‘Lack Of Interest’ – The 2026 Sawmill Day In Century Has Been Canceled
March 22, 2026
Historically, the Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show is one of the largest events in Century, but it has been canceled for 2026.
Citing “lack of interest and participation,” the organizer, Alger-Sullivan Historical Society, announced on Saturday that the annual event has been canceled.
The day traditionally includes entertainment, free history museum tours, grilled food, arts, crafts, free exhibits, a car show, and more and draws hundreds of people.
For a large photo gallery from the 2025 event, click here.
Pictured: The 2025 Sawmill Day in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Student Honored For Essay ‘Snow House Memories’
March 22, 2026
A Bratt Elementary student is being honored by a state educators group for her essay. Maggie Lee wrote an essay entitled “Snow House Memories”, sharing how her Gammaw and Pop impacted her life.
The essay was entered in the Florida Retired Educators Association fifth grade writing contest and was selected as the winning essay for the district. She will be recognized at the FREA banquet and will receive a monetary award.
The essay is below, along with photos from the “Snow House.”
Ah, the frantic packing of Christmas morning! On Christmas morning, after everyone wakes up, we open presents. Then we go to Pop’s house and eat breakfast, and also open presents there. After all that, we hop on the road and go straight to the snow house. Spending time with my grandparents is always fun, but my favorite experience with them is the week after Christmas. Every year my whole family leaves on Christmas morning, and it is always the craziest day of the year! My grandmother, Gammaw, would search for the perfect house to sleep 20 people. It had to have a hot tub, game room, plenty of yard, and way more! The snow house is a huge part of my family’s life. It has been going on for more than twenty-five years! Pop and Gammaw have been running the snow house since it started. They are the reason the snow house is a thing.
Pop always had a favorite thing about the snow house. Every year we visit a park. The morning before, he would make sandwiches and put our names on them. At the park there was a volleyball net, and our whole family would play the most intense game of volleyball I’ve ever seen! Pop’s main reason for wanting to do this is spending time in nature. He wanted everyone to enjoy the creek and see who could skip the rock farthest. Pop is the absolute biggest role model you would want as a grandfather.
Gammaw always made sure we did one particular thing every year at the snow house. We would take a big group picture. The place we took the picture was beside a huge tractor. Every year the tractor picture was so important to her. She would always look back to see how much everyone grew throughout the years. She also loved the apple orchard. We would always get a whole bag of apples of any kind we wanted. We would also get apple pies and take them home. When I grow up, I want to be as good as a grandma as Gammaw was. She always valued family, and has taught us that, throughout the years.
The snow house is amazing to me because I get to stay with family for a week straight. My favorite part of the snow house is the new adventures we have every year. One year we did a polar plunge and another year we did zip lining. One of my ultimate favorite memories is game night. My family is very competitive, so it is extra fun!
Gammaw has been gone for a couple of years now. Pop has not let the snow house tradition die, and I promise I will not either. The snow house is the highlight of my whole family’s year thanks to Pop and Gammaw. They have taught me to cherish every single second with family, and to be grateful for everything in life. The snow house is more than just a house to us. It represents family.
What Is Your Church Doing For Easter? Share Your Events With Our Readers
March 22, 2026
What is your church or nonprofit doing for Easter?
NorthEscambia.com will provide free promotion for churches in North Escambia or North Santa Rosa counties in Florida, or Atmore or Flomaton in Alabama. If your church is having a special Holy Week, Good Friday and/or Easter service, or any other special service or event like an egg hunt, let us know!
We will share your information with thousands of readers across the area. We will list the services on our Events page free of charge, and we’ll be publishing a special story before Good Friday. Please try to keep your announcement for our events page to 75 words or less.
Send your announcement to news@northescambia.com or click here for our contact page. We will also be happy to publish photos after your event; email the photos to news@northescambia.com.
Pictured top and below: An Easter morning “Sonrise Service” at Pensacola’s Maritime Stadium. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charge With Three Counts Of Attempted Murder After Shooting Incident
March 22, 2026
A 19-year-old Atmore man is behind bars after allegedly firing shots into a vehicle occupied by three people early Saturday morning at the Bragg Street Apartments.
Atmore Police Department officers responded to reports that amale intentionally discharged a firearm into a vehicle. Investigators developed Ivory Bogan as the suspect, and determined the car was occupied by an individual who had a current or prior relationship with the alleged shooter, along with two other passengers. While several rounds struck the vehicle, no injuries were reported.
Bogan initially fled the scene, sparking a search of multiple residences by patrol officers and the APD Criminal Investigations Division. He turned himself in to the Atmore Police Department a short time later after learning authorities were seeking his whereabouts.
Bogan was transported to the Escambia County Jail.
He faces three counts of attempted murder and one count of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Woman Killed, Two Adults And Two Kids Injured In Saturday Evening Side-By-Side Crash Near Jay
March 22, 2026
An Alabama woman was killed and several people, including children, were injured in a UTV crash on Saturday evening near Jay.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 45-year-old Jay woman was driving a side-by-side east on Lakefield Road just before 7 p.m. when the vehicle drifted onto the southern shoulder and she overcorrected. The side-by-side overturned onto its roof, ejecting a 23-year-old Brewton woman. She was pronounced deceased a short time later.
