Time Change: Spring Forward. And Don’t Forget The Smoke Alarm Batteries.
March 7, 2026
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Don’t forget to “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before heading off to bed Saturday night. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, making use of longer summer days, allowing people to rise early and spend more of the day working or playing.
It’s also a good time to remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarm.
Daylight saving time ends November 1, unless that’s changed by Congress.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio has said repeatedly the practice of “falling back” as daylight saving time an antiquated process that should come to an end. They say year-round DST would reduce car crashes, reduce crime, improve physical fitness, reduce energy use and benefit agriculture. Read more…
Lower 80s Today; Rain Chances Increase For Sunday
March 7, 2026
Highs will remain in the low 80s through the weekend with patchy morning fog and increasing cloud cover. Rain chances ramp up significantly Sunday afternoon with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, followed by a lingering unsettled pattern and slightly cooler temperatures heading into late next week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 70.
Florida Senator Renews Push To Make Daylight Saving Time Year-Round
March 7, 2026
As we spring forward by an hour tonight, one Florida senator has renewed his push to keep daylight saving time year-round.
His Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight savings time year round.
“Floridians and families across the country are counting down the days until they can spring forward and enjoy more sunshine. Even just an extra hour in the evening means more time to play with your kids, walk your dog, and, for those in the Sunshine State, enjoy all that our beautiful beaches, parks, and cities have to offer,” Scott said.
In 2018, as governor of Florida, Scott signed legislation that, pending federal approval, would exempt Florida from the biannual time change and allow the state to remain on daylight time all year.
Last year, Senator Scott was joined by 17 of his bipartisan Senate colleagues in reintroducing this bill. Congressman Vern Buchanan leads the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“With support from President Donald Trump and a bipartisan group of colleagues, it’s clear that now is the time for Congress to pass my Sunshine Protection Act. Together, we can finally lock the clock and make Daylight Saving Time permanent so that families can enjoy brighter evenings all year long,” Scott says.
Northview Walks Off With Extra Inning District Thriller 5-4 Over Jay
March 7, 2026
Northview 5, Jay 4 (8 innings)
The Northview Chiefs walked off with a 5-4 win over the Jay Royals in an extra inning district thriller on Friday night in Bratt.
The Chiefs took a 4-0 lead in the second inning, only to see Jay tie the game at four in the top of the sixth inning.
For first-year Northview Head Coach Justin Raley, it was an extra meaningful win. Justin had been an assistant coach the past three seasons at Jay, under the leadership of his father Duane Raley, who is now an assistant coach at Northview.
“It’s very special. I love some people over there, and we had a great time, but I’m thankful for my opportunity over here,” Justin Raley said. “I’ve got friends over there; I’ve got family and my wife is from there. It’s good to compete against those guys, and I’m proud of our guys.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Grayson Burns was on the mound for five and two-thirds innings for the Chiefs, allowing four hits, four runs (three earned) while walking four and striking out six. Jase Portwood earned the win in two and one-third innings of no run, no hit ball, walking one and striking out five.
Dane King went 2-4 at the plate for the Chiefs, with two RBIs. Chavers went 3-3.
“These guys competed so hard; I’m so thankful for them,” Justin Raley said. “God brought me to a wonderful place. These guys, they buy in, and they compete every day and I love them.”
Bryson Nelson led the Royals with two RBIs as he went 2-4.
Landon Golden gave up five hits and four runs in five innings for Jay, striking out eight and walking three.
Up next, Jay will travel to Chipley on Tuesday and Flomaton on Thursday. In a three-game home stand next week, Northview will host J.U. Blacksher on Monday, T.R. Miller on Thursday, and L.E.A.D. Academy on Friday.
Justin Raley told the team that it will be important to stay focused after a big win with three games on the schedule next week.
“We’ve got to show up next week and compete; we can’t stop,” he said. “It’s just maintaining a sense of composure, and I preached to them not to let the moment get too big. We’ll enjoy it tonight, and then tomorrow morning, it’s back to business and we’ll be ready for next week.”
Northview 6, Jay 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs beat the JV Jay Royals 6-1 on Friday in Bratt.
