Escambia Postal Worker Pleads Guilty To Stealing Marijuana From Mail Packages
September 18, 2026
A 25-year-old postal worker has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing marijuana from mail parcels at the processing facility in Pensacola.
Vincent M. Madison, Jr., of Pensacola, entered guilty pleas to one count of theft of mail by a postal employee, one count of delay or destruction of mail, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court documents, in July 2023, Madison was working at the United States Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center in Pensacola when he began smelling packages passing through the facility. After identifying parcels containing marijuana, he cut them open and stole the contents.
Federal agents intercepted Madison as he left work and discovered over 1,000 grams of marijuana inside his lunchbox, according to court documents. Later that day, Madison attempted to get another mail handler to help him retrieve an additional package containing 448 grams of marijuana that he had hidden inside the distribution center.
“This defendant sought to exploit his position with the USPS to facilitate a drug trafficking operation through the U.S. Mail, but thanks to the excellent investigative work by the USPS Inspector General that supported the successful prosecution by my office, he now faces federal prison time,” U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said.
Madison faces up to five years of imprisonment on each count.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 10.
Today: Free Food, Health Screenings And Supplies At Council On Aging Senior Event In Century
September 18, 2026
The Council on Aging of West Florida is bringing expanded support and community resources directly to older adults age 60 and up in northern Escambia County today with an enrollment event in Century.
Designed to combat senior isolation, food insecurity, and the daily challenges of aging in place, the expanded initiative enhances local access to essential services for older adults in both the Cantonment and Century areas. Offerings include neighborhood senior dining sites, nutritious meal options, and social programming tailored to help older residents maintain independence and health.
Enrollment takes place today, September 18, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the agency’s senior dining site in Century, located at 6025 Industrial Boulevard.
The afternoon will feature food giveaways, vaccinations, health screenings, incontinence supply giveaways, and walkers. Representatives from State Representative Michelle Salzman’s office, along with the town mayor and city manager, will also be on hand. Most importantly, staff will conduct 30- to 45-minute comprehensive assessments for agency services to connect seniors with ongoing support.
“Expanding our footprint into communities like Cantonment and Century allows us to bridge critical gaps for seniors who might otherwise travel long distances for assistance or might feel otherwise alienated from the programs offered in more densely populated areas,” said marketing director Emily Echevarria. “Our goal is to ensure that aging adults across all of Escambia County have equal access to the nutritional, social, and caregiving resources they deserve.”
The initiative strengthens the organization’s ongoing mission across Northwest Florida to support older adults and their families through community-based care. Local seniors aged 60 and older, as well as family caregivers, are encouraged to attend today or connect with the agency to learn more about upcoming schedules, activity calendars, and program enrollment.
For more information regarding service hours, senior dining locations, or volunteer opportunities in Cantonment and Century, call the Council on Aging of West Florida at (850) 432-1475.
Sunny Skies, Warm, And Less Humid
September 18, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 70. Calm wind.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Firefighters Battle Logging Equipment, Brush Fire Deep In Wooded Area Near Walnut Hill
September 18, 2026
Firefighters from multiple agencies spent Thursday afternoon battling a logging equipment blaze and a resulting brush fire deep in the woods off Highway 97A west of Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Florida Forest Service, and the Atmore Fire Department responded to the scene, located about two miles down logging trails near Corley Road.
Crews were hampered by the distance and terrain as they worked to shuttle water from the roadway back into the woods to extinguish the flames.
No injuries were reported.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Schedule, Thursday Night Scores
September 18, 2026
Here is the Friday night North Escambia area football schedule, along with a few Thursday night scores.
FLORIDA
Friday
- Northview at Monroe County (AL) — clear bag policy in effect
- Holmes County at Jay
- Escambia at Pensacola
- Navarre at Pensacola Catholic
- North Bay Haven Academy at Gulf Breeze
- Pine Forest — Open
- Washington – Open
- Pace – Open
Thursday
- Tate 34, West Florida 7
- Baker 30, Central 8
ALABAMA
- Flomaton at Excel
- Opp a T.R. Miller
- Escambia County at W.S. Neal
- Evangel Christian Academy at Escambia Academy
– clear bag policy in effect
Blue Wahoos Eliminated From Playoffs In 8-3 Loss To Shuckers
September 18, 2026
One of the most successful seasons in Blue Wahoos history ended in a most difficult way.
Their post-season fate against the Biloxi Shuckers continued to be the wrong kind, after the Shuckers jumped on Blue Wahoos’ reliable starter Eliazar Dishmey with a trio of 2-run homers in the first three innings en route to an 8-3 victory Thursday night and a two-game sweep of their Southern League divisional playoff series.
The Shuckers’ win, before a crowd of 3,500-plus at Keesler Federal Park that was the team’s largest for a playoff game, sent them into the Southern League Championship Series for the first time since 2019.
