Cantonment Man Charged With Felony Fleeing After 3-Mile Highway 29 Pursuit
October 1, 2026
A 46-year-old Cantonment man is facing a felony charge after allegedly failing to pull over for a deputy for roughly three miles on Highway 29 early Friday morning.
Ian Jared Keatts was charged with felony fleeing and eluding police and was served with an outstanding warrant for violation of probation related to a prior DUI case.
According to an arrest report, a deputy running stationary radar at just south of Whataburger on Highway 29 clocked a black 2016 Cadillac SUV traveling northbound at 68 mph in a 45 mph zone. The deputy pulled onto Highway 29 and caught up to the vehicle just north of Kingsfield Road, activating emergency lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop.
Instead of pulling over, the vehicle continued northbound while obeying all other traffic laws and traveling within the speed limit.
The deputy pulled alongside the Cadillac and saw the driver’s side window rolled down. Despite the deputy’s sirens and multiple commands broadcast over the patrol vehicle’s public address system instructing the driver to pull over, the vehicle continued down Highway 29. The report noted there was no other traffic on the roadway and ample opportunities to safely stop.
The vehicle eventually turned into the parking lot of the Black Diamond Club at 208 South Highway 29, approximately three miles from where the deputy first attempted to initiate the stop.
Keatts was taken into custody without incident. A background check revealed the active Escambia County warrant for violation of probation.
In addition to the felony fleeing charge, Keatts was issued a civil traffic citation for speeding. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail, where he was held without bond on the probation violation warrant.
Donate Blood Friday At The Century Branch Library
October 1, 2026
The OneBlood Big Red Bus will be in Century on Friday, October 2, for a community blood drive.
The mobile donation unit will be at the Century Branch Library from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
All successful donors will receive a $20 eGift Card, a Halloween-themed T-shirt, and a basic wellness checkup that includes blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening.
Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled online by visiting oneblood.org/donate-now and entering sponsor code 37006. A photo ID is required to donate.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Northview High School Names 2026 Homecoming Court; Queen To Be Crowned Tonight
October 1, 2026
Northview High School has named their 2026 Homecourt Court.
The queen and her court will be crowned during the homecoming game, which was rescheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.
The court members are:
Seniors
- Brielle Garcia
- Makayla Plato
- Val Franco
- Hallie Emmons
- Emma Holder
Juniors
- Peyton Lee
- Akeylah Jefferson
- Maddy Pittman
Sophomores
- Alexa Beasley
- Payton Coon
- Briley Moore
Freshmen
- Ryleigh Crabtree
- Jayden Carter
- Linley Dunn
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Rescheduled Northview Homecoming Parade And Game Are Both Today
October 1, 2026
The Northview High School Homecoming Parade and football game will be take place today, Thursday, October 1. Both events were rescheduled from Friday due to impending rainy weather.
The parade lineup will be at noon on Thursday at Northview, and the parade will roll at 12:30 p.m. from Northview to the official starting point in front of Bratt Elementary School. From Bratt Elementary, the parade will travel on West Highway 4 back to Northview.
The homecoming game against Destin has been rescheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Northview.
Pictured: The 2025 Northview High School Homecoming Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida’s New Minimum Wage Is Now In Effect
October 1, 2026
Florida’s minimum wage is now officially $15 per hour after the final scheduled $1 increase under a voter-approved constitutional amendment.
The milestone marks the culmination of a 2020 ballot initiative spearheaded by prominent Orlando attorney John Morgan. Under the approved amendment framework, the state’s baseline wage rose to $10 an hour on September 30, 2021, and increased by $1 on September 30 of each subsequent year until hitting the $15 mark.
Going forward, any further adjustments to the state minimum wage will be tied to inflation rather than set annual increments.
Tipped employees also saw a pay bump, with their direct cash wage increasing from $10.98 to $11.98 per hour. Under state law, employers may apply a tip credit toward the remainder of the full minimum wage requirement, provided the employee’s tips make up the difference.
By contrast, the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, where it has sat unchanged since July 2009. Under federal guidelines, employers are required to pay tipped workers a direct minimum cash wage of just $2.13 per hour if tips equal the federal baseline.
Chance Of Rain Today; Rain And Storms Likely Starting Friday
October 1, 2026
Rain chances increase today, with numerous to widespread showers and storms expected Friday through the weekend. Storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, which may lead to localized flash flooding.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. High near 87. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 84. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 82. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
FDLE Arrests Santa Rosa County Man For Online Sexual Solicitation Of A Minor
October 1, 2026
A Santa Rosa County man faces multiple felony charges following an online undercover operation conducted by state authorities.
Kenneth Daughtery, 64, was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond, charged with one count of online sexual solicitation of a minor, one count of promoting the sexual performance of a minor, and one count of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the investigation began in August 2026 when Daughtery initiated communication with two undercover agents posing as an underage girl. Authorities reported that during their interactions, Daughtery solicited the persona to engage in sexual activity and offered monetary compensation in exchange for a video depicting sexual acts.
The operation was conducted under FDLE’s statewide initiative targeting individuals who exploit children or traffic illicit materials online. Officials noted that the investigation remains active.
Florida Driver’s Licenses, ID Cards Get A New Look. Here’s What Is Different.
October 1, 2026
Florida is now issuing a newly designed Florida driver’s license and identification card featuring elements of Florida’s history.
The updated credential is now available at service centers statewide and will be available for online orders by early November.
Florida residents are not required to replace their existing driver’s license or identification card. All currently valid credentials will remain valid until they expire and will be phased out over time.s
The new credential continues to provide Floridians with one of the most secure over-the-counter identification options available today. In addition to its updated design, the credential incorporates an image of the state seal as an enhanced security feature and includes the “Temporary Non-Domiciled” marking for commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits.
The new design showcases Castillo de San Marcos as the background image on the front of the card. Located in St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fortress in the continental United States. Florida’s iconic orange is incorporated as the “O” in “Florida,” while the bottom left corner features the Florida manatee, one of the state’s most recognizable native species. The Florida alligator is also incorporated into the REAL ID star in the top right-hand corner of each card.
The back of the card pays tribute to Florida’s Space Coast with an image of Space Shuttle Discovery, which flew 39 missions and spent 365 days in space before making its final landing in Florida on March 9, 2011. The card also features the motto “Let Us Alone” from Florida’s first unofficial state flag, which was presented to Governor William D. Moseley upon his inauguration.