McAnnally earned the win for the Chiefs, giving up five hits and no runs in six innings, walking one and striking out five. Camden Jacobson pitched tw0-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits, one run, no walks, and no strikeouts.
Tyler McAnally went 2-for-3 for Northview, with one RBI.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Man Faces Federal Gun And Drug Charges
March 7, 2026
An Escambia County man is facing federal gun and drug charges.
Terry Terrell Crenshaw, 39 was in indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; one count of use of a communication facility; and one count of maintaining drug-involved premises.
If convicted, Crenshaw faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; up to four years’ imprisonment on the use of a communication facility count; and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the maintaining drug-involved premises count. His trail is scheduled for April 6, and he remains in jail without bond.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff: Illegal Immigrant Charged With ‘Horrendous’ Manslaughter Of 3-Year-Old In Cantonment
March 6, 2026
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons has announced the arrest of a 28-year-old Cantonment man following the death of his 3-year-old nephew, describing the case as “horrendous and despicable”.
The suspect, Samuel Antonio Maldonado Erazo, is currently charged with negligent manslaughter, though Simmons indicated that more severe charges are being considered as the investigation continues The sheriff said Maldonado Erazo is in the country illegally.
The case began on Wednesday night, March 4 when deputies responded to a report of a 3-year-old in cardiac arrest in the 1900 block of Brentco Road. Despite the efforts of first responders, the child was pronounced dead.
The subsequent autopsy performed by the Medical Examiner’s Office revealed a harrowing pattern of physical trauma. Simmons reported that the child suffered from 17 separate strikes to the head, burn marks caused by a lighter being heated and pressed into the skin, multiple broken ribs, with one being completely detached from the backbone, a transected pancreas, which is a rare injury typically only seen in cases of extreme blunt-force trauma, and signs of possible sexual abuse and a broken collarbone.
“The injuries to the child are hard to talk about and even harder to imagine having to endure,” the sheriff said.
Investigators said the injuries were in various stages of healing, suggesting the child had been subjected to a cycle of violence over a significant period.
A Failure to Act
The Sheriff explained that the child ended up in the care of Maldonado Erazo after the boy’s mother and aunt were deported. Despite the child showing signs of “extreme distress” throughout the final day of his life, Maldonado Erazo allegedly failed to seek medical help, instead taking the boy to work with him until “the child declined to a state of cardiac arrest”.
Seeking Maximum Accountability
While the current charge is negligent manslaughter, Sheriff Simmons made it clear that the Sheriff’s Office is collaborating closely with the State Attorney’s Office to upgrade the charges.
“As I speak here today, that 3-year-old boy’s body lies at the county morgue,” Simmons said. “But he’s not there. He is pain-free in the arms of our Lord, and his killer, Samuel Antonio Maldonado Erazo…will answer for these crimes in this life and beyond.
Fog Tonight, Low In The Middles 60s
March 6, 2026
Spring warmth will dominate the first half of the weekend with highs reaching the lower 80s under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Patchy fog is expected late tonight and early Saturday morning, but the real change arrives Saturday night into Sunday as a front brings a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Conditions remain unsettled heading into next week with daily rain chances and temperatures staying well above average for early March.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 81. South wind around 10 mph.
Tonight: Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
County Commission Affirms Administrator’s Decision To Hire Christal Bell-Rivera As Library Director
March 6, 2026
Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission affirmed the county administrator’s decision to hire Christal Bell-Rivera as the next library services director, rejecting recommendations from the West Florida Library Board of Governance (BOG) that ranked two other candidates higher.
The BOG recommended Bradley Vinson, current coordinator of media services for the Escambia County School District, as its top choice to run the library system. The BOG’s second choice was Chris Hare, current division manager for WFPL.
According to the county, the administrator has the sole decision on employe hires, with the board only voting to approve or disapprove. The commission only appoints the county administrator and county attorney.
Administrator Wes Moreno’s decision came under fire because Bell-Rivera did not meet minimum qualifications without a master’s degree in library science, which opponents argued would cause the county to not receive state grants. She is currently a candidate to receive the degree this year.