The driver suffered minor injuries, as did three other passengers — a 67-year-old woman, a 2-year-old female, and a 1-year-old male, all from Brewton.
FHP said its Traffic Homicide unit “is conducting a comprehensive investigation on this incident.”
Driver Crashes Into Tree, Overturns At Century Dollar General
March 22, 2026
A driver crashed into a tree and overturned at a Century Dollar General early Saturday morning.
The crash happened around 5:40 a.m. along North Century Boulevard, just south of West Hecker Road.
There were no serious injuries reported, and the store was not yet open at the time of the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Reader submitted image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$14 Million Highway 97 Resurfacing Project Is Now Officially Underway
March 22, 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation said a project is officially underway to resurface Highway 97 from Highway 29 in Molino to the Alabama state line at Atmore.
FDOT said the first day of the project’s 567 day time period, plus any weather delayes, started on March 13, with completion set for 2027.
Drivers may not see actual construction equipment and lane closures for some time; FDOT said the first few days of project often include sign placement and other planning before equipment is mobilized.
The 22-mile project will include milling and resurfacing the roadway, updated signs and pavement markings, and drainage improvements. Many of the stormwater drainage improvements will be made at the Highway 29 intersection to alleviate historic flooding by installing an additional box culvert across the southern leg of the intersection and two additional cross drains on the northern leg of the intersection.
Drivers may experience intermittent lane closures and restrictions between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Volunteer Florida Offers Free Grant Writing Training For Nonprofits
March 22, 2026
Volunteer Florida is offering a virtual Grant Writing Certification Program for Florida’s nonprofit organizations April 6 through May 15, 2026. This no-cost, six-week training is open to all nonprofit organizations in Florida and recommended for grant seekers, program directors, as well as executive and board directors. The deadline to register for this training is Monday, March 30 at 4 p.m.
To register for this training, click here.
The deadline to register is Monday, March 30, 2026, at 4 p.m.
Volunteer Florida is offering the Grant Writing Certification Program to better prepare Florida nonprofit organizations for the grant application process and increase their likelihood of selection for grant funding. Participants will engage in weekly informational and workshop sessions that will cover topics ranging from understanding grant criteria to learning best practices from previously successful grant applicants.
“Volunteer Florida is proud to once again offer this no-cost grant writing program to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits across our state,” said Josie Tamayo, CEO of Volunteer Florida. “By equipping organizations with the tools and knowledge to successfully compete for funding, we are investing in their long-term sustainability and helping them expand their impact in communities throughout Florida.”
Participants who attend and complete all sessions of the training are eligible to receive a certificate of completion, which includes written feedback on a sample grant application. Additionally, Volunteer Florida will award preferential points on an upcoming grant application for any organization that completes the 11-course training. Registration is limited to 75 entities for the series; however, more than one individual from each entity is welcome to register and participate in the sessions.
Grant Writing Certification Program Schedule
All Sessions 1:00PM – 2:30PM EST
Week 1 – Grant Preparation; Monday, April 6 and Friday, April 10
Topics will include researching available grants and assembling a grant writing team.
Week 2 – Logic Models; Monday, April 13 and Friday, April 17
Topics will include logic models and creating an evaluation plan.
Week 3 – Writing Proposals; Monday, April 20 and Friday, April 24
Topics will include understanding grant criteria and compiling proposals.
Week 4 – Budgets; Monday, April 27 and Friday, May 1
Topics will include budget terminology and grant application platforms, such as eGrants.
Week 5 – Best Practices Panel; Monday, May 4
Expert panelists will share best practices for successful grant applications.
Week 6 – Grant Year Overview; Monday, May 11 and Friday, May 15
Topics will include reporting and grant year deliverables.
Presenting the training is Marie Gress, CEO of Kovir, LLC, which provides grant strategy services to increase the capacity of smaller nonprofits with limited resources.
Sunny And Warm Week Ahead; Highs In The 80s
March 22, 2026
Warm and sunny conditions will dominate the region through the upcoming week as high pressure remains in control. Temperatures will steadily climb from the low 80s into the mid-80s by Friday, with overnight lows remaining comfortably in the upper 50s. While a few clouds may drift in Tuesday night and Wednesday, no significant rainfall is expected, making for an excellent stretch of outdoor weather.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Feel A Boom? Here’s What We Found About A Possible Source
March 21, 2026
NorthEscambia.com readers across a portion of northern Escambia County in Florida and southern Escambia County in Alabama reported a boom or rumble they heard and felt on Saturday night around 8:35.
Escambia County Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida responded to a reported explosion which was located a bonfire off Nokomis Road near Highway 97 in Davisville.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fire was started with too much fuel, exploded, and was the probable source of the boom.
No injuries were reported.
Map location is approximate and for illustrative purposes only.