Large Barn Destroyed By Fire Friday Night Near Enon
April 4, 2026
Fire destroyed a large barn near Enon on Friday night.
Fire departments from Cantonment to Poarch, Alabama, responded to the blaze around 9 p.m. in the 4400 block of Highway 97A, about seven miles southwest of Walnut Hill.
Firefighters arrived to find the approximately 3,900 square foot barn fully involved. Multiple small explosions were reported due to fuel and items stored in the barn. There were no animals inside the barn.
It took firefighters over half an hour to bring the blaze under control; the cause of the fire was not immediately known.
There were no injuries reported.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, Molino, Century and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, along with the Atmore Fire Department, Nokomis Fire Department, and Poarch Creek Fire Department. Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
Photos by Willie Will for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Drought Conditions Worsen
April 4, 2026
Local drought conditions have worsened, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released this week.
All of Escambia County is now in a severe drought, with an area of extreme drought in the eastern two-thirds of Escambia County, Alabama and a very small area northeast of Century and part of Santa Rosa County near the state line.
A high chance of rain on Sunday may bring some relief.
The Century Splash Pad Is Now Open
April 4, 2026
The Century splash pad has opened for the season.
The Century splash pad, located at Showalter Park on Kelly Field Road, is open from sunrise to sunset. The park also features a playground.
This year, the town added four new benches around the splash pad.
NorthEscabambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Walk-Off Win: Banks Leads Tate Aggies Past West Florida in Strike Out Cancer Game
April 4, 2026
Tate 5, West Florida 4
The Tate Aggies walked off with a 5-4 win over West Florida in Friday night’s Strike Out Cancer game at Tate.
In the bottom of the seventh, the game was tied at four when Tate’s Jordyn Banks doubled to score one run.
Sarah Mitchell pitched a complete game seven innings for Tate, allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out nine and walking two. For the Jags, Abby Cogdill went four innings, surrendering three hits and one earned run with three walks and one strikeout.
For a game action photo gallery, click here.
For more from the Strike Out Cancer game festivities, click here.
Next week, the Lady Aggies will have a three-game homestand with Navarre on Tuesday, South Warren on Wednesday, and Niceville on Thursday. West Florida will also have a busy week at home, with a Tuesday game against Niceville, North Bay Haven on Thursday, and Gulf Breeze on Friday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Highway 29 Crash
April 4, 2026
There were no injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Friday morning on Highway 29 southbound near Kingfield Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released additional details about the 8 a.m. crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Take Down Robertsdale; Posta Homers in Win
April 4, 2026
Tate 6, Robertsdale 3
The Tate Aggies beat the Robertsdale Golden Bears 6-3 on Friday night in Cantonment.
Hunter Clayton earned the win on the mound for the Aggies, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Aiden Bramblett was in for one inning and the save.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Evan Taylor led the Aggies at the plate with two RBIs as he went 1-3 for the night. Kaden Posta hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the third, and the Aggies also had one hit each from Nathan Connors and Kannon Ham.
The Aggies will round out the regular season next week — at Escambia on Tuesday and at home against the Washington Wildcats on Thursday for Senior Night.
Tate 6, Robertsdale 2 (JV)
Tate Boys Tennis Beats Pace 6-1
April 4, 2026
The Tate High School boys tennis team defeated Pace 6-1 Thursday night.
The Aggies girls tea, fell 5-2 to the Patriots.
With the win, the team improved to 6-1. Up next, the Aggies will host Gulf Breeze on Wednesday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Pursuit Ends With Crash, Arrest
April 4, 2026
A Florida Highway Patrol pursuit in Escambia County ended in a crash early Friday morning.
Around 12:55 a.m., a state trooper patrolling North Blue Angel Parkway attempted to stop a vehicle with an improper tag, but the driver fled. During the pursuit, the driver traveled off the roadway and crashed into a fence at the intersection of Patricia Drive and Oakcliff Road. There were no injuries.
The driver was identified as 46-year-old Marvin Thomas of Pensacola. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant and was also charged with felony fleeing and driving with a suspended license.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Timely Hits Elude Blue Wahoos In 2-1 Opening Night Loss To Biscuits
April 4, 2026
The Blue Wahoos got a balmy night, a filled ballpark and superlative pitching and defense in their 2026 season-opener.
The lacking element, however, was timely hits.
In a game where the Blue Wahoos produced 10 hits, the Montgomery Biscuits took advantage of an eighth-inning opportunity for a 2-1 victory before a crowd of 5,038 Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The difference was the Blue Wahoos left a runner on third base in three innings and stranded four others in scoring position.
Blue Wahoos starting pitcher Karson Milbrandt, the team’s highest-rated prospect at No. 10, displayed the same array of quality pitches he showed in two starts last year in Pensacola. He finished 4.2 innings with six strikeouts, two walks and four hits.
He left trailing 1-0, but the Blue Wahoos tied the score in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jay Beshears led off with a double and scored on a Brendan Jones single. It was part of a big night for Jones, who had three hits and two stolen bases, showing off the same speed that made him the stolen base leader in the New York Yankees minor league system last year.
Jones and Blue Wahoos centerfielder Dillon Lewis, who had a hit in his Double-A debut, were part of the four players the Miami Marlins gained from the Yankees in an off-season trade for Marlins starter Ryan Weathers.
Catcher Ryan Ignoffo had a one-out triple for the Blue Wahoos in the sixth inning, but was thrown out at the plate on a grounder to second. That play became a defining one.
The Biscuits’ Austin Overn led off the eighth with an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on a two-out single.
Montgomery’s bullpen had three relievers combine for four scoreless innings and no walks.
The teams will play the second game of this opening weekend series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. in the first fireworks night of the season.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos had a pair of highlight plays in the first two innings that will stand for the season. Shortstop Christian Hernandez made a spectacular throw deep in the hole on a first-inning grounder for an out. In the second inning, right fielder Fenwick Trimble robbed Biscuits third baseman Brayden Taylor of a home run with his leaping catch over the wall.
— The first 1,000 fans through the gates Friday received a Blue Wahoos 2026 magnetic schedule.
— The opening game also brought the first night of fans being able to ride the Blue Wahoos train around the stadium. The train in team colors was acquired in December for the Blue Wahoos’ Christmas lights show and will now be used each home game to provide free rides to ticketed fans.
— The loss dropped the Blue Wahoos to 9-5 all time in openers. It was their fifth straight season-opener at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Blue Wahoos Season-Opening Homestand
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.; Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
Slight Chance Of Saturday Showers; Rain Likely For Easter Sunday
April 4, 2026
Cloudy skies and high rain chances highlight the weekend, but a clearer, pleasant week lies ahead for the North Escambia area. Expect showers and storms to move in late Saturday and Sunday, followed by a gradual clearing trend starting Tuesday with highs settling comfortably in the 70s
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80.