ECSO: Cantonment Woman Left Dog In Hot Vehicle While Feeding Stray Cats
September 24, 2026
A 70-year-old Cantonment woman is facing animal cruelty and trespassing charges after allegedly leaving a dog inside a hot SUV while feeding stray cats, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Su Chong Han charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and trespassing.
According to an arrest report report, a deputy responded to an empty lot at 9050 North Palafox Street regarding a trespassing complaint and contacted Han, who stated she was on the property to feed cats. A records check revealed Han had previously been issued an official trespass warning for the location on May 21, the report states.
While being escorted to a patrol vehicle, Han told the deputy she had parked her white 2025 Kia Sportage adjacent to the lot at the former Ryan’s on Pensacola Boulevard near the Ensley Walmart, according to the report. Deputies said Han stated she had left her dog inside the vehicle with the windows rolled up and the engine turned off for approximately 30 minutes.
The deputy proceeded to the vehicle at 9000 Pensacola Boulevard and observed it turned off with the windows rolled up, according to the report. The deputy noted the dog was panting in the passenger seat and appeared to be extremely hot.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Animal Control responded to the scene and took custody of the dog, and Han’s vehicle was impounded.
Han was booked into the Escambia County Jail and later released after posting a $1,000 bond.
Local Students Gather For ‘See You At The Pole’ (With Photo Gallery)
September 24, 2026
Students across the North Escambia area gathered on Wednesday morning for the annual See You at the Pole event.
Students gathered before school began to pray in the non-denominational event. See You at the Pole is a national student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led event. Students prayed for their school, friends, teachers, government, and the nation.
This year’s national verse is Matthew 11:28 (NIV): “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
At Tate High School, sophomore Trent Madden read Matthew 11:28 and reminded students that Jesus offers them rest and peace during the event, sponsored by First Priority.
Selected students then took turns praying for specific topics. Sophomore Rylie Gibbs prayed for students around the world who have little to no religious freedom. Senior Bristol Guy prayed for the nation and government, asking for wisdom, unity and peace. Madden prayed for Tate’s administration and faculty, asking that although they cannot openly share their faith in their roles at school, students would see Jesus through their actions.
Tate senior Brooklyn Ray prayed for kindness and understanding within families and homes. Junior Zach Mitchell prayed that students would be bold in sharing the gospel with their friends. Junior Emalyn Maxwell encouraged students and faculty to form small groups where they could share prayer requests and pray for one another.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Schools represented in the photo gallery include Byrneville Elementary, Beulah Academy of Science, Lipscomb Elementary School, Northview High School, Tate High School, West Florida High School, and Aletheia Christian Academy.
NorthEscambia.com and photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
First Public Park Opens In Allentown
September 24, 2026
The first public park in Allentown opened on Wednesday in northern Santa Rosa County.
Located next to the Allentown Volunteer Fire Department at 9482 Highway 89, Jay, the new park features basketball courts, pickleball courts, a fitness court and parking areas. Additional improvements to Allentown Community Park are planned for the future.
“I’m excited to see this project fully developed in Allentown. This is such a close community, and I think this park is a great representation of that,” said Santa Rosa County District 3 Commissioner Rhett Rowell. “Thank you to our county employees for the hard work they put in to see this to completion. This park will serve our residents for many years, and I’m proud to call it part of my home.”
The overall project was originally estimated to cost more than $500,000. By utilizing County in-house construction crews rather than contracting the work, the project was completed for more than $200,000 less than originally projecte
The Allentown Park Fitness Court features seven workout stations that use body weight as resistance to provide a full-body workout. Designed for people ages 14 and older and all fitness levels, the workouts can be adapted to accommodate different abilities and allow users to exercise at their own pace. A free app is also available to help users follow guided workouts and make the most of the experience.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Stuck School Bus Slows Traffic Near West Roberts Road Closure
September 24, 2026
A school bus stuck in a ditch slowed traffic on Wednesday afternoon on Stallion Road in Cantonment, near the road construction on a closed West Roberts Road.
According to a witness, the driver of Escambia County Public School bus number 2-20 appeared to attempt to turn around on Stallion Road, just north of road construction closures on West Roberts Road. Stallion Road is a designated detour route for the closure, according to Escambia County.
There were no reported injuries, and no word on whether there were any students on the bus.
It reportedly took around an hour to remove the bottomed-out bus.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Just A Tiny Hint Of Fall Ahead: Better Days, Lows In The 60s
September 24, 2026
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Calm wind.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Clean Sweep On The Court: Ransom Middle Takes Three From Bailey Middle
September 24, 2026
The Ransom Middle School Tigers swept three — junior varsity, girls and varsity — from the Bailey Middle School Bulldogs at Bailey on Wednesday.
Up next, Ransom will host Ferry Pass Middle School on September 24 and travel to Workman Middle School on September 29.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Roll Past West Florida In Four Sets
September 24, 2026
The Tate Lady Aggies picked up an impressive road victory Wednesday night, defeating the West Florida Jaguars 3-1 in non-district varsity volleyball action.
Tate set the tone early, claiming the opening set 25-18 to take a 1-0 match lead. The Jaguars answered back in the second set, battling to a 25-20 win to even the contest.
From there, it was all Lady Aggies. Tate came out firing in the third set, overpowering West Florida with a dominant 25-8 performance to regain momentum. The Lady Aggies carried that energy straight into the fourth set, closing out the match with a decisive 25-15 victory.
The Lady Aggies will hit the road Thursday, taking on the Vikings in Fort Walton Beach.
