Millions In Projects, Mostly Grant Funded, Underway In Century
January 8, 2026
Million of dollars of projects are underway in Century.
The town’s consulting engineer, Dale Long, recently present an update to the town council on the projects, including funding status. Major projects include
- wastewater improvements including wastewater treatment plant — $8.86 million (90% grant, 10% loan)
- water meter and service replacements — $1.3 million (100% grant)
- Freedom Road Bridge replacement — $1.3 million (100% grant)
- wastewater lift station rehabilitation — $3.36 million (90% grant, 10% loan)
- wastewater treatment plant improvements — $5.36 million (90% grant, 10% loan)
- water well replacement == $1.85 million
For a complete status report (pdf format), click here.
Pictured: Work on the Century lift station on West Highway 4 recently. NorthEscambai.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Cold Case: Murder 45 Years Ago Remains Unsolved
January 8, 2026
It was45 years ago on the afternoon of January 2, 1981, that 9-year-old Kenneth Deshun Underwood and three companions went bird hunting in the woods near their Cantonment home. Everyone returned home that afternoon except for Underwood.
When Underwood was still not home around 6 p.m., Escambia County Search and Rescue personnel were called. The area where Underwood was last seen alive was canvassed. His body was discovered about 5:45 the next morning –apparently murdered — in an area near Booker Street. His cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.
The case remains unsolved, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help because they believe someone in our area still has information about Underwood’s death.
If you know anything about the death of Kenneth Deshun Underwood, 9, you are asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stopper at (850) 433-STOP (7867).
Pictured above: The fourth-grade photo of murder victim Kenneth Deshun Underwood of Cantonment. Pictured below: The highlighted area in this map shows where the body was found. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Longtime Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers Is Retiring
January 8, 2026
Longtime Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers is retiring.
Rogers, who served Escambia County as an assistant county attorney from 1999 to 2003, was named deputy county attorney in 2003 before being named county attorney in February 2008.
Rogers submitted a one-year retirement notification on Tuesday. Her final day will be January 4, 2027.
“I am available throughout 2026 to assist with the transition as needed,” she wrote in a letter to the Escambia County Commission.
The commission is expected to discuss her retirement at a regular meeting on Thursday.
Warm This Afternoon, Cold Front Brings Rain Late Friday Into Saturday
January 8, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Light south wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 72. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.