State Ag Officer Praised For Saving Life Of Choking Child In Century
August 15, 2026
A Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) officer is being credited with saving the life of a one-year-old child in Century earlier this week.
On Tuesday afternoon, OALE Officer William Register was working a detail in Century when a couple rushed to him at the Marathon Station on North Century Boulevard for help after their child began choking and struggling to breathe.
“Register immediately took action, performing back blows that helped clear the child’s airway and improve breathing before EMS arrived,” OALE said on Friday. “The child was transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
The incident began in Flomaton where the couple called for help, prompting a response from the Flomaton Fire Department and Newman’s Ambulance. In the meantime, the couple decided to drive south, stopping at the Marathon Station at North Century Boulevard and East Highway 4. Since Flomaton Fire and Newman’s had already responded, they continued to the Century gas station along with the Century Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue.
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton later praised Register’s actions, saying that in more than 40 years of firefighting, he had never seen a law enforcement officer handle a situation with such care and professionalism.
OALE said, “We are incredibly proud of Officer Register’s quick thinking, calm composure, and genuine compassion in a moment that truly mattered.”
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All West Florida Library Book Drops Closed Until After August 18 Election
August 15, 2026
All West Florida Libraries book drops are closed until after the August 18 primary election.
Materials can be returned to the service desk at any WFPL branch.
The book drops are closed to avoid confusion and voters attempting to return vote-by-mail ballots. Some of the libraries serve as either early voting or precinct locations.
Pictured: The book drop outside the Century Library. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Murder At Escambia County Apartment
August 15, 2026
A 31-year-old man is facing a homicide charge after allegedly shooting and killing his roommate in an Escambia County apartment on Thursday.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded on to an apartment located on Spanish Trail. Upon arrival, they discovered a 37-year-old male deceased from a gunshot wound.
Investigators determined that the victim was shot by his roommate while lying in bed.
Deputies arrested Will Victor Bryant, 31, and charged him with homicide. Authorities stated that a motive has not yet been established, and the case remains an ongoing investigation.
‘We Are Ready’: Escambia Superintendent Visits Byrneville Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle
August 15, 2026
“We are ready.”
That’s how one Byrneville Elementary School student described the new school year, a sentiment echoed by Escambia County Public School Superintendent Keith Leonard, who continued his annual first week of school visits on Friday with stops at Byrneville and Ernest Ward Middle School.
“I am proud of where we started, and we are just going to keep working hard every day,” Leonard said, adding that enrollment had increased to over 32,000 students in traditional district schools.
Students in Byrneville fifth grade teacher Jacke Johnston’s class answered Leonard’s questions about what they did over the summer, their upcoming middle school, and what they like, so far, about fifth grade.
One of their favorite things about being a fifth grader is their “senior privileges,” especially eating lunch in their classroom.
“We have a refrigerator and a microwave that we get to use,” one student said.
The students also questioned Leonard about his job, expressing particular amazement that on the first day of school he stayed at work until after 6 p.m. when the last ECPS student made it home safely.
The superintendent also visited with Tracy Barberree very excited kindergarten class.
Ernest Ward Middle
A “Congratulations! Ernest Ward is an ‘A’ school!” sign outside EWMS proclaims.
“Come here, listen how quiet this hallway is; you can’t hear a thing,” Leonard said during his visit to Ernest Ward in Walnut Hill. “These kids are well-behaved, and they are learning.”
At EWMS, he met with Principal Tyvanna Boulanger and Assistant Principal Rodney Drish as they prepared for an eighth grade meeting on the district’s Code of Student Conduct.
“With my eighth graders, it’s just a quick review because they know what is expected of them,” Boulanger said.
Leonard congratulated the Ernest Ward administration on the school’s A grade and overall learning gains.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Saturday Is The Final Day Of Early Voting
August 15, 2026
Saturday is the last day of early voting for the August 18 primary election.
Early voting will be available from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Saturday at 10 locations in Escambia County:
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A, Molino
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse, 7500 N Century Blvd, Century
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W De Soto Street, Pensacola
Polls will be open on election day, Tuesday, November 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Football Preseason: Tate Edges Pine Forest, Marianna Tops Northview
August 15, 2026
The Friday night lights were on this week for preseason kickoff classics.
Tate 17, Pine Forest 14
In varsity jamboree action, the Tate Aggies defeated the Pine Forest Eagles 17-14 on Friday night in Pete Gindl Stadium. The regular season gets underway next week as the Aggies host the Marianna Bulldogs.
Marianna 30, Northview 14
The Marianna Bulldogs defeated the Northview Chiefs 30-14 on Friday night in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium. The Chiefs begin the regular season next Thursday night at home against the Rocky Bayou Christian Knights.
Highs In The Mid 90s And Humid For The Weekend
August 15, 2026
Hot conditions continue through the weekend and into next week. A Heat advisory is effect for Saturday a high heat index up to 108. Additional heat advisories will likely be needed.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 108. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Calm wind.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 109. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 95.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Santana’s Doubles Send Wahoos To Fourth Straight Win
August 15, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fourth in a row on Friday night, overcoming an early deficit to beat the Biloxi Shuckers 9-4.