County Considers Land Swap, $287K Payment For Planned Beulah I-10 Interchange
September 23, 2026
Escambia County Commissioners on Thursday will take up two related agenda items tied to the planned Interstate 10 Exit 1 interchange at Beulah Road, including clearing land rights for a state retention pond and awarding a major inspection contract
Commissioners will consider an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to exchange land and pay $287,700 to advance the planned Interstate 10 interchange at Beulah Road.
To clear the footprint for the I-10 at State Road 99 (Beulah Road) Interchange Project, FDOT needs approximately 17.25 acres of county-owned land, consisting of existing right-of-way and a portion of a county-owned parcel. The state plans to use the county tract as a retention pond.
In exchange, FDOT has offered to convey an approximately 3.6-acre parcel located at 8200 North Palafox Street to Escambia County. Escambia County’s Stormwater Management Division requested the acquisition of the North Palafox property to support future drainage and stormwater improvements in the area.
FDOT obtained appraisals for both the North Palafox Street parcel and the county-owned parcel, excluding right-of-way that will be donated. Based on those appraisals, the state’s property carries a higher value by $287,700, which the county would pay from its Transportation Trust Fund. FDOT is also requesting a temporary easement across county land during construction.
According to county records, the state’s planned roadway improvements in the corridor include:
- Realigning the southern end of County Road 99 to connect with State Road 99 at a new signalized intersection.
- Widening SR-99 from two lanes to four lanes from north of Frank Reeder Road to the CR-99 intersection.
- Constructing a new four-lane section of SR-99 along Isaacs Lane from the CR-99 intersection to West Kingsfield Road.
Clearing Encumbrances: Bailey Family Settlement
In a related action on Thursday’s agenda, the board is scheduled to consider an amended settlement agreement with the Bailey family to remove an access easement that interferes with FDOT’s retention pond site.
The county-owned Beulah parcel was originally acquired by Escambia County through the settlement of a 2012 eminent domain lawsuit against the Bailey family. The county uses the site to maintain environmental monitoring wells for the Perdido Landfill. Under that 2012 deal, the Baileys were granted a 30-foot access easement along the northern boundary of the tract, which now directly overlaps FDOT’s pond footprint.
Under the proposed amendment:
- The Bailey family will terminate and release their 30-foot access easement so FDOT can build the retention pond on schedule.
- The county will convey an approximate 10-acre parcel within the Beulah tract to the Bailey family by quitclaim deed.
- The county will grant the family a 15-foot ingress/egress easement over an existing dirt road used by county staff to access the landfill monitoring wells.
- The county avoids prior contractual requirements to build a road and obtain wetland permits within the original easement corridor.
Beulah Road Realignment Contract
Also on Thursday’s agenda, commissioners will vote on awarding a $797,699.12 Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) contract to STV Incorporated for the Beulah Road Realignment Project.
The project includes the rehabilitation of Beulah Road and a section of Kingsfield Road to facilitate improvements and enhance heavy traffic access to the Perdido Landfill. Escambia County advertised the solicitation in June 2026, receiving nine bids.
The top-ranked firm, Mehta and Associates, Inc., negotiated a final fee of $797,699.12 before merging with STV Incorporated in August 2026. The contract is funded through the county’s Solid Waste Fund and is scheduled for completion in December 2027.
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on September 24 at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building in Pensacola.
Escambia County Man Gets 45 Years For Fatal Gas Station Shooting
September 23, 2026
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for a 2024 fatal shooting at a gas station.
Arrington Marcellas Moultrie, now 37, was sentenced on Tuesday following his conviction on charges of second-degree murder, shooting into a vehicle, and tampering with physical evidence.
The charges stem from an incident on November 16, 2024, when deputies responded to a shots-fired call at a Raceway gas station on Pensacola Boulevard. Upon arrival, they discovered Darnell Robertson had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the back after allegedly stealing Moultrie’s backpack. The shooting had occurred in a nearby residential neighborhood
District Pledges Prosecution After Ransom Middle School ‘Bot’ Threat
September 23, 2026
Escambia County Public Schools officials emphasized Tuesday that disruptive hoaxes will not be tolerated and that the district intends to push for full criminal prosecution following a bomb threat that delayed the start of the day at Ransom Middle School on Tuesday.
The incident began Tuesday morning when a threat targeting the campus was submitted through a tip line. In response, school administrators rerouted incoming buses and students to nearby Kingsfield Elementary School while the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deployed K-9 units to conduct a comprehensive sweep of the West Kingsfield Road campus.
Deputies gave an all-clear by 10:15 a.m., allowing students to return to campus approximately an hour past their standard start time after investigators deemed the incident non-credible.
District officials made it clear they will actively pursue anyone responsible.
“This morning, Escambia County Public Schools received a threat against Ransom Middle School. Out of an abundance of caution, we contacted law enforcement and efforts to secure the campus were undertaken,” said Cody Strother, communications coordinator for Escambia County Public Schools. “Ransom’s campus was subsequently secured and law enforcement commenced a thorough investigation. As the campus was secured, the threat was deemed non-credible and classes were resumed. Because the safety of our students and employees is our top priority, we will continue working closely with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice.”
Investigators believe the incident may be tied to a broader pattern of automated harassment. According to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Morgan Lewis, another Florida school received a nearly identical “bot” threat earlier Tuesday morning.
Bot threats are often automated messages generated by computer software or scripted online accounts designed to blast out fake emergency warnings, swatting calls, or bomb scares across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. While these computer-generated hoaxes rarely indicate physical danger on site, law enforcement and school officials must treat every incident as an active emergency until cleared—causing widespread disruption for families, pulling first responders away from actual emergencies, and tying up critical emergency resources.
Under Florida law, making a false report concerning a bomb or explosive weapon on school property is a felony offense. District leadership and sheriff’s investigators are continuing their joint investigation to trace the digital origin of the message and hold those involved accountable.