They will face the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Los Angeles Angels’ affiliate, who blasted their way past the Knoxville Smokies 13-3 in Knoxville, Tennessee to sweep the Southern League North Division playoff series.
Both divisional winners will be seeking their first Southern League championship when the best-of-three series starts on Sunday.
Biloxi’s fast start Thursday continued its playoff success against the Blue Wahoos, who entered with the best overall record in the league this season.
The Shuckers, the Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate since the team’s inception in 2015, are now 11-3 against Pensacola in the postseason. They have won all four playoff matchups across three different Blue Wahoos affiliations.
In 2019, the Shuckers last won the divisional series, which was then best-of-five, in a deciding fifth game in Biloxi against the Blue Wahoos in their only year as a Minnesota Twins affiliate.
After the dropping the first game Tuesday 6-3, the Blue Wahoos sought to extend the series with Dishmey on the mound. The 21-year-old had allowed just seven runs combined in July and August in becoming the Blue Wahoos’ top starter.
But the only blip in that stretch was against Biloxi on August 13 when he was tagged for eight hits and three runs in 4.2 innings. In August, the Shuckers were 5-20, but got hot when it counted most.
The Shuckers quickly got to him again Thursday. The Shuckers’ heralded prospect, 19-year-old shortstop Jesus Made – rated No. 1 overall in Minor League Baseball – followed leadoff batter Dylan O’Rae’s single in the first inning with an opposite-field homer over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead.
That was followed by a two-run homer by catcher Matthew Wood in the second inning. Wood later had a two-run single in the eighth inning to complete a four-RBI night, giving him six RBI in two playoff games.
In the third inning, Braylon Payne crushed a Dishmey pitch as a rocket liner over the right field wall. The ball exited at 117 mph—the hardest hit ball of the Shuckers’ season.
At that point, Biloxi was up 6-0 and already positioned for a celebration. The Shuckers’ loaded lineup set a Southern League record for most runs scored this season.
The Shuckers had edged out the Blue Wahoos to win the first half division race. The Blue Wahoos claimed the second half in a dominating way.
The Blue Wahoos’ 79-58 overall record matched their second-most wins and third-best winning percentage in their 14-year franchise history. It included a 17-10 record against Biloxi in the regular season and a 43-25 second-half finish that won the playoff spot by seven games.
In the process, the team set franchise records for home runs (184) and stolen bases (312).
But the bulk of the position players who built that success were no longer on the Blue Wahoos roster when the season ended.
Four of their top players – outfielders Cam Cannarella, Brendan Jones and top slugger Brandon Compton, along with infielder Juan Mathews, were all called up to the Miami Marlins Triple-A affiliate Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp during the final five weeks of the season.
In addition, shortstop Aiva Arquette, the Marlins’ top pick in the 2025 draft, was injured last week and unable to play in postseason.
As late as Sept.1, the Blue Wahoos batted Arquette-Mathews-Compton as No. 2-4 in the batting order and once had the Marlins’ top three draft picks from 2025 on the roster.
Having clinched their playoff spot on Sept. 6 in Columbus (Ga.), the Blue Wahoos split the final regular-season series against the Shuckers at Blue Wahoos Stadium and rested both playoff starting pitchers, Jacob Kisting and Dishmey,
But their offense couldn’t deliver comebacks like it had during the second half of the season.
The Blue Wahoos picked up a run in the fifth inning on Payton Green’s sacrifice fly to score Ethan O’Donnell.
They cut the deficit to 6-3 in the seventh inning on RBI singles by Fenwick Trimble and Max Williams. For Williams, it continued his big boost since the former Florida State star and 2025 Draft pick joined the team in late August.
Dillon Lewis had a chance to continue the rally with two runners on base, but his hard-hit grounder became a force-out and the Blue Wahoos didn’t have another big threat.
Ironically, the Blue Wahoos will begin their 2027 season back in Biloxi when they start a 3-game, weekend opening series against the Shuckers on April 2-4 in this same ballpark.
written by Bill Vilona
Kenneth Wayne ‘Radio’ Rolin
September 18, 2026
Kenneth Wayne “Radio” Rolin, age 70, of Poarch Alabama passed away on September 14th, 2026 at home and surrounded by family.
Born at home on March 1st,1956 in Poarch Alabama, Kenneth Wayne was a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. He worked as a union pipefitter, HVAC technician and was a natural entrepreneur. He was a man of many talents who loved good music, beautiful women and living the kind of stories that will be told for generations to come.
Radio chartered his own course through life and was never afraid to take the road less traveled. He was the kind of man legends are made of, filled with hard-learned lessons, unforgettable memories and a deep love for his family and friends. Most importantly he was a man who accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior on his last day on this earth.
