Charges Dropped Against Man Previously Convicted In Ladarius Clardy
December 6, 2025
Charges have been dropped against one of the men convicted of the murder of Ladarius Clardy in 2021..
In August, an appeals court overturned the conviction of Da’Quavion Snowden after he claimed that the trial court made a mistake by denying motions to suppress his interviews with investigators following his arrest because his request for an attorney was ignored. The First District Court of Appeal agreed, reversing Snowden’s conviction and life sentence and sending the case back for retrial.
The appeals court ruled to exclude statements made by Snowden without an attorney, leaving the state unable to prove the case again.
Snowden was released from the Escambia County Jail early Friday afternoon.
Clardy, a former standout Pine Forest High School quarterback, was found shot dead in a vehicle crash about 1 a.m. on July 1, 2021. His vehicle was found with over 50 bullet holes after it crashed in a ravine. Authorities say the murder was a case of mistaken identity. Young was also shot in the incident and survived.
Da’Quavion Snowden’s brother, Amos Dehontiquan Snowden, was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and received a mandatory life sentence.
No Serious Injuries In Friday Evening Wreck On Highway 29 In Cantonment
December 6, 2025
There were no serious injuries reported in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 in Cantonment Friday evening
Two cars collided about 5:07 p.m. on Highway 29 south of Kingsfield Road, near Whataburger.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Beat Yard Dawgs 3-2
December 6, 2025
The Ice Flyers hosted Rally Foundation Night at the Hangar, and delivered an exciting performance for the fans. The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs scored early with a powerplay goal close to the halfway mark of the first period. That was the only goal of the opening frame, but the Ice Flyers didn’t falter.
The second period was highly contested with some scrums and ended scoreless. A boarding call on Roanoke’s Khristian Acosta put the Ice Flyers on the powerplay that carried over into the third period.
Newly acquired forward Mike Moran scored his first goal in an Ice Flyers uniform with a powerplay goal in the first minute of the final frame. Cooper Jones and Lukas Jirousek capitalized on another powerplay opportunity and scored two goals within 36 seconds of each other, putting the Ice Flyers up 3-1. Roanoke’s Travis Broughman found the back of the net late in the third, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback. Ty Taylor made the start tonight and saved 23 of the opposing 25 shots.
The Ice Flyers secured the 3-2 victory on a night dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer and in support of Rally Gulf Coast.
Molino And Beulah Christmas Parades Rescheduled, Century Tree Lighting Canceled
December 5, 2025
The weather has forced the cancelation or rescheduling of Christmas events in the North Escambia area.
Molino Christmas Parade
The Molino Christmas Parade has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 13 at 11 a.m.
Parade Line up will be in a field at 4325 Crabtree Church Road at 10 a.m. Vehicles are $50, UTVs are $30, and horses are $20 each. No dirt bikes or ATVs are allowed. For more information, contact Kimberly King at Marcus Pointe, (850) 479-8337 ext. 136. To register online, click here. All proceeds from the parade, which is coordinated by Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Molino, will go to families in need in the North Escambia area.
Beulah Christmas Parade
The Beulah Christmas Parade has been rescheduled for noon on Saturday, December 20.
To enter the parade, click here to download the application. Return the completed form to the address or email provided at the top.
Century Tree Lighting, Open House
Christmas events on Friday in Century have been canceled.
The Century Area Chamber of Commerce canceled the annual tree lighting ceremony and the chamber’s open house event. The town tree in Nadine Mccaw Park will still be illuminated throughout the season.
Pictured: The 2024 Molino Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
County Truck Snags Power Line And Burns, Closing Beulah Road
December 5, 2025
Beulah Road south of I-10 was closed Friday morning near Isaacs Lane due to downed power lines and a truck fire.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said the top of a power pole snapped off and caused a live power line to hang low over the roadway. An Escambia County transfer truck from the Perdido Landfill hit the line at approximately 6:45 a.m. The driver immediately jumped out of the vehicle and was not injured.The truck was a total loss.
Escambia County Fire Rescue, Florida Highway Patrol, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and FPL responded.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Burger, Fries And Meth: Molino Man Charged With Drug Trafficking
December 5, 2025
A traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a 56-year-old Molino man on a charge of trafficking methamphetamine after deputies reportedly discovered a substantial quantity of the drug concealed in a fast-food bag.
Mark Wayne McDonald, 56, was was charged with felony trafficking methamphetamine and remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
The incident began when an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a white Nissan Altima on Mobile Highway near Lillian Highway for an inoperable high-beam headlight.
Upon making contact, the reporting officer noted the vehicle’s driver 46-year-old Jesse Joy Grace, was nervous and had an active outstanding warrant.
