By The Numbers: Escambia County EMS Responded To Over 93,000 Calls In 2025

January 6, 2026

It was a busy year for Escambia County EMS in 2025 with over 93,000 calls for service.

According to numbers released by the county on Monday, Escambia EMS responded to the following in 2025:

93,682 calls for service
56,323 transports
2,860 CORE appointments
4,985 motor vehicle accidents
978 cardiac arrests
410 standby events (such as sporting events, air shows, events)

Additional EMS stats for 2025 include:

• Pediatric emergency responses: 5,269
• Critical airway interventions: 1,269
• Medications administered : 40,538
• Training hours: Approximately 2,000

UPDATE: FHP Says Century Woman Failed To Yield In Saturday Crash That Injured Five

January 5, 2026

UPDATE: The Florida Highway Patrol said Monday that a 63-year-old Century woman failed to yield in a Saturday crash that injured five people on Highway 29 south of Century.

The crash occurred at about 12:50 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bluff Springs Road and involved a GMC Terrain Denali and a Ford Expedition.

FHP said the Century woman was driving the GMC east on Bluff Springs Road when she attempted to cross all four lanes of Highway 29 but failed to yield to the approaching Ford.

Three of the five people involved were transported to area hospitals by Newman’s Ambulance with minor injuries.

For more photos, click here.

The Century and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded, along with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash temporarily closed the Highway 29 northbound lanes and later reduced northbound traffic to a single lane around the crash.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Sex Offender At Lake Stone Campground Charged With Failing To Register

January 5, 2026

A 49-year-old registered sexual offender was arrested after authorities discovered him living at a campground in Century while claiming to be a homeless resident of Alabama.

Robert William Glenn was taken into custody on a felony charge for failing to report a change in his residence or transient address to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation began on December 27, when an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the county-operated Lake Stone Campground on west Highway 4 for a welfare check. During the encounter, Glenn claimed he was currently homeless and living in his truck in Brewton, according to an arrest report. He further claimed he possessed an Alabama driver’s license, though a records check later revealed he had no identification from that state and actually held a valid Florida license.

Glenn told the deputy he was only at the campground to help a woman with her ill ex-husband and to take children to school. However, the camp host and neighbors provided sworn statements contradicting his story. The camp host reported that Glenn had been staying at the site since December 2, 2025, and had even used his Florida driver’s license to complete the check-in paperwork. Neighbors added that Glenn appeared to be living at the camper “90 percent of the time” and that his vehicle was rarely gone overnight.

“While on scene, I verified the welfare of the children residing in the camper and did not see anything that caused me concern about their welfare,” the ECSO deputy wrote in the arrest report.

Glenn told deputies that he reports weekly to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama where he is registered as homeless.

Under Florida law, sexual offenders must report a “transient residence” within 48 hours if they remain in a county for three or more days, the ECSO said in the report. Records show Glenn signed a document in October 2025 acknowledging these requirements and stating his intent to move permanently to Alabama, the report states.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, adjudication was withheld against Glenn in 1997 in Escambia County, Florida, on a charge of a lewd or lascivious act involving a child under 16.

Glenn remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

Mild Week Ahead

January 5, 2026

Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Courtney Geiger Named Lipscomb Elementary Teacher Of The Year, County Top 5 Finalist

January 5, 2026

Courtney Geiger was named the Lipscomb Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

She has also been selected as a Top 5 finalist for Escambia County Teacher of the Year, with the winner to be announced in the coming weeks.

Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Escambia County Approves New 30-Year Franchise Agreement With EREC

January 5, 2026

Escambia County has approved a new 30-year utility franchise for Escambia River Electric Cooperative.

EREC, a member-owned cooperative, was founded in 1939 to bring affordable electric power to Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

A franchise agreement granted to EREC by the county on January 1, 1995, was set to expire on December 31, 2025.

Last month, the Escambia County Commission approved a new franchise agreement by ordinance for a term of 30 years. Under the agreement, EREC will pay a franchise fee to the County in exchange for the nonexclusive right and privilege of supplying electricity and other services within the unincorporated areas of the county free of competition from the county.