Assistant County Administrator Debbie Bowers, who attended the commission meeting for an absent Moreno, said that while the position was advertised with certain educational requirements, it also included “an equivalent experience” provision. She said Bell-Rivera had proven herself as an assistant and interim director at the helm of a library system with a $12 million budget and 111 employees.
“Christal has equivalent experience,” Bowers said. “I think that she has done a great job.”
Bowers said BOG and public concerns are moot regarding the library system potentially losing state funding after receiving assurances from the state library system. “We were assured that we could be eligible for the funding,” Bowers added.
“Sometimes you have to hire somebody for the heart that they have for the community, for the job that they are doing, and sometimes that’s not exactly what’s on the job description,” District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger said. “Sometimes the heart that somebody has, and the passion they have for the job that they do, along with other relevant experience, combines and makes them the perfect fit for the job.”
“Doing the job is more than meeting a minimum requirement, if you’ve actually been doing the job successfully,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “By accounts from administration, she has been.”
“It’s our administrator’s decision to hire who he thinks is best qualified,” District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger said. “I’m sure he took everything into account, and I trust his decision.”
A motion by Barry and seconded by Stroberger to affirm Moreno’s decision to hire Bell-Rivera passed 4-1 with District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler voting against.
Kohler said he found out on Thursday that Bell-Rivera did not meet the qualifications for the position, and said the commission does not listen enough to its citizen advisory boards.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Announces Escambia Judge Appointment
March 6, 2026
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday announced a judicial appointment in Escambia County, Alabama.
Ivey appointed Wade Leon Hartley of Brewton to serve as circuit judge in the 21st Judicial Circuit covering Escambia County. Hartley was notified of his official appointment earlier this week and was sworn in on Wednesday, prior to the formal announcement by the governor’s office on Thursday.
A graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and The University of Alabama School of Law, Judge Hartley succeeds Circuit Judge Jeffrey Alan White who retired from the bench on February 16, 2026, after serving nearly 12 years on the Escambia County District and Circuit Court.
“Wade Hartley brings to the bench almost 32 years of varied legal experience including service as Tribal Prosecutor, Special Municipal Judge, Indigent Defense Counsel in the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Court, and Public Defender in the 21st Judicial Circuit,” said Ivey. “His broad knowledge of the law will serve the Court and the people of Escambia County well.”
“I am both humbled and honored at receiving Governor Ivey’s appointment,” said Hartley. “I am extremely appreciative of the trust that she has placed in me, and I intend to serve the people of Escambia County with integrity, diligence, fairness, and a deep respect for the rule of law.”
Mayor Enthusiastic About Century’s Future After Regional Economic Forum
March 6, 2026
Century Mayor Ben Boutwell left Miramar Beach Thursday afternoon encouraged and enthusiastic about future opportunities for Century.
Boutwell, Town Administrator Dave Murzin, and Town Council President Dynette Lewis attended the two-day 2026 FPL Northwest Florida Economic Summit with business, civic, and community leaders from across the Panhandle. It’s known as the premier forum for bringing leaders together to collaborate, share ideas, and look forward at the economic future of Northwest Florida.
“It was a very good event for Century to attend,” Boutwell said. “As I was talking to people, I was really pushing economic development for Century.”
A big focus of his conversations was an industrial park with ready-to-build lots with infrastructure already in place. “The industrial park could be vital for us; it’s a blank canvas,” Boutwell said.
District 5 Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board member and chairman Kevin Stephens said that he, Boutwell, and Rep. Michelle Salzman spent a lot of time talking about Century. He said they talked about infrastructure needs, including wastewater treatment plant upgrades, even suggesting ECUA could assist the town.
“As you know,” Stephens said, “ECUA has a lot of experience building a new sewer treatment plant and we would be a great resource for collaboration.”
Pictured top: District 5 Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board member and chairman Kevin Stephens, Rep. Michelle Salzman, Century Mayor Ben Boutwell, and Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons at the 2026 FPL Northwest Florida Economic Summit in Miramar Beach. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.