The passenger, identified as McDonald, was asked to exit the vehicle. According to the arrest report, McDonald was actively clutching bags of food from Whataburger as he spoke with deputies. A subsequent K-9 free air sniff of the vehicle resulted in a positive alert for narcotics.
A probable cause search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 32 grams (field weight) of crystal rocks, which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The illegal substance was located inside a Whataburger bag containing a burger and fries that had been in the suspect’s lap, according to the report. Deputies also located a small amount of fentanyl, burnt tin foil, and various pieces of drug paraphernalia throughout the vehicle.
The suspect acknowledged that he had previously used narcotics, stating his drug of choice was methamphetamine, according to the report. However, when questioned about the large quantity of meth found inside the Whataburger bag, he claimed he did not know how it got there.
Grace was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. She remains in the Escambia County Jail after bond was revoked in a previous arrest.
Santa Visits Century Library, Plans Other Library Stops (With Gallery)
December 5, 2025
Santa paid a special visit to the Century Branch Library on Thursday.
After a special story and song from Santa, children were able to take photos with him and share their Christmas wish lists before making Christmas crafts.
For a photos gallery, click here.
“Do you make drones?” one child asked. “We make a few of those,” Santa said.
A little boy tested Santa’s beard just to make sure it was real (pictured).
One little girl asked for a teddy bear.
“You will need to love and take care of him,” Santa cautioned.
A couple stopped by to take a photo with Santa, decked out in their Christmas shirts and grinning ear to ear as they showed Santa a photo on their phone of their new grandbaby.
Kids asked for gifts that included a robot dinosaur, Power Wheels, a Lego train, a giant Squishmallow, a computer with a desk and chair, Star Wars clothes, a monster truck along with an excavator, loader, and dump truck, and a VR headset.
“I want a toy dog,” one girl said. “I will give it to my toy cat.”
“They’ve got little hearts, so you’ve got to take care of them,” the Jolly Old Elf said. “They love just like you.”
And what does Santa want for Christmas? A young lady just had to know.
“I probably need socks after all the trips around the world,” he said. “And maybe a board game to play with Mrs. Claus and the elves.”
For a photos gallery, click here.
Santa has several other visits planned to other West Florida Public Library locations:
Molino Library
- Wednesday, December 10, 10:30 a.m.
- Thursday, December 18, 4:30 p.m.
Bellview Library
- Tuesday, December 9, 10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, December 10, 4:30 p.m.
Tryon Library
- Thursday, December 4, 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 16, 3:00 p.m.
Pensacola Library
- Wednesday, December 3, 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, December 20, 10:30 a.m.
Westside Library
- Thursday, December 11, 4:30 p.m.
Brownsville Library
- Saturday, December 6, 10:30 a.m.
Southwest Library
- Wednesday, December 17, 4:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teens Charged With Killing Girl, 14, In Santa Rosa County Before Burning Her Body
December 5, 2025
Two Santa Rosa County teens are behind bars, charged in the brutal murder of a 14-year old.
Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, have both been charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
On December 1, 14-year-old Danika Troy was reported as a runaway after she was last seen on November 30.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said they carried out a plan to shoot Troy and burn her body.
About 11 p.m. on December 2, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office located a burned body in a wooded area off Kimberly Road in Pace. Due to the condition of the body, immediate identification could not be determined.
On December 3, 2025, while conducting further follow up interviews, investigators determined the body was that of Troy and developed Williams and Blevins as suspects. After interviews and examination of evidence, the teens were charged.
Williams and Blevins are currently being held by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Tate Aggies Fall To Garcia In Florida Invitational Tournament Championship
December 5, 2025
The Dr. Joaquin Garcia High School Bulldogs from Lake Worth defeated the Tate Aggies 10-0 on Thursday night to win the 2025 Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT) Division 2 (4A-7A) Football Championship in Sumterville, FL.
The Aggies went 10-4 on the season, including home FIT wins over First Coast, Bartram Trail, and Chiles.
Tate is already looking forward to next season.
What is FIT?
In addition to the traditional playoff path to a state championship, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT) will see additional teams continue play.
FIT stated last year as an experiment in the rural class. With the FIT, teams that do not make the traditional playoffs receive an invitation to the tournament and a chance to continue postseason.
FHSAA expanded the FIT to two 16-team brackets for high school classes 1A-7A. One bracket is for Class 1A-3A, and the other bracket is for Class 4A-7A. The third FIT bracket is 12 teams in the Rural Class.
High School Basketball Scoreboard
December 5, 2025
Here are high school basketball scores from the North Escambia area Thursday night.
BOYS VARSITY
Tate 72, West Florida 67 at West Florida
Central 51, Northview 26
GIRLS VARSITY
Central 68, Northview 20