EREC will pay the following franchise fees to Escambia County:

  • $10 per month for each customer in residential service categories;
  • $10 per month for each customer in small commercial service categories;
  • $75 per month for each customer in general service demand categories;
  • $300 per month for each customer in general service large demand categories; and
  • $3,000 per month for each customer in large transmission service categories.

The new franchise agreement will expire on December 31, 2056.

Pictured: A power substation on Highway 99A near Oak Grove that serves EREC members in the Walnut Hill area. NorthEscambia.com file photo.

Mark Your Calendars: MILO, The Mobile ID And Licensing Office, Is Coming To Century

January 5, 2026

The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Century on January 15 and February 19 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse.

MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:

  • Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
  • Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
  • Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
  • Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
  • Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
  • Certified Driver Transcripts

Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.

This initiative aims to bring services to areas of Escambia County that may have limited access to traditional tax collector offices, particularly during disaster recovery or for residents in assisted living facilities, community centers, and correctional facilities.

Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.

Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Escambia Students Return Tuesday. And The Next Holiday Is Coming Soon.

January 5, 2026

Teachers are back at school today for a workday in Escambia County, Florida, and students will return on Tuesday following the long Christmas break.

But when is the next holiday?

The next holiday is just two weeks away. Students and teachers will be out of school on Monday, January 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After that, students will be out as teachers work on February 16 for a professional development day. Coincidentally,, that’s also Presidents’ Day.

When is Spring Break?

Spring Break is March 16-20 for students and teachers.

Reminder: Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree With ECUA

January 5, 2026

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) will pick up real Christmas trees from customers for free with the regular collection of yard waste.

Customers are asked to remove all decorations from their trees and cut the trees so that no portion is longer than six feet. Trees can be placed at the curb with other yard trash, and should not be placed in the regular garbage or recycling containers.

ECUA will compost the trees with the other yard waste at the Biosolids Composting Facility.

For more information, call ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480.

Marcus Craig Vaughn

January 5, 2026

Marcus Craig Vaughn, age 71, passed away on January 3, 2026, at his residence in Atmore, AL, with his wife by his side. Marcus was born on June 30, 1954, in Pensacola, FL. Marcus was raised in Bratt, FL, and graduated from Ernest Ward High School. Marcus served as Fire Medic Captain with the Fire Medic Division in Montgomery, AL, retiring after twenty years of service.

Marcus enjoyed his career with his fellow brothers and sisters, especially sharing his career experiences with everyone. He also loved fishing, gardening, and traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains. Marcus cherished his time with his wife at home, listening to music and playing with his three dogs.

Marcus is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Flora Godwin Vaughn, and his twin brother, Michael Keith Vaughn.

Marcus is survived by his loving wife of over 20 years, Teena Lynn Courtney Vaughn; his brother, Greg (Cyndi) Vaughn of Bratt, FL; special niece, Kimberly Vaughn (Frank) Murphy; his niece, Bailey Desai; his nephew, Jamey Vaughn; his great nieces, Hannah Godwin, Shelby Godwin, and Maegan Godwin; his cousins, Jackie Downer (Roy) Ward, Jordana Ward, and Jocelyn Ward Drew; his special friends, Paul Harper, Dean Smith, Scott Everette, and Frank Lewis, and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Joe Stevens, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Bratt-Godwin Cemetery in Bratt, FL.

Active pallbearers will be Ronald Peebles, AJ Beechy, Louis English, Scott Everette, Jerry Gehman, and Paul Harper.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dean Smith, Dale Rutherford, Frank Lewis, Randy Johnson, Fellow Firefighters, Fire Medics, and the Montgomery Fire Department.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.

Thanks to Lydia Bonner and Laura Tate for the special care they provided before he transitioned to hospice care. Special thanks to Southern Care Hospice for the special care they provided, especially the Case Manager/Nurse, Ronda, Nurse Kaylee, Social Worker Tracy, and Chaplain Joe.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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