Though he lived on his own terms through life, he remained deeply loved by family and friends. He was a man with an enormous heart. The kind of person who would give anybody the shirt off his back without thinking twice. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life and leaves behind countless friends whose lives were touched by his presence. To know him was to love him and to know him was truly unforgettable.
Radio may have lived life by his own rules, but he loved his people deeply and they loved him just as fiercely in return. There was only one Radio. To know him was to love him and once you knew him you never forgot him.
Kenneth Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Buster (Bessie) Rolin, three brothers, Donnie Eugene Rolin, Harvey James Rolin, Ernest Dean Rolin and two sisters, Peggy Sue Couch, Mary Virginia Bell Godwin and one nephew Bradley Rolin.
He is survived by his two sons, Kenneth Eugene Rolin of Bay Minette, AL and Jason Cory Stephens (Crystal)of Atmore, AL and four grandchildren, Paityn, Sahara, Arieya and Wyatt; two step-children, Sammy and Brandi Bostic; five brothers, Walter Lee (Anita) Rolin of Gulf Shores, AL, Anthony Dale (Jennifer) Rolin of Bratt, FL; Roy Rolin of Poarch Alabama, Deno (Necole) Rolin, of Lottie, AL; Johnny Mack Rolin of Poarch, AL; Tonya (Wesley) Rayborn, Shawn (Stephanie Rolin), of Poarch, AL. Aubrey (Natasha) Rolin, of Poarch, AL a special sister-in-law, Diana Rolin, sister-in-law Tina Rolin and more nephews, nieces, greats and great-greats than can be counted.
A traditional viewing will be held on Thursday, September 17,2026 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. Friday at Poarch Community Church.
Funeral services take place, Friday, September 18th at River of Life Church in Atmore Alabama at 11:00 a.m.
Burial to follow at Judson Creek Indian Cemetery in Poarch Alabama
Pallbearers are Johnny Ray Steadham, Anthony “Buzzy” Jordan, Skylar Rolin, Nikya Rolin, Brad Rolin, Trenton Rayborn, Chad Edward Godwin, Tailor Smith, Tyee Mekko Rolin, Timothy “Blake” Pearson, and Dillon Lowery.
Honorary Pallbearers are Anthony Rolin, Roy Rolin, Deno Rolin, Ernest “Bubba” Rolin Jr., Bryan Couch Johnny Mack Rolin, Aubrey Rolin, Shawn Rolin and Terry Gibson.
While flowers are welcome, the family asks you to honor Radio by helping someone in need, sharing a good story, and living life with the same generosity and independence that defined him.
Our Radio will be remembered as a beloved family member, loyal friend, generous soul, and true original. He lived boldly, loved deeply, and left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to know him.
His life was entirely his own, and his memory will never be forgotten.
“You love Uncle Radio and Uncle Radio loves you”
Sara Luker Horn
September 18, 2026
Sara Luker Horn of Enon, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 18th, 2026, at the age of 80.
She was born on February 19, 1946, to Shelton Luker and Ruby Stedham Luker at Sibley Holmes Memorial Hospital in Foley, AL.
One year after graduating from Escambia County High School in 1964 she married Ronnie Horn, and together they shared 61 years.
Sara will be remembered for her kindness, her religious faith, and love for her family. Sara was an LPN but later turned her talents to building houses. She was beautiful both on the inside and out…. 5K and 10K runner with medals to prove… A heart of gold with a face to match.
She is survived by her husband, Ronnie; her son and daughter, Ron, Jr. and wife Sarah; and Nicole and husband Mark Gerrald; her three grandchildren: Ryanne, Amelia, and Archer; and four sisters: Carole Ann, Janie, Lynn and Lisa.
Forever in our hearts.
Deputies Search Cottage Hill Property In Connection With Active Missing Person Case
September 17, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home in Cottage Hill on Thursday morning in connection with a missing person case.
Deputies searched a mobile home and property in the 1000 block of Wendy Drive. Multiple deputies, crime scene units and the Legacy K9 Search team were seen on the property during the morning.
For a photo gallery, click here.
According to the ECSO, the activity was in connection with an active missing person case, but neither the missing person nor a body was located on Thursday.
On March 20, the ECSO reported a missing, endangered man last seen months prior in the same area on Wendy Drive, a private road off Parker Road. Corey Shane McBride, 39, last made contact with his family on January 1, 2026, according to the sheriff’s office.
The ECSO stopped short of confirming that Thursday morning’s search was for McBride, other than confirming it was part of an active missing person investigation.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of McBride is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
This story will be updated with any additional details that become available.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Woman Injured After Crashing Into Truck Near Molino
September 17, 2026
One person was seriously injured after crashing into the back of a truck on Thursday morning near Molino.
The crash occurred about 7:45 a.m. on Stout Road. The 22-year-old female driver of a passenger vehicle rear-ended a commercial vehicle that was stopped mostly in the roadway.
The woman was transported to an area hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
