by FDLE, Cooper was arrested on April 29 for a domestic violence battery charge by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Cooper allegedly got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend when he was discovered viewing child sexual abuse material on his laptop.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant for Cooper for 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The warrant was served on Cooper in jail the same day.
Cooper remains in the Escambia County Jail with bod set at $213,000.
Barnie Carlson Jones
June 4, 2026
It is with a mix of heavy hearts and fond memories that the Jones family announces the passing of Barnie Carlson Jones on June 1, 2026, at the age of 76. A lifelong resident of Byrneville, Florida, Barnie was the kind of person who instantly lit up a room with his friendship, curiosity, and a generous love for his family. He was a natural connector of people and a true local character.
Barnie’s sense of humor was legendary, as was his lifelong quest to collect “things that might be useful.” His yard, home, and shed stand as proud testimonies to his creativity and his unique ability to spot a treasure in what others might call trash. In his well-deserved retirement, Barnie could usually be found reclined in his favorite comfy chair, sporting his coveralls, jamming out to blues music, enjoying a hot cup of coffee and making his daily to-do list.
He spent 25 years working in construction and maintenance at Cerex. As a property owner in Century, Byrneville, and Flomaton, he took great pride in providing safe, comfortable housing for local residents. He also loved giving back to his community, serving with the Lion’s Club and the Historical Society. Above all, Barnie loved his family deeply and was always the first to jump in and help a neighbor or friend in need. He was a member of the Poplar Dell Baptist Church.
Barnie is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Sharon (Calloway); his daughter, Jodie of Century, FL; his son, Tim, and daughter-in-law, Karen of New Boston, NH; and his two grandchildren, Meghan and Lucas Jones and Lucas’s wife, Rachel, also of New Hampshire. He also leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and sisters- and brothers-in-law, as well as his trusted best friend, Duke the dog, and his cats. The youngest of six siblings, Barnie was preceded in death by siblings Toby Jones, June Edwards, Judy Lands, Jessie Evans, and Lou McCall and his parents Buford and Sally May Jones.
A celebration of Barnie’s life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Poplar Dell Baptist Church in Byrneville, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Barnie’s memory the way he lived: reach out to help a friend, tell a delightfully bad joke, and simply enjoy life.
Escambia County Felon Indicted On Federal Gun, Drug Charges
June 4, 2026
An Escambia County felon has been indicted on federal gun and drug possession charges.
Joseph Jerome Reynolds, Jr., 31, was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
His jury trial is scheduled for July 6.
Reynolds, Jr. faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and up to three years’ imprisonment for each count of possession of a controlled substance.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Blue Wahoo Bats Go Quiet In 4-1 Loss
June 4, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped game 2 to the Chattanooga Lookouts Wednesday night by a final score of 4-1.
Alex Williams (L, 2-5) got the ball in game 2 and was quickly touched up in the first inning. Carlos Jorge, who would end his night with 3 hits, led things off with a single and quickly stole his 17th base of the season to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Cam Collier knocked a two-out, run scoring single into left field to give the Lookouts an early 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga’s opener, Nick Sando, would allow nothing after a leadoff single from Cam Cannarella, facing the minimum over his two innings of work. The Wahoos would strike back against Nate Peterson (W, 3-1) in the third. Peterson gave up a booming leadoff double to Garret Forrester, which was followed by a Dylan Jasso walk and an Emaarion Boyd single to load the bases with nobody out. Primed to do damage, Cannarella would send what looked like a sacrifice fly into left field, but a perfect throw home from Jay Allen II would cut down a tagging Forrester for a double play.
With men on second and third and two away, Aiva Arquette sent a single into center field that would score Dylan Jasso, but would see Emaarion Boyd get thrown out at the plate on a strike throw from Carlos Jorge. With two runners thrown out on the bases, the Wahoos had still managed to tie the game at 1-1.
This would be all the offense Pensacola could muster while the lookouts continued to put on runs. Two more would score on a two run single off the bat of Cam Collier in the 5th, giving him all three RBIs to that point. An inning later, the Lookouts would tack on another, this time off of Wahoos reliever Nigel Belgrave, when Carlos Jorge would bring in the 4th and final run on an RBI knock to give Chattanooga a 4-1 lead.
Pensacola would manage to get at least one man on base in innings 5-8, but was never able to capitalize on the Lookouts bullpen, who went a combined 7.0 innings allowing just one run. They would go down 1-2-3 in the 9th against Jonathan Lavallee (S, 3), putting the final nail in the coffin.
Relievers Jake Christianson and Michael Perez would make their Double-A and Blue Wahoos debuts and each pitch a scoreless, hitless inning.
Pensacola would fall to a 27-26 record while the Lookouts would jump to a 28-25 record.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Lookouts on Thursday.
written by Charlie Hobert
Legislature Approves Placing Homestead Property Tax Amendment On November Ballot
June 3, 2026
Both the House and Senate on Tuesday approved putting lower homestead property taxes on the November ballot, potentially keeping money in residents’ pockets while causing chaos with local budgets.
The measure, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, passed the House 75-26 and moved through the Senate on a 30-9 vote. Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz all voted in favor.
If 60% of voters approve in November, the constitutional amendment will raise the homestead exemption from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with future increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.
RELATED: Escambia County Braces For $94 Million Revenue Loss If Homestead Amendment Passes
The exception for school taxes won’t be included and will remain at $25,000.
New Florida residents won’t qualify for anything more than the $50,000 exemption until they have lived in their home for five years. For non-homestead properties, future value assessments will be capped at 5% per year instead of the current 10%.
Governments will be limited in how they can spend their remaining property tax revenue, restricting it to public safety, infrastructure, schools, debt service, pensions, county constitutional officers (like Elections Supervisors, Clerks of Court, and Property Appraisers), and essential local government operations or administrative costs.
RELATED: Century Stands To Lose About $10K A Year If Property Taxes Are Cut
Century Council, Mayor Donate $1,000 For Northview FFA State Convention Trip
June 3, 2026
The Northview High School FFA chapter received $1,000 in donations Tuesday night after requesting funds from the Century Town Council to attend the state FFA convention in Orlando later this month.
Numerous Northview FFA members will compete in several events, and nine students will be awarded their State FFA Degree — the highest FFA honor at the state level — and one will receive the American FFA Degree.
“What they are trying to do is build future leaders,” Council member John Bass said. “I would definitely like to be part of that as a council.”
The town council voted to contribute $750 from budgeted donation funds, and Mayor Ben Boutwell committed to a personal donation of $250.
“These are your future leaders,” Boutwell added.
Pictured: Northview FFA President Grace Oliver and member Jackson Simmons address the Century Town Council Tuesday night.NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