Adrian Santana had his biggest game since joining the Blue Wahoos at the trade deadline, hitting a two-run double in the second inning and a go-ahead, three-run double that proved decisive in the eighth inning.
Brandon Compton gave the Blue Wahoos an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI double, but the Shuckers answered back in the bottom half against Pensacola starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr. After loading the bases on a walk, error and single, Matthew Wood hit a grand slam to give Biloxi a 4-1 lead.
Santana’s double in the second inning got the Blue Wahoos back within a run at 4-3, but neither team scored another run through the end of the sixth. Biloxi’s bid for a double steal of home in the fifth inning was foiled when catcher Ryan Ignoffo traded throws with Santana at second base to cut down Dylan O’Rae at the plate.
Three innings of effective relief from Jaydenn Estanista (W, 1-0) kept the game within reach for the Blue Wahoos, who finally tied the game 4-4 in the seventh inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from Juan Matheus. Against reliever Jesús Broca (L, 3-5) in the eighth, the Blue Wahoos loaded the bases with two singles and a walk before Santana ambushed the first pitch he saw for a three-run double. Cristian Hernández followed with a double of his own, his fifth in the past three games, to score Santana and extend the lead to 8-4.
Colby Shade added an insurance run in the ninth when he was hit by a pitch, stole third base, and scored on a wild pitch. Holt Jones got the final six outs in relief to seal Pensacola’s 9-4 victory.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos remain 3.0 games ahead of the Montgomery Biscuits with 26 games to play in the race for the second half South Division title.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday.
written by Erik Bremer
Sheriff Provides Update On Century Shooting That Killed One, Injured Another; Retaliatory Gunfire Under Investigation
August 14, 2026
Escambia County Sheriff Simmons is providing more details about a double shooting Thursday night in Century that claimed one person’s life and injured another, and he said shots were fired into a nearby home a short time later in possible retaliation.
The incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. at Showalter Park, off Hecker Road. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a shots-fired call and arrived to find an adult male with gunshot wounds in a parking area between a ball field and a children’s playground. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. A second adult male victim later arrived at Jay Hospital, suffering from a through-and-through gunshot wound to the leg that was not believed to be life-threatening.
At that time, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a shots-fired call and arrived to find an adult male with gunshot wounds in a parking area between a ball field and a children’s playground. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A second victim later arrived at Jay Hospital, suffering from a through-and-through gunshot wound to the leg that was not believed to be life-threatening, according to Sgt. Melony Peterson.
Gathered To Fight
Simmons said a group of seven to eight people, some from Alabama and some from Florida, had gathered at Showalter Park to reportedly fight over a girl. He described a scene where two people were fighting, and more people were gathered around watching.
Suspect Identified
“We do have a suspect; I’m not at liberty to say that’s the shooter yet, but we do have a suspect and we are following up on the information that we have on who that suspect might be,” the sheriff said, adding that an arrest warrant has not yet been issued as of early Friday afternoon.
He added that there has been “some cooperation” with investigators from those on the scene.
Shooting Near Another Park And Youth Practices
There were no organized activities at Showalter Park at the time, but youth football and cheerleading practices were underway a short distance away at neighboring Anthony Pleasant Park, where many people reported hearing multiple gunshots. Practices were halted, and people left Anthony Pleasant Park out of an abundance of caution, according to Century Blackcats Youth Football and Cheerleading. There is a small wooded area between the two parks, which are connected by a trail and footbridge.
“It’s certainly tragic that an individual would be killed, and it’s certainly concerning the individual that is involved felt the need to take this type of action and not have any concern about the safety of the other individual that was shot in the leg or anyone that might be nearby. We as a community should say that’s unacceptable,” Simmons stated.
“Those people that have information should tell us and be honest with us, so that this person can’t harm anyone else.”
Retaliatory Shooting
A second shots-fired incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Mayo Street, just a few blocks from the park. Numerous bullet holes were found in a home.
“We believe that the individual that did the shooting has a connection to that house and we feel like it was retaliatory,” Simmons said. “We believe that people know who did it. People know who the shooter is, who the killer is, and we want them to tell us instead of taking matters into their own hands.”
Know Something?
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620. Callers can remain anonymous.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Investigation Continues Into Century Double Shooting That Left One Dead, Another Wounded
August 14, 2026
FOR AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY, CLICK HERE.
The investigation is continuing into a double shooting that left one man dead and another wounded on Thursday evening at a Century park.
The incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. at Showalter Park, off Hecker Road.
There were no organized activities at Showalter Park at the time, but youth football and cheerleading practices were underway a short distance away at neighboring Anthony Pleasant Park, where many people reported hearing multiple gunshots. Practices were halted, and people left Anthony Pleasant Park out of an abundance of caution, according to Century Blackcats Youth Football and Cheerleading. There is a small wooded area between the two parks, which are connected by a trail and footbridge.
At that time, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a shots-fired call and arrived to find an adult male with gunshot wounds in a parking area between a ball field and a children’s playground. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A second victim later arrived at Jay Hospital, suffering from a through-and-through gunshot wound to the leg that was not believed to be life-threatening, according to Sgt. Melony Peterson.
The suspect or suspects fled the scene and have not yet been identified, according to the ECSO.
The names of the victims